ALT-6 Recommended Motorcycles for Beginners
Looking towards riding geared motorcycles I was advised to start off on an automatic scoot and then became intent on purchasing the most fuel-efficient, cost-effective, stylish and functional mode of transport that a person with a greenhouse conscience and restricted budget would find attractive. So I spent the last 12 months devouring magazines and researching the best scooter deals for an absolute beginner - with practical/urban needs. Needless to say, I wasn't after an intergalactic cruiser or Ninja speed jet. Just thrilled with the experience of riding in open air astride a moving chair within Sydney traffic. As a kid I used to marvel at the ease and simplicity of our obese bearded mailman who putted about on a postie bike without a care in the world.
If it wasn't for gears, my first choice would have been a 250cc Yamaha Scorpio - an ideal introductory manual bike with a whopping 13 litre fuel tank and with Yamaha outlets in most suburbs. After attending the Sydney Motorcyle Show I learnt that Honda was pretty good followed by Yamaha and Suzuki in terms of endrance and performance - all coming from the Japanese stable. Sure, euro bikes like Aprilia, Peugeot, Piaggio and BMW were breath-taking and beautiful but they came with pricey tags and parts.
The SYM HD 200 sold by Bolwell (in reality 171cc) delivers the goods with a 4 year warranty, 8L fuel capacity (trust me, this is great for a beginner scoot) 16 inch mega wheels and a greatly reduced onroad package deal - almost 1/2 the price of its euro cousin. This elegant, affordable beauty won hands down with its classic, no-nonsense look, large shopping hook under the speedo, full helmet storage under a movable seat and capacity to hold a 37L topbox. Admittedly, you couldn't lug a piano or couch on the back but you'd be amazed at how much shopping you can cram into a top box and net-type soccer ball bag between your legs/knees whilst resting on gargantuan floor boards. (They've been known to hold cases of beer.) I've seen posters with 5 family members and produce from rice paddies carried on a single scoot.
Only thing with the SYM HD is that your turning circle is wide and you'd best hire the teensy/nimble Honda 125 for your P's at the RTA testing station. I continually dropped my bike, broke my brake levers and knocked over witches hats - during my rainy circus routine- while other folks had cleverly hired thinner/smaller/slender models for the test conditions.
