TTLBT and Cruisym 400: Sym scooters to go beyond the city

Sym, a Taiwanese brand and one of the world's leading players in the scooter sector, is entering the European touring vehicle market with two proposals that are quite distinct in terms of target and ambition. On the one hand, the TTLBT, the flagship scooter with which it explicitly chooses to challenge the premium sport-tourer segment; on the other hand, the Cruisym 400, a more accessible but surprisingly well-equipped scooter, designed for those who move between the city and weekends away. We rode them both on the roads of Sardinia, around Olbia.

TTLBT

The TTLBT, whose unpronounceable name is reminiscent of the tortoise symbol, an emblem of longevity in oriental culture, represents Sym's debut in the premium sport-tourer market, the same market in which the Yamaha T-Max is moving, but which remains in a considerably higher price bracket. At the heart of this scooter is a 508 cc inline twin-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine that delivers 33.5 kW (about 46 hp) at 6,750 rpm and a maximum torque of 50 Nm. All this for a weight of 254 kg and a seat height of 780 mm from the ground. The 16-litre fuel tank provides adequate range for motorway journeys. The transmission adopts an oil-bath centrifugal clutch, which contributes to smoothness on restarts. The wheels are 15 inches at the front and rear and the braking system uses a double disc at the front and a single disc at the rear (all 275 mm) with a rather effective central monoshock.

Technologically speaking, the TTLBT doesn't cut corners. The Bosch system handles Abs Cornering and Tcs Cornering, with the added bonus of auxiliary cornering lights that are automatically activated above 13 degrees of inclination: a much-appreciated treat when tackling the winding Sardinian roads at night. Also worth mentioning are the ride-by-wire system, the three driving modes (Normal tcs, Normal and Rain) and the cruise control, which can be activated between 50 and 130 km/h. The 7-inch display is touch, bright and clearly visible even in bright sunlight, and supports Apple CarPlay wirelessly. For Android users, Google has not opened up the libraries of Android Auto to two-wheelers, so you are limited to managing music and phone calls via Bluetooth via compatible helmets or earphones. The standard equipment is impressive: four-level heated grips, electrically adjustable windscreen, smart key and three-position backrest. Conveniently, the two large front compartments under the handlebars and the integrated side bags, which follow the lines of the fairing, unhook from a handle under the seat in less than 3 seconds. Too bad the capacity stops at about 14 litres per side and the maximum load capacity is only 3 kg. The under-seat compartment, albeit with panelling and courtesy light, could have been roomier, but it is still possible to attach a central rear top box. The riding position is relaxed, like a true grand tourer, with footpegs parallel to the road and angled at 45°, and stability at high speeds is convincing. The dimensions, we are almost one and a half metres wide with the panniers hooked on, inevitably limit its use in the city, but this maxi scooter proves to be quite agile anyway and its 50 Nm of torque, available just above 5,000 rpm, are sufficient for overtaking without major problems.

Available soon, the TTLBT will be available in three different colours with a list price just under EUR 10,000.

Cruisym 400

The Cruisym 400 positions itself on a completely different register: it is a scooter designed for those who travel those twenty or thirty kilometres between the suburbs and the city every day, but who on Sundays would like to extend their range without sacrificing comfort. The engine is a 399 cc single-cylinder, liquid-cooled, with 25 kW (about 34 hp) and 37 Nm of torque. The weight drops to 224 kg, the fuel tank is 14.5 litres and the seat is 785 mm from the ground. Wheels are 15 inches at the front and 14 at the rear with braking handled by a 288 mm disc at the front and a 275 mm disc at the rear, both with Abs.