As a new motorcyclist I've found so many of your videos to be really helpful. Great though they are, most of the bike magazines seem to concentrate on high performance dream machines. I'm not there yet so your honest reviews and tips are all greatly appreciated. I'm not in the market for a 125 (I'm happy with my CBF125 for now, until I move up the scale in the next few months) but if I were I'd probably check one of these out based on your conclusions. Keep up the good work, it really is appreciated.
This corresponds with my experience. I purchased a 250 Chinese scrambler and it works a treat. If I convert our currency it cost me 1100pounds. I'm sure it will last a while, but to put it in perspective I can throw it away every second year and buy a new one and still be operating cheaper than the maintenance and depreciation of a 250 Honda in our part of the world (South Africa). I am pretty sure I will be able to stretch the throwing away bit to 5 years because it is still running like new after the first year. Thanks for your info on the little 125. Perfect for kids and students I think.
Yes exactly - given they have a 2 year warranty you know you are good for at least that, and like you say, I'm sure they will last a lot lot longer than that if properly looked after. Thanks for watching - TMF
TheMissendenFlyer Just so you all know, the 2 year warranty only applies to the initial purchaser. I was told this by Sinnis after buying a year old bike. Bike has now developed a dodgy wheel bearing, no big deal. Otherwise I recommend.
An outstanding and honest review as always, I've been looking at either the RSX and Sinnis Terrain to get me back on 2 wheels as a low cost option after 20 years, this may just be the bike, brilliant thank you.
I'm convinced now that you, similar to me, just like anything with 2 wheels - all fun, all have redeeming qualities So optimistic, so uplifting, your reviews
I'm glad you find them that way, thank you! ...and yes, I do love anything on two wheels, for me the novelty of not having to pedal makes any motorcycle a brilliant bit of kit...
I have one the lexmoto Zsb Just hit 10,000 miles after a couple of years of ownership, blown a couple of bulbs other than that absolutely no problems. Absolutely love these little bikes, wish I could have a whole collection of them. Taken mine up to the peak district and I loved it, even made it up the snake just about. Hate it when I get a "real biker" telling me I don't ride a real bike just because my bike came from a different geographical location from theirs, but I don't let it get to me I ride for my own pleasure and enjoyment. Absolute blast to own these little bikes, recommend them to any new rider as long as they take care of it!
+TriggerdMelon Brilliant - thanks for the feedback. There's a lot of brand snobbery in the biking world - personally I'm happy on a bike, any bike! If others don't like the fact your on a Chinese bike, that's there problem not yours!
TheMissendenFlyer well, the laugh is that parts of many bikes, and even complete ‘big name’ machines are made in China and India etc.. why should they be worse for that? Every iPad is Chinese, but no one calls them poor quality because of that. Many expensive and good production machines (milling machines, and ‘engineering centres’) are also made in China. I look forward to your next reviews on Sinnis machines. Today I was offered a new Sinnis 250 (Euro 3 machine) for £2000 on the road. I’m tempted... Les
Had a Lexmoto Street 2012/13 - £1150 OTR - Suzuki engine. Reliable apart from two minor electrical faults. After the recent Euro 4 fuel injection/ABS compulsory upgrades many Chinese bikes are now too expensive. Local Honda dealer selling new CB125Fs for £2500 (only £300 more than these) and they're bullet proof.
So you've spoken to Mike, with a beard? :) I know his other half Carla, admins a local M/bike ride group down here in Devon. Heard good things about Sinnis bikes, looking forward to more video's on it to make my mind up for my daughter's first proper bike! Can't fault your reviews, watch every one, and I must say, you're usually pretty good in your judgement. Keep them coming and RSM8.
That is a very competitive price for the bike. I was ready to hate on the bike, but it does not look too bad, has ABS, and the USB port is essential for generation Y riders. My prediction is that Sinnis will shift a few of these, and we will see a 300 and possibly a 600 in the next few years. Good review. I think a review after 2-3 years ownership will be the true test.
