Wottan Storm-S 300, how the Spanish mid-range scooter performs

With the arrival of the Chinese offer, which to the tune of low prices is eroding customers from European, Japanese and Taiwanese manufacturers, the rich segment of medium-displacement scooters, the 300-350 cc segment, is becoming increasingly crowded. And it is not just the Far East brands: many European companies are producing over there, but using European design. This is the case of Wottan, a company founded in 2009 in Valencia: it produces in Asia but with Italian design, signed by Alessandro Tartarini, who in the past worked with Lambretta and F.B. Mondial. The taste behind the lines and the goodness of the assembly of the components is in fact European: from the beautiful front with the full LED headlight group, we move on to the rear with a headlight, also LED, that points upwards. The roominess is abundant: there is enough space even for taller riders, but they will find it difficult to stretch their feet on the supports in the rear shield, unless they bend their ankles at painful angles. The passenger is also comfortable in the saddle and has two large grab handles to hold on to when braking and accelerating.

Powering the Storm-S is a modern single-cylinder, 4-valve, 300 cc engine, capable of 27 hp at 8,000 rpm with a maximum torque of 24 Nm at 6,500 rpm; the manufacturer claims consumption (in line with what we checked) of 4.3 litres per 100 km: an excellent value, considering that the fuel tank is very capacious for the category, 13 litres of green that can be crammed in. The chassis is classic: tubular steel frame, 15-inch rim at the front and 14-inch at the rear, which allows for a capacious under-saddle (accommodates a full-face helmet, a jet and a rain suit); attached to the front wheel is a fork with 37 mm stanchions and 120 mm of travel, while at the rear there are two shock absorbers with adjustable preload and a more limited travel (75 mm), which is felt by the rider's back on cobblestones and on less manicured asphalt. The instrumentation is also classic, with dual clocks for speed and rev counter, separated by a 5" colour tft display; again there is the possibility to choose the background according to taste and lighting.

On the road, the Wottan Storm-S doesn't surprise with its sprint from a standstill (in acceleration, there are 300 scooters that are quicker to rev up and km/h), but it does offer an excellent, progressive and unhesitating stretch thanks to the very smooth automatic transmission, which favours fuel consumption and driving comfort. Translated: if in the first few metres from the traffic lights you can find someone faster, you will catch them after the first 10 metres. In traffic, it passes between cars quite well, even if the Storm-S 300 is not quite so subtle. The three brake discs work well, especially the two 260 mm front discs with radial callipers: braking is powerful but well modulated, thanks also to the scooter's low weight (177 kg in running order). The power of the single then convinces us to leave the city to tackle suburban roads and motorways: in fast bends, in particular, the generous wheelbase and low centre of gravity give the Wottan a lot of stability. The only pity is the windscreen which, at least in the case of taller riders, hardly protects the shoulders and leaves the helmet exposed. Competitively priced: the Storm-S 300 retails at €4,390; highly recommended is the 300+ version which, for an additional €300, offers backlit blocks and keyless start as standard.