Scooter of the year

Well it’s that time of the year…well it is for us. Now normally people are getting excited about the new year at this stage. ‘What will I get accomplished this year?’ Well not us. We’re reflecting on the year just gone and trying to come up with an answer to the age old question. Which is the years best scooter? Normally these sorts of stories are published in December… We decided however that as it was officially our birthday on the 12th of Feb it was best to make this actually the “Scooter of our year” mainly just because we can… do you have a problem with that!?

3rd Place

Gilera GP800

Now I can hear the complaining already. ‘The GP800 is heavy. The GP800 is expensive’. Yes and yes, it is both of those. It also the only maxi scooter we’d spend our money on. The reason? Well that’s simple; we love riding. Most of the team here at The Scooter Review ride motorcycles along with scooters and because of this we expect a lot from a maxi scooter. Sadly most maxi scooters are heavy, cumbersome two wheeled contraptions that should really only be used for scrap metal… or plastic recycling perhaps?. A bit harsh? Nope, it’s true. Most maxi’s are so vastly underpowered they are just dead BORING to ride. Okay, if you think wafting along with 35hp is riding. Good for you, I’m happy for you. There’s also a website you should visit…it’s called www.themobilesofa.com. If you like to be able to overtake cars at a whim and carve effortlessly up a mountain pass, there’s simply only one maxi scooter that can do it. The Gilera GP800. It really doesn’t matter if you like the GP800 or not. If you’re into maxi scooters then you’ll love what it’s done to the industry.  Suddenly the Japanese manufactures are sitting up and listening to their customers. Maxi riders actually want more powerful and more exciting models.

If you haven’t already given the GP800 a test ride, do so immediately. I’m certain it will affect you. You may still want your Burgman or Silver Wing as they store more and make better long distance machines…however you will want the engine. You’ll want it real bad. You’ll wonder why you can’t buy a Suzuki or a Honda with a motor like the GP800. It’ll plague your mind from that day forth and one of two things will happen. You’ll come up with a bunch of lies to justify why you still like your underpowered maxi or you’ll simply give up and buy one…I can prove I’m right too. See the second Yamaha, Honda or Suzuki release a powerful and sporty maxi scooter (which we expect from both in 2009) they’ll sell like mad. Proving what we keep ranting about…current maxi scooters are functional but dead boring. All except the Gilera GP800, it’s a game changer. 

SYM Citycom 300
The SYM Citycom was a real surprise for us. One day we were moaning, the next day we were smiling. It was our usual rant. Scooters are convenient etc but why on earth do they have to be so damned wimpy? For a while now we’ve been harping on about it. It’s not just the maxi scooters that keep getting lambasted. It’s the full size models too. I imagine it’s because for a while now manufactures have been stuck on 200 or 250cc models. Well finally the dam has broken. 300cc is the new black. I wonder how people ever rode 200cc models now. It seems 300cc strikes the perfect blend between power, size, weight and economy. The latest crop of 300cc models from all of the various manufactures are all light years better than bikes from just twelve months ago. The Citycom just blew us away.

 

It’s almost the perfect scooter. It has plenty of storage; it rides well and comes from a quality manufacturer. Of all the bikes we’ve tested it makes the most sense. If you need to ride on the freeway or do some long distance riding there really isn’t a better scooter for anything like the money you can buy a Citycom for. It’s the price that really makes the Citycom standout. In some markets it’s actually half the price of competing models…half. Think about it. The Citycom 300 is simply the best value full size scooter on the market today. Forget all the technical guff; just take it for a test ride. You’ll see what we’re on about. For a human being living in a city on this planet, it just makes sense.

Honda SH300

Yes I know, the SH300 is our top ranked bike. Why even write a scooter of the year article then? Well it isn’t that simple. We still sat down an argued about all the various competitors over and over again. The problem was we had to give the win to the SH300, it’s the best scooter of 2008. Hell it’s the best scooter…period. Think about it. The SH300 is the fastest regular sized scooter money can buy. You need to buy a 500cc maxi scooter to get in front of it and even then it beats some of them in a drag race. It has ABS brakes, not some ineffective system that’s thrown on as an afterthought; we’re talking a linked system that provides incredible braking in any conditions. When you’re lying under a truck wishing your legs were still attached to your torso the rider on an SH300 will be stopped many feet behind you. Probably thinking ‘Ouch, that looks painful. That guy should have bought an SH’. If you don’t believe us, try this. Panic brake while riding around a wet roundabout…you’ll be on the deck. The SH rider will simply stop (do not try this at home, the abs really is awesome but we would hate to be responsible for a broken bike… or rider. Ed.). The SH has also set a benchmark in the handling department; the large wheels and rigid chassis combine to give the rider complete confidence. It’s funny after riding the SH I often wonder how people handle riding mere mortal scooters…

