Not Symba, but its inspiration (the latest version)

[Uncle Burger]

Hi Symba folks

While I might not own a Symba (yet), due solely to the fact that it's not sold here in Malaysia ... but I intend to get the "real deal" Honda EX5 Dream - which is the latest version of the evergreen Honda SuperCub elsewhere in the world. In fact, the Cub has never left these shores; it's the biggest-selling 2-wheeler of all time here.


This is the machine that brought the Honda marque (in any form) to Malaysia.

The EX5 is as generic to Malaysians as Royal Enfields are to Indians It even has its own 2-wheeled "category" ... a CubChai, or kapchai, in local slang; which means "little cub". Anyone here that's ever thrown a leg over a motorcycle, knows the EX5. You want a bulletproof workhorse on wheels - the EX5 is it. They are used to deliver anything from pizzas to bread/milk to domestic cooking gas cylinders, which weigh about 50kg each ... and it handles 4; easy-peasy.

As you can mostly see, much of the chassis and mechanicals are the same as the Symba's. The difference is mainly body panels and electrics. The engine and running gear are (mostly) similar to the Symba; the biggest difference is that the EX5 Dream has a dual-clutch system: so much better than the old single centrifugal clutch shoe setup (which I believe is in the Symba.) A smaller difference is that the EX5 displaces 97.1cc (50.0mm bore x 49.5mm stroke) versus the Symba's 101cc.

I hope that I'll be able to share some tips and tricks in mechanically maintaining such similar motorcycles* with Symba owners soon ... that is, if y'all interested In the meantime, happy riding and ride safe!

*Anything with 2 wheels and an internal combustion engine in between is classified as a motorcycle in Malaysia; the term "scooter" is used on 2-wheelers with a CVT system. There are no "mopeds" here.

[scoobynut]

It's a mystery to me why Honda doesn't offer one of these modernized Cubs in the U.S.  If it's manufactured outside of Japan, you'd think it could compete with the Chinese pricewise, or at least get to close to their prices, not to mention offer a far superior product.   I'd buy one in a second if the price was competitive.   The U.S Honda marketing machine continues to baffle me.  Thanks for the post.

[Uncle Burger]

This model is fully-assembled in Malaysia, with engine and running gear Made In Thailand

It sells here for a little under US$1,100 ... How's that compare with the Chinese stuff?

[scoobynut]

Probably about $100 more than an equivalent Chinese one.  Most savvy consumers wouldn't think twice about paying that little extra for something with the Honda name on it, as opposed to some no-name Chinese scoot of dubious origins.  It would be interesting to hear Honda try to make a case for why this wouldn't succeed here.  I'm afraid Honda, at least the U.S. marketing branch, has forgotten its roots.

[Uncle Burger]

I guess it's because of the assumption by the world that in the US ... "they like 'em BIG there"

The EX5 Dream is the biggest-selling motorcycle in Malaysia, year after year ... for as long as I can remember.

Maybe that's one "big" American Honda could chew on

In the meantime, SYM with the Symba is really cleaning up that market segment.

[steve_rolfeca]

Don't forget that there are other barriers to doing business over here.

One is geography- North American population density is relatively low, which increases the cost of maintaining a dealer network. Distances between population centers are greater, which is why Gold Wings make sense over here (they're an absurdity in many parts of the world), and why Cubs are thought of as being only for urban use.

Climate is another- a motorcycle is a fair-weather toy in the North.

One of the biggest issues, though, is litigation. I once read that legal expenses are responsible for about two-thirds of the price of a motorcycle helmet in the U.S. When I was looking for performance parts for my scooter last year, I talked to two companies that had decided to drop out of the U.S. market because of insurance costs and legal challenges.

All of these factors tend to increase the risk of doing business. They also tend to push importers away from niche-market products, and towards big-ticket items, with larger profit margins. After all, if you're going to get sued every time you sneeze, it might as well be on a $20,000 item as a $2,000 one....

