If you’re a commuter on a budget and want a learner-legal scooter to get you to work and back the Sinnis Shuttle 125 is well worth considering.

We road-tested a couple of more expensive Sinnis 125s last year, the Hero-X and Connect but this one is their entry-level model. It retails at just £1799 and comes with a two-year warranty (parts and labour for the first year, parts only for the second). 

Shuttle from A to B

The Shuttle isn’t designed to be overly attractive or feature-packed, this is a simple, cost-effective commuter machine with generic scooter styling. Even so, it goes well enough and has all the practicalities you need to get you from A to B and back again in relative comfort. 

Powered by the typical Chinese air-cooled GY6 four-stroke engine, the Shuttle makes just 8bhp. That isn’t overly powerful on paper but on the road it is quite surprising. We’ll talk more about that later. 

Practical?

What the Sinnis Shuttle does come with is a lockable glovebox inside the legshields, it also has a decent underseat storage space with two compartments. The front part has a USB point and is ideal for charging your phone whilst you ride. There’s also a rear luggage rack which can accommodate a topbox for extra storage space. You also get the obligatory scooter luggage hook to hang a bag of shopping on. Don’t underestimate the usefulness of that hook when you’ve nipped to the chippy!

The Sinnis Shuttle’s instruments are old-school analogue, there’s no fancy multi-function LCD dashboard here. In fact, you don’t even get a clock but as we said, it’s a basic commuter. However, it does come with LED lighting.

Sometimes basic can be all you need and is less of a distraction for the rider. With modern connectivity, we sometimes lose that ability to just ride and escape the cares of modern life, tethered to our devices 24/7.

Twin shock

The scooter has a twin shock rear end with disc brakes front and rear and the gloss black 13” tri-spoked wheels run on Kenda tyres. Suspension is ok (the rear is adjustable) although not top class, but you’re not expecting the best of everything on a sub £1800 scooter. With the state of our road surfaces in the UK, there are not many scooters that can give the impression of riding smoothly at the minute!

Speedy?

We were talking about the Shuttle’s engine earlier. Although it may only make a measly 8bhp (a learner-legal 125cc is allowed up to 14.75bhp by law) this isn’t a slow scooter. It’s fairly nippy off the mark and once it gets going you’ll not be too worried about faster stretches of road. It has no problem beating the traffic from a standing start either, so there are no complaints from me. You can expect to see close to 60mph downhill (on the clock) and around 50 on the flat.

Despite spending a week with the scooter during the late January sub-zero temperatures, the tyres coped really well. I was able to throw it around the corners without worrying that I’d have enough grip.

Stopping power

Often on a budget 125, the manufacturer will save costs by using a rear drum brake rather than a disc. In this case, not only does the Sinnis Shuttle have a disc at both ends but they’re also very good at stopping the scooter (a great attribute in a braking system!). The brakes are linked, rather than ABS but are powerful and have great feel at the levers.

Ergonomics

Weighing in at just 110kg and with a seat height of 790mm the Sinnis is easy to handle, and not too tall. I could easily get both feet flat to the floor – I’m 5’10” tall. I think riders a few inches shorter would be ok as well. 

If you’re a novice rider who is daunted by the thought of putting a scooter on to its centre stand this scooter also comes with a side stand to make life easier. There’s no need to be worried about getting a scooter on the stand by the way – it’s just a technique you need to practice.

Pillion?

If you’re a full licence holder you can take a pillion on your scooter. I did a few miles with my missus on the back and she reported it was nice and comfortable. Her only gripe was that the moulded in footrests were in a bit of an awkward position.

Running costs

Like most 125cc scooters you’re likely to see around 100mpg from this one so it’s not going to cost a fortune to run. I had the scooter for a week and didn’t need to visit a fuel station. Road tax on a 125 is just £22 a year and depending on your age/circumstances insurance shouldn’t be a fortune either – give Lexham Insurance a try if you’re looking for a quote. 

Summing up

Overall I enjoyed blasting around on the Sinnis Shuttle. Ok, it’s not the kind of scooter I’d usually choose (I’d prefer the Hero-X if I was looking for a commuter 125 from the Sinnis stable) but it’s perfectly adequate and up to the job. It goes well, stops well, isn’t likely to be too attractive to thieves and comes from a brand who have been around for a while. If you go Sinnis shopping let them know ScooterLab sent you.

Words and photos: Iggy