Add in Honda’s superb build quality and it’s pretty easy to see why it’s competitors had no real chance. The SH is simply too powerful, too sharp and way too refined for its competition to even get a look in. Maybe next year it’ll actually be a fight because this was a first round knock out. The Honda SH 300 is our 2008 Scooter Of  The Year. Congratulations Honda. Bring on a SH350 with twin full face helmet storage and 2009 could be yours too…
   

Comments (12)

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written by Scooters4 , April 30, 2010

Like stu66 i enquired about a SH300i in NZ. Honda were vague and not very helpful other than to say it was likely to be expensive and they didn't think they would bring any more in than the two demo models. THey thought if it did come in it would be more than $11000. I bought my SYM Citycom for just more than half that and have done over 6000k and it rocks. More reliable than Piaggios (3) two of which I still have in the family fleet. Motorway effortless and not too cumbersome and heavy to move around in my garage. Love the look of Vespas (still got one - ET3) but not worth the money now just for the looks when so many other scooters outperform. SYM the number one for me especially considering performance, looks, reliability and value for money.

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written by Cam , May 23, 2009

The Honda SH300I deserves The Scooter of The Year title. It simply is the most accomplished, best handling and safest scooter on the market.

So why did I choose to part with my exclusive, fully specified one for a Vespa GTS 300 Super? Mainly because I liked the looks and styling of the iconic Vespa scooter better. Call me superficial but in my opinion this is very important! The SH300I probably rode, handled and braked too good for my liking...more like a bike than a scooter. Now I know this comment could be bewildering to some, a scooter that handles like a bike surely is a great thing? But the Vespa, after the SH300I is a great and easy handling scooter itself. Steel frame and chassis ensures this, and being a bit smaller and lighter that the SH300I makes it a more enjoyable ride around the city and suburbs. I actually think the Vespa gets off the mark for the first few yards faster than the SH300I, another advantage for suburbia riding.

I have only done 450kms on my Vespa GTS300 Super, but I can say that this is the best scooter (not perfect however!) I have owned, for my purpose and use. People look at it in admiration, and getting off and on and looking at the design of the scooter is most satisfying.

It was only a couple of times when I was riding the Vespa in the pouring rain that I thought of the Honda and its superb ABS and linked brakes!

If your daily journey is a long commute, or you carry a pillion or simply want the best package in a scooter, the SH300I is the way to go. Honda have come up with some sportier colour combo's, but lets hope one day the design will be slicker. I could have quite happily kept the SH300I along with the Vespa, but with a Gilera 180SP as the other scooter I have, really was surplus.

Throw ABS on the top model Vespa, same HP as the Honda (or more!), a bigger fuel tank and this is getting close to the perfect scoot...!

Have fun and ride safe.

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written by Nick Birjak , May 10, 2009

Ketzal, thanks for your fun(ny) reviews that brought my attention to this scooter. No ABS in Oz but no rain either. One 20 minute test ride and the divorce was on. Bye bye SYM HD200 and hello Honda SH300i. I love it. Power and poise and it purrs. My riding is in congested 60 kph and on the freeways leading to Melbourne. Almost unbelievable. Cheers.

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written by Harry , March 27, 2009

I love my Aprilia Scarabeo 500ie. I'm surprised there hasn't been a story on this bike yet. I do have to say though, I'll bet the compact size, smooth drive, efficiency, abs are what makes this bike so good. Anyone would probably agree... if anyone could justify the cost. Hell, we don't even have them here in the US.

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written by Stu66 , March 21, 2009

I thought about buying a SH300 here in NZ I was told it would cost over $12000 here if they can get one in, no 300 is worth that in my books, so almost brought the Citycom but decided to Buy a Piaggio X9 500ie which is Soooo Much better and still cost less then the Honda, its funny how these three bikes were chosen as so many other scooter havn't been tested here....

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written by larry , March 19, 2009

We all can agree the top three scooter ride well, but I feel you should also factor in parts and repair. Nothing is more upseting then finding out your dealer do not carry parts for your scooter.

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written by Nick Birjak , March 11, 2009

Would the Honda SH300 be scooter of the year if it did not have ABS? You see, in Australia it is only available without ABS. Also, great master, whats better value, the SYM Citycom at $7000, or the Honda SH300 without ABS at $9000? I am faced with this dilemna.

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