Maxsym 600 again

[charles1976]

Fair point....I guess my concern is the service intervals cost and residual values..

[Drago]

Don't forget though that often when magazines test new models they push them hard and so performance/mpg won't be as good as when the engines fully run in.

The scooter infos test reports 6L/100km= 46mpg for sporty riding. Now if I remember correctly early Honda Silverwings would drop into the mid thirties when driven hard enough.

That german user mpg report thingy seem to average around 4.55L/100km(62miles)=61.94mpg. His best is 63mpg.

So mpg range seems to be 46-63mpg, not to bad for the engine size (& CVT transimssion) IMHO. But then being an SYM that of course makes it sh!t.

[charles1976]

To be fair I like the sym brand fab bikes...my 400 just lacked temp gauge

[spaceprobe]

To be fair I like the sym brand fab bikes...my 400 just lacked temp gauge

My 400 had a temperature gauge as does my 600 in fact its the same dash with the addition of low fuel and ABS light.. i would not get too hung up about mpg, mine is getting better than some members Burg 650's. Has I have pointed out earlier the consensus seems to be that SYM engines take a long time to loosen up (does Steve from SYM UK have a view). I have now done 400 miles on the 600 and the mpg is creeping up so I would not let you put you off especially given the purchase price against other big engine scoots. I still maintain its one of the best value scoots on the market

[michaelphillips]

my kymco engine in the j300 did 69 mpg then 72 mpg then 73 mpg a to b so they get better with age

[smeghead]

Well I am back from my look over the Maxsym 600i.
Initial impressions are very favourable, appearance wise its a winner.
It seems very well built, I couldn't really see and appreciable difference in build quality and materials over the Yamaha. I many areas it looks very strong and chunky with large and strong looking alloy castings. If the Sym badges were covered over the scooter could pass for a Japanese made product imho.
The riding position seems a little roomier with more leg stretching room than the Majesty. The seat back hump was not as far back as it could have gone so I guess there is more room available, I looked under the seat and saw lots of holes where I presume the seat hump could be adjusted to, maybe Spaceprobe will elaborate, there was about 3 more rearward adjustments to go and I'd like to know what difference this makes on the seat itself. I felt like I was sitting 'in' the scoot as opposed to 'on' the scoot if that makes sense.
The controls and switchgear seem very decently made, both brake levers are span adjustable which is nice.
I couldn't see a lots of fittings and screws that would obviously rust, but again Spaceprobe will know how durable they are.
The seat rises on two sturdy looking struts but the storage under there is less than the Majesty but should be enough for the average shop, I sort of expected this as the Maj is very good in that respect. A nice touch is that it has an electronic release as well as a mechanical one.
The handbrake is in reach under the right of the front fairing as operated really easily.
The dashboard looks very stylish and is in easy view, on the Maj I need to glance down to see the displays.
I didn't look how easy to would be to do routine checks such as oil and spark plug, my Maj has a removable flap under the seat giving easy access to the plug and the oil dipper is also easy to get at.
I am definitely interested in a test ride now, so Mr Sym please let me know when and where the roadshows are and I'll do my best to pop along.

[charles1976]

Sounds promising....

[spaceprobe]

Hi Smeg, do let me know if there are any questions I can help with. Screen as 2 positions and seat back 3, I am 6'2", and have the screen on the upper position and the seat back all the way back. I find this very comfortable because I can stretch out. Yes you do tend to sit in it which I feel helps with cornering and maneuvering etc. There is no dip stick on the 600 (despite what the handbook says) instead this as been replaced by a very large easy to read window on the lower off side (and I have to say its the easiest oil window to read I have ever come across). If you follow the workshop manual (if you have access to one) procedure for getting to the spark plug its a nightmare. Its easier to remove the the near side lower trim and go up from underneath. The under seat storage on the 600 is slightly less than the 400 but I can still fit both an extra large full face and a half face in helped by the diagram that SYM have placed inside the storage area and at the moment I believe SYM are still giving away a free SHAD SH45 top box which I have come to really like. My house overlooks the sea but I do have a garage. No rust as yet on the 600, the 400 got a little surface rust on the exhaust join, but it never seemed to get any worse and I just used to rub it with ACF50 each time I cleaned it. With my two previous bikes I was fighting a loosing battle with rust despite the efforts of ACF 50. I think its worth a test ride because of nothing else it is is my humble opinion very good value for money. The weakest point is the appalling owners hand book, badly written, inaccurate and with stuff missing. If I ever do that trip to Taiwan that Steve was talking about I shall have some things to say about that. Finally in term of appearance, the Matt black with red trim that I went for gets lots of positive comments and is just so easy to clean (no polishing just spray on http://www.getgeared.co.uk/PROCYCLE_Mot ... ry=3010649" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; rinse off and dry)

[smeghead]

Hi Space,
I really liked it mate, I'd definitely have bought one over the Maj if they'd been around a couple of years ago. I like the oil window idea, I've had a few bikes with those, very handy.
The spark plug thing is just that if I got one I'd probably stick a Brisk plug in it! I think you did that didn't you?
Before you had the Maxsym's what did you have? The reason I ask is I wondered if you could benchmark them against your other rides.

[spaceprobe]

Hi Smeg the 400 was my first scoot I had been a cruiser boy for many years my last one (traded in for the 400) being a Kawasaki Vulcan. I think that's why I liked the Max because of its comfy feet forward position. Once you worked out how to do it changing the plug was easy enough and yes I did put a Brisk on the 400. With the 400 I felt there was some throttle lag that this fixed but it's not something I have noticed with the 600 hence I have not changed the plug. Mention of resale value was made on my 18 month old 400 I was given £3000 against the 600 which I did not feel was too bad.