MaxsymTL maxi scooter test

Menus

• 465cc inline-twin, 41 hp, 42.5 Nm
• Discovery
• In the saddle
• Contact
• In the city
• On the highway
• Departmental
• Braking
• Comfort / duo
• Convenient
• Consumption
• Revisions
• The Maxsym TL video test
• Conclusion

465cc inline-twin, 41 hp, 42.5 Nm

In the maxi-scooter family, we think first of the Japanese, then of Piaggio and Vespas, then of BMW. There are naturally other players, with offers ranging from 50cc to 600 and Sym is one of them. But even if the Taiwanese manufacturer already offers a 600 cm3 maxi-scooter with the Maxsym 600i, it has not been a hit in terms of sales – to put it mildly – at a time when there are mainly two segments: the sporty and touring, each maxi-segment being monopolized on one side by the TMax and on the other by the Burgman. And while the race for displacement has stopped (commercial failure of the Myroad 700 but also of the Gilera / Aprilia SRV 850), we see the arrival of medium-displacement maxi-scooters with the 300-400. And it is exactly on this niche that Sym comes to offer the Maxsym TL, which as its name does not indicate, is a real maxi-scoot which could have been called Maxsym 500. And it only took two years since the presentation of the concept to see it happen. Test in Portugal in the Porto region … and not to get us drunk.

Maxi-scooter Sym MaxSym TL 500

Discovery

The problem with Asian scooters is sometimes their look, far from European visual habits. But this is less and less the case and the MaxsymTL proves it again with a real sporty scooter look, despite a high bubble which wants to give it some touring hints. An uninformed observer might even find it a certain resemblance to the leader of the category, especially when viewed from the side or seen from the rear..

2215 x 800 x 1442mm

And as for the front, it offers some similarities with the 400 segment.

LED headlight with attractive light signature

But in the meantime, the quality of the finish has made a real leap forward compared to previous vintages, by mixing matt and gloss and with plastics that have nothing to envy to Japanese manufactures. Even the imitation carbon on certain parts and in particular the mirrors contributes to this overall qualitative impression. Led lights at the front and at the back with a nice light signature at the front complete the whole.

LED rear light

We especially note the suspension in two parts with a shock absorber connected to an axis which contributes to the distinctive signs of the model..

Adjustable mono shock absorber

The two front pockets offer practicality, reinforced by a USB socket. There is hardly that the central contactor which indicates a little in the end.

Contactor

We find under the fairing a twin-cylinder of 465 cm3 delivering 40.8 horsepower, placing it just between the 400 on the market and the 430, in terms of theoretical performance. The only surprise lies in the choice of the chain for the final transmission instead of a belt, like an Integral..

Chain drive, not belt drive

In the saddle

After stepping over the fairly high central bridge, we find an immediately natural and usual position on the best scooters in the category. Forget the handlebars too high or the folded legs that go up. We are well on it, even if we have the impression of being a little picked up on ourselves. Appreciable point for the driver of 1.70m, it touches the ground well, making suddenly one of the scooters where you are less on tiptoe. There is room for the feet, which additionally have a good grip rubber coating. On the other hand, in the feet forward position, they will be significantly exposed compared to the competition, the kerning not fully protecting them..

The commodos fall naturally under the fingers, including the one that manages the menu and the TFT screen.

Commodos with access to the TFT counter menu

Because yes, the MaxsymTL offers a Central color TFT screen as standard plus another mini TFT screen on the right. It is not the largest on the market (the BMW C400 being larger, but optional). And suddenly, you can even choose your universe with three different visual presentations of the speed, the tachometer, the speedometer, the clock or the information summary screen with in particular the voltage of the battery or maximum engine speed reached.

Counter with dual color TFT screen

In short, there is everything, even if we only have one partial trip.

Contact

The MaxsymTL snorts with an almost hoarse and serious sound, in correspondence with the enormous exhaust at both outputs, coupled with a carbon imitation look. It’s time to drive, a little blind, because without any technical information on the scooter before the test, enough to judge compared to the competing tests.

A weight of 223 kilos that does not feel

In the city

Despite its 223 kilos (empty), the weight of the scooter is not felt, placing it in the 400 category. Sym claims a perfectly balanced 50/50 weight between front and rear, thanks in particular to a motor placed forward , a short wheelbase but an extended rear arm. This is confirmed on trial. The handling is at the rendezvous, including at low speed and especially in duo. Number of maxi-scooters 400 offer a kind of dangling duet at low speed and this is not the case at all with this one. It is both easy to handle and not very sensitive to the weight of the passenger. Because of the TMax look, we start to compare it to it but we are however far from it in terms of the impressions of covers. We place it more level with impressions close to a 400 cm3 rather than a 530.

Dynamic in the city

And yet, when you take a closer look at the odometer and do not rely solely on your impressions, you are in fact immediately too fast and beyond 50 km / h in the city. And on the outskirts, we quickly find ourselves at 70 or even 80km / h meter. The engine is flexible, powerful, regular … almost sanitized, moving at 4,000 rpm at 50 km / h. And yet the gas shots give an immediate response to acceleration. My passenger even knocked my helmet several times, giving precisely these gas shots in town, surprised by the possible jolts. This improves in solo, even if the scooter is particularly homogeneous in solo and in duo, unlike models that struggle as soon as we are in duo.

