Retro foal at an affordable price: Kymco Filly 50i – cute entry-level scooter tested

With the Filly, Taiwanese scooter manufacturer Kymco broke new ground at the turn of the millennium: This cute little vehicle was the first 50cc scooter with a four-stroke engine. Now the Filly is back – still with 50cc and at a competitive price. Let's take it for a thorough test drive.

Actually, it should be called the Filly, after all, the model name means filly or young mare. Be that as it may, the newcomer is cute and compact and boasts a trendy retro design. Besides matte red, it's also available in matte blue—purely a matter of taste. Despite the low entry-level price of €2,000 plus €200 delivery costs, the 50-series model is quite decently equipped on its twelve-inch wheels.

The large top case comes standard, complementing the somewhat limited storage space under the comfortable seat and the two practical glove compartments for small items in the fairing. There's full-LED lighting, two wide-projecting and clearly visible exterior mirrors, a somewhat small digital and analog display, and even a USB port for charging your phone.

Very easy to use

It's extremely easy to handle: The low, step-through design makes it easy to climb onto the 74-centimeter-high seat, which can even be used for a pillion passenger in a pinch or on shorter journeys. Even slightly shorter riders can rest securely on the ground, ensuring safety when stopping at traffic lights, for example.

Pull the brake, press the start button—and the fuel-injected mini-machine roars into action. Not too loud, not annoying. But in the age of e-mobility, one could imagine the whole thing without the noise of a combustion engine.

Shot glass class engine

The dynamics of the 2.4 kW/3.3 hp engine, which is in the shot glass class, are manageable, thanks in part to the class-standard power transmission via centrifugal clutch and continuously variable variator. The only downhill stretches that are somewhat rapid are those where the engine, limited to the legal 45 km/h (28 mph), can sometimes reach 50 to 60 km/h (31 to 40 mph).

Going in the opposite direction, uphill, it quickly becomes relatively comfortable. The empty 101-kilogram Filly, plus its 75-kilogram rider, managed a stretch with a 14 percent gradient at just under 20 km/h, so you do need a bit of patience. It's faster on flat terrain, and it's really funny, and initially irritating, to not have to let off the gas for a second when entering towns from a country road – you're always in the green zone except in 30 km/h zones.

Decent suspension

The Filly's chassis, with its hydraulic telescopic fork at the front and a swing arm dampened by two spring struts at the rear, is more than adequate for the performance offered; for such a small scooter, the Filly even absorbs road bumps quite well.

The upright seating position also allows for longer rides, and the fan-cooled two-valve engine's fuel consumption is pleasingly low. During our test drives, we were unable to force more than two liters per 100 kilometers through the injectors, despite constant full throttle. Thanks to the 4.6-liter tank, this allows for trips of a good 200 kilometers between refueling stops. The braking system, disc at the front and drum at the rear, works confidently and quietly, even when you push the permissible total weight of 254 kg to the limit with two people plus luggage.

Its stylish design, inner qualities, and attractive price make the Kymco Filly an attractive option for all 50cc riders with an AM license, and for use as a mobility aid for campers, for example. However, this market niche is quite competitive, with rivals such as the Sym Fiddle 50 and the Peugeot Kisbee 50. The company also has a potent competitor: the Kymco Like II S 50i, which is slightly more powerful and sportier, but also costs €600 more.

Kymco Filly 50i - technical data

• Engine: fan-cooled single-cylinder, 50 cc displacement, 2.4 kW/3.3 hp at 7,000 rpm, two valves, injection, CVT automatic, centrifugal dry clutch, belt secondary drive
• Chassis: Tubular steel frame, telescopic fork, rear swing arm, two shock absorbers; tires 100/80-12 (front) and 120/70-12 (rear). Single-disc brake at the front, drum brake at the rear.
• Assistance systems: n/a
• Dimensions and weight: Wheelbase 1.27 m, seat height 74 cm, weight ready to drive 101 kg, payload 153 kg; fuel tank capacity 4.6 l
• Performance and consumption (test data): Top speed 45 km/h, consumption 2.0 l/100 km, theoretical range 230 km
• Price: 2200 euros including additional costs