Test: Sym Wolf CR300i - cheap but not cheap nescaffe racer
Content
About expectations ...
A person who often switches from motorcycle to motorcycle ultimately gets an idea of the products of a particular brand. So you know that you will flirt with young women in a red Ducati again (completely unintentionally!), That you will be comfortable driving somewhere further in a BMW, and that you will probably break some traffic rules with a KTM steering wheel in your hands. ... What to expect when they offer you a Sym engine, even if you've only ridden their scooters so far? In short: everything will be fine. That without superlatives on one side or the other, more or less everything will be in place and at an appropriate price.
What is instant or real Turkish coffee?
The Sym Wolf CR300i doesn't hide the fact that it wants to follow the trends and give the impression of a real cafe racer, although it must be admitted that it succeeds quite well in this; even better than one would expect from a Taiwanese manufacturer of mopeds and scooters. Of course, the owners of these “real” classic motorcycles converted into home garages will stink, saying that this is not a cafe racer, but an instant coffee-tea (like a coffee substitute), but let's be realistic: such people would complain about any stock cafe racer. We must continue with the fact that the first positive impression remains good even after you look at the wolf up close. Continuous welds and joints, neat painting, without serious "mistakes". There is a design detail that raised our eyebrows a little here and there (like the exhaust cover), but let's not argue about tastes, and the overall production impression is good.
Why, from a practical point of view, is it better to choose a scooter of the same volume?
The engine (check) starts quickly, calmly and quietly after the light creaking sound of the starter and carries the motorcyclist into a new day. When using the clutch, it feels like we are sitting not exactly on a factory superbike, but there is movement Transmission short and precise; rarely did he mildly resist downshifting when stopped, for example, in front of a traffic light. Let's take into account that the engine was practically new and still needs to be started, often such things disappear by themselves after starting. In the lower half of the job, the single is pretty useful, but (expected and understandable in terms of volume) isn't exactly spark, so it will have to be rotated more than five thousand revolutionswhen he pulls pleasantly and easily follows, and also avoids movement. Here we would like to point out that from a practical point of view, compared to all such engines, a maxi scooter with the same displacement is a more suitable choice - with an automatic transmission, the engine is always (at least approximately) in the maximum power range, and such a "real" engine requires some refinement of the clutch and transmission. But then of course you don't have an engine, but a maxi scooter and an automatic certainly steal the fun of driving. In short, when emotions and fun are involved in addition to the utilitarian “practicality”, the maxi scooter loses the battle.
The plant declares the maximum speed 138 kilometers per hour and it's nice to see they are realistic as the arrow on the highway actually moves a little over 140 (with the engine running at around 8.000 RPM), but when you bite the steering wheel it goes up to 150. The Wolf CR300i sim will move faster only in free fall, but it will be the same, because its design is not designed for higher speeds (which is understandable given the price), and at this speed the driver already feels worse directional stability and suspension, which deserves a sufficient rating and much more (again expected) no. Vibration? Yes, in a higher rev range. Few, but they are.
There's plenty of room for a 181cm rider - he'd only like a slightly more open handlebar, but since the target group is younger riders, it's likely to be as it is. Тормоза with a radially clamped front jaw and adjustable lever offset, they promise more than they actually bite, but since it has an ABS anti-lock braking system, whatever you dare to take on the lever will be just fine! It's the same with the suspension, which likes to dip too much in the front when braking and kicks the rear a little on bumps. But with all these comments, you need to keep in mind the price and the target group of customers, that is, the less demanding user. You can't expect a four-seater George to ride like an athlete where only the suspension costs so much. And when the price is in the head in addition to the driving experience, the picture is clear: it offers a reasonably good driving experience for the money. After all, competitors that offer something more in terms of driving are much more expensive - almost a third, for example.
What else to say? Sym Wolf CR300i has a center stand, a helmet lock, (very, very little) space under the seat, the statue has a removable cover for the salon. Gauges display engine speed and RPM in a similar manner, while fuel quantity, current gear, battery voltage, hours, daily and total mileage are displayed digitally. It even has a switch for all four direction indicators!
The Sym Wolf CR300i test met expectations as a substitute for roasted barley and chicory coffee: it is not as rich as strong Turkish coffee, but it is much better complemented by delicious homemade wheat grits. So, to each his own, or, as we like to say in common parlance: for this money this is something (and also enough) and you are unlikely to find anywhere else for him.
Basic data
Sales: Špan doo
Base model price: 4.399 €
Test model cost: 3.999 €
Technical information
engine: single-cylinder, four-stroke, 4 valves, liquid-cooled, electric starter, 278 cm3
Power: 19,7 (26,8 km) at 8.000 rpm
Torque: 26 Nm at 6.000 rpm
Energy transfer: six-speed gearbox, chain
Frame: steel pipe
brakes: front disc Ø 288 mm, rear disc Ø 220 mm
Suspension: classic telescopic fork at the front, double hydraulic shock absorber at the rear
Tires: 110/70-17, 140/70-17
Growth: 799
Ground clearance: 173
Fuel tank: 14
Wheelbase: 1.340 mm
Weight: 176 kg
We praise and reproach
nice view
solid workmanship (relative to the price)
suitable size also for an adult motorcyclist
price
the engine requires acceleration at higher rpm for stronger acceleration
slight fluctuations at higher speeds
only middle brakes and suspension