I had a Sinnis Apache 125 as my first bike last year. Absolutely loved it. Never had any issues with it and it was a treat to ride. Currently looking at Sinnis's 250cc retro star as well as the Herald 250cc range for a second bike. Couldn't recommend them enough tbh
hi mate just seen this I got a sinnis to get me started in biking it starts first time all the time some people say they are no good but it does what you need
Here in Mexico, Chinese built bikes have become quite popular due to their low price. The most popular are in order: Italika, Keeway and Benelli. The all look ok, but I do worry about how reliable they are in the long term. They all have a 24 month warranty, but I´ve heard some real horror stories about their service centers and customer service. That kept me from really considering them in the past. It would be interesting if you kept it for at least 6 months and see how well it does in the long term. Ride safe!
parked my CBF125 next to one of these today and judging by the size of the tyres initially thought it was a bigger bike, it made my bike look quite puny. I soon cheered up when I spotted rust. Even so, I'd get one, it looks nice.
Very interesting review. When I bought my first bike a Suzuki AP50 in 1979 it was intended as a bit of fun with my mates but actually it was bought as a cheap form of transport, in fact I think that's why most bikes were bought back in the day. These days most bikes are bought as expensive toys so it's interesting to see these new machines which are capturing the essence of cheap transport whilst still offering a bit of fun. Like you I still enjoy riding bikes with modest power, it takes me back and is more fun than it has any right to be, lol. Cheers TMF, tony.
+AoToGo I 100% agree Tony, not bothering with small capacity machines means you are missing out on oodles of fun....not to mention your driving licence staying in tact...
Nice review as always but one question for you, no temperature gauge you say do any air cooled bikes have a temperature gauge? I know my Ducati hasn't, just saying.
I don't think there have been any air cooled bikes with a temperature gauge. They do actually exist as aftermarket units. They come with a sender that has a washer that fits under the spark plug.
I also stand with the others who said no air cooled bike engine has a temp gauge, and having watched a few of your videos especially on this one you mentioned it in the negative side of the pros and cons, but I think why even mention it, as its completely irrelevant to an air cooled engine and only relevant to liquid cooling, hell I rode 125 's in the 70s and we never even thought about it.
Cheers Del and please hijack away! - Completely agree with what you say about the cost of bikes these days and the willingness for the bike press and dealers to push loans (read "PCP") onto anyone who can't really afford them... As far the little Sinnis is concerned I had very low expectations of this bike and they have been smashed! I've been riding it lots the last couple of weeks and have found very little about it that I don't like (although nothings perfect of course).....I'll be doing my longer term review in a few weeks and will let you know all things I like and don't like about the bike then, but I don't think I'm spoiling anything by saying the Chinese are definitely upping their game!
Moonfleet41 - here in Thailand most 125cc bikes from the main Japanese manufacturers are around a 1000 pound. However many lower level workers earn only 3-400 pound a month...
No worries Richard - will be interested to hear how you get on - this is one Chinese made bike I thought was pretty good quality and certainly excellent value...
TheMissendenFlyer well I’m two weeks, 600 miles and one service in. I have to say it does exactly what it says on the tin. It’s fun to ride so long as speed isn’t your goal.( just touches 70, but it’s quite laboured.) but my 60 mile round trip to work takes ten minutes less tanks to filtering and costs £12 a week compared to 45 to 50 in my car. On the down side my last bike about a million years ago was a bandit six hundred so it does feel under powered, that said though it’s only a baby engine by comparison. Highly recommend this one so far.
I browsed the Sinis website after this review - and noted their Retrostar 250 along with an old mcn review of it. Phil West was fairly impressed and the biggest criticism simply being the lack of a top brand name. That 250 costs less than 2.5k, is pleasantly styled and seems to be ok quality similar to the rsx125. Only 20hp but that's enough to do short motorway commuting especially given it's so light. Half the price of my season ticket and avoids unnecessary wear and tear on the expensive bike.
Nice looking little bike, something like an old GS 125 engine. Nice review. Wonder what the service intervals are like. The cost for town commuting is really really good. The fact that it is put together in a BMW environment makes you believe it would be a tremendous starter bike. Can't recall if you have tried the old K1300 GT I know you are into new bikes but if you get chance an older bike review would be much appreciated. Thanks for all your time and video's... Mark
I've had mine for 4 months now and loved it, I'm trying to sell it now to move to a bigger one now that I'm comfortable on the road but I'll miss this one afterwards for sure. Feels like a big bike so it's awesome to get used to them and fuel is so cheap it's ridiculous... full tank usually around 11 litres that I can put in it goes above 280 miles! The big tires and ABS it's a massive plus on security.
