F irst glance at the maxi SYM , and it ’ s a lot of scooter . Not a whale , but certainly when one leaps aboard , a bit of a sledge . I find that when a name comes to mind instantly it ’ s likely to stick , and a name immediately leapt into my head ; Percy . ‘ When a man Loves a Woman ’. That Percy Sledge . Let me start by saying that I rode about for the first day or so , and more names came to me - Mastodon , Rosinante , and Buddha-Bike , but like all naming games it got progressively worse , it was unfair , and I ’ ll spare you .
INCREDIBLE HULK Did I mention that it ’ s big ? Like tectonic plate big , but dead capable , too . Sym is a strong and well-known brand from Taiwan with an excellent reputation for build quality . And that did not disappoint ; the finish and delivery is sharp and shiny . It has more light output than a Quadrophenia Mod ’ s Vespa . The tail light alone consists of twenty four individual bulbs . On the road , spot-lights , twin 55W halogen headlamps , and rows of indicator bulbs , ensure serious visibility . You are going to be seen like a Rocket-lab launch at night . Good , but in that vast , lighting-filled front assembly , it has one small glove box that would hold a pair of surgeon ’ s gloves , at a pinch . But that big front also means protection . That horrible Auckland weather stays outside , and a large windscreen sweeps most wetness and wind overhead . Most , not all , as I got a little buffeting at eye height - perhaps because I ’ m relatively tall . To get out of this turbulence I could scrunch myself down
104 KIWI RIDER