Kymco Quannon
Encyclopedia
The Quannon is Taiwanese motorcycle manufacturer Kymco
's competitor to the 125 cc sports bike segment, a segment it shares with Honda
's CBR125R
.
driving four valves instead of the pushrods that activated the two-valve cylinder in the Zing. This, together with various modifications to the ignition, exhaust and distribution system, increased the engine's power output by a little over 2 HP (from 10.8 HP in the Zing). The new intended operating regime for the bike also required the addition of an oil cooling system to help cope with the higher rev operation. The engine in the Quannon also includes a secondary air injection system, called SAS (Secondary Air System) by Kymco, which together with a catalytic converter
allows the Quannon to comply with EURO3 European emission standards
, a requirement for its commercialization in that region.
Then in october 2008, a 125 cc naked version called Quannon Naked (KR Naked in the United States) was made available. The naked version of the bike has been revised in several aspects compared to the original, and now features an aluminum frame which, at 8.9 Kg, is 30% lighter than its steel counterpart. The front suspension is also made of aluminum now, and its diameter was increased from 33 to 37 mm. The fuel tank capacity was also increased by 1.5 liters, bringing it to 15 liters. As far as performance goes, the gear ratios were revised, accounting for a shorter first gear, and the rev limit was raised from 10,000 to 12,000 RPM. Also, the air filter
intake was modified to make it more silent, and the exhaust has been redesigned and is now divided into two segments, which should make it easier to install an aftermarket replacement. All new are the single headlight and reworked instruments panel, which is now fully digital, sporting dual LCD screens.
A new model named Kymco Quannon 150 Fi has also been announced, whose name suggests it will feature fuel injection
like its competitor, the CBR125R.
Kymco
KYMCO KYMCO KYMCO (trade name for the Kwang Yang Motor Co, Ltd is a Taiwanese company that manufactures motor scooters, motorcycles, and ATVs for worldwide distribution. Founded in 1963, the company originally made parts for Honda. The company built its first complete scooter in 1970 and began...
's competitor to the 125 cc sports bike segment, a segment it shares with Honda
Honda
is a Japanese public multinational corporation primarily known as a manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles.Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, as well as the world's largest manufacturer of internal combustion engines measured by volume, producing more than...
's CBR125R
Honda CBR125R
The Honda CBR125R is a sport bike fitted with a 125 cc four-stroke engine. The CBR125R first appeared on the market in 2004. It is manufactured in Thailand alongside the CBR150R, the latter for the Far East market.-History:...
.
Engine
The engine in the Quannon is an improved version of the one featured in the Kymco Zing II. Being that the Zing is a cruiser-type bike, the engine had to undergo several modifications to fit a bike that intended to compete in the sports bike segment. The Quannon engine was thus fitted with a chain-driven overhead camshaftOverhead camshaft
Overhead cam valvetrain configurations place the engine camshaft within the cylinder heads, above the combustion chambers, and drive the valves or lifters in a more direct manner compared to overhead valves and pushrods...
driving four valves instead of the pushrods that activated the two-valve cylinder in the Zing. This, together with various modifications to the ignition, exhaust and distribution system, increased the engine's power output by a little over 2 HP (from 10.8 HP in the Zing). The new intended operating regime for the bike also required the addition of an oil cooling system to help cope with the higher rev operation. The engine in the Quannon also includes a secondary air injection system, called SAS (Secondary Air System) by Kymco, which together with a catalytic converter
Catalytic converter
A catalytic converter is a device used to convert toxic exhaust emissions from an internal combustion engine into non-toxic substances. Inside a catalytic converter, a catalyst stimulates a chemical reaction in which noxious byproducts of combustion are converted to less toxic substances by dint...
allows the Quannon to comply with EURO3 European emission standards
European emission standards
European emission standards define the acceptable limits for exhaust emissions of new vehicles sold in EU member states. The emission standards are defined in a series of European Union directives staging the progressive introduction of increasingly stringent standards.Currently, emissions of...
, a requirement for its commercialization in that region.
Variants
A 150 cc (62 mm×49.5 mm, 149.4 cc) version of the bike was released, featuring an extra HP compared to the 125 cc version, taking it to 14 HP. While the 125 cc model didn't get official distribution in the United States, being mainly sold in Europe, the 150 cc was brought to the US market in the form of the Kymco KR Sport 150.Then in october 2008, a 125 cc naked version called Quannon Naked (KR Naked in the United States) was made available. The naked version of the bike has been revised in several aspects compared to the original, and now features an aluminum frame which, at 8.9 Kg, is 30% lighter than its steel counterpart. The front suspension is also made of aluminum now, and its diameter was increased from 33 to 37 mm. The fuel tank capacity was also increased by 1.5 liters, bringing it to 15 liters. As far as performance goes, the gear ratios were revised, accounting for a shorter first gear, and the rev limit was raised from 10,000 to 12,000 RPM. Also, the air filter
Air filter
A particulate air filter is a device composed of fibrous materials which removes solid particulates such as dust, pollen, mold, and bacteria from the air. A chemical air filter consists of an absorbent or catalyst for the removal of airborne molecular contaminants such as volatile organic compounds...
intake was modified to make it more silent, and the exhaust has been redesigned and is now divided into two segments, which should make it easier to install an aftermarket replacement. All new are the single headlight and reworked instruments panel, which is now fully digital, sporting dual LCD screens.
A new model named Kymco Quannon 150 Fi has also been announced, whose name suggests it will feature fuel injection
Fuel injection
Fuel injection is a system for admitting fuel into an internal combustion engine. It has become the primary fuel delivery system used in automotive petrol engines, having almost completely replaced carburetors in the late 1980s....
like its competitor, the CBR125R.
External links
- Quannon at Kymco
- Quannon Naked at Kymco