Soft covers

On the highway

As much as the maxi-scooter easily climbs up to 90/100 km / h, it then takes its time to climb despite a recovery after 120 km / h; when it turns at 6,000 rev / min a revival which continues until 140 km / h before going to seek the 162 km / h (counter, the counter exaggerating of a good 10 km / h), prohibited in France. The times are rather smooth at these speeds, especially in hill climbs and duet, but it maintains at least a good 140 km / h, which really allows to make the highway with. There is only the drink which climbs briskly then to 10 liters per hundred! But what impresses then is its stability. We remember old 400s that chopped up at 120 km / h and nothing like that here. The MaxsymTL takes its turns on a rail including in large curves.

30 kW at 6750 rpm (40.8 hp)

We then appreciate the high efficient bubble which generates no parasitic sound behind and which allows you to see well above. Only the little ones will possibly be embarrassed when the bubble reaches eye level. Fortunately, the bubble is adjustable in two positions, but only after using a key.

Excellent protection of the high screen

Departmental

On departmental roads, we find the behavior observed in town and on the motorway, namely healthy behavior, offering the right mix of handling and stability. Even with a sudden rush, he remains unperturbed, even when the pavement deteriorates noticeably. And we realize that the pace is then well beyond the authorized speed limits. And yet, its revving is gentle between two virolos, asking to always keep your hand on the accelerator without really ever cutting to have enough to restart afterwards. The limits of the scooter are there, closer in impressions of a model of 38 horses (41 theoretical horses) than of the 46 horses of a TMax, while being superior to the models of 34 horses, average power of the majority of the 400. The 41 horses are surely there on a bench, but not in impressions.

Maneuverability

With the fast pace, the Maxxis Supermaxx S3 tires offer good grip and give you confidence in the dry (despite the weather forecast, we didn’t drive in the rain in the end).

42.5 Nm at 6250 rpm

Braking

The dual 275mm front disc and single 275mm rear disc are consistent with the machine, with powerful and steady braking at the rear (capable even of bringing the Continental ABS into action y included as a duo) and powerful braking combined with a good feeling at the front. In fact, the front can even be used with two fingers. In short, ideal for an A2 license.

Double Disc Ш275 mm- ABS Radial caliper 4 pistons

Comfort / duo

The saddle is soft and the day on board did not cause any rear fatigue, either for the driver or the passenger. It is firm but not slick and above all, as soon as the pavement deteriorates it does not lead to snowshoeing in the lumbar region. It is not the most pullman, in the sense of absorbing all the defects of the road like a Burgman 650, but we are in the high category of comfort for the category.

Comfortable seat at 795 mm, easy to access for a rider of 1.70 m

Convenient

The two storage compartments (not lockable) at the front are practical and especially the one on the right with its USB socket which allows you to charge a large smartphone. The one on the left is tiny on the other hand and will be used mainly to put the toll ticket.

USB socket in the right storage compartment

The trunk can accommodate a modular and things like a rain suit and a tablet, or two jets, but it is not the largest in the category, the XMax and Forza in particular allowing to accommodate two integral and which still have a little space.

Safe that can accommodate a full

The maxi-scooter is easily placed on a central stand. But above all it has a side stand that automatically activates a parking brake, very effective. Many builders should be inspired by it.

Consumption

Sym announces a consumption of 4.2 liters. The first stick goes out after 35-40 km and the second after 75 km, confirming an average consumption of more than 5 liters, or even rising to 10 liters on the motorway with knocking uphill and 8 liters at legal speed. The 12.5-liter tank therefore offers a range of just over 200 km. This must be put into perspective with the conditions of the test, with mainly small mountain roads driven briskly. The possible consumption in urban use is estimated at 6 liters per hundred, to be checked on a long-term test.

Colors: blue, white and black (white not sold in France)

Revisions

The Sym sees its first traditional overhaul at 1,000 km, then every 5,000 km.

The Maxsym TL video test

Conclusion

The MaxsymTL symbolizes the maturity of the Taiwanese manufacturer, now reached a level of quality that no longer has much to envy the best, especially when Sym announces a five-year or 100,000 km warranty. To this guarantee is added a network of more than 300 points of sale and maintenance. Displayed at 7,999 euros (but only for the first hundred scooters), we are more in the price range of small 400 than 530 to twelve thousand euros. The main brake then resides more in the brand itself, which does not – yet – offer the same statutory image as a Japanese or European brand. But if the overall look is an essential point of choice, it will be the way to access the dream at a lower price. In the meantime, it arrives in concessions at the end of November, enough to go see it and try it.

Strong points

• Cycle part stability
• Braking
• Comfort
• Look

Weak points

• Consumption
• Place under the trunk
• Price

The technical sheet of the Maxsym TL 500

Test conditions

• Itinerary: small varied roads + interurban highways with a bit of town

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