Taiwanese manufacturer Kymco has combined a maxi-scooter with an adventure bike, creating an accessible, trail-ready machine with under-seat storage and a saddle you don’t need a ladder to climb. Built on a crossover platform, the CV-R5 concept further blurs the lines between an adventure bike and a scooter. With its all-terrain chassis, semi-knocker tires, and 427cc engine, the CV-R5 is designed to revitalize the adventure scooter category.
The ‘adventure scooter’ category is not new – Honda and Yamaha have produced a few oddball mash-ups over the years – but Kymco is looking to take it a step further with a prototype unveiled earlier this month.
The CV-R5’s design is striking. The front end features sharp bodywork and taut lines, a high windshield and full fairing. Some motorcycle enthusiasts will find striking similarities to the Husqvarna Norden 901 and even the Harley-Davidson Pan America – a comparison that wouldn’t be welcome in Milwaukee. However, the CV-R5 will have a riding style that is predominantly that of a scooter, as evidenced by the size of the footpegs and the distance between the rider’s seat and the handlebars.
The CV-R5 features a new 427cc engine that produces 40.2 Nm (29.6 lb-ft) of torque at 5,000 rpm, although it is not yet known whether this is a new twin-cylinder engine or a 400cc single-cylinder engine upgraded from a previous model.
Kymco plans to launch this as a flagship product, so the hardware specs should fit the bill too – starting with what Kymco calls a “lightweight off-road chassis” layout, the CV-R5 gets six-link rear suspension, PTM independent swingarm, USD fork and a high-rigidity frame setup. Its upward-swept exhaust doesn’t seem to do much to increase ground clearance, but there are semi-knobby tyres and wide handlebars and a nearly vertical screen to add a touch of Dakar flavour to your commute.
As for features, there are reports of ABS, full LED lighting, cruise control, traction control and a colour TFT instrument cluster. RetouchThe brakes are said to be dual discs at the front and single discs at the rear.
One important observation from the prototype is the lack of the step-down floorboard that makes maxi scooters so practical. The CV-R5 has a more motorcycle-like design in this respect, meaning you have to put your leg over it to get on it, so miniskirts are sadly out of the question. Whether this will lead to even greater under-seat storage remains to be seen.
The super-accessible adventure scooter market is expanding and holds huge potential for innovative products, from traditional scooters and maxi-scooters to small-displacement motorcycles and even mini-motos. Take the CSC Trail 125, for example, which we recently covered – a Honda Super Cub variant that’s ready for battle for less than $2,000. The CV-R5 is another bold attempt at what a two-wheeler can be. Kymco is expected to unveil the adventure scooter in its entirety at EICMA in November this year.
Ultimately, if you’ve always been wary of big, powerful motorcycles and love the practicality of scooters, the CV-R5 may be worth the wait – especially if your daily commute involves the occasional off-roading. At this stage, though, it’s not entirely clear when, or more importantly, if, Kymco will bring the CV-R5 to the American and European markets.
Source: Kymco