![]() ![]() I know folks will gig it for not having fuel injection, but the carb is all part of the KISS (keep is simple, stupid) overall attitude. I love having that redundancy, and who doesn't look cool kickstarting a bike?Ī good, old-fashioned carburetor controls aspiration, and keeps emissions within DOT, EPA and CARB standards, and its even clean enough to be certified for sale in California, which is more than many small engines can claim. While it does provide 85 mpg, the need for premium fuel will eat into the savings inherent with that kind of mileage somewhat.Īlthough the Wolf mill comes with push-button electric start, SYM added on a kickstarter for backup, and I'm sure for the nostalgic appeal as well. An over-head cam actuates the valves, eliminating the mechanical losses associated with pushrod valvetrains, and the little mill runs with a 9.6-to-1 compression ratio, so yeah, the Wolf has an appetite for 90 octane fuel or better. Air cooling precludes the need for a radiator, and keeps the engine as simple and light as possible while preserving the cleanliness of the look. Normally I would cringe at that, but this is a rather light machine at only 266 pounds, and the drum does bolster the dated look SYM was going for here, so the Wolf gets a pass.Ī 149.4 cc, four-cycle thumper serves as the beating heart for the Wolf Classic. SYM threw on a twin-piston-and-anvil caliper to pinch the 240 mm front brake disc, and rear-wheel braking duties fall to the 130 mm diameter, mechanical rear-drum brake. Clip-on bars make the connection between rider and fork, and leave the tripletree clean without risers and clamp cluttering up the works. The traditional layout continues in back with a yoke-style swingarm and chromed, coil-over shocks with dual-rate springs and preload adjusters. Telescopic hydraulic, right-way-up forks support the front end, and the forks come with gaiters that not only protect the swept area of the fork tubes and the seals in the sliders, but also add to the classic charm of this little bike. Seat height is a respectable 30 inches, low enough for all but the shortest of riders to flatfoot at a stop.īuilt to emulate the looks of the original standard UJM models, the Wolf runs on a steel, single-downtube, stressed-engine frame that keeps the bones simple, light and clean. Seating is surprisingly comfortable and the clip-on handlebars that normally don't have any pullback somehow work to create an upright riding position, I'm sure afforded by the short wheelbase of only 49 inches. As a commuter, keep it around town or on the slower state highways and you'll benefit from the good fuel economy. While a top speed of 65 mph might be fast enough for SYM's main markets in Asia and the Pacific, it isn't nearly fast enough for our interstates. This is low-tech with a no-nonsense approach, so easy-to-read analog dials are adequate and fit with the retro styling. Instrumentation is minimal: a can for a speedometer and a can for a tach, but honestly, you don't need more than that. With a low, low price tag, the Wolf Classic feels like a disposable bike with its sticker-badging complete with air bubbles trapped in the adhesive, but in a saving grace, the fenders are metal instead of plastic, so kudos for that. ![]()
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