Kymco People GT 200i / 300i

Summary
Overall, the new People GT 200i and 300i are fantastic new products from Kymco. The great engine and fresh styling reflect the serious amount of work Kymco put into these machines.
Pros
Sharp Styling
Modern Engines
Excellent Power
Cons
Moderate underseat & glovebox storage
Less affordable than the scooter it replaces
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KYMCO PEOPLE GT 200I / 300I

First introduced for 2012 and offered through 2017, the People GT replaced Kymco’s aging People S 200 / 250 scooters as the large wheeled scooter offerings in their North American line up.

Kymco USA began by offering both the 200i and 300i versions for 2012-13 before offering only the faster 300 version from 2014 onwards until it was discontinued after 2017.

Up in Canada only the more affordable 200i version was offered from 2012 – 2013. It was discontinued after 2013 when Kymco USA also dropped the 200c model, leaving no People GT model in Canada. However Kymco Canada finally announced the People GT 300i for 2016 and this scooter was offered for two model years before being discontinued at the same time as in the USA.

Kymco’s outgoing People S, was a nice design, but the newer People GT took it to another level. As usual for Kymco, the new model is a big step up from the departing one with Kymco rapidly closing in on the best scooter manufacturers out there. The frame and styling are all new, as are the motors which are shared with Kymco’s Downtown 200i and 300i models.

Styling

The People GT is arguably the most stylish scooter from Kymco yet, with only the Downtown 300i and Like 200i preventing it from being the obvious winner. The style is sleek, coherent and clean from front to back. The tidy integration of the tinted blinkers is awesome and the crisp overall look is perhaps the best there is for a large wheeled scooter sold in North America.

Style-wise, I would give the nod to the People GT over other large wheeled scooters like Honda’s SH150iPiaggio BV300 and Aprilia’s Scarabeo models. Another strong point is the black 16” aluminum ten spoke rims which obviously received a great deal of thought from Kymco designers.

Engine

The awesome styling may be what catches everyone’s eye, but it’s the motor that makes the People GT such a huge improvement over its predecessor. The departed S 200 & 250 used an aging carburated motor, while the People GT scooters get larger (205cc and 298.9cc) motors with high tech features. The People S 250’s motor was first seen in the 2002 People 250 (not ’S’) and it was sold elsewhere in the world before that, so it dates back to the early years of Kymco making their own scooters. Kymco has made huge strides since then and it shows with these new engines. Both new motors have 4-valves, fuel injection and a bunch of smaller refinements. The result is a huge 50% boost in horsepower (28.7 HP vs. 19.5HP) for the 300i model vs. the old 250 model.

With the People GT 300i you can expect considerably faster acceleration than the People S 250 and a 10 mph increase in top speed about 90mph. That makes the GT300i reasonably well suited to highway travel and light touring. The GT 200i model should also be faster than the People S 200 thanks to the larger displacement (163cc vs. 205cc) and modern touches.

Brakes / Suspension / Handling

The People GT is a large wheeled scooter with its 16’ rims, which means increased stability at speed and an improved ride over uneven surfaces. This scoot uses a new steel dual cradle frame that reviews indicate is quite solid yet communicative. The brakes are more standard fare with single discs front and back and 3 pistons up front with one less in the rear. The overall performance is said to be good but not excellent. The suspension on these scooters is a nice improvement with the dual adjustable rear shocks and telescopic fork offering good performance.

Storage & Convenience

The GT 300i scores about average in the storage and convenience department. The underseat storage area is a bit smaller than other scooters of this size because the large 16” rear wheel cuts into this space. Kymco has tried to make up for this by including a rear top case as standard (as Honda did with the SH150i in Canada), but not everyone likes top cases. Kymco has done a nice job with this top case, but it still hurts the flow of the styling a bit. In Kymco’s defense, providing more underseat storage is very hard when you’re designing a large wheeled scooter and anyone who wants a bit more underseat storage can opt for Kymco’s Downtown 300i which gains more underseat storage by using a 13” rear wheel.