Wow, with that fuel tank you could go on one tank until it needs an oil change. The only detractor I see is how the exhaust doesn't really follow the lines of the seat/frame. Aside from that it looks like a fun toy. Enjoy it and look forward to your follow-on review.
Just saw this bike for a price of £1700 as an ex display unit and thought it was good, now that i've seen this review i think it would best for me. I've yet to do my CBT yet though but because i'm 5'3 i am dubious about if its small enough for me, but maybe i will try to see if i can test ride one after my CBT. Thanks for the in depth review.
Hi mate Jean Alain from mauritius here..always loved your reviews 1 of my favs...i was wondering when ur goin to go for a good review on the new kawasaki versys 300??,keep up the good work...👍
No word of you trying something from SWM?. It would be interesting to hear what they are like and how you get on with one,I fancy one as a runabout .Wife says i look like something out of the circus on a 125!!!
Hah, yes these 125's tend to be on the smaller side, although this Sinnis doesn't feel small....would love to have a crack at one of the SWM's (in fact I came extremely close to buying one recently!!)....
Exhaust note sounds good for a 125 on start up. For that money not a bad deal for learners that want something that looks a little sporty. I had a Chinese AJS for my first bike and it was a good learner, got me through my test, giving me some good foundation skills before i moved onto a very busy biking adventure with my triumph and xDiavel. As for London know one gets above 30 anyway, so I would guess a good option to weave in and out of the traffic during the working week with minimal commuting costs. One point to pull you up on though TMF. "If you don't need to go any faster, why get anything bigger"........... Response: because you can. Chapter 1, . Section 2, Sub Section 7 of the Man Toy Bible. Only jesting of course. Excellent review as always!
Great review. Good to see a cross section of bikes and interesting how these Chinese offerings are improving. Sorry if I missed it but what tyres does it come with?
Never looked into bikes till now, and I see more and more affordable, quality and amazing looking machines. I am considering taking a cbt and getting one like this as a commuter. Any recommendations for 2016 models onward, learner legal?
Had a kymco pulser s a few years back, Korean I think as opposed to Chinese but looked at in the same way by most. It was a great commuter bike. Had features you don't get on bigger and more expensive bikes such as a gear indicator, fuel level dial and a passing light switch. Fuel economy was amazing over 100 mpg. Really I could not fault it apart from eventually wanted a bigger engine capacity and could not afford to keep 2 bikes. Trade in no problem, it was cheap from new so lost little in depreciation.
Very interesting to try to conceptualize this from the US, where a 'learner' is more along the lines of a 300cc and it's not a requirement but a suggestion. However, it seems that the lower cc end of the market - which is a necessity in Europe and UK and the norm in much of Asia is greatly underserved and it's interesting as a market segment to learn about. For the money, that looks to be a good starter - Suzuki sourced engine primarily being the reason for that assessment.
No tiered licensing, cheap petrol so learner bikes here are marketed from 250cc up, more commonly 300cc. The only 125cc bikes you'll find on the street are the odd scooter, and Groms.
Quite. Also the other big starter demographic: Middle aged men. For example, in the state of PA, you can take your written test for the Motorcycle learner's permit (analogous to the DSA theory test in the UK) and once you have that, you are free to go out and ride a Huyabusa, should the mood take you. Yes, it's not ideal.
Yes starting out you really don't want to be spending big big money, most of us soon move on and up - this is an ideal first toe in the water bike I reckon...
I think Sinnis sell pretty decent bikes, I had the Retrostar 250, based on Suzuki GN250 mechanicals and I was impressed with its decent build and quality. So I can imagine that RSX is a pretty decent bike. I’m a big fan of 125’s as well, great fun, despite myself also owning a large capacity machine.
@@TheMissendenFlyer Yes I’ve had a few Chinese scooters, most have been pretty decent machines, yes some niggles but nothing major. I’ve currently got a 125 Chinese bike from 2013, it has tested my patience once or twice but that’s mainly because of age and wear and tear(and low quality engine castings) but I’ve persisted with it and it’s paid me back with a reliable machine.
