Piaggio out Burger the Burgman.

[ridinhigh]

heres a pic maxsym

[halfabusa]

wonder how much it'll cost. looks good though.

[Data]

Just found out the Maxsym400i and the 600i have both got ABS & Electronic Traction Control for the 2012 models, at least they should have when they get to the uk. Cost is not set for the 600i but will undercut the 400 Burgman ABS model easily I should think. How is Suzy going to respond? Getting exciting eh! Several foreign journos are waxing lyrical about both models of the Sym concerning features, engines and quality.

[bornagainbiker]

One foreign report I read said the Maxsym 400i ABS is due in France this June 2012 would be about €5999, so one would think about a £500 premium over the current £4999 at £5500?

[gn2]

If the Maxsym 400 (either version) is to have any chance of success against the X10, it needs to cost a fair bit less than five grand.

[Data]

these bikes will have a very wide appeal in a growing market

But is the market for 400-600cc maxi-scooters actually growing in the UK?
I would venture to suggest that it's actually in decline. [\quote]

Actually, I'm not sure. But judging by the way the dealers are behaving I'd say it is starting to grow again and will be, if not now, a growth market as more and more people like me switch from big bikes to maxi's.

by gn2 » Mon Jun 11, 2012 12:06 am
If the Maxsym 400 (either version) is to have any chance of success against the X10, it needs to cost a fair bit less than five grand.
[/quote]

Why? The Piaggio 330cc is £4999 and the Maxsym 400i is currently £4999. The Maxsym has more power and a 3 year warranty. Both the 400i and the 600i will have ABS and Electronic Traction Control along with that 3year warranty on this years models. The Sym quality has always been good and is now so good it's up with the very best of the Japanese models according to journo's relating to durability, reliability and fit and finish, no doubt because of their long association with producing lots of engines for Honda (Honda are a fussy bunch too about who they let build engines for them). Gotta say the 400 I looked at was just amazing when I was trying to decide which one to buy, Burgman or Maxsym 400. Fit and finish was superb as was the paint on the Sym and was as good as the fit & finish on Burgman. The Sym dealer went to the trouble of getting one is for me to look at. That's in direct contrast to some of the Piaggio products I've looked at where the paint and fit and finish was errrr....questionable to say the least and the dealers were often miffed at the way Piaggio treats them (and said so!) and so are not always very enthusiatic about selling you anything, pointing to other brands instead. And that's a recent assessment too! No...not saying Piaggio are rubbish or anything, they make good scooters. But they don't always match the quality of some others, they can be erratic in this area even now. Would I buy the X10? Probably if it had the 500cc motor and the price was right. Otherwise I'd look at Sym, much better in lots of ways including price. But also depends on what you are looking for. I'm still reeling from excitment over my new Burgman 400z abs and lots of people wouldn't buy one of those!

[gn2]

Why?
On paper the X10 will be much cheaper to run than a Maxsym and has a higher equipment spec.
Time and sales figures will tell whether Sym have their pricing right, but on past evidence they are yet to do so.
Sym GTS EVO 300i £3700 sells typically 30 units a year: http://howmanyleft.co.uk/vehicle/sym_gt ... 00#!newreg
Kymco Downtown 300i £4000 sells typically 20 units a year: http://howmanyleft.co.uk/vehicle/kymco_downtown#!newreg
Yamaha X-Max 250 £4400 sells typicallly 190 units a year: http://howmanyleft.co.uk/vehicle/yamaha ... ax#!newreg
If an overpriced and arguably underpowered Yamaha can outsell the Sym GTS or Kymco Downtown by at least six to one, I can't see the X10 having any bother trouncing the Maxsym in terms of unit sales.
Sym and Kymco both need to radically chop their prices if they are to get a proper foothold in the UK market.

[ridinhigh]

could it just be the brand name selling the yamaha which more well known than Sym or or Kymco,
i would suggest it is

[gn2]

Quite possibly.
Branding is important for customer confidence.
Sym and Kymco will only become "names" if they can sell many more scooters.
They will only sell them if the price is right.
As of right now, the price is too high.
Look at Sony.
Once upon a time their products were cheap cheap cheap.
They sold loads, became popular and established a brand identity.
Now they are considered premium products.
For Sony you can substitute Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki or Suzuki, they all did the same.
Now it's Sym and Kymco's turn to sell cheap and establish a brand identity but it seems that they don't quite understand the rules of the game.

[barryG]

SYM and Kymco need a decent UK importer and a proper dealer network.... many of the dealers are just clothing/acessory shops that happen to sell scooters. Thats starting to change with dealers like Bilkos place in Leicestershire and now we have one darn sarf in Southampton that sells MV Agusta and SYM and its a proper bike shop

I was chatting with my local Piaggio dealer about SYM, they rate them but say that the servicing intervals need to come down and the parts prices are similar to Piaggios. They also said they are too expensive and depreciate badly. However, they did say that they are the only non European/Japanese make that they are happy to take in part ex and sell on, as they dont come back.

If I were buying new right now Id be looking at the X10 and if it didnt have the power I want Id still buy the Burger as I dont fancy the 6000km or 6 month servicing on the SYM. However, Id like to ride one to see how it is.