2008 SYM Citycom Review

Founded in Taipei during the first half of the 1950s, Sanyang Electrics was initially established to manufacture bicycle lights. Manned by a scant four employees at the beginning, the factory was actually a leased rice mill, equipped with only the most basic manufacturing equipment. By 1961, the company was restructured into Sanyang Industrial Co. Ltd. (SYM), and by the following year they had teamed up with the Honda Motor Company to manufacture 50cc, 150cc, and 160cc motorcycles, becoming the very first motorcycle manufacturing company in Taiwan. Sanyang would expand their efforts in the years to come, tackling cars by 1967. Now with over 2400 employees worldwide and annual revenues well into the billions, Sanyang Industries is one of Asia’s most preeminent makers of automobiles (200,000 per year) motorcycles (600,000), mobile Products, various parts, accessories, and molds.

In terms of performance, reliability, style, and affordability, SYM has offered a wide collection of some of the best scooters on the market, helping Taiwan retain their position as among the best scooter makers anywhere in the world. SYM’s top quality four-stroke engines have some truly outstanding features including ceramic coating on the cylinder which means no unhealthy carbon deposits plus a longer life for the motor. SYM’s cylinder heads are a one-piece design, as opposed to the more conventional two-piece which is more durable and makes for a better dissipation of engine heat. SYM also uses a four-valve design for enhanced vehicle performance.

SYM scooters run the gamut, take for instance the Symply. Specifically suited for urban commuters, this single-cylinder four-stroke scooter is an ideal fit for those in need of a sturdy, trusted ride that’ll get you back and forth to work fast and on time. Other models from SYM, such as sleek cruisers like the Joymax GTS and the Joyride RV 125 come equipped with larger engines for more get-up-and-go. And for the more fashion-conscious consumer, models like the Sym Jet Euro MX offers a smart combination of a sporty look with an agile, lightweight design that’s light on the road.

Well over a century ago, when Henry Ford was fast churning out Model T’s left and right, he famously envisioned two cars in every garage across America. But with gas prices inching their way further into the stratosphere month after month, most North Americans would probably welcome a more sensible, fuel efficient way of getting from point A to Z and all points in between. Light on their feet, easy to park, and incredibly fuel-friendly (100 m.p.g. scooters are old news; 200 m.p.g. scooters are the new thing this year), scooters like SYM’s Citycom might just be the global wave of the future.