Jan. 2005
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KYMCO Motorsports, located in Inman South Carolina, is the exclusive importer and distributor of KYMCO brand scooters for the USA. KYMCO Motorsports, formally know as STR Inc, Motorsports Division has over 25 years of experience in the business representing TOMOS brand mopeds and mini-cycles. In 2001, STR Inc., Motorsports Division discontinued its relation ship with TOMOS and selected KYMCO as it's main product line. (Kymcousa.com)

Specs:
Kymco Mongoose 250cc

Engine Type -4-stroke water-cooled, SOHC
Displacement -249cc
Horsepower -18hp
Cooling System -Liquid
Lubrication -Wet sump
Ignition -Electric
Gearbox- Automatic CVT w/forward, neutral & reverse
Chassis -Steel
Front Suspension- Dual A-arm
Rear Suspension -Link arm
Front Tires Kenda Klaw -21x7-10
Rear Tires Kenda Klaw- 20x11-9
Front Brake -Disc
Rear Brake -Disc
Length -76 in. (1930.4mm)
Width -41 in. (1041.4mm)
Height -42 in. (1066.8mm)
Seat Height- 32 in. (812.8mm)
Wheelbase 46.4 in.- (1178.56mm)
Ground Clearance- 7.25 in. (184.15mm) average
Fuel Capacity -3.4 gals. (12.8 liters)
Weight- 392 lbs.
Available Colors- Red, Yellow, Blue or Black
MSRP $3,199

Features Headlight and taillight, Aluminum Wheels, Kenda Klaw Tires and a 1 Year Limited Factory Warranty. C.A.R.B. Certified. Forestry Approved Spark Arrestor.


We've had a lot of fun testing this quad. It sports the aggressive styling associated with today's sport quads, lightweight (but tough) aluminum wheels, Kenda Klaw XCR 6 ply tires, yes, 6 ply tires!, 249cc liquid-cooled four stroke motor, strong CVT transmission with reverse, and hydaulic disc brakes all the way around. This quad is an excellent choice for the beginning rider!

There are several features that set this quad apart from nearly all other sport quads on the market today. The CVT (automatic) transmission almost takes the Mongoose into a class of its own. The only other sport quad utilizing a CVT transmission is the new Polaris Phoenix 200. Kymco didn't hold back when it came to choosing tires for the Mongoose. The high quality Kenda Klaw XCR's perform very well in all terrains. You'll probably do a double-take when you see the 6 ply designation on the sidewall! The Klaws are also very lightweight for a 6 ply tire. The Kenda's mated with Kymco's stout aluminum wheels make a great combination! Stopping these great tires are hydraulic disc brakes, up front and in the rear. Also setting this quad apart from other sport quads is the liquid cooling of the motor. Rare among small displacement quads, this feature is an advantage in more than one respect. Aside from the additional cooling, the radiator, which is located between the shock towers, gives the Mongoose added weight to the front end of the quad. This makes the quad more stable, and a great hill climber. The Kymco Mongoose 250 definitely has a place in the sport quad market.

The 249cc motor in the Mongoose has comparable power to other sport quads in its class. The CVT transmission engages slightly above idle and smoothly transitions from there. There is NO engine braking at slow speeds. Gear selection is made with the aid of a shifter mounted on the right hand fender. To start the Kymco Mongoose, the shifter must be in neutral and a brake must be depressed. This is very annoying to riders until they get the hang of it, but after that one barely notices the inconvenience. The Kymco Mongoose proved reliable during our 2-month test period. We had NO engine/transmission problems, and was always easily started.

The Mongoose has a sporty feeling suspension tuned for the trail rider or beginning racer. Experienced riders jumping this quad will find that the suspension bottoms out easily. Up front is dual A-arm suspension with adjustable shocks and 5.9" of travel. At the rear is a swing arm with an adjustable shock and 6.7" of travel.



The only thing we really didn't like about this quad was the chain drive and the rear brake pads. To protect the chain, Kymco made a composite plate that runs the length of the chain and under the rear sprocket. Also to protect the rear sprocket is a thick oversized steel plate that is bolted next to the sprocket keeping the chain from being bashed into rocks. This system is very effective except dirt, mud and other debris tends to hang up in the guard. This results in excess chain/sprocket wear. If mud is present it can even build up enough to restrict the power of the quad excessively. The rear brakes consist of a nice dual piston brake caliper for good stopping power, until dirt and mud get in there. The size of the caliper does not allow for "self cleaning" and is also hard to clean after a ride. This results is poor brake performance and premature brake wear. EBC pads are supposed to be available soon, which would help greatly.



Water riding on the Mongoose is a blast! Kymco has done an excellent job venting their CVT transmission. We ran the Mongoose in 30" of water with NO problems!

As stated above, the Kymco Mongoose 250 is a fun quad to ride on the trail, a great choice for those wanting a sport quad but don't want to have to shift all the time. The Mongoose is also priced reasonably at $3199 MSRP (US). Parts are available through any of the growing number of Kymco dealers. Aftermarket accessories such as a pipe, skid plate and filters are available from kymco.biz.

Kymco Website

Wildcard,Doc