Best Scooter: 2018 Bikesales Bike of the Year Awards

The 2018 Bikesales Bike of the Year (BOTY) Awards recognise excellence across 11 separate motorcycle categories. After a three-day mega-test in Tasmania in October, we'll whittle our shortlist down to three finalists – with the outright winner then announced at the Melbourne Moto Expo on Friday, November 23.

Let’s continue the 2018 BOTY category announcements by unveiling the Kymco AK550 as our scooter winner.

The $11,990 plus on-roads flagship from the Taiwanese manufacturer first went on sale in Australia in December 2017, powered by a 550cc twin-cylinder engine delivering 53hp (39.9kW) and featuring a USB charger, an aluminium frame, 15-inch aluminium wheels, twin Brembo and Bosch ABS.

It‘s also equipped with an interactive dash that connects the rider’s smartphone to the scooter providing on-board notifications, smart navigation options and customisable dash display options. They can then share it through a ‘cloud’.

The AK550 gets up a real head of steam, and with a quality suspension, chassis and brakes it feels far more like a motorcycle than a smaller step-through – which is why the Kymco will also be joining us in Tasmania for the three-day BOTY ride in October! And it has excellent weather protection, which could be a real boon if Tassie delivers us a precipitation fest.

The AK550 has Bluetooth connectivity, and a number of features can be accessed through the accompanying 'Noodoe' smartphone app.

This means that – with the AK550 at a standstill – riders can cycle through their smartphone notifications, while on the move it's possible to cycle through up to six of your favourite photos, which are displayed on the centre oval TFT display of the AK's impressive instruments.

Congratulations Kymco.

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