Sym Wolf CR 300 2019: a true low cost Café Racer [ROAD TEST]

Le Café Racer they were a type of motorcycle that was very popular in the mid-sixties among young people who parked them in plain sight in front of the public places they frequented to show off. Thus this phrase was born to describe their motorcycles. The nature of the new Sym Wolf CR 300.

These racing cars were road vehicles stripped of everything related to tourism and equipped with specialist accessories, even handcrafted at home, so as to look like racing motorbikes.
In reality they were used mainly for exhibitionism and only rarely for some clandestine competitions.
Nowadays for Café Racer we mean a motorcycle with a sporty appearance, characterized by a series of aesthetic modifications aimed at emphasizing the idea of ​​speed, customizable components and equipped with a distinctly retro design.
The new Symwolf CR300 it is precisely characterized by this construction philosophy but with the technology and safety that must distinguish a modern motorcycle.
The quality/price ratio and reliability have always been the “workhorses” of the Taiwanese brand and thanks to the program with 4 years of warranty/100.000 km + 4 years of Roadside Assistance you can travel calmly and without worries.

Equipment and Design

On an aesthetic level, the new one Café Racer home Sym it is particularly accurate both from a construction point of view and for color combinations.
The lines of the motorbike are sweet and soft, almost as if they had been drawn with a brush, they make the Wolf CR300 very stylish. Furthermore, their extension from the fairing towards the passenger seat emphasizes the idea of ​​speed.
Seen from afar, thanks also to the two-tone red/black color, it is very reminiscent of the Moto Guzzi V7 Racer while the dome, round and voluminous, is similar to that of the Ducati Monster 900 of the '98.
Maybe we're wrong but, if really the technicians Sym they were inspired by these two models to outline the aesthetics of theirs Cafe Racer, they definitely had good taste.
The screen, although it does its job admirably, appears too large and perhaps a little disproportionate compared to the silhouette of the bike.
The instrumentation, which uses two analogue instruments, is clear, complete and readable at a simple glance even if it appears a little "Minimal" how I look.
The handlebar control blocks are well built, offer a great sense of robustness and are easy to operate.
The tank, capable of containing 14 liters of fuel, it is slim, tapered and allows you to feel comfortable both when maneuvering and on the move.
The driving position with the vehicle stationary tends to be sporty and forces you to bring your torso slightly forward, loading your wrists, while the footrests, low and not far back, allow you to maintain an angle of your legs that is not too sacrificed.
The saddle, long and well shaped, offers an excellent level of comfort even after several hours in the saddle.
We can summarize and define it as a fashionable, comfortable, versatile motorbike made to cover kilometers without worrying its owner.

Engine and chassis

The unit that the Sym has chosen to equip his home sports car is the proven single-cylinder from 278 cc with 4 valves per cylinder, liquid cooling, electronic injection and reversed balancer shaft capable of delivering a maximum power of 26.8 CV a 8.000 rpm, the couple reaches i 26 Nm a 6.000 laps.
Respectable values ​​that put it in line with the "300" produced by other competing companies, the most surprising data, however, concerns consumption.
Well, the small and spirited single-cylinder is incredibly efficient and economical in terms of fuel requirements, so much so that, according to the Taiwanese company, it is able to travel 53 kilometers on just one liter of petrol.
Values ​​which, if confirmed with instrumental data, would be truly impressive and would allow the Wolf CR300, With its 14 liters of capacity, to exceed the 600 kilometers of autonomy.
The frame is made up of a classic and well-tested double cradle structure in red steel, a choice that favors aesthetics, rigidity and provides excellent control of the vehicle.
The suspensions are characterized at the front by a traditional telescopic fork while at the rear by a pair of monoshock absorbers with adjustable spring preload.
To maintain an optimal level of safety and control of the motorcycle Sym has equipped the Wolf CR300, at the front, of a single radial mount caliper a 4 pistons working on a record from 288 mm in diameter. At the rear, however, we find a single-piston caliper with a disc 220 mm; the entire braking system can also count onABS supplied by Bosch.
Thanks to the extensive use of heavy and robust materials such as steel and aluminium, the weight of the motorbike stops the scale needle at a certain level 176 kg.

