Just in! Video Introduction to the Symba!

Steve Guzman of The Scooter Scoop and John from Moxie Scooters give us a video overview of the Symba. It's the two of them walking around the bike, talking about its features and the "timeless, classic" design - they got that right! Click on the screen shot above to view it.

Heads-up, USA scooter market - here comes the Symba!

"...this year, after benefiting from a 40-year relationship with Honda, Taiwan's Sanyang Industry Co. Ltd. (SYM) plans to bring ... the SYMBA, to the United States."

Click on the image above to read the full article.

SYM-USA Website is Updated: Hello, Symba!

Fellow Symba fans, the day when we can zip down to the coffee shop on our Symbas has just gotten much closer. The SYM-USA website has just been updated, and the Symba is now officially part of the line up!

Last I heard, there remains one - just one more hurdle for SYM to jump before the first shipment leaves Taiwan.   They won't say exactly when the ship will sail until they are absolutely sure that the way is clear, and I respect them for that. Once I get word, the news will be posted here.

SYMBA is a Hit with Motorcycle Dealers!

It's a good thing I had a "press" badge for the Dealer Expo show - getting in an hour earlier than the dealers was the only way I could get on the SYMBA and have my picture taken without drawing a crowd. Once the doors opened, dealers flocked around the bike as if it was Jessica Alba in a string bikini handing out free beers! I took a bunch of photos, posted here, or you can view the slideshow below. Click on any image to see a larger version in a new browser tab/window.

News from Carter-SYM is good - a full line of SYMBA accessories is being prepared for us to customize our bikes, such as the longer seat, front and rear chrome racks, side cases, SYM-branded helmets and even apparel.

SYM dealerships should be receiving their initial shipments of SYMBAs in the next couple of months. I'm told that the exact timing depends on a number of factors, including how early your local dealer gets their order in - so if you want to be sure to get one, call your nearest SYM dealer soon!

SYMBA Ad Campaign Begins!

Here's a look at the new full-page ad from Carter-SYM. It appeared in the Dealer Expo Show Preview Special Issue of Dealernews magazine. Click on the ad to see a larger version. Note the text toward the bottom, "Demand for this bike in the US market has been extraordinary. Don't miss out on selling this recession-proof bike". If this is based on input from dealers (which I assume), then better get your order in soon if you want to get the color of your choice for the 2009 riding season!

SYM Factory visit report...

The top photo is me standing just outside the front door of the SYM's main assembly plant in Hsinchu, Taiwan. Notice the jacket - it does get chilly during the winter months, even there, and the temperature never got over 55 that day.

There were many happy events and surprises during my morning with SYM, but sorry to say a major disappointment also: no pictures allowed inside the factory! So, aside from the photos posted above, there are none that show the high-tech vehicle assembly line, the extensive quality and safety check department, and SYM's equally-impressive robot-driven warehouse facility.

The middle 3 shots are of the showroom/lobby, and the bottom photo is of my son, Jon, standing at the welcome desk with our very welcoming host, Mr. Eddie Lu of SYM's Overseas Marketing group. Thanks go out to Eddie for a very pleasant tour and discussion. Thanks also to Pete McIntosh at Carter-SYM for his help in arranging the tour in the first place.

It's amazing to see how quickly a scooter comes together on the assembly line - from the machining of pistons, cylinders and valves into complete engines; from steel tubing into welded and painted frames; from bins of wire and connectors into complete wiring harnesses - and then the merge of all these different lines into the final assembly where in about 50 feet and 15 minutes, out comes a finished, running vehicle. From there the scooter is ridden about 10 yards into a test area where all the functions and sub-systems of the scooter are run through stringent quality and performance tests. After that, it's whisked to a holding area in preparation for crating and shipping (or storage in the warehouse). Amazing!

When we arrived in the warehouse, there was a Symba! Eddie turned to me and to my surprise and delight, handed me a helmet and said, "Want to take it for a ride"? Naturally! So, up and down the factory roads I went for about 15 minutes. Acceleration: good; ride and handling: good and solid; seat comfort: good; braking: good (although I never got over 35 due to having to dodge people, fork lifts, and various other equipment). Overall impression: pretty much exactly what I hoped for.

Symba Emblem

Here it is, folks - the official Symba emblem. It's the badge that will go on the front of every Symba sold here in the USA. You can see it on the styling prototype in my previous post. What do you think? Personally, I'm pleased. There's nothing "Wo Wow"-ish about it - which means, a guy can ride the bike around town without fear of being asked if it belongs to his wife or girlfriend. Thank God it's not a cute little lion cub!