Sym has been building scooters for ages so it’s not a Johnny come lately company. Being part of San Yang industries it’s a company that has considerable standing in the motor industry. As you might imagine, the factory in Taiwan turns out a pretty decent scooter and now you can buy one here in South Africa.

Sym has teamed up with Motana as their local distribution partner. That may be a company you have never heard of but it is a sister company to Suzuki South Africa. And that means you should be able to pick up a Sym scooter at your local Suzuki shop and better than that, you can get it serviced there as well. So what we have is a well put together scooter at a budget price but with the support of a national dealer network. Only time will tell just how reliable the scooters really are but from our launch ride, they certainly have a quality feel about them. Whilst there is a comprehensive model range in the Sym stable, Motana have decided to test the market by launching just 4 models in South Africa. Throughout the range, Sym use ceramic coated cylinders, which apparently increases engine life and reduces emissions. In common with so many scooters, there is tardis like storage under the seat.

The Orbit is a reasonably trendy looking scooter with a 125cc 4 stroke engine and yours for just a buck under ten grand. Despite the price it does have some nice features like a disc brake and believe it or not, adjustable suspension. The Symphony is also powered by a 125cc 4 stroke and has large 16-inch wheels. It looks a little ungainly in the car park, well as scooters go. But it feels a lot more stable on the road, particularly once you pick the pace up. It was without doubt my favourite of the smaller capacity machine.

Looks aside, the Symphony is the perfect tool for the daily commute. If looking cool is more important then the Mio might be the ride for you. Obviously influenced by the iconic Vespa, the Mio looks the part and is available in a range of funky colours, including pink and has a range of accessories available. There is even a limited football edition, this being World Cup Year.

Powered by a 100cc engine it did find my weight overwhelming. Nevertheless I was able to maintain the urban speed limit throughout the ride. I’m not sure it would fare so well up a steep hill though. The lighter riders found it quite sprightly and, let’s be honest, it will probably be bought by lighter female riders. The range topping GTS Evo is powered by a 300cc engine and is designed to tempt people out of their luxury cars. At R36000 it’s considerably more expensive than the rest of the range but it is supremely comfortable and has the performance to run with motorway traffic. It has a large screen to protect you from the elements and a large passenger seat. Given the traffic in and around Gauteng, this would be an ideal reps vehicle but I’m not sure the Oakley Sunglasses brigade will be easily convinced.

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