MaxSym 600i: Budget Thriller

Just when you think the market for scooters with a large capacity is finally dead in South Africa, along comes another attempt to convince the public that there is life left in this difficult segment. Maxi-scooters are big business in Europe, where their ease of use and impressive performance are considered an adequate return for a relatively steep asking price — always a problem in the South African market.

Yamaha’s TMAX rules the roost in countries such as Spain, Italy and France, and justifiably so: it looks great, is capable of 170km/h, handles like a dream and has a build quality that puts many big bikes to shame. I’m a fan, and will forever cherish the bemused looks of so many highway drivers as the scooter I tested a couple of years ago blasted past them in the fast lane. The TMAX costs R95 000, which puts it on par with such consummate motorbikes as Suzuki’s GSR 750. But it’s still less than BMW’s C 600 Sport,         which will set you back a smidgen under R139 000. Gulp!

To be successful here, a maxi-scooter must have all the usual virtues of scooters — and be a lot cheaper. And the arrival of two models from Sym may just do the trick. Never heard of Sym? Not surprising: this Taiwanese company is better known for its small-capacity scooters, which sell well in South Africa. Let’s take the bigger of the two models first. The MaxSym 600i is a direct competitor to Yamaha’s TMAX, but is R7 000 cheaper. Still, R88 000 is an awful lot of money, so what are you getting for your cash? Part of the answer is 30kW from a 565cc fuel-injected single-cylinder engine. That may not sound like a lot, but it is in fact enough to propel the bike to 180km/h. That’s plenty quick for a twist-and-go fully automatic scooter that is as comfortable as an armchair.

Acceleration is what’s important here — no use lane- splitting to the front of a queue of cars if you can’t get away from them when the lights turn green. No worries here: you’ll leave all but the most determined supercar drivers eating your dust. You might imagine that this is nothing but a glorified commuter, but you’d be wrong. You could actually do some serious touring on the MaxSym 600i. No, really, you could. The contoured seat with backrest is good for long periods, as is the passenger perch. There’s useful storage space under the seat (big enough for two full-face helmets), a couple of handy cubbyholes and a lockable version that features a USB port and a 12V socket — handy for charging your phone.

At 238kg dry, it’s no lightweight, but that mass is carried very low, so it doesn’t affect the handling as badly as you’d think. In fact, this is one scooter that is as predictable in its responses as many “proper” motorbikes. Weight is also a factor when it comes to stopping, but once again the MaxSym has you covered, with twin front discs that provide more than enough stopping power. ABS comes standard. If you’re tempted by the idea of hassle-free two-wheel transport in the shape of a scooter, but still find R88 000 a bit daunting, there is an alternative. Sym has a 400cc MaxSym that will do just about everything its bigger brother will do, but for a more palatable R64 950. You lose 5kW, but you also lose 20kg, which means acceleration is not far off what the 600i has to offer. Outright top speed is down a touch too, but you’ll still be able to see 160km/h on the lovely instrument binnacle. There’s no size difference between the two in terms of accommodation, so this scooter is still an option for those with longer distances to cover, although taking a passenger blunts the performance noticeably. Both are good scooters, both have great build quality, but only one has a price low enough to attract South African commuters. In addition to the usual practicality, there’s the fun factor. You won’t believe how much there is, so I recommend you take a demo ride and prepare to be surprised.

The Facts: MaxSym 600i and 400i

MaxSym 600i

Engine: 565cc single-cylinder

Power: 30Kw at 6 500rpm

Torque: 43.2Nm at 5 500rpm

Gearbox: CVT

Weight: 238kg (dry)

Fuel Tank: 14.2 litres

Price: R87 950

Rating: ★★★★

MaxSym 400i

Engine: 399cc single-cylinder

Power: 25.4Kw at 7 000rpm

Torque: 34.5Nm at 5 500rpm

Gearbox: CVT

Weight: 219kg (dry)

Fuel Tank: 14.2 litres

Price: R64 950 Rating: ★★★★

-Mat Durrans