After several years of various difficulties in the national market, Kymco was “rescued” by Multimoto in 2022, so 2023 promises to be a year of (re)affirmation for the Taiwanese brand in Portuguese territory. This DTX is one of the newest models with more modern lines!
Kymco has achieved significant growth in various European markets in recent years, and in our neighboring country, it has been competing on an equal footing – in terms of the number of scooters sold – with Japanese brands for some time. Known for their reliability and robustness, Kymco scooters generally offer a good price/quality ratio. We tested the new DTX, a scooter with a modern and adventurous look, and tried to understand if this new generation maintains the standards of its predecessors.
DISTINCTIVE STYLE
Something that immediately catches the eye in this Kymco is its particular style, as if it were a trail bike. It is true that it is not a novelty in the “automatic” two-wheeler market, but it is interesting to see more and more brands betting on these “SUV” motorcycles. With a robust appearance and sharp lines, the DTX comes equipped with mixed CST tires, complemented by handguards to complete the off-road look. The upper front fender as an integral part of the fairing also takes us to a reality more focused on off-road. The elegant full LED lighting enhances the aggressiveness of this model, offering a simultaneously more urban and sober appearance.
FEISTY HEART AND SOLID BODY
The entire look of the Kymco DTX makes us believe that we are facing a 125 cc that will give us some joy. And it’s true. The engine of this scooter has 12.8 hp of power at 9,000 rpm and a maximum torque of 10.9 Nm at 7,500 rpm, and despite the relatively low top speed due to a short transmission, it benefits the throttle response in starts and city trips in order to move its 179 kg. The feel on the right handlebar is not the most precise, but the response is prompt and pleasant. Even with steep climbs ahead, the DTX maintains its breath well and does not protest for more throttle. In order to accompany all this energy, Kymco equipped the DTX with a telescopic fork with 110 mm of travel and a dual rear shock absorber with 100 mm of travel, to which 5 preload adjustment positions are added. This set provides good absorption of bumps on the road, mainly at the front, since the rear proved to be somewhat “bouncy”, even with the spring preload adjustment. The agility was found to be somewhat compromised due to the mixed tires that come standard on the DTX – something that we can certainly improve with a different rubber – and even off-road, this scooter is capable of good trips to the beaches of Costa da Caparica, but do not expect much more than asphalt with some gravel, either due to the height or the suspension’s absorption capacity. The braking system matches the rest of the set, not being the most biting and sophisticated, but with good feel and power suitable for the needs of this DTX.
ERGONOMIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL
As soon as we sit on the Kymco DTX, everything seems quite natural. The riding position is correct, with legroom, a wide seat, and a handlebar that is positioned at the ideal height. However, the seat could be a little more comfortable, as it proved to be somewhat uncomfortable on slightly longer trips. Still, the whole set is well designed and provides a pleasant position and good protection against the elements, including the wind, which is not strongly felt, even with a relatively small front screen. We can also include here – in terms of ergonomics – the location of the panel and navigation buttons, which are easy to use and intuitive.
THE BEST Design, engine, driving position TO IMPROVE Price, dashboard visibility
In turn, the digital dashboard has very visible information – and a speedometer with very generous numbers in terms of dimensions – but it falls a bit short when placed directly under sunlight, making some information imperceptible. In addition to the fully digital dashboard, Kymco did not miss the opportunity to equip this scooter with various gadgets such as a 5V USB socket in the front compartment on the left side and also in the center of the handlebar, for charging the mobile phone or a GPS. The keyless system is also present in the DTX and we have to confess that it works well, but it has a trick that made us doubt our ability to start the motorcycle. Still, it can work well as an anti-theft protection. As for having traction control, it may seem unimportant in a scooter of this displacement, but the fact is that this system helped a lot on a steep gravel climb we did, so even if you don’t need much of this help, it’s there for whatever comes.
INFLATION
And while it is true that we talked about Kymco’s ability to offer good equipment and good scooters at an appealing price, the DTX does not fit into that prism as much, or at least not as much as in the past. We have a lot of technology, from the keyless system to the full LED lighting, to the traction control to the fully digital dashboard; and there are also good finishes, plenty of storage space under the seat and a differentiated look, but at a cost. And in the case of the DTX, perhaps a cost that is too high in our market when compared to the competition. This new scooter from Taiwan has a lot to offer and in a solid way, but inflation can be Kymco’s biggest enemy in this DTX.
KYMCO DTX 125
SINGLE-CYLINDER ENGINE, LIQUID COOLING
DISPLACEMENT 124 cc
POWER 9.6 kW (12.9 hp) @ 9,000 rpm
TORQUE 10.9 Nm @ 7,500 rpm
AUTOMATIC GEARBOX – CVT
STEEL TUBULAR FRAME
TANK CAPACITY 12.5 liters
FRONT SUSPENSION 37 mm telescopic fork, 110 mm travel
REAR SUSPENSION 45 mm dual shock absorber with preload adjustment, 100 mm travel
FRONT BRAKE 260 mm disc, 3-piston caliper
REAR BRAKE 220 mm disc, 2-piston caliper
FRONT TIRE 120/80 – 14
REAR TIRE 150/70 – 13
WHEELBASE n.d
SEAT HEIGHT 800 mm
WEIGHT 179 kg
MSRP (starting from) €5,580
