Another alliance, another family of scooters

SYM (San Yang Motor) is a billion dollar automobile giant and a manufacturer of two-wheelers, engines and parts based out of Taiwan. Recently SYM inked a host of technology and trademark license agreements with Kinetic Motors and has taken an 11.1 percent stake in Pune-based company. Plans are to launch a range of scooters and bikes with technology from the Taiwanese giant. SYM is known for their technological competence in areas such as ceramic coated cylinders, fuel injection systems and disc brakes, all of which are said to make their products more reliable and safe to ride. In fact they offer in their home market a lifetime warranty on the power train.
Although Kinetic is very tightlipped on which products will be launched from this alliance we expect and hope to see the delightful little MIO, a retro scooter with a 100cc engine. It's not only stylish, but in the short spin we had, it was a hoot to ride. We're also keeping our fingers crossed for their 125cc sports scooter and their 50cc scooterette.
But what we're really hoping for is the mother of all scooters, the RB250. This huge cruiser scooter can easily put most motorcycles to shame and is loaded to the hilt with every conceivable feature you could possibly wish for including a xenon headlamp.
But these may take sometime to hit the market since the Blaze, the stepped commuter scooter based on the design of the Italjet Millenium, has just been launched by Kinetic. The Blaze itself defines an altogether new niche for scooters – a scooter that can give some motorcycles a run for their money.
From the Taiwanese alliance, the MIO might be the most likely first child. Watch this space for regular updates on what we hope will be a successful and happy married life...