sym wolf SB125Ni

The Sym Wolf SB125Ni is a fuel-injected learner-friendly motorcycle from the Taiwanese giant. Sym pumps out around half a million two wheelers (albeit mostly scooters) a year, and this is one of their first steps into the UK motorcycle market. But… despite its great looks, the £2999 price tag puts it way above more attractive budget options, while the quality of the ride and engine simply isn’t good enough to challenge the 125 Dukes and YZF-R125s of this world.

Engine

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Owners' rating

Not exciting. Vibration picks up as the old-school, air-cooled four-stroke single begins to approach 70mph. You’ll want to back off soon after. Keeping it pinned and moving along at 62mph is the norm. Acceleration is slow and breathless. The only redeeming feature is the fuel injection, which makes starting it and keeping it running as simple as pushing a button. Essentially the performance is feeble. Even for a 125.

Ride and Handling

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Owners' rating

Not confidence inspiring. It feels poorly balanced and is consequently awkward to manoeuvre at low speeds. Most cheaper bikes get away with adequate or ill thought out design by being so light it really doesn’t matter. At 155kg dry the Wolf just can’t get away with it. The brakes are very basic twin piston callipers at the front with a drum at the rear, giving adequate stopping performance but nothing more. The gear change is sloppy, imprecise and ill-positioned. Deeply irritating.

Equipment

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Owners' rating

By far the Wolf’s biggest selling point. A very tidy LCD dash – complete with sexy blue backlighting – shows off a slick digital speedo, a trip meter, fuel gauge and the current time. It has LED lights and neat styling touches like the CB1000R-styled alloy wheels. The screen is good looking and colour coded and the grab rail is extremely good. The ease of the fuel injection is a great bonus too. Only downside is a slightly rattly pillion seat that doesn’t clip in with much confidence.

Quality and Reliability

Owners' rating

General quality is adequate while failing to match major European or Japanese rivals. Sym haven’t so far shared any details of warranty cover, and it remains to be seen how the Wolf will handle winter conditions and the drops and scrapes learners will subject it to.

Value

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Owners' rating

Yes, you get a lot of equipment for the money. You get almost as much as on KTM’s 125 Duke and for over £500 less. But, if you do buy the Wolf, you’ll wish you splashed out just a little bit extra for a Honda CBR125R or the like. In short, the equipment’s a bargain, the quality of the ride isn’t  

Top speed	70mph
1/4-mile acceleration	secs
Power	11bhp
Torque	ftlb
Weight	155kg
Seat height	mm
Fuel capacity	13 litres
Average fuel consumption	mpg
Tank range	miles
Insurance group

Engine size	125cc
Engine specification	Air-cooled, 124.5cc fuel-injected, single cylinder four-stroke
Frame
Front suspension adjustment	Telescopic fork
Rear suspension adjustment	-
Front brakes	Disc brake with 2 piston caliper
Rear brake	Drum
Front tyre size	110/70 - 17
Rear tyre size	130/70 - 17