Kymco UXV500 and MXU400

We had only met 10 minutes earlier, and now we were collecting sticks together. Although it sounds like a familiar bonding exercise for a couple of 10-year-olds, this time it was two grown men trying to extricate a Kymco UXV 500 from a massive big hole in Werribee, west of Melbourne.

The other bloke was Alan Collins, the marketing manager of Kymco Australia and New Zealand. We had arranged to meet at a 4WD park in Werribee to sample a couple of the Taiwanese company's products, which were only released onto the Australian market earlier this year - an audacious move in the current economic climate.

Despite the difficult launching pad, Kymco has well and truly got off the ground, selling 123 ATVs up until the end of September, in a total market of just over 14,000 units.

But when that figure is 'seasonally' adjusted (that makes me sound like a real economist) to take into account that Kymco has only been a market player for four months, the result is even more impressive.

For example, in August alone, Kymco annexed 3.2 per cent of the Australian ATV market, just behind Kawasaki.

"While 3.2 per cent market share is a great result for this early stage of our ATV business, make no mistake that this is only the tip of the iceberg for Kymco ATVs in Australia," said Kymco Australia and New Zealand Chief Executive, Stuart McLean. "This result speaks volumes for our commitment to providing top-shelf product at a great price, backed up by strong warranty and a service-focused dealer network.

"More and more, people are realising that Kymco ATVs are the real deal - a genuine value proposition, backed up by 46 years of top quality engineering from Kymco," said McLean.

Kymco has eight ATVs in its arsenal - five in the agricultural-based MXU range, the Maxxer 50 and 90 for the young 'uns, and the sporty Maxxer 300.

And there's the bigger UXV500 Side by Side, which leads me back to the opening missive about playing with sticks.

Alan had arranged a MXU400 and UXV500 for our rendezvous in Werribee, and I was allocated the latter for our first squirt on the massive parcel of land, which has it all: man-made obstacles, a labyrinth of trails, creek crossings, etc.

There's a challenge around every corner and, when you add some dodgy driving into the mix, some of the results can be interesting.

The shaft-driven, 498.5cc liquid-cooled, twin-cam four-valve UXV500 has all the tools to make light work of even the most dire situations, including high and low speed operation, differential lock, and 'on-the-fly' 2WD/4WD operation. There is also 190mm of suspension travel at both ends, and 310mm of ground clearance. The manoeuvrability and sharp steering is also quite surprising for something that weighs nearly 525kg.

I was feeling the UXV's love as soon as I hit the trails, with Alan running line astern on the MXU400. Kymco reckons the UXV "works hard and plays for keeps", and that's probably a fair way of putting it.

Sure, it may be ideally suited to a farm or industrial site, but once you get caught in its orbit, it's easy to surrender to its charms. It's just so much fun, and constantly goads you to keep pushing the envelope.

Which is probably why I tried to drive through massive a bog hole, aided and abetted by 'encouragement' from Alan (he had just met me, so he was probably too scared to call me a wanker).

All was going to plan, but without the diff lock activated, the adventure was always going to end in despair...

Sure enough, a lack of traction became an acute issue and, despite Alan and I trying to prop the tracks up with sticks, branches and anything else that looked hard - it was very enterprising Scout-like stuff -- the damage was done and the UXV wasn't going anywhere. Well, it was - thanks to the park owner's 4WD.

I have no doubt $15,990 UXV would have feasted on the bog hole if the diff lock was activated, as later in the day it - with all systems activated - it devoured everything in its path.

The UXV is up against other utility fare like the Kawasaki Mule (there are five different versions starting from $12,999) and the Yamaha Rhino ($18,899).

As for the well-priced MXU400 ($8999), it's cast out of the same mould as most farm-loving ATVs - unpretentious and dependable. The air-cooled 367cc single-cylinder carburettor-fed engine (the entire Kymco range has carbies rather than fuel injection), produces plenty of low-end snap, passing the power test with flying colours. There's also smooth throttle response.

It features digital instrumentation and its total carrying and towing capacity is around 550kg.

Like any agricultural ATV, the 400 lets the rider take control with ease, which is what they're all about: simplicity and functionality in a durable design. And it's damn comfortable.

However, it's also good for some low-level adventure (my father-in-law's Yamaha Grizzly 400 is a sports ATV as far as I'm concerned…) with its independent rear suspension,  just as long as you don't try to become too aggressive, as it will soon show you who's boss.

But for exploring at a nice, solid recreational pace, it's a beauty. And it has other little niceties such as light steering and a solid, dependable and easy-shifting transmission.

I would have loved to have ridden the MXU500 back-to-back with the 400, particularly as it has a solid rear end - i.e. a straight axle drivetrain - compared to the 400's independent set-up.

Like all the Kymco ATVs, the MXU has a CVT transmission, and also a reverse gear. Other standard features include disc brakes all-round, dual A-arm suspension, electric start and a 15lt fuel capacity. And as far as production quality goes, there are simply no shortcuts. The finish is good, so it's a job well done.

And we should also mention the two-year warranty, which breaks the mould of most other manufacturers only committing to 12 months. Combine that with a hefty price advantage over the Japanese, American and Canadian opposition, the Kymco ATVs offer excellent value for money.

After sampling the two Kymcos, I'm keen to try out the rest of the off-road range, and we'll also continue to sample the on-road hardware following our recent ride on the Venox 250.

And let's not forget we've also ridden the Kymco-engined BMW G 450 X in recent times - just one of the commercial accords the company has on its books at the moment.

Locally, Kymco Australia and New Zealand has been burning the candle at both ends in setting up a dealer network, and you can understand its haste with the number of new creations coming out of Taiwan - the future is looking bright.

Here is a snapshot of the Kymco ATV range:

MXU300 4x2
Liquid-cooled four-stroke
270cc (19hp)
CVT transmission/high-low range
Dual A-arms up front
Swingarm on the rear
22in tyres/10in rims
Disc brakes F/R

MXU400 4x4
Oil/air-cooled, SOHC four-stroke
367cc (26hp)
CVT transmission/engine braking
Switchable 2WD/4WD
Dual A-arms up front
Link arm on the rear
25in fronts/12in rims
22in rears/12in rims
Disc brakes F/R

MXU500 4x4
Liquid-cooled, DOHC four-stroke
499cc (36hp)
CVT transmission /engine braking
Switchable 2WD/4WD
Dual A-arms up front
'Unit swing' on the rear
25in tyres F-R/12in rims
Disc brakes

UXV500 SIDE-BY-SIDE
Liquid-cooled DOHC four-stroke
498cc (33hp)
CVT transmission /engine braking
Switchable 2WD/4WD/high-low range
Diff lock
Dual A-arms F/R
Disc brakes F/R
25in tyres F/R/12in rims

MXU150
Air-cooled, SOHC four-stroke
149cc (11hp)
CVT transmission
21in front on 10in rims
22in rears on 10in rims
Drum brakes

MAXXER 50
Air-cooled two-stroke
49.4cc (3.9hp)
CVT transmission
Single A-arm front susp'/ 'Unit swing' rear susp.
16in tyres/ 7in rims
Drum brakes

MAXX ER 90
Air-cooled SOHC four-stroke
89.9cc (6.3hp)
CVT transmission
Single A-arm front susp.
Unit swing rear susp.
18in tyres/8in rims
Drum brakes

MAXX ER SPORTS 300
Liquid-cooled SOHC four-stroke
270cc (19hp)
CVT transmission
Double wishbone front/Link arm rear
21in front tyres on 10in rims
20in rear tyres on 9in rims
Disc brakes