One year of owning this thing been riding in rain and cold slippery weather I got to say it's a strong powerful bike not the faster but still it can take some beating
So the bike engine won't turn over if the stand is down while the bike is in neutral? So you have to sit on it while waiting for the engine to warm up?. Not a bad looking bike, could be a good commuter.
Me.I Was taught to do it by My instructor and done it ever since for 28 years. Whether it's needed or not you can decide for yourself. Plenty of opinion about it on the internet.
Hi I really like to watch your videos and if you don't mind if you get the chance would you consider doing a full review on the hyosung gv aquila 125cc many thanks
@@TheMissendenFlyer Maybe not that either, it’s a Suzuki GS125 engine built under licence, they’re 100% air cooled, so no temp gauge of any description. A mate of mine has a Keeway RKS 125 which is very similar, he’s owned it for 4 years from new, and aside from the throttle cable snapping twice it’s been a brilliant bike, I’ve ridden many hundreds of miles with him following on it so if the Sinnis is the same thing it’s a pretty decent bike.
With respect after reviewing all the bikes you have. I think you could make a judgement in a matter of hours/days on a Chinese made 125cc. But if you want the full 4-6 weeks that you mentioned, then the best of British to you sir!
+Sleepingdragon 1 You are too kind sir! ...and to be fair I reckon I can come to a reasonable conclusion in about three minutes!! Doesn't make for much of a video though.... Thanks for sticking with me as ever...appreciate your support - TMF
oh, and on one point my front blinkers blinked in changing intervals, i assume that there was some mositure in the blinker-relays. but that has stopped
Sounds like good value for a couple of grand (which lets face it doesn't buy a lot these days) and it looks like it has mirrors from my GSA which are very good.
Yes I looked closely at those mirrors, identical to my GS too - given the Sinnis is from a BMW partner factory (which also knocks out Harleys) I imagine they may be from the same source! I have a cousin that has bought push bikes for more money....
Sinnis say they are bringing RS Elite edition which is water cooled & uses YZF 125 engine (Rather confusing) They make good commuters but service intervals are terrible every 2000 miles or 6 month to keep within warranty .
Does look like a nice bike & definitely better & cheaper than public transport .Sinnis is one of the better Chinese manufactures & design & quality is getting better .China need to spend money on a brand identity & design development instead of just redesigning models around old Suzuki engine .The RS Elite information came from a Sinnis UK site .
Have you test rode a Grom yet? If not, please do! Or take my word for it and just go buy one haha! I got one last week and I've never had so much fun on a bike on the road. And I've had a few bikes in my 10 years riding. Complements my 675R a treat :)
I own one and I rag the shit out of it on a daily basis. It can take it, but it’s a lot more comfortable and better sounding at lower speeds, especially with an exhaust fitted. 9 months in and no problems other than issues with the quality of assembly, which is more down to the dealership. I suggest nobody tests the abs on the front wheel as it just really doesn’t work, you will faceplant the floor. Looks good but kinda hollow looking around the engine. Good bike that can take a beating
Kebab The header pipe I used was from CMPO and it cost me around £70. One problem is that the stock belly pan does not fit with the aftermarket pipe, but it’s made from cheap plastic anyway so who cares. Once you have the pipe installed just throw any exhaust can on it. h t t p s://www.chinesemotorcyclepartsonline.co.uk/partno_DWNPP057
+David Besant Not normally I know - I'd still like one though! I fly an aeroplane with an air cooled engine and I watch the oil temperature gauge on that very closely....maybe not so critical on a bike ;0)
Yes, and with no oil cooler fitted (I presume) there's no thermostatic valve or other temperature regulator to fail. The beauty of this little Suzuki engines is their simplicity.
David Besant you're right David. Air cooled anything should have been designed correctly so as long as you've got the correct level and grade of oil in, there's nothing else you need except a warning light for low pressure. What can you do? If I was in an air cooled plane though I'd probably want an oil cooler and a temp sensor. Or a spare engine! Lol.
I personally don't want to mess around with a machine i'm not that familiar with and the booklet that came with it isn't very helpful. Also there isn't really much info on the bike online and I've not even seen another on the road yet in the UK.
TheMissendenFlyer I'm going to guess the company doesn't want the engine to idle for too long without air moving. Engine may overheat. Not a bad thing, just reality. My BSA 441 VS didn't like sitting still.
