I know, I know, i have said that a 125 is enough but i have new plans which involve a ride to Bulgaria, maybe, and i want to re-visit Scotland's highlands again soon.
Anyway thought it would be perfect for the Southern Softies.........
If all goes to plan-----------
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stevew
- Posts: 3467
- Joined: Sun Jun 06, 2010 6:19 pm
- Rides:: MaxSym 400i (2013) Wave110i (2014)
- Location: Orpington, UK
If all goes to plan-----------
I will be riding one of these some time next week. Going to P/Ex the S-wing for more power !!
I know, I know, i have said that a 125 is enough but i have new plans which involve a ride to Bulgaria, maybe, and i want to re-visit Scotland's highlands again soon.
Anyway thought it would be perfect for the Southern Softies.........
I know, I know, i have said that a 125 is enough but i have new plans which involve a ride to Bulgaria, maybe, and i want to re-visit Scotland's highlands again soon.
Anyway thought it would be perfect for the Southern Softies.........
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Capitano
- Posts: 5767
- Joined: Wed Oct 27, 2010 8:05 pm
- Rides:: '92 C90, '97 Divvy 6, 36V home-built e-bike
- Location: West Sussex
- Contact:
Re: If all goes to plan-----------
Not to put the mockers on it Steve, but...
- They are great bikes, my local Kawasaki dealer sells them and they are reliable and cheap to maintain
- I rode a Sym for a week in Rhodes putting another 1000km on the 50,000 it had already. It ran as sweet as a nut, like a new motor. The hire place had a fleet of high mileage Syms. According to the owner his previous fleet of Piaggios were now "resting" by the side of many rural roads where they expired at very low mileages.
- My neighbour over the road has one and it always starts first time, and has given her not one moment of grief in nearly 6 years of use.
However, the neighbour over the road has just had hers run into the back of by a car. The insurance company is writing it off even though it is literally only cosmetic damage to a few panels. Just scratches and a few cracks. That's not a surprise though.
The disturbing thing that has come to light is the unavailability of spares. They just aren't available, even for bikes that are still in production. We've contacted all kinds of folk and the spares situation is dire!
A W800 mate from Australia who runs his own motorcycle shop has reported the same from there. If you want spares for a Sym either be prepared to wait, create hassle and maybe not get them in the end anyway.
Give my experience of them I'd have liked to own one. A 300 Joymax would suit me.
Knowing what I know now about the spares situation I'd give them a very wide swerve indeed!
- They are great bikes, my local Kawasaki dealer sells them and they are reliable and cheap to maintain
- I rode a Sym for a week in Rhodes putting another 1000km on the 50,000 it had already. It ran as sweet as a nut, like a new motor. The hire place had a fleet of high mileage Syms. According to the owner his previous fleet of Piaggios were now "resting" by the side of many rural roads where they expired at very low mileages.
- My neighbour over the road has one and it always starts first time, and has given her not one moment of grief in nearly 6 years of use.
However, the neighbour over the road has just had hers run into the back of by a car. The insurance company is writing it off even though it is literally only cosmetic damage to a few panels. Just scratches and a few cracks. That's not a surprise though.
The disturbing thing that has come to light is the unavailability of spares. They just aren't available, even for bikes that are still in production. We've contacted all kinds of folk and the spares situation is dire!
A W800 mate from Australia who runs his own motorcycle shop has reported the same from there. If you want spares for a Sym either be prepared to wait, create hassle and maybe not get them in the end anyway.
Give my experience of them I'd have liked to own one. A 300 Joymax would suit me.
Knowing what I know now about the spares situation I'd give them a very wide swerve indeed!
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wightegi
- Posts: 9719
- Joined: Tue Sep 01, 2009 7:23 pm
- Rides:: 12v 1988 e start C90,Royal Enfield Interceptor 650
- Location: Isle of Wight
Re: If all goes to plan-----------
Size it not every thing ,how far will it go on a tank of fuel? which is the main thing that puts me off a lot of bikes , but then I am quite happy riding for 6 hours non stop.