[Uncle Burger]

Thanks for the input, Steve. Am not gonna get into a debate on the technicalities of doing Cub business in the USA ...

Am just saying, if SYM via Carter Bros. can do the Symba ... American Honda can do the Cub as well, if not better.

Meanwhile, I'm getting back to my trip planning for a 3,000km+ ride across lil Malaysia with my EX5 Dream

[steve_rolfeca]

Wasn't really trying to start a debate, just thinking out loud about Honda's weird (aggressive?) pricing over here. In Canada, the SH150 is $1,000 more than an HD200, which pretty much takes it out of contention.

Hope you'll post lots of pictures of your ride across Malaysia. The EX-5 looks like a terrific upgrade on the Symba, and your trip would certainly be a dream ride for many of us on this side of the pond...

[scoobynut]

I believe the SH150 is built in Europe, Italy specifically, so the high labor costs there -- much higher than even domestic Japanese labor costs -- account for a large part of that scooter's relatively very high price. 

Likewise, I'm looking forward to seeing some pics of your EX-5 when you pick it up.  Take some good details shots so we can see how the quality is compared to Symba. 

[cplschnapps]

Thanks, Uncle B, for calling the Symba a motorcycle! Everyone in the US (including Carter Bros) seems to think it's a scooter - got ribbed at work today by a guy insisting my new Symba is a moped!

Of course, the Symba is a full-fledged motorcycle, not a moped or scooter or whatever. It's a lightweight, step-through frame motorcycle, but a motorcycle none the less. It has the forward engine/transmission, big wheels, and gear shift of a motorcycle - the step-through frame doesn't make it a scooter.

I have an old copy of "Honda Motorcycle Identification Guide 1959-1988" published by American Honda in 1988, and the CM91 Honda 90 (US name for the Cub 90) is in the motorcycle section! I'd send a scan of the page but I don't know how to upload pics.

[Uncle Burger]

Hey guys, sorry for the silence thus long ... been rather preoccupied lately with business matters ... which has been taking time away from me and my current ride, the VTS200 (172cc version of the RV250 in the US).

Gosh, how I miss riding

But, hold on ... there is good news: I'm finally taking delivery of my Honda EX5 "Touring Edition" - next week!

Why "Touring Edition", you may ask?

Although I have been busy at work (ok, I DO flip burgers for a living, just to make that clear ) I did find time to check out some farkles and bolt-on upgrade bits (of the heavy-duty type) for my future EX5. I shortlisted a bunch of 'em, and am having the dealer put them on the motorcycle (here's to you, cplschnapps!) and ready for me to pick it up end of next week.

The result is an EX5 that will look and perform quite a bit differently than stock ... Rigged for full-blown, cross-country riding. And I'm not done even half-done yet ... The navigation/communication bits need to be customized I think I'll need fellow forum member CVTrider's help in this section ... he's a real champ in anything electronic!

I just hope he doesn't try to rig a satellite dish on my EX5 Touring ...

Alright, enough of the blabber. I'll put up some pics of my EX5 Touring when I pick it up from the dealer's next week. Til then, safe and happy rides, everyone!

[Uncle Burger]

I got my EX5 Touring!

But ... no photos yet - not until I give it a good wash after doing its maiden 400km run back home from the dealer's, in typical Malaysian rain.

Promise I'll put the pics up soonest!

[farril]

hi uncle burger..
sorry for line crossing..
im a new rider for vts 200..so here i left my phone number cause i heard that u stay at perak..myself live at pekan razaki,ipoh.
here are my phone no.. [Phone # Removed By Admin]
 
by the way sorry for line crossing..

[leo.urbis]

Farril,

DO NOT POST PERSONAL INFORMATION IN A PUBLIC FORUM.

If you want uncle burger to have your phone number, send him a private message.  Click the speech bubble next under his name --> .  This will let you send him a private message that only he can read.

[steve_rolfeca]

We need pix!!!

Dirty is OK, if it's so much fun to ride that you don't want to stop for a wash...