Wingmaker
thanks for the notes. I visited the website and had a good read about
the Joyride 180cc since Modenas Elegan sepcs is similar to this model
(except than Elegan is 150cc).
For the benefit of our fellow biking community, here's the article from
http://www.insidebikes.com:rgds
wong
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In case you’re wondering, SYM have been making thousands of scooters
every week for the last 40 years or so, based in Taiwan, since Honda
helped set-up the company back in the 1960s. Now SYM design and
manufacture their own bikes and the Joyride 180 is a rival to successful
UK scooter models, like the Gilera Runner 180.
Like the Gilera, it uses a four stroke, 180cc, single cylinder engine,
making a claimed 14.5bhp, which is enough to propel the Joyride to about
70mph flat out. Ridden for a few laps around Darley Moor race circuit, it
felt a little bit slower than the Gilera, both in its acceleration and
top speed, but the performance differences are pretty marginal.
COMFORT ZONE
Unlike the Gilera Runner, the Joyride is very much a mini-tourer, or
commuter type of bike, rather than the semi-sports style of machine. You
sit well back on the SYM, feet pushed forwards against the footwell mats,
back comfortably wedged against the step in the saddle. It’s a nice place
to be.
There’s excellent weather protection from the fairing in front of you,
with a fairly high screen too. The SYM is well equipped, with a car type
dashboard, including a fuel gauge, clock and the Joyride has audible turn
signals. For pillion passengers there’s a backrest, plus optional top
box. It feels like a bit of thought has gone into designing a functional
tool that gets on with the job.
Naturally, there are no gears, just the usual automatic transmission,
which pulls nice and smoothly. The bike has soft suspension too, which
adds to the general feeling of luxury. I tried the Joyride 180 straight
after riding the Malaguti Madison 400 and the SYM very nearly matches the
bigger scooter for overall comfort and ride quality.
The Joyride’s handling was OK, up to a point, when tackling Darley’s
famous hairpin, but soon began squirming about when the brakes were
slammed on, as well as grounding out its stand quite easily. But most
commuters won’t be riding the SYM this hard, and taking life easier is
what this scoot is all about.
It has just enough power to keep you carving through traffic, even if
your daily commute takes in some bits of urban dual carriageway. The
Joyride also has enough luggage space to cart your waterproofs around,
plus your Spam sandwiches. Adding the top box gives you the option of
roaming two-up, possibly even touring.
For just under £2500 on the road, the Joyride offers almost everything
you would get from a class-leading scooter like the Suzuki Burgman 250,
or Yamaha Majesty 250, but at about £1000-£1500 less. It’s only weak
areas are the handling and the styling, which is still a little bit
bland, a bit Far Eastern, even in its very `Euro’ silver paintwork.
For the price then, the SYM Joyride offers a load of fun, practical
touches, and plenty of rider comfort. As a biker, I think I’d rather pay
extra to have the sporty handling of something like the Aprilia Leonardo
250, or Benelli Velvet 250 – which can both hit 80mph on a good day and
corner very well. But if all you need is a workhorse, with enough poke to
make life interesting at the weekends, then the SYM Joyride is more than
good enough.
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