I just stumbled upon this website and love it!! I would love some advice from anyone that can help. Is this the best place to ask or should I post in the general maxi forum?
I live in London and have a 10 mile commute through central London.
I have had a Sym Megalo 125 for the last 12 years. Until 2 weeks ago when a car driver very kindly 'didn't see me' when taking a fast right and wrote off my bike (and nearly myself!)
I am now in the market for a new bike. I have a full bike license but want to stick to a scooter and not a motorbike. But I want to upgrade from a 125 to a 300cc. I don't like Vespas. From looking around, I think I have narrowed my choices down to the following: Yamaha X-Max 250, Kawasaki J300, Honda Forza 300, Kymco 300 or the Sym Joymax 300i. Although my mechanic has been quite emphatic that I shouldn't touch the X-Max as he says they are very unreliable (are made in France, not Japan) and sees them in his workshop all the time, although I do like the new post 2014 X-Max 250.
Lastly, I have also seen the new Sym Symphony 200 ST - not sure about this one though.
I hope I haven't confused you all. Hoping for some helpful feedback...
Thanks in advance,

Kymco Downtown 300 is the cheapest ABS equipped 300, Forza 300 has by far the longest service intervals.
Kawasaki is a Kymco in a party frock.
Daelim S3 Advance 250 is only £3000 but no ABS.
Yamaha Xmax has very old hat lowest power engine of the 300s in your list.

Welcome , yes this is a great site. You have had 12 great years from SYM so a case for sticking with what you know but at the end of the day look at a few and see what suits you. There will be plenty of advice and fun for whatever you choose

simoncrp wrote: I live in London and have a 10 mile commute through central London.

I have a Daelim S3 Advance 250 and it's small and lightweight enough for town/city use, but will keep up with motorway traffic as well

Currently the price includes a matching Daelim top box

You can buy the Daelim S3 Advance 250 for £3000 through Bolton Motorcycles, and pay for delivery to your house - or buy one from any Daelim dealer for £3299

I did consider buying a Sym, but the Daelim was cheaper - but Sym would also be a good choice for you

Whatever make you buy, the warranty needs to be honored - lots of sensors on a new scooter that can go wrong - so check user forums to make sure the manufacturer doesn't try and wriggle out of free warranty repairs

welcome...
i has the '09 XMax 250 for about 4 years and 36,000 miles - few niggles but nothing too major...

your mechanic friend may see em in his workshop all the time, as there is a lot of em out there...
if you liked your previous Sym, then this is a good place to start and by which others should be compared
how about throwing a late plate Honda SH300 in to the mix, a little skinnier than teh maxi types you have mentioned, may be just the tool...

I have the XMax400 and would be seriously considering dropping back down to 250 or maybe the SH125 as a future scoot for my commute.
maybe get down Metropolis M/Cs as they have a large stock of varied secondhand at least for a sit on and look under the seat etc, may help narrow te choices...

Enjoy the site - and who is ya spanner man and if he scooter freindly and London-ish based may be worth having his details for getting out a tight spot or breakdown...

Thanks to all for your replies. I think I will have to try some out.

My mechanic is Tom at kings Cross Scooters. He likes his SYMs! I've used him for ages and he's always happy to help out.

welcome

it depends on how much you intend to spend? also dont forget with the new laws beginning 2016 all new scoots 125cc and over will have to have ABS as standard, i know i should have bought some shares in Bosch....
take your time as you will have the scoot for some time and welcome lad

Hi Simon and welcome.

Hi simon the kawasaki j300 is a kymco 300i ,Kawasaki have put there own plastics on it and put about £300 on it,.