SYM Citicom 300i
SYM Citicom 300i
.I picked up the CityCom at GoMoto and was immediatelyreminded that this is a tall scooter and I am NOT a tall person. With my 30 inchinseam, I am used to relying on my 220 pound girthy build to compress scootersdown to "touching" height. The best I could manage on the CityCom was a tip-toeat stops. The CityCom is the tallest of the three scooters (Piaggio,, Kymco andSYM). For me, every aspect aside from seat height was ergonomically PERFECT onthe CityCom. My hands "fell" right on the controls. The seat is among the mostcomfortable stock seats I've ever been on. For me, the stock windshield was theperfect height and width. I would say that the SYM CityCom 300i is ascomfortable as the Piaggio BV350 and may even be more comfortable. Both havebetter ergonomics than the Kymco People GTi, especially in the seat.Turn the key, wait for the system to cycle, grab a brake lever and hit thestarter button - the CityCom fires right up and settles into a smooth idle. Fuelinjection rocks. Acceleration from a stop is smooth and quick. Not as quick asSYM's own HD200 up to about 20 MPH, but the mid-range on the CityCom is verynice. This is one area that both the Kymco People GTi 300 and the Piaggio BV350are much stronger than the CityCom. The CityCom is the heaviest of the three andthe lowest in horsepower. It shows. The CityCom is also $700 less than GTi and$800 less than the BV.SYM CityCom 300i Scooter Front and Rear Wheels Top speedis also a lot less on the CtiyCom. What this means to you as a scooter riderdepends on what you want/need from your scooter and what you are willing tospend.
The last time I rode a CityCom (2009) the brakes were justadequate. The 2013 CityCom is definitely a step up from theolder version in braking performance. I found the front and reardiscs to be strong and easy to modulate. Probably because I waspaying extra attention to the brakes, I did my panic stop testsseveral times and there was no fade or change in input required.Handling was very good and proved that one doesn't have tocompromise (much) to get a scooter that feels as good on 25 MPHparkways as it does on 65MPH highways. The combination of bigwheels, relatively short wheelbase and upright steering geometrycan feel just fine at a wide range of speeds. Of course theCityCom takes more effort on those twisty parkways than aGenuine Buddy with 10 inch wheels does. It also doesn't have the"flowing" highway ride of a Burgman 650. HOWEVER neither ofthose scooters feels very good on the other end of theperformance perspective. Yes, I have ridden a Buddy on thehighway, on fairly long rides at fairly high speeds. Skittish isbeing SYM CityCom Passenger Footrestskind. Yes, I have ridden aBurgamn 650 Executive on slow twisty parkways in heavy traffic.Wallowing is being kind. The CityCom will feel pretty good ineither situation and just about everything in between.Passenger accommodations are quite nice on the CityCom. My wifeBev thought a backrest would be nice, but said the seat was verycomfortable, the foot-pegs were at just the right position, andthe grab-rail was handy. Of course adding a rear luggage rackand trunk with a backrest makes the passenger area aboutperfect.I didn't get any really long rides in during my time with thisscooter, but I did manage a few jaunts on twisty roads without alot of other traffic and the CityCom was fun. Something thatcan't always be said of such a practical ride.
The 2009 CityCom was an impressive machine so far as buildquality goes and the 2013 version is just as good if not a touchbetter. The 2013 version is available in white, red, grey anddark grey or what SYM calls flat black. It's the grey versionthat I rode. The quality of the paint was excellent. Fit of thebody panels is outstanding. Every component appears to be a highquality and very well put together. As I've said many timespreviously, good scooters out of Taiwan are as good as scootersfrom anyplace in the world. I know the flat black and grey are"safe" colors for dealers to stock, but I would like to see thered and white in person. Based on the quality I've seen, I'dSYMCityCom 300i Scooter Three-Quarter Rear View not be surprised ifthey were just plain gorgeous.The overall design of the CityCom really resonates with me. Iknow this is largely a question of personal taste, but theCityCom is one of the few scooters that I think looks good fromany angle, even the back. The rear luggage rack we all hope willmake it the USA does NOT really impact the look of the scooterin a negative way. The lines stay mostly as original and if oneselects a good quality trunk like a SHAD, popping the trunk offwhen not needed will leave a very clean looking scooter.The quality of the 2009 CityCom was high and it certainly lookslike the 2013 will continue at the same level.
Extracts from the review by David L Harrington