If all goes to plan-----------

[Bogger]

Go for it Steve. Personally I think it looks great. Scooters are much underrated. I keep looking at the new SH300i. Bit pricey though.

Bogger

[knapdog]

Good man, steve. Looks great. Only teasing.

[stevew]

Go for it Steve. Personally I think it looks great. Scooters are much underrated. I keep looking at the new SH300i. Bit pricey though.

Bogger

Cheers. Had a test ride on a SH300. Really nice machine, plenty of go and handled well too.
But for me too cramped and with limited feet positions. I knew that my legs would get uncomfortable after a few hours. So wouldn't suit me for touring. Also i like the "transmission hump" on the scoots like the s-wing and the Maxsym. Feels sort of more secure although i realise that's just my brain telling me something that isn't real That Maxsym has the feet forward option too, really luxurious
TBH i would have been buying the Honda if it wasn't for the ergonomics problem.
Get one Mr B..............with those SH300s, second hand is the way to go as they are truly Honda quality.

[Capitano]

Done some digging re the spares situation and it seems to have improved.

My experience in the last 4 weeks says it hasn't! The importers and dealers will tell you they are readily available ... until you actually try to get them!

I'm being serious Steve. Given my riding experience and what I've seen of Sym's general reliability and build quality I would buy one. Given what I've seen in the past few weeks and heard from trusted sources about the spares situation I absolutely, definitely would NOT!

I wouldn't want anyone I know to be stitched up with a bike they can't get parts for, mate.

[stevew]

Have you looked outside the UK ?
I have been speaking to Sym owners who if they can't get the stuff in the UK they succeed from mainland Europe or even the far east.

[Capitano]

Have you looked outside the UK ?
I have been speaking to Sym owners who if they can't get the stuff in the UK they succeed from mainland Europe or even the far east.

Yes, Australia. Scott's view was as an independent dealer. He can't get parts from anywhere, and this is a guy who gets custom parts made up and supplied from worldwide sources and parts for long forgotten Jap bikes too. When he confirmed my fears that the situation regarding Sym spares was dire, we listened.

I've been in the situation with my previous van where Daihatsu stopped importing spares into the UK, but the spares were supposedly available in mainland Europe and Japan.

It was, quite frankly, a nightmare that resulted in me selling on a perfectly good van because simple maintenance needed planning weeks in advance and any unexpected occurrence threatened to keep me off the road for weeks, perhaps months.

I know it's great having the shiny new bike and I pretty much know that the Max Sym will be a superb bike. However, I simply would NOT buy one given what I've experienced of the spares situation and what sources I know and trust have confirmed.

[Newtsalad]

Try getting spares for a 1978 XL 350.

[Capitano]

Try getting spares for a 1978 XL 350.

Thing is you'd buy a 70s XL350 fully in the knowledge that spares are not going to be easy to come by.

A brand new, current model scooter costing 5 grand is a different kettle of fish. I'd expect everything to be available tomorrow, within a week maximum. Scouring mainland Europe or Asia for spares that are sometimes non existent isn't what I'd expect to have to do.

[mark1982]

my mates got same problems with his xl 500 brought it in several boxes of bits about 12 years ago an still hasn't found all bits he needs to complete it

[horobags]

Go for it Steve. Personally I think it looks great. Scooters are much underrated. I keep looking at the new SH300i. Bit pricey though.

Bogger

a ride yesterday over to Matlock, yes ,, I agree,, sex on wheels!!