2021 Kymco Like 150 S Review

This Kymco Like 150 S may be a relatively compact, modest scooter, but the company behind it is a powerhouse of global scooter production. The brand, established in 1963, is Taiwan’s biggest scooter manufacturer, and it’s also said to be the fifth-largest scooter brand globally. 

While those are impressive credentials in themselves, when you look at a product like this Kymco Like 150 S it’s easy to see it’s the result of considerable know-how and modern manufacturing processes. 

Because even though it’s ‘just’ a little 150cc scooter, and it’s priced at a very competitive $4490 plus on-roads, it also boasts an impressive list of features, including full LED lighting, comprehensive digital instrumentation, disc brakes with ABS, and a compartment for your phone with USB charging. 

And that’s all on top of what is a thoroughly competent and capable mechanical package. So, let’s get into the nitty gritty... 

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Like for Like? 

The Kymco Like 150 S may be billed as a new model, but in reality it’s the same fundamental package as the existing Kymco Like 150 R, just with a neo-retro styling twist and without a topbox (which is standard on the R). That also helps bring the price down by $500, which is a fair saving in this ultra-price-sensitive niche. 

As for the aesthetics, the Kymco Like 150 S has black trim (instead of chrome on the R), a different front vent and muffler cover, a new pillion grabrail, a slimmer headlight and what Kymco describes as “a more streamlined dash”. 

Oh, and the Kymco Like 150 S also only comes in orange – although that simple descriptor doesn’t quite do justice, I think, to the vivid hue that grabs retinas from hundreds of metres away when you see it in the metal. 

The mechanical underpinnings are unchanged, with power coming from the 150cc air-cooled four-stroke single-cylinder engine, the urge fed to the rear wheel via a CVT auto transmission. Maximum output is a claimed 13.5hp/10.2Nm. 

That doesn’t sound like much, but Kymco claims it’s the most potent in its class, and in any case this donk only has to move 115kg (dry) of machine, plus of course the rider and fuel/oil. 

On the road 

So how does that power-to-weight ratio translate on the road? Pretty darn well, actually. The Kymco Like 150 S zips away from a standing start and is sprightly up to 80km/h around town, and even with my 90kg bulk on board it easily maintained an indicated 110km/h on the freeway. 

It’s smooth too, with very little vibration, and the basic suspension does a very competent job. It’s a bit harsh over big hits, especially at speed, but by and large it does a good job of soaking up the majority of road irregularities, providing a very stable platform that belies this scoot’s small 12-inch wheels and short 1314mm wheelbase. 

It is a compact little thing, and I found I had a bit less legroom and cockpit space than on, say, the Vespa Primavera Pic Nic 150 I reviewed recently. Then again, I’m 188cm tall (6ft 2in), so the Kymco will be fine for the majority of riders. I did find that my hands could bump my knees during tight turns though, not that this will be an issue for most. 

But that diminutive size and the fact that most of its weight is carried down low (also helped by a very low-set fuel tank), also means this scooter is supremely nimble. With a super-tight turning circle and a narrow width, it will slip through the nastiest of traffic snarls while frustrated car drivers grit their teeth with envy. 

The Like’s braking performance is another highlight. It scores a disc brake with twin-piston caliper at each end, backed by ABS. There’s excellent braking power available and also a good level of feel and precision at the levers, and when the ABS kicks in it’s quite unobtrusive in its operation. 

Storage and practicality 

The underseat storage bay is roomy enough but the shape of the moulding still meant I couldn’t close the seat over my open-face lid. You might want to see if it will fit your helmet in the showroom, if that’s a potential deal-breaker for you. 

There’s also a front storage compartment on the back of the leg shield, with a USB outlet for charging a phone. It’s a bit of a fiddly space though, and a tight squeeze for larger-format smartphones, and the cover doesn’t have a lock – not ideal for when you inevitably walk off and forget your phone. 

I’m not entirely sold on the merits of the self-retracting side stand either, but you get used to it soon enough and in any case the centrestand works very well. 

There’s no manual park brake and no hook for a shopping bag either, as you find on quite a few scooter models, but the trip computer and digital display is quite comprehensive, showing things like time, ambient temperature, battery voltage and trip info. The digi display itself looks a little old school by today’s standards, but it’s easy to read – ditto the large analogue speedo. 

Fuel economy is excellent. I recorded an average of 3.5L/100km over a mix of city and faster arterial riding, which equates with a safe range of around 180 kilometres. 

And let me finish this review with a note on this scooter’s build quality – it’s really very good. The fit and finish of the various body panels is excellent, and the whole thing appears to be nicely constructed and well put together. This Kymco Like 150 S will instill real pride of ownership, of that you can be sure. 

It’s all backed by a two-year, unlimited-kilometre factory warranty, which extends to three years if you have the scoot serviced within the Kymco dealer network. That network has reasonable coverage; a quick look at the dealer locator on the Kymco Australia website revealed a total of 48 outlets around the country, although there isn’t presently any representation listed for the NT and there’s only one dealer in Tasmania (in Hobart). 

The verdict 

Okay, on a personal level I’m far more into big-bore motorcycles than I am scooters, so it’s a measure of the Kymco Like 150 S’s appeal that I can honestly say I really enjoyed my time aboard this peppy, sassy little machine. 

With solid performance, plenty of practicality, and attractive styling, the Kymco Like 150 S is also a clear winner for value too. If you want an affordable and capable 150cc scooter, there’s a whole lot to like here. 

Specs: Kymco Like 150 S 

ENGINE 
Type: Air-cooled, four-stroke, four-valve, single-cylinder 
Capacity: 150cc 
Bore x stroke: 54mm x 54.5mm 
Engine management: Electronic fuel injection 

PERFORMANCE 
Claimed maximum power: 13.5hp (9.9kW) at 8500rpm 
Claimed maximum torque: 10.2Nm at 6500rpm 

TRANSMISSION 
Type: CVT automatic 

CHASSIS AND RUNNING GEAR 
Frame: Steel 
Front suspension: Telescopic fork, non-adjustable 
Rear suspension: Twin shocks, adjustable for preload 
Front brakes: Single 220mm disc with twin-piston caliper, ABS 
Rear brake: 220mm disc with twin-piston caliper, ABS 
Tyres: Cheng Shin TRG – front 110/70-12, rear 130/70-12 

DIMENSIONS AND CAPACITIES 
Dry weight: 115kg 
Seat height: 790mm 
Wheelbase: 1314mm 
Fuel capacity: 7.0 litres 

OTHER STUFF 
Price: $4490 (plus ORC) 
Colours: Orange 
Warranty: 24 months/unlimited kilometres (36 months if serviced within the Kymco dealer network)