SYM Orbit II 50 Naked / 50 TS

"Orbit II Naked"

With the boom in scooter sales, and the user-friendly licensing concessions in States like Queensland, WA and SA, 50cc scooters have proliferated on Australian roads.

And why not? Fifties are as cheap as chips to buy and run, they’re easy to ride and not at all intimidating for the novice, and they make a great option for new scooterists as well as for those who are simply looking for basic shorthop transport.

However, one big problem with many 50s on the market today is literally their size. A 50cc engine doesn’t make huge amounts of power, so the scooter it is designed to propel has to be light and compact. Trouble is, for larger riders, light and compact too often means cramped and uncomfortable.

Not so the Orbit 50. This model from Taiwanese manufacturer SYM is the latest addition to the range of city scoots distributed in Australia by Select Scootas.

Pleasingly fresh and funky in its styling, the Orbit 50’s major claim to fame is its size. I’m 180cm and unlike many other 50s I’ve tried, I had no problems fitting on to the Orbit. No bruised knees from contact with the handlebars as they turn, no cramped legs squished behind a restrictive legshield, and no sore back from slouching to reach ’bars that are too low. The slim, truncated design of the Orbit’s legshields gives plenty of space for the taller rider, while the generous (for a 50, of course) floor area easily takes my size 10s, with a flat deck big enough to also hold a case of beer at a pinch.

The Orbit’s 49.4cc air-cooled single-cylinder four-stroke engine pumps out 2.75kW at 7750rpm and torque of 3.85Nm at 6500rpm – respectable figures for a little 50 – and is pretty zippy in the way it delivers.

It gets up to the 50km/h limit quickly enough, although not quite as briskly as the two-stroke Derbi GP1 50, and coped well among the mid-morning traffic on the busy streets of Brisbane’s CBD.

Even better for this 83kg pilot was the fact that the Orbit’s suspension at both ends felt firm and sporty, and not soft and spongy. It may be a budget-priced 50, but there was no sensation of the Orbit’s suspension being underdamped or undersprung during my short test ride, and it handled the bumps and holes of inner Brisbane’s roads with surprising aplomb.

Braking could be a bit better, though. The front two-piston caliper and single disc combination worked well enough, but could have used more instant bite, while the rear drum brake had a vague, wooden feel to it. To be fair, the scooter was brand spankin’ new, with just a handful of kilometres on the clock, so the brakes may have still needed some bedding in.

The final factor in the Orbit’s comfort equation is the seat – it’s an easy 740mm off the ground and plush enough for a decent ride. As mentioned, you’ll get an open-face helmet underneath it, and you’ll find the fuel filler there as well. Looking forward, the Orbit has a simple instrument panel. It’s basic, with just a speedo, a fuel gauge and some lights (no clock, unfortunately) but very easy to read on the go.

Overall build quality looks spot-on for the money, with attractively chunky rims and a nice touches like gaiters on the fork sliders.

Actually ‘spot-on’ is probably the most accurate description for this well thoughtout, bargain little scooter. With the Orbit 50, not a lot of cash buys not a lot of flash, but everything you need for a reliable, robust shorthaul runabout is right there.

Extracts from a review by Pete Callaghan