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Andrewwoey
- Posts: 1246
- Joined: Thu Jun 30, 2011 7:59 am
- Rides:: CM91, plus many others in the garage.
- Location: Near Kidderminster
Re: If all goes to plan-----------
It looks a very nice bike
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Capitano
- Posts: 5767
- Joined: Wed Oct 27, 2010 8:05 pm
- Rides:: '92 C90, '97 Divvy 6, 36V home-built e-bike
- Location: West Sussex
- Contact:
Re: If all goes to plan-----------
Given my reservations about Sym's spares situation personally I'd see if I could get a deal on one of these, a Kymco Downtown 300i.
Bill Dog who I introduced to you at High Beech, has done several Ironbutt rides on one and rates them so highly he bought the Ironbutt machine suplied by Kymco for his girlfriend and bought another for himself.
Great scooters, similar prices to the Syms and proven spares availability.
Bill Dog who I introduced to you at High Beech, has done several Ironbutt rides on one and rates them so highly he bought the Ironbutt machine suplied by Kymco for his girlfriend and bought another for himself.
Great scooters, similar prices to the Syms and proven spares availability.
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Diesel Dave
- Posts: 11055
- Joined: Tue Oct 13, 2009 7:25 pm
- Rides:: 1965 Enfield Diesel, 2017 Sterling, Modenas Kriss and CT200 - the only Cub left
- Location: Brentwood, Essex
Re: If all goes to plan-----------
+1 for the Downtown 300i very comfortable indeed.
That it like a modern car - run it for 5 years then bin it as worthless.
That it like a modern car - run it for 5 years then bin it as worthless.
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Newtsalad
- Admin & site janitor.
- Posts: 17624
- Joined: Fri May 01, 2009 8:30 am
- Rides:: XL1200c, Cali III, C125,GS750,XV535,XL350,BN125,C90's,C200's,CT200,Little Cub's
- Location: Essex boy loose in Suffolk!
Re: If all goes to plan-----------
Bloody 'Eck! Batman's motorised armchair! 
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stevew
- Posts: 3467
- Joined: Sun Jun 06, 2010 6:19 pm
- Rides:: MaxSym 400i (2013) Wave110i (2014)
- Location: Orpington, UK
Re: If all goes to plan-----------
Yeah, bit like a HD with its clothes on ...Newtsalad wrote:Bloody 'Eck! Batman's motorised armchair!
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knapdog
- Posts: 5339
- Joined: Mon Oct 22, 2012 12:51 pm
- Rides:: '96 C90, '83 C90C, '98 Honda Valkyrie
- Location: Barry, Vale of Glamorgan, Wales
Re: If all goes to plan-----------
....and Dinky Toy wheels.stevew wrote:Yeah, bit like a HD with its clothes on ...Newtsalad wrote:Bloody 'Eck! Batman's motorised armchair!
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stevew
- Posts: 3467
- Joined: Sun Jun 06, 2010 6:19 pm
- Rides:: MaxSym 400i (2013) Wave110i (2014)
- Location: Orpington, UK
Re: If all goes to plan-----------
You lot are bloody cruel.........................i like it anyway 
Hey and the wheels are not that dinky..14 and 15 inch I'll have you know
Done some digging re the spares situation and it seems to have improved.
I did some secret shopping to see how easy it was to get stuff now. Most common stuff was OK.
As for the rep of the machine i have no doubt that it is a reliable bike. Made in Taiwan and as a country they have a rep almost up to Japanese standard. The Japs don't seem to make any of the "consumer" bikes there any more
I'm gonna go with it anyway..........................watch this space
Hey and the wheels are not that dinky..14 and 15 inch I'll have you know
Done some digging re the spares situation and it seems to have improved.
I did some secret shopping to see how easy it was to get stuff now. Most common stuff was OK.
As for the rep of the machine i have no doubt that it is a reliable bike. Made in Taiwan and as a country they have a rep almost up to Japanese standard. The Japs don't seem to make any of the "consumer" bikes there any more
I'm gonna go with it anyway..........................watch this space