Test: SYM SYM HD 300 // Test: SYM HD 300 (2019)

If I dared to mention the price in the introduction, then I correctly continue to do so. SYM has long outgrown its former role when it was seen as a manufacturer offering extremely reliable yet durable scooters at a significantly lower price point than the competition. Today the price difference is smaller, so at least in theory a modern SYM should offer more.

The HD "High-Wheelers" series has earned a well-deserved reputation in the market as an affordable, reliable and economical scooter, but this is almost not enough for the demanding category of 300cc scooters. Therefore, they took the Citycom S300 frame as a basis, which was only slightly modified. Why do I think it's important to write it down? After all, Citiycom is a very popular scooter, to which journalists and buyers attribute good driving performance and a high level of quality. Citycom also loaned him an engine, but since the HD 300 is expected to be more agile as a city scooter, it has a lighter flywheel. Combined with a well-balanced variomatic transmission, the HD 300 at least feels like one of the most dynamic scooters in its class. Not only when leaving the city, it is also very convincing with intermediate accelerations up to a good 100 kilometers per hour, and even then the speedometer quickly reaches the final 145 kilometers per hour.

In terms of performance itself, the HD 300 is the SYM that finally proved that the days when Italian and Japanese scooters dominated this area are over. At the moment, the scooter has not been made in this category where you don't feel at least a hint of twisting in corners, and as with all others, I also found Ljubljana's humpback intersection with the HD 300 that the suspension failed to prevent the center stand from hitting about asphalt.

So far, the HD 300, despite being about a quarter cheaper, is equivalent to its competitors. Due to the design lines, we have nothing to complain about, the lines are clear and smooth, and the colors and LED lighting add visible prestige. The spaciousness of the seat on both sides is more than satisfactory. Pulling down the lower mid-section a little, there is more than enough room for tall people, and under the seat the nearly perfect luggage compartment is impressive in design and volume. The seat, which looks rich in color and medium in cut, only annoys me personally that the tilt right in front of the lumbar support is too great, so I slowly slipped towards the handlebars. There is also a convenient box in front of the driver for small items that are best handled. SYM can also put more effort into making switches and unpainted plastic surfaces, and the usability of the bag hook is very limited due to the high center boss. I don't know if the LED headlight is the best choice in this case, as the first five meters in front of the scooter are not illuminated at all to go in circles on deep inclines, but I would like to feel more on the road. front brake lever.

Have you noticed that I'm picky? This usually happens to me when I take a good product and look for problems where they are not really there or that are not relevant to day-to-day use. So the SYM 300 HD is worth every cent. Especially for every day, but can also be behind the motorhome.

• Basic data

  Sales: Špan doo

  Base model price: 4.499,00 €

  Test model cost: 4.499 €

• Technical information

  engine: 278 cm³, single cylinder, water-cooled

  Power: 20 kW (27,3 hp) at 7.750 rpm

  Torque: 27,3 Nm at 6.650 rpm

  Energy transfer: stepless, variomat, belt

  Frame: steel tube frame,

  brakes: front 287 mm, rear 1 disc 260 mm, ABS,

  Suspension: front telescopic forks,
  
  
  rear swingarm, double shock absorber

  Tires: before 110/70 R16, rear 140/70 R16

  Growth: 800 mm

  Fuel tank: 10 liters

• Test errors: Unmistakable

We praise and reproach

open space

capacity

price

ignition switch (anti-theft)

empty archive of complaints and failures

Headlight (lighting directly in front of the scooter)

Tilting the front of the seat and the pedal for the passenger

outdated lock and key

final grade

From a technical point of view, the SYM 300 HD is a typical indicator of the progress, reliability and quality of a brand. To fully match its premium competitors, it lacks the coarse and fine sanding of parts and state-of-the-art electronics.