If you’re looking at these two new scooters and wondering why they’re identical, but with different graphics, let me put your poor tortured mind at ease. They both come from the same factory and off the same production line in China, but have different graphics. Confused?
Let me help. If didn’t already know the mighty S.A.M. (South African Motorcycles) empire, which includes household names like Jonway, Gomoto and many others, has recently taken over the Big Boy empire as well, making S.A.M. without doubt South Africa’s largest retailers in the small capacity two-wheeled, and three, market. And this is why we have two 200s that are basically, well, the same, one with Gomoto graphics the other stickered up with Big Boy badges. One is called the Gomoto Naked Ballistic, the other a Big Boy Sportflight 200-F, just to set things straight, and both are fully automatic. So we just had to ride both at the same time to see what they’re like and if they do indeed feel the same.
Both of these 115kg and very attractive scooters have the same new 200 engine, or 199.1cc to be precise. The engines are air-cooled and claimed to produce around 13hp and 13Nm of torque. That means they’re quicker and faster than anything that’s come before them with this capacity and, let me tell you right from the start, they’re two very brisk ways of getting around and built to new standards of build quality from the Chinese regime.
So how fast is fast, you ask? Well don’t forget I’m writing about both scooters at the same time here so I won’t be saying, ‘this one and then that one.’ The brochure says between 95-110km/h, which I’m afraid is wrong. In an unprecedented spot of scientific research I decided to get my head down on the highway on a slight downhill section and saw 141km/h on that cool little digital instrument pod that lights up blue at night and reminded me of the clock lights on a Golf GTi. Now that’s remarkably quick for a 200 scooter and even if the speedo were out, which can’t be too far because I passed many cars on my way top speed heaven, it’s still impressive to say the least.
I bet you also think these funky scoots were also predictably unstable at that speed and the brakes equally crap, well you’re all wrong again folks. The Big Boy I was riding was perfectly stable on its chunky 130x13-inch wheels and never wobbled, twitched or complained and those red calliper brakes stop both scoots in superbike style fashion, and I mean stop, making both of these white horses safe, predictable and fun by the truckload. I did find the suspension was a bit too hard on the spring rate side though, then again I’m becoming a bit old and fragile and the ‘youths’ won’t care as much but most certainly can’t drink as much.
One down side is neither is really built for small “Hobbit-like” people, so if you can walk under a limbo pole without bending your back, possibly stay away from the 200s. The thickly padded seat is 800mm from the floor but it’s quite wide as well that sits you high up and when you reach out to the MX style ‘bars you sit high and mighty for sure, which suited me perfectly with my six-foot build. So I’d go and sit on one before you buy which, after reading this, you should. However we did have lots of fun trying to find any differences if possible, a bit like those “spot five differences between the two images” things you find in quiz books.
After much finger pointing we found, to our delight, that the Gomoto has yellow switches on the switchgear, where the Big Boy has red. The Gomoto has better-looking knobbly tyres and the Big Boy has an embroidered badge on the seat. The rear footrest hangers are a different colour and some other bits, which I’ve forgotten. Otherwise “I-dent-I-cal” is the best way to describe them and it’s up to you which graphic package you prefer.
For some reason though the Big Boy option did feel a little sharper and had a less spongy front brake, but the first service should sort that out. By the way both of these new scooters now have a two-year warranty and a 3,000km service interval and S.A.M.’s full support and backing – sweet.
So you can now have a powerful 200cc economical (under 3-litres per 100km) scooter that is quick and can easily be ridden on the highway, but don’t do that otherwise you’ll fall into the e-toll trap of doom and gloom – stay on the A roads instead and have more fun anyway. Both are priced at R18,499 which is a bargain for what you get and they’re, like I mentioned earlier, now very well built. That means they’re R1,000 cheaper than a Yamaha BWS and to ride they’re better, which says a lot about this new generation of scooters. Whichever model you might choose to own doesn’t really matter because you’ll certainly be as delighted as we were to play around with either of the two 200s.
To find your nearest dealer go to www.jonway.co.za for Gomoto products or www.bigboy.co.za for the other.
Second opinion:
Stylish, sleek with two scoops of practical. Yes, these two 200s are where things are going in a hurry what with the ever increasing fuel price, e-Tolls, Carbon tax, services, tires etc etc. Cars are becoming less of option for every day transportation. Popping off to the shops, gym and pub all taken in stride. Step through, keys in, twist the throttle and go. What more do you need?
So not only is it super practical and cheap to operate, I would get home fresh from work and be welcomed in the drive by my two mini me’s, helmets on, smiles at the ready. “Let’s go, dad!” The quiet little motor allowed for hours of fun riding around the complex till after dark. Did I just describe family bonding too?
All in all, the week with this scooter was a window of opportunity, to see and experience the future. Count me in!
