Another SYM Citycom 300i Motor Scooter Review

by Dave
(Surrey, BC Canada)

Here is my review of my SYM Citycom 300i Motor Scooter: It's fast(for 263cc), a little slow just off the line, but once the clutch engages, quick. Smooth. Outstanding handling. The Citycom is remarkably good fun in the twisties. It has a low CG and goes where it is pointed.


I believe the 16 inch wheels help; but I also credit the upright riding position which places the rider and the weight distribution further forward compared to the more laid back cruiser scooters.

The upright seating position is also great for commuting.

Beefs??? a few, but not serious. The front brake is mushy. It is set up for morons, but that can be fixed with better pads.

The somewhat triangular front tire gave strange handling when pushed in the corners. It did not go well with the rear. Not dangerous, just a little spooky. With a season's riding, the tire has rounded and works much better. Stock is OK for back, but when replacement comes the front will get a Diablo or something equal.

Steering and handling are really this bike's ace in the hole, so I want to make the best of it. For a large rider the shape of the seat and the foam quality could be better for the distance. AirHawk anyone? For everyday commuting it's fine.

As setup from SYM, low beams are a joke, too low but the high beams work well and don't seem to bother anybody, so I have decided to leave well enough alone.

The windshield works pretty well; it's somewhat noisy, so good ear plugs are a must, but protection is decent and I don't notice any buffeting.

The only performance limitation I have noticed is that the bike could use a few more rpms when pulling the big hills at highway speeds; just to make life a little easier for the little beast. If I didn't live in the mountains and wasn't such an oversize six ft four plus monster, it would be great as is.

I find myself riding the little beast more than my torque monster DL 1000 V-Strom and that says something. The Com goes, handles, is comfortable and with the CVT and useful storage has made commuting and back road frolic amazing fun. This forty year plus rider is thrilled.

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Jan 16, 2011
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Citycom
by: dave

That triangular style of tire profile was popular for big powerful bikes in the late 60's, early mid 70's with Dunlop's 'Trigonics' K 81's.

They were a knockoff of the 60's GP racing tires. The center rolling area was narrow and the further the bike was leaned over the more rubber would be put on the road. With the skinny wimpy tires available then this was a big advantage. This style of tire also gave much quicker steering to the tanklike handling early superbikes.

They were used on the original 68 BSA Rocket 3 triple.

The Citycom is a relatively heavy scooter that handles more like a small motorcycle. I think they chose the front tire to quicken the steering and make the bike more scooterlike with lighter handling. That it does.

For normal scooting around it's fine but for more frisky frolic in the twisties a more modern and grippy front tire like a Diablo would improve handling. Still it works good enough that I will be changing it when it wears out, not before.

The HD 200 is a real hotrod. It will keep up to the Citycom up to highway speeds. The limitation is the lower top speed and the tighter ergos for larger riders.

Jan 12, 2011
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Great Review
by: Kathi, Site Owner

Thanks for posting this great & detailed review, Dave. That "triangular" tire has me wondering though? Huh? :)

I keep trying to talk my hubby into getting a SYM scooter... either the 200HD or the Citycom. Either would fit his needs quite perfectly, I believe.

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