GMax - modern, chic, racy - and a bundle of fun

I assumed that the phenomenal 47 per cent growth in scooter sales so far this year was attributable to the high cost of fuel and maybe even the interest rate rise.

That may well be a factor. I'm sure a lot of scooters buyers have pragmatic reasons for their choice, including ease of parking, ease of flitting through traffic and general low-cost motoring.

I was wrong. The Bolwell GMax 150 is the sort of scooter you hop on just for fun. But then it is unlike most scooters.

For a start, the $5490 scooter may be cheap, but it looks modern, chic and a little racy. It looks less like a conventional scooter than a scooter/motorcycle crossover.

It's not even a step-through like most scooters. There is a hump through the middle to accommodate the fuel tank which has been moved to allow for the motorcycle-style swinging arm suspension.

This means you have to mount it like a motorcycle, so skirt and kilt-wearing riders who favour step-throughs should probably look elsewhere.

On the road, it's very much a scooter experience with simple twist-and-go constantly variable auto transmission and small, 13-inch wheels which make it twitchy, but easy to manoeuvre in tight spaces.

Thanks to the "real" rear suspension, the GMax won't break your back when you hit one of Brisbane's many potholes, like most scooters with small wheels would.

The 150cc single is no grand prix engine but it certainly isn't a slouch, easily mixing it with the round-town traffic. It will hit 60km/h in six seconds, which means you won't get run over if you filter to the front at the traffic lights.

It reaches 80km/h in eight seconds, so the inner-city bypass isn't out of the question.

And while it takes 14 seconds to hit highway speed with the throttle pinned, it doesn't feel as though the engine is about to explode. The single cylinder is spinning at 8000rpm at 100km/h sending a gentle buzz through the bars.

Despite the test scooter's engine being tight and new, the little dynamo actually hit 120km/h with favourable conditions — downhill and a tail wind.

At highway speed it isn't exactly comfortable cruising. You could probably ride to the Gold Coast on it, but I wouldn't advise you.

It may handle better than a lot of scooters, but the blast from passing trucks can still cause a wobble and get the heart racing.

The high-rise exhaust is also unusual for scooters and not just because of its positioning.

Under full steam, there is a curiously loud, but not unpleasant, exhaust noise which becomes a hum at cruising revs.

The exhaust din reminds me of the drone of bombers over London in a World War II film.

With a catalytic converter, it is claimed to have low emission levels, but my pillion complained of the fumes even after a short five-minute ride.

The good news is that performance did not suffer greatly for the extra load. Even up hills it still stoked the fires and refused to falter despite the pillion.

The GMax's relatively lively performance is also matched by good stoppers with a larger-than-normal (for scooters) front disc and a rear disc, instead of a drum brake, as most scooters have.

Despite the hump in the middle and the swinging arm suspension, the GMax still has plenty of under-seat storage capacity. Not as big as some, but enough for an open-face helmet and jacket. A rear rack is available as an option.

The dashboard is well laid out and the speedo, fuel gauge and clock are easy to read. However, the tacho is quite small and difficult to read; not that it is really necessary since it's an automatic transmission.

The ignition includes a steering lock, as well as the latch for the seat and petrol cap which is in the middle hump between your legs.

Although it is push-button electric start, there is also a back-up kick starter if the battery ever fails.

It comes with side and centre stands, but the centre stand is so easy to use and the bike so light, you could just use the secure centre stand. GMax comes in a classy blue/silver or the racy red/silver as tested.