Scooter News SYM Symba Take it from me, get on a Symba, you'll have a blast and make heaps of new friends, all at the same time.
Allen Drysdale 
Introduction
I had been looking forward to spending some time on the SYM Symba. Couldn't put my finger on why ; was it the funky looks, the fact that this was something new and different maybe? Not sure, but something certainly happened over the course of my ride. Check this out......
Specification
First glance over the Symba and all looks good. Typical SYM build quality, great fit and finish. The Symba spec-wise could be seen as basic, and locally the Symba is built for the postal service in Taiwan. The Symba a postal hack? Not for me, part of the attraction is certainly the retro design, the look is spot on.
But first of all, lets go over some of the specs. Engine wise the Symba uses a 101 cc single cylinder motor, basic yet super efficient and reliable. The engine is matched to a 4 speed semi-auto box, meaning gear shifts are performed without a clutch. But more on that later.
A central speedo with fuel gauge sits behind the large chrome headlight. Switchgear has a modern scooter feel, and those exposed chrome bars look very cool indeed. The Symba runs an electric start, and has a good old kick start back up if something goes wrong with the battery.
Seating is separate, you can remove the rear if you wish to add a topbox for storage. The dual rear shocks allow you to neatly adjust them, catering for either one person or two. The brakes all-round are 110 mm drums and the wheel combination is 17 inch spoked rims, front and rear. The front brake is activated through the use of the right hand lever and the rear by the use of your right foot, motorcycle style.
Storage-wise we have the promise of accessories to come, but you can source front baskets and rear panniers if storage is your main priority. Like I said prior, you can also remove the rear seat and attach a topbox easily, no matter what the size. You do get an external helmet lock that allows you to store your helmet safely once parked.
A centre stand and side stand come standard. With this set up you get footpegs rather then a floor to rest your feet, and a small fairing at the front offers protection from the elements.
Drive is by chain rather then belt, and all components are exposed for ease of service. Actually that has to be a major bonus here.
On the Road
The seating position of the Symba is low and comfortable. The bars immediately fall to hand, the seat is plush and soft. The overall position for somebody like me is all comfort (under 6 foot).
Starting the Symba is very scooter-like and you select neutral, pull in the brake and away it goes. Very quite, and surprisingly very refined. Once you select first, a quick twist of the throttle and away you go.
If you have never ridden a semi-auto before, allow a good 10 minute ride to become acquainted. With the Symba you just use the flow of the engine, let revs build and select the next cog. Do it in a relaxed manner and everything just falls into place. Changing down uses the same principles and in no time at all you're loving life. This actually becomes an extreme amount of fun, come into a corner change down, accelerate out, change up. It does bring a smile to the dial.
If you're after outright speed and performance then maybe the Symba wont be your first choice. But saying that I don't think anybody looking at a Symba is thinking speed. Speeds were adequate for around town with a top of around 90 km/h. Off the mark it easily accelerated away with traffic, keeping it all going was not an issue, just use the gears. You can check your speed easily from the saddle on the central speedo, the fuel gauge has a series of single lights that count down as fuel decreases. A neutral light comes in handy for when you stop.
Outright handling is again... fun. Fun because it has those big wheels and good suspension travel. For drums the brakes feel pretty good, hauling the Symba up time after time, no problem at all. Actually dynamically the Symba is a good thing, surprising really given the workhorse status back home. The fact that the Symba is just so light (95 Kg), being basic has its upside.
Now to the crux of riding the Symba. The Symba will be as fuel efficient as you want a commuter to be, expect over 50km/l without trying hard. The Symba will be extremely reliable, thank the Taiwan postal service for getting it right. The Symba will make for a trustworthy commuter, just add storage......
But the biggest thing of all is how you become the best friend of admiring onlookers. Everybody I passed had a look, a comment or a smile, just for me. If you're shy leave it in the garage, or get ready for plenty of on-road interaction. So here I am riding down the road smiling, people are smiling and waving in return, the whole world is smiling when you're riding a Symba.
Conclusion
So there you have it, the Symba makes for a really nice relaxed ride. Forget about those agricultural postie bikes, the Symba I dare say is refined, and deserves to be a hit. It looks great, rides with a sense of calmness about it. You feel very cool on a Symba.
Don't be put off by the semi-auto box. In no time at all you will have it licked, and the lack of storage can be fixed via a set of options, like basket and panniers. Or just whack a box on the back. The Symba will be super efficient, add to this, the reliability the SYM brand is renowned for. Service costs should be pretty minimal given the layout.
The Symba comes in three colours, sky blue, black and red. And this could be your hardest decision as each has their own retro appeal and feel. For me I chose the sky blue, very retro indeed.
Don't be discounting the Symba. I turned up sceptical and walked away a true believer, the Symba just has that spark about it. At $2990 + ORC it's affordable, and different from the norm. Maybe that's why I like it so much......
See more @ www.scoota.com.au
SYM Press Release
published 15/12/2010 |