The storage compartment in the legshield is also smaller than average for a mid-large sized scooter. The term ‘glovebox’ doesn’t really apply here, as you can’t fit anything larger than a chocolate bar in there. Overall, people who use the top case will have no storage troubles, while others who don’t like the look may find the GT 300i a bit short on storage. I can understand the underseat storage situation, but it would be nice to see a larger glovebox included. Like they usually do, Kymco has thoughtfully included 12V accessory socket in the underseat area. Kymco has also kindly included both a clock and trip odometer which are appreciated.

Comparison

The People GT 200i and 300i are great scooters with class leading style and modern engines. The USA MSRP’s are $4899 (’12-’13) and $5399 for the 200i and 300i variants. In Canada the People GT 200i goes for $4995. The most obvious alternatives are Piaggio’s BV 300, Kymco’s own Downtown 200i / 300i, Aprilia’s Scarabeo 200, the Suzuki Burgman 400 and Yamaha’s Majesty 400.

The Downtown has a lot in common with the People GT scooters and comes at a $200 premium in the same displacement. The larger wheeled People GT is likely the quicker handling machine, while the longer Downtown offers different styling, a bit more legroom, more underseat storage and it’s a bit more touring oriented. The Piaggio BV 300 is a very nice upscale scooter which also features a great engine, but the price is a grand more than the 300i so it depends on your budget. The Apriliia Scarabeo 200 is attractively priced at $3499 (not sold in Canada) which undercuts the GT 200i by an impressive $1400, so USA buyers looking around 200cc will want to give that some consideration. Another alternative is a more traditional maxi scooter like Suzuki’s Burgman 400 or Yamaha’s Majesty 400. Those scooters offer higher top speeds and plush touring amenities but you’re going to spend around $7000 and the styling is fairly bland.

Overall, the new People GT 200i and 300i are fantastic new products from Kymco. The price is getting higher than Kymco’s of old, but so is the quality. The great engine and fresh styling reflect the serious amount of work Kymco put into these machines. Anyone looking at scooters around 200-300cc ought to check these out.

Please consider adding an owner review of your People GT. It benefits other readers and improves this site.

Pros:

  • Sharp Styling
  • Modern Engines
  • Excellent Power

Cons:

  • Moderate underseat & glovebox storage
  • Less affordable than the scooter it replaces

Links:

MotorscooterGuide Forums – Visit the forums on this site to chat about this scoot.
KymcoForum.com – A good place to learn more about Kymco’s

Key Specs – People GT 200i / 300i:

  • Engine: Liquid cooled, 4-valve, SOHC, 205cc or 298.9cc, single cylinder, 4-stroke
  • Transmission: CVT
  • Power: 28.7 HP @ 8500 RPM, 20 lbs-ft torque @ 6500 RPM (300cc)
  • Bore & Stroke: 66mm x 60mm / 72.7mm x 72mm
  • Frame: Steel Dual Cradle
  • Fuel Delivery: Electronic Fuel Injection
  • Drive: Belt
  • Wheelbase: 57.1”
  • Weight: 364 lbs
  • Starter: Electric
  • Seat height: 31.9”
  • Fuel Tank: 2.4 gallons
  • Front Brake: Disc with 3 piston caliper
  • Rear Brake: Disc with 2 piston caliper
  • Front Suspension: Telescopic Fork
  • Rear Suspension: Dual Shocks, 5 Position Pre-load
  • Tires: 110/70-16 (Front), 140/70-16 (Rear)
  • MSRP: $4899 / $5399 (200i / 300i in USA 2013)

Years Sold:

  • People GT 200: 2012 – 2013 USA, 2012 – 2013 Canada
  • People GT 300: 2012 – 2017 USA, 2016 – 2017 Canada

USA Colors:

  • 2012: Black, Silver, Gold (300i only)
  • 2013: Black, Silver, Gold (300i only)
  • 2014: Black, Silver, Gold
  • 2015: Black, Gold
  • 2016: Gloss Black, Matte White
  • 2017: Gloss Black, Matte White

Canada Colors:

  • 2012: Black, White, Gold
  • 2013: Black, White, Gold
  • 2017: Gloss Black, Matte White