First let me apologize for the detour yesterday, it happens sometimes.
Ok, that's all done with, let's talk about scooters. Like many scooter owners I frequently get questions about what other people should buy. Well, yesterday Nathaniel Salzman put together one of the best wall of text blog posts a person could ask for regarding the currently available options in the US. The order of the content is a little reversed for my tastes, but he pretty much nails the modern scooters. Even if you have been riding a while, it is a good read for information about the current products.
Nathaniel actually mentions one of the bikes that I'm the most curious about in all of the announced 2009 lineups. The Sym CityCom 300i really looks like one of the best compromises between form and function to be available on the US roads. With a 268cc engine and a 2.6 gallon fuel tank, I am expecting a real world top speed just shy of 80mph (they claim 79.5, I'd say that 75-78 is probably GPS accurate and sustainable). Considering the weight, and engine size, 65+ mpg seems quite realistic (the reported 94 mpg, not so much).
Besides technical specs though, what really makes the CityCom interesting is design and market in the US. Two design elements really set the CityCom off. The first is the factory windscreen is tall and has enough of a lip, that it should equal most of the aftermarket windscreens in terms of keeping wind off the rider, along with the plastic guards to keep wind and flying objects away from the hands really set this up as an excellent commuter/light-tourer. But then you add the underseat storage that they have engineered and things get quite interesting. While that storage is clearly not deep enough for a full face helmet, that's is also clearly not the intent. The dimensions of the storage really look to be geared towards a small laptop bag, books, or a small briefcase.
Together with the larger wheels and the power plant capable of pushing the bike at highway speeds, it seems that Sym is really going after the suburban commuter and student commuter with the CityCom. It is a demographic that is poorly served by the popular 150cc scooters, and many of the 250's come just a little short in speed or native storage.
I am looking forward to getting a chance to touch and ride one up close, as the potential market for the CityCom is excellent, and coming on the heels of the success and reputation the RD250 and HD200 are garnering, it appears that Sym is well on the way to establishing themselves well in the pecking order of scooter brands in the US.