TGB Bullet 150

As I stare down the TGB Bullet 150, eyeing off its sharp, sporty lines and racy stance, it dawns on me that I've forgotten my balaclava. It's cold outside, raining even, and I've just made a rookie mistake...

Long story short, the TGB Bullet 150 got me home in one piece, though the fallout from the missing balaclava left me with a mild cold.

But that's not the scooter's fault.

The Taiwanese-built Bullet 150 proved to be a reliable mode of transportation during that first dark, wet and largely unpleasant ride through Melbourne's peak hour gridlock.

Priced at $3390 before on-road costs are added, the Bullet 150 is an affordable model and a capable commuter, but as evidenced by its aggressive styling it's designed primary as a sporty little runabout.

It does a lot of things right – decent engine, good handling, strong brakes – but it has a very firm ride, to the point where you'll probably grimace as you realise a rail crossing is coming up.

In areas that have cobblestone lanes, or pot holes, half-finished surfaces or tram tracks, it can be a little wearing. But it does put you in the mood for fanging it!

Matt's assessment of the smaller capacity 125 Bullet giving your wrists a workout over bumps held true from time to time, but I found the rear end provided a more jounce than the front. Get it on smooth roads though and it was very enjoyable.

Indeed, the TGB Bullet 150 is a real go-getter in the twisties, able to carve round corners with the bearing of a pharmaceutically enhanced amateur athlete. It tips into corners with gusto, and thanks to 13-inch rims shod with decent Maxxis tyres, it'll hold a good line through a bend while delivering a modicum of feedback.

At first it felt a little sketchy pushing the scooter deep into a corner, but after a few apexes the 118kg scooter starts to make sense. It's a fun little machine and in terms of bang for you buck and to be frank, you could do a lot worse for the money.

Mid-corner ructions and bumps can upset the 151cc sportster due to its rigid chassis, but by and large its handling dynamics are fairly impressive and it'll eat up most of what's thrown at it.

The front and rear disc brakes are responsive, able to haul in the Scooters 118kg mass relatively rapidly, which is always reassuring. They can be a mite touchy at times, but it doesn't take long to acclimatise to their sensitivity.

Matching its athletic chassis is an overtly sporty design, the Bullet's angular front end a combination of Decepticon menace and contemporary sport scooter. The chunky tyres and pinstriped rims add another dose of sportiness to proceedings, as do the polished alloy footboards, gold forks with racey stickers, plus a wave front disc and gold caliper.

The rear end is probably the least attractive aspect of the design, the large circular brake light about alluring as mouldy mayonnaise, but by and large the Bullet looks good.

Faux carbon fibre around the large tacho looks surprisingly good and the blue back-lit digital speedo and fuel gauge provide the TGB with street-wise appeal.

The seat is nicely contoured and had enough padding to cushion the author's 80kg of bulk, and though the scooter can handle a pillion passenger, the single-cylinder engine struggles with the extra weight. Overtaking while two-up is not easy. In fact it's not recommended.

On cold, windy, inclement nights the front end doesn't provide much wind or rain protection if you like a splayed leg seating position, but moving your knees inbound (in a dainty fashion) does provide some relief from the elements.

The ergonomics aren't too bad, and for my six-foot frame the TGB Bullet 150 wasn't uncomfortable, but the low bars ensured that glimpsing at the instrument cluster – no matter how quickly you could do it – meant taking ones eyes off the road. An open-faced helmet would almost fix this issue, and it's common to a lot of scooters, but I found it vexing nevertheless.

Our test vehicle also had 12 kilometres on the odometer when we received it, and felt rather lethargic initially, but after a few hundred kilometers loosened up somewhat. The continuously variable transmission makes it a true point-and-shoot machine and though standing starts were a bit sluggish, mid-gear roll on acceleration was better.

Though lacking the top end sting of a compact two-stroke engine, the Bullet's 151cc four-stroke engine generates a handy 10hp (7.4kW) at 7500rpm and works best when revved hard. Sure, those 10 horses won't rock your world but will keep you ahead of ordinary traffic.

We managed to eclipse the magic 100km/h mark – if only just – showing that it does have enough sway to head out onto the highway. However maintaining that speed up inclines was tricky.

The engine is also, how do say, frickin loud. This was initially quite cool, adding an extra sensory element to the riding experience, but when you're on the freeway with the engine banging screaming at full tilt, you'll be happy you brought ear plugs. Or unhappy if you forgot them.

In terms of fuel economy, we recorded figures of around 3.3lt per 100km, and that was with the throttle pinned open most of the time. With a good-sized 6.8lt fuel tank, it'll take you a good distance between fills, more than 200 kilometres if you don't thrash it too much.

Some of the smaller touches of the TGB Bullet 150 include ultra-loud indicators and good scooter mirrors. I must confess I'm guilty of leaving an indicator or two switched on after its intended use, but with this little scoot you'll never forget as there's a very loud click-clack every time you signal to turn.

There's also a take-away bag hook to stop your food spilling everywhere, a 12V charger should you want to power up your iPod, and the under seat storage has enough room for one helmet and a handful of grocery items, such as pre-packaged caramel slice, rocky road and so forth. And if the battery goes kaput, there's always the kick-start as back-up.

Priced at $3390 before on-road costs are added, this scooter represents above average value for money, offering strong dynamic performance in tidy little package that's pleasing to the eye. The Bullet 150 is the kind of scooter that will appeal to buyers who want something a little sportier, something that will make them grin every now and then.

It's got exactly the same dimensions as the 125 version, but with around 20 per cent more power its $400 price premium is more than warranted. If your daily commute includes 80 or 100km/h roads, this model would be a more sensible option than the Bullet 125.

And if you forget your balaclava (or classic Dr Who-inspired scarf) on a freezing cold day, the Bullet 150 has enough zest to keep your spirits up. If you're in the market for a sporty scooter, put this one on your short list as it's well worth a test ride.

TRANSMISSION
Type: V-Belt Type CVT
Final drive: Shaft
Start: Electric & Kick

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