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Post by sym200 on Jan 3, 2014 9:27:44 GMT -5
I've been pondering a question since I bought my SYM in September. Are they classified as a 'Chinese' scooter or not? Since it was manufactured in Taiwan and the Speedo and Odometer actually work I've been prone to calling it 'half-chinese'. Any thoughts?
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Post by americanpsycho on Jan 3, 2014 9:53:14 GMT -5
There's SYM factories in China and Taiwan. They're one of the best chicom manufacturers.
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Post by Paladin on Jan 3, 2014 14:43:30 GMT -5
Last year I as at Del Amo, looking at used scooters, I noticed that the tags admit that (1) a Honda Elite was made in China and a (2) Piaggio Fly was also made in China.
There is "Chinese" and "Cheap Chinese Crap." There are those on this forum who know the difference.
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Post by oldchopperguy on Jan 3, 2014 23:51:01 GMT -5
I recently got a used Kymco 250 from a local B&M dealer whom I really like, and, sells both Kymco AND SYM. According to him, both Kymco and SYM are made in Taiwan. The quality of the old ones like mine is very good, and holds up to a lot of miles, and the new ones are truly FABULOUS.
Kymco says they DO indeed build some of the Honda products, and my dealer says SYM is just as good. Technically, Taiwan IS now part of China... However... They STILL consider themselves a stand-alone country for sure! And they make REALLY good products.
Looking over my old (2007) Kymco, with 7 years and 14,000 miles on her clock... the build-quality and durability of the parts I've inspected are truly light-years ahead of my 2007 Xingyue 150 which I traded in, and, equal to any other manufacturers builds. All things considered, I think today's Taiwanese scoots are VERY comparable to anything from Japan or Italy. Only my opinion, I do love Hondas, Vespas, etc. but I think Taiwan REALLY has their act together.
Everybody has their own preferences of "country of origin" but I would expect a new (or used of same year/mileage) SIM or Kymco to fully equal a similar bike from Honda, Yamaha, Vespa, Piaggio, etc.
As a funny side-note, when I asked how "SYM" is pronounced, he chuckled that from year to year it varies, either "Sym" one-word, or, S. Y. M. the abbreviation for the company name. "Kymco" is a trade-name for "Kwang Yang Motor Co." A Chinese friend told me it's pronounced "Kwahhhnng Yaahhh..." and Means "Bright Sun". I think it's more likely to simply mean K (Kwang) Y (Yang) M (Motor) CO (Company). Like "FOMOCO OR MOPAR".
Whaaat-Evveeerrr...
Leo (lovin' my old Taiwan ride) in Texas
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New Rider
Currently Offline
Formerly 'Tankgunner'
Posts: 13
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Joined: Sept 17, 2013 13:06:38 GMT -5
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Post by sym200 on Jan 4, 2014 9:29:16 GMT -5
My old 2006 Tank was definitely a 'cheap chinese' scooter price wise and quality. However it gave me 18,000 miles and 7 years of somewhat reliable transportation. In that number of miles I replaced the piston and cylinder once and the entire engine/cvt once. My commute to work is 18 miles each way averaging 50mph. Just kept running the guts out of the poor thing. Retired it by selling it to a guy I work with and his son rides it 5 miles each way to school. It deserved a rest.
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Post by earlylight160 on Jan 4, 2014 12:36:02 GMT -5
My 2012 Tomos Twister 50 was built by SYM and I have found the build quality as well as the fit and finish to be excellent. I am told that the Tomos scooters are all being built by SYM now, but I'm not sure who builds the Tomos mopeds.  |
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Post by americanpsycho on Jan 4, 2014 12:45:39 GMT -5
My 2012 Tomos Twister 50 was built by SYM and I have found the build quality as well as the fit and finish to be excellent. I am told that the Tomos scooters are all being built by SYM now, but I'm not sure who builds the Tomos mopeds. The moped line is built in Europe by Tomos. The new Nitro and Twister scooters will be available in 49cc and 125cc. |
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Post by oldchopperguy on Jan 4, 2014 13:43:39 GMT -5
Sym200,
Great picture, great scooter! You got that swell flat-black "factory rat-rod" 200 that has to be one of THE best-looking 2-wheel rides on the planet (scooter, or motorcycle). A real head-turner from the combination of red calipers, flat and gloss-black bits, right on down to the nose-badge that has that pre-WWII Ford V8 logo look. I was just looking at one like it at my dealer last week while picking up a new license plate. We both marveled at how that SYM model hit the target with a perfect mix of SHARP and NASTY all in one bike... The ONLY thing missing is wide whites... and I don't think they're available that tire size... LOL!
I think you're really going to like both the RIDE and the COMPLIMENTS this bad boy will provide over the years!
Welcome to the site, and, RIDE SAFE!
Leo in Texas.
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Post by flyangler on Jan 4, 2014 15:26:13 GMT -5
sym200. Do you know if it has the HD200 motor in it? Great looking scoot.  |
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Post by carasdad on Jan 4, 2014 22:23:07 GMT -5
These days ya never know. My Adly is Taiwanese made. Now It is called an UNO and owned by Lambretta. They changed nothing on it and it is still the same Scoot...just different company. So even Italy is now jumping in on the Chinese market. Lucky for me it a quality built Scoot without any of the typical Chinese issues..but still.. Now even Lambretta is going Chinese? Well Taiwanese..but still really close by comparison..
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Post by JerryScript on Jan 5, 2014 21:45:30 GMT -5
The last two to three years the Chinese brands have really begun to improve. For example, my Znen has a perfectly functional speedometer, all the body panels fit without gaps or any noise from rubbing, the wheels have multiple spokes instead of the three pointed standard (which I've personally witnessed explode, metal was what we call pot metal), and the particular model I have is listed under "patent" on Znen's site indicating they are attempting to establish more of a brand name presence (or so it appears).
Simple fact about all vehicles, be they scooters, motorcycles, cars, trucks, vans, whatever: Some parts are made here, some parts are made there, other parts are made everywhere. It's all about the QC demanded by the ordering dealers, and how they follow through in checking that!
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Kymco Sento
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Post by jjjoseph on Jan 6, 2014 0:52:32 GMT -5
Kymco (Taiwan) makes the engines for the BMW (G450 X Enduro) and also the Kawasaki J300.
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Post by tarkus on Jan 6, 2014 6:26:52 GMT -5
sym200. Do you know if it has the HD200 motor in it? Great looking scoot. Yes the RV has same motor as the HD. |
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