MCN Show, Excel 2014 scooter roundup

[Globs]

Ok, straight to the chase:

Kymco: Represented by Kawasaki and BMW (see *).
* Kawasaki - can't put your feet forward
* BMW - too big, heavy and impractical, may as well get a proper sportsbike.
Honda: Forza looking nice as always.
SYM: Absent.
Yamaha: Xmax looked ok but plastics a bit cheap, Tmax the same at £9k....
Piaggio's X10: Looking good - ABS, quality finish, spacious, I might have to buy one of these.

Smaller show than last year with less scooters though .

I guess in France manufacturers actually market scooters, whereas in the UK they try to sell us £17k touring bikes that do 35mpg and go through £150 tyres every 3,000km during a major recession and wonder why bikes sales are falling....

[johnp]

Any pictures for us

[Steve_D]

I'm just waiting for my mates to come round and we'll be off - first stop for a fry-up in a greasy spoon I know in Plaistow and then to the show. This time I'll be going with an interest mainly in touring bike stuff as I've recently sold my Burgman and bought an FJR. If I get a chance I'll take some pictures. I hope it's not another disappointment rip-off of a show.

[Globs]

The X10



By far the best touring machine of the show unless going off-road!

Good looking, powerful, wet clutch=no grabbing ever, ABS, ASR, decent underseat space, good weather protection as standard (except for hands!), good lighting, decent service intervals, factory fit colour coded top-box option.

If Piaggio get their parts distribution act together (there are signs that they are) it could be unbeatable, unlike SYM - amazing machines but without any effective backup and therefore now irrelevant. .

[Normsthename]

Nice Picture

wet clutch=no grabbing ever, ABS, ASR

Not sure about the Wet Clutch design, will it not be a lot harder to service the Belt???
Never had a problem with the Dry Clutches on the 7 or so scooters that I have owned.
Traction Control (ASR) on a 350cc Scooter sounds like a complete waste of money!
The X10 does look nice........

Andy

[Steve_D]

Went today and it wasn't too bad for me. I bought a pair of Scott textile trousers, a Scott textile jacket, a Givi tanklock bag for my FJR and some cheapish earplugs. Spent £390

Saw the scruffy one from Top Gear over by the classic bikes - I think some of them were his.

While we were there my mate won this eBay auction for a BMW R1200RT http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-R-1200-RT ... true&rt=nc" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; so he was well pleased and even got the drinks in to celebrate!

Took a few pictures for you: Liked the look of the Honda and had one in mind as a replacement for my SH300 but not enough legroom for me.

[Globs]

Nice Picture

wet clutch=no grabbing ever, ABS, ASR

Not sure about the Wet Clutch design, will it not be a lot harder to service the Belt???
Never had a problem with the Dry Clutches on the 7 or so scooters that I have owned.
Traction Control (ASR) on a 350cc Scooter sounds like a complete waste of money!
The X10 does look nice........

Andy

On my SYM GTS300 the clutch picks up at walking pace and a huge so it always behaves perfectly.
On my SYM Joyride 200 the clutch is much smaller and prone to glazing - I have spoken to other owners about this. It's especially bad is you have to navigate traffic two-up because the clutch gets very hot then.

The wet-clutch basically allows the engine cooling system to stop it getting too hot so it should always remain perfect. It does however stop you using automotive synthetic oil as that is too slippery. The MCN reviews of the X10 are pretty good and worth reading BTW. The belt and variator remains external and should be simpler than usual because the clutch is not part of it.

ASR is a basically free component of ABS (for an integrated ECU) so I suspect that's why it's on there. However the guy at the show told me (he has one) that it actually kicked in quite often over wet drain covers so it does get used, even if the benefit isn't really that great - more to warn you that the surface isn't that good I guess.

I like the 15" front wheel too - just that little bit smoother. I also found out it has 2 independent trip meters (each with avg. MPG) and instantaneous and average MPG display while you are driving - the various displays being selectable by the mode button. Does about 300km per tank too which I have found with my GTS300 an incredibly useful range - better than many 1200 touring bikes .

I did previously mention (on a different thread) that the storage space was shallow but I did try one of the stands full face lids in the back and it fitted in really easily without even trying.

[spaceprobe]

The X10

If Piaggio get their parts distribution act together (there are signs that they are) it could be unbeatable, unlike SYM - amazing machines but without any effective backup and therefore now irrelevant. .

Sorry Globs but i think you are being a little unkind about SYM UK, they seem to have got their act together very well. All emails are answered by return, when there was a problem with the seat release via my ignition switch it was repaired under warranty (even though I do my own service). Since my nearest SYM dealer is 22 miles away SYM UK arranged for the local Piaggio to do the work. So that I would still only have to use one key, the ignition switch, glove box lock and fuel cap were all replaced. All parts were sent to the Piaggio dealer within 24 hours. I would say that was very effective backup, my choice of new bike Maxsym 600 or X10 500 finally came down to the SYM because of the many posts world wide complaining of X10 problems and of getting parts from Piaggio. I might add I did not care for the attitude of the local Piaggio dealer who told me the stories about X10 master cylinders, poor fuse boxes and wiring looms were just that and were made up by people on scooter forums. Yes SYM UK are a small set up and don't have the money to spend on shows etc but I cant fault them and my Maxsym 400 as been brilliant. I should add that it is 18 months old and cost £4000 new and I have been offered £3000 trade in against the 600 which I would say is very good depreciation. Of course it will also be down to choice but one can only speak has one finds.

[gn2]

I have been offered £3000 trade in against the 600 which I would say is very good depreciation.

I wonder what you would get trading against a non-Sym...?

[spaceprobe]

£1800 against a 8 month old Burgman 650, low milage supplied by the dealer from new £6000. Was tempted but it was not for me and I was not impressed by their trade in offer but then they were knocking the Burg out below list price.