I recently got the opportunity to spend a few days on SYM’s new Joyride 300. I am generally an outspoken fan of SYM scooters, having spent hours in the saddle when my son Dave and I rode two 300s to Elephant Sands in Botswana the year before the COVID-19 lockdown. How bizarre was that madness, we ask with the wisdom of hindsight? I digress, back to SYM scooters. The Citycom 300i and the EVO GTS 300 performed faultlessly, cruising comfortably at 120 km/h and giving us over 30 km/l. SYM touts the Joyride as a town and touring option, which made me prick up my ears immediately. Long being one for doing unlikely trips on unlikely bikes, this is right up my alley!
The latest SYM 300 is a handsome beast with dimensions which lean towards “maxi scooter” size, making for a roomy and spacious option, whether one up or with a pillion. The motor is a 278 cc liquid-cooled single with a ceramic-coated bore for longevity. It pumps out 19 KW of power @ 8000 rpm and 26 Nm of torque @ 6000 rpm. The motor is almost eerily smooth at cruising speed, with only the slightest hint of vibration felt as you accelerate up to speed or when on the overrun. The tank size at 11.5 litres is a total winner, especially when compared to the Italian offerings in this class, which have 8.5-litre tanks. This gives the SYM a huge range advantage, which is essential for a bike deemed suitable for light touring.
The SYM sports a 14” wheel up front and a 13” rear, which helps to provide a superior ride and stability as well as cope better with poor road surfaces (of which there are plenty). The twist-and-go convenience of a scooter is such a boon in congested city streets. In the cut and thrust of urban mayhem, they reign supreme. During my visit to EICMA in Milan, Italy, last year, I was again amazed at the number of scooters used for commuting in large European cities. It is almost a must-have. By comparison, we are really dumb. In South Africa, we spend hours in traffic, frustrated to the nines, yet the solution is as obvious as the gonads on a dog!
The SYM handles effortlessly and is totally stable at all speeds. Talking speeds: the SYM is no slouch. SYM quoted the top speed as “> 129 km/h”, which is super conservative. It drops stoplight traffic like a bad habit and cruises at highway speed effortlessly. Even overtaking from highway speed is easily achieved. The brakes are good, with a 260 mm disc up front and a 240 mm disc on the rear. The SYM weighs in at 186 kg, which is one of the heavier scooters in its class, but the upside is increased stability, roominess and greater fuel capacity. There is a classy analogue dash with all the vital info, presented clearly and legibly by both an analogue and digital display. LED lights, traction control, storage for two open-face helmets and an adjustable screen all contribute to the comprehensive specifications of this classy scoot.
The seat is comfortable for extended saddle time for both rider and pillion. Irene and I spent a pleasant morning cruising the ‘burbs, and she gave the SYM seat a big thumbs up. I would leave for Elephant Sands in a heartbeat, given the opportunity. The ride quality is definitely better than on the two SYM 300s I have previously ridden. Still sporting twin rear shocks and conventional forks, the damping has been refined to deal with typical scooter “choppiness” effectively.
The lasting impression of the SYM Joyride 300 is a superbly finished and well-engineered scooter with all the mod cons that we have come to expect from their products. What is amazing is that all this excellence is to be had for under R80,000 (R79,995). You could literally buy a Joyride 300 each for yourself and your wife, with a funky SYM Crox 125 scooter for your kid thrown in, for less than the price of a solitary 300 Vespa. Mind-blowing! What price are you prepared to put on Italian flair? Functionally, there is nothing between them.
This brings me to my final point. Why not make 2025 the year where you embrace life? Re-invent the commute with a practical and economical SYM Joyride, and open up a whole new world of coffee shop cruising and scooter touring. It will change your life and, if you include the missus in the plot, rejuvenate your relationship. Just do it!
SYM JOYRIDE 300
For more information on the bike featured in this article, click on the link below.