Guide

The driving position is a bit particular, you have to get the hang of it, but after a couple of kilometers you feel in control of the vehicle and at ease around the bends.
Despite being one meter and eighty two tall I can immediately find an optimal position in the saddle, my legs have all the space necessary for their movements while my back and wrists are in a somewhat sacrificed position, at least for city riding.
The heart of every motorcycle is its engine and this Sym it truly has a little gem wrapped in its rigid frame.
The small 300 it is silent, elastic and has a nice verve, furthermore it vibrates very little, a sign of excellent work on internal friction and balance.
The thrust is always decisive and very fluid, at times even sporty if you insist on shifting the gears to the top of the rev counter.
The elasticity of this single-cylinder is exemplary as it picks up with vigor right from the start 2.000 turns and then stretch up to the threshold of 9.000.
In reality, even in sporty driving, it is better to take advantage of the torque and the vigorous delivery at medium speeds; if you want to take advantage of the acceleration it is better not to go beyond the 8.000 cousin to change relationships.
In city traffic the Wolf it wriggles easily and allows you to maneuver between cars with truly exemplary agility and fluency.
The suspensions, set with a soft calibration (especially the fork), absorb any type of roughness. Pavé, cobblestones, tracks and bumps are not a problem for Sym since you drink them like a glass of water.
However, the fork has an annoying spring effect that continues for several meters after having absorbed a stress.
Fortunately, this is a problem that can easily be solved by replacing the springs and possibly using a thicker oil.
A real shame because this behavior nullifies the potential of the chassis which would allow the bike to achieve a decidedly more cheerful and rigorous ride.
The braking system has always performed well, proving to be very modular and progressive in its intervention even if the operating levers have a sponge effect which over time tires the right hand and foot a lot.
THEABS, set to guarantee maximum safety, intervenes very frequently in driving, lengthening braking and making its presence felt, especially when the asphalt is not in perfect condition.
In daily use the Wolf CR300 it performed really well, confirming itself as an excellent alternative to more classic scooters, the addition of a passenger did not compromise its driving dynamics.
Moving away from the urban context, towards state roads full of curves, the sporty character of this vehicle is highlighted, highlighting its good driving dynamics and road holding that you would almost not expect.
Keeping the engine between 4.000 and 8.000 laps il Sym it gives its best by launching itself between one bend and another with a sportiness worthy of a larger displacement motorbike.
Most of the credit for this behavior is due to the performance of the excellent frame which is almost oversized for the power this bike is capable of delivering.
Unfortunately, part of this rigorous behavior is nullified by the "spring" effect operation of the fork which generates significant load transfers, forcing the trajectories to become dirty.
On the motorway the bike remains stable and safe up to 120 km/h, beyond this value it is necessary to take into account high air pressure on the pilot's head and torso and some “banging” too much.
The tires Maxxis of original equipment have always proved to be up to the task, guaranteeing a rapid turnaround time warm up, a high driving feeling and great versatility in adapting to different driving contexts and different types of asphalt.

Price

The new Symwolf CR300 It is available on promotion at dealerships in the colours Red / White e Red / Black a 4.300 € rather than 4.500.
For a relatively low fee you can have a motorcycle that is outside the traditional mold, fashionable, with an aggressive look and characterized by truly disarming versatility and ease of riding. It is excellent for both novices and more "experienced" riders, perhaps looking for an alternative vehicle to the scooter, fun to drive, suitable for daily use and which stands out from the crowd without the need for crazy expenses for its management.

PRO

Driving, versatility, engine, build quality, consumption.

AGAINST

Front suspension, fairing dimensions, invasive ABS.

Photo: Alessandro Ranzenigo