Scooter News The Winter Challenge Battling wind and rain, near freezing conditions, all three scooters and riders are now safely back in Sydney.
Allen Drysdale
Piaggio X7 300i CF Moto Jet Max 250i Kymco Downtown 300i ABS
The Winter Challenge has been run with all three scooters making the trip successfully from Melbourne to Sydney. If you've been keeping up-to-date you would have seen that we nominated three scooters for the trip, the Kymco Downtown 300i, the Piaggio X7 300i and the new CF Moto Jet Max 250.
So just what was the Winter Challenge? Three scooters, picked up in Melbourne's CBD, together we make the journey along some of the best country roads Victoria and NSW have on offer. Roads like the Black Spur between Healesville and Marysville or the sensational Talgamo/Murray River Rd that follows that massive inland sea that they call Lake Hume. The trip is ridden over two days, a half way stop at Albury, a mammoth 10 hour ride the 2nd day back into Sydney.
We'll have a full update over the coming weeks but initially I can report that all three scooters made the journey back to Sydney blemish free. This, in near zero temperatures and driving rain around Tumbarumba continuing all the way to Tumut. Howling 80 km/h headwinds played havoc between Yass and Goulburn along the Hume, the trip had the lot.
We plan on taking you through some of the roads travelled, how each scooter performed personally and comparatively. We will also take a look at how our riding gear coped with near zero temperatures and relentless rain.
I will make a few sneaky observations first.......... A 300 category scooter in this format could be the answer. Weather protection is exceptional, storage is expansive and the performance is adequate and usually sufficient. A category for the masses, an all-rounder that will devour the 5 day commute. When asked to take it further, this style of scooter can be just as capable and exhilarating, even when compared to some other forms of two wheeled transport, regardless of power.
Reviews, comments and feedback from all three combatants will be posted shortly. Myself, Muz and Scooterman all made notes along the way and extensive animated discussions and summations took place at our half way mark over a few quite ales. Each rider was swapped from scooter to scooter, each riding stint would consist of a few hours.
The Winter Challenge initially for me had one thing in-mind. Could I purchase a new Maxi for around $4500 (Jet Max) on the road and ride it Melbourne to Sydney. Well the answer is a resounding yes, and the CF Moto made the journey blemish free. Even on the extended Saturday freeway leg, the Jet Max sat comfortably and consistently at a buck 20 (GPS measured).
The other two in the group were exceptional, both individual, both incorporating a series of strengths that would see them carry out a trip like this comfortably. The Piaggio X7 showcasing just how smooth and linear its quasar engine can be, the Downtown proof that being a true 300 counts.
The Scootersales.com.au Winter Challenge, three different riders, three totally different scooters, many differing opinions - check back soon for updates.
The combatants are :
CF Moto Jet Max 250 RRP $3990
www.cf-moto.com.au
Piaggio X7 300i RRP/MLP $5990
www.piaggio.com.au
Kymco Downtown 300i ABS RRP $7490
www.kymco.com.au
The riders
  
Al Muz Scooterman
published 21/06/2011 |