Easy Rider Atom 150 You may not be Peter Fonda, but you can still cruise in style. Chinese cruiser, Honest performer $2990+orc
Words & photography by JEREMY BOWDLER Half the time it seems that each scooter that scores a test in these pages also kicks off a new market category, and so it was with the GT150, built in China by Jingchen.
Not quite a maxi with only 150cc, so a minimaxi, then? Certainly the 150cc and claimed 85km/h capacity would make it a fine commuter, but that sells the scoot short as well. It steers nicely, thanks to the 12-inch front wheel carrying a 110/90 section tyre, but not like a sports scooter.
It's faster than all but the most determined throttle jockey off the line, but then the power falls in a bit of a hole until the CVT catches up with the rest of the scooter, so it's not for wannabe GP racers. No, all things considered, itís a cruiser, but not a heavyweight. So cruiser lite, perhaps?
What's in a name, anyway? The GT to be badged Atom 150 in NSW and sold through Scooteria dealerships fulfils several roles. It's handy as a commuter, with a narrow width of 731mm, a reasonable spread of power and good weather protection.
It's good as a weekend ride as well, with a well shaped seat plus a backrest for your pillion. You can stick your legs out into the feet forward position and dream of highway pegs and Easy Rider. Well,until the ëbars hit your knees if youíre tall.
Still, it will cruise the coast with ease.
It also has a host of practical (and some not so practical) features. To kick off, there ís the (what looks like an ancient Yamaha) handbrake attached to the rear brake lever. Handbrakes are much overlooked items with scooters and they are incredibly handy for those pesky hill starts. The sidestand has an ignition cut-out rather than being spring loaded which is good.
The fuel cap is located at the front of the seat beneath a lockable flap, and that means youíre unlikely to fill the luggage space with gas. Even if the luggage space wouldnít hold all that much. Itís a bit disappointing, though the rear rack is strong enough to hold a top box (and it would be easy to attach).
The seat latch is controlled by the ignition switch, though it can also be opened by removing several body panels including the one surrounding the tail lights and then reaching up and around and flicking the latch. Donít ask me how I know this, just accept that it involved fresh raw squid, a missing circlip and a hot day...
There are other storage spaces, with one on each side of the front legshield. The left-hand pocket has a lockable lid, the right-hand one doesnít. Interestingly the pockets are quite deep and I couldnít get my (admittedly large) hands down to the bottom. Not so good for loose change for tolls, methinks, But maybe you have slimmer more delicate hands.
Once youíre on top of all the ins and outs, the scooter is quite good fun. As I mentioned, it steers well, the front brake is strong and predictable, though thereíd be little danger of your locking up the rear. You can look at it as a good safety measure or a lack of bite depending upon your attitude. It wouldnít particularly bother me.
So. Another Chinese scooter that starts, stops, steers and goes. The price is attractive and the scooter will find friends. The company has been building bikes for 25 years and exporting for 15, six of those to Australia. There is a two-year/20,000km parts and labour warranty and the importer GT Motorcycles has more than 60 dealers around Australia. There's something to be said for strength in numbers?
As published in TW SCOOTER MAGAZINE - 6/03/2008
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