It's perfectly legal to ride a 125cc bike on the motorway in the UK. The bike must be above 50cc capable of more than 30mph and the rider must have a full licence. Last weekend I rode my 125 bike about 150 miles down the M74 and M6 no problem - even did a few overtakes!
Richard Collins the YS125 is basically the 'new' YBR125. I've ridden the YBR125 for a year and it's fantastic, it's comfy, reliable and super cheap to run! It tops out at around 70-75mph with the wind behind you or on a hill... it cruises between 50-60mph. It costs me £7 to fill up and I get about 160-180 miles on the tank so about 100-110mpg. I added a top box and heated grips and it just makes the bike easier for longer journeys. I've ridden 6000 miles on the bike so far and it's still riding like brand new!
Anonymous Biker cheers for the reply AB. I bought one of the YS125's in July. With the larger 14 Litre tank it comes to about £12. I mistakenly thought the bike had ABS due to the new Euro 4 regs, as they state all bikes 125 and over for 2017 require them. The YS125 is a fraction under 125cc and so doesn't require ABS, though it has a unified braking system. I'll find out more on the 600 mile first service on Friday about this new braking system as I'm interested to know whether applying the front brake activates a percentage of braking on the rear calliper or the same amount as the front. It's a great first bike for me living in London and I've only got it up to 45mph on the A4 leading up to Earle's court. 😊
Richard Collins 125's are fantastic for cities, economical, cheap road tax, cheap insurance, great for filtering! I'm sure you'll get on well, is this your first bike?
That's a nice looking little bike , afraid i'm one of the poor sods that rushed out and got an early chinese 200 , it was the sort of experience that could have Possibly scarred a first time rider for life ,rode it for 2 weeks and it stood in the back of the garage for 6 years ,I never understood how something so dangerous could be alloud on the road in the UK. someone once said '' you have to have owned a fast bike to appreciate a slow one ''' or it might have been''' a big bike to appreciate a small one'' ..personally,, whatever's taken pride of place in the garage theres allways been a 50,90 or 125 as well to ride on the rainy,snowy and icy days while the Harley/Triumph/Hayabusa/Bsa/Vincent (delete as applicable) stays at home in the dry,or to pop down the shops on , to take the 5 mile commute to work,Apart from the practically of protecting your valuable investment( from the thiveing bas***ds when your working a night shift ) small bikes are so much fun to ride ,cheap to run and in my case allways make me feel like i did when i was 16 at least till you get off and try walking again . Sinnis are going in the right direction by assembling in the UK ,, but I long for the day (that will probably never happen ) when we see Triumph Tiger cub on a side panel or a made in England sticker on the downtube of a 125 . Until then ill stick with my wave or grom cos you meet the nicest people on a Honda , goodnight ,be safe whotever you ride
Chinese helmet the other day and now a Chinese bike, what next ? You'll be vlogging from Hong Kong with an English takeaway in the ruck sack with the commentary overdubbed in Chinese, can't wait for that one . Always enjoy your reviews and tours etc but this pile of S**** would never be given floor space in my garage . At least it was a nice day when you took it out 😂
Hehe, I must admit I did think about taking a thumbnail shot outside the chinese restaurant :0) Seriously, this appears to be a great little bike, I don't understand why people are so anti bikes that can get new riders into motorcycling? Have you ridden a Sinnis/Kymco/Lexmoto???
TheMissendenFlyer I sat on one but at 6' 1"" I felt like I was on a child's push bike and it just felt like a toy LOL. I'm sure someone would appreciate it but definitely not for me , hoping for one last ride up to Scotland next month before the colder months come , now that would be a challenge on that thing , think I'd give up before I got out of Yorkshire. Cheers for now and look forward to seeing whatever you grace our screens with next C. BTW , sorry to say I also noticed some real bad pixelation on that last vid , the picture was OK of the cockpit area , i.e. Stuff that was moving in conjunction with the camera but the road and hedgerows etc seemed to be of a very much lesser quality? It was bearable on the smaller screen of the iPad but when put onto the larger screen of the TV it was very difficult to watch . 😐
Is there a 125 cc bike even make in the UK. And the bikes that are built in the UK have a horrible reputation for being reliable too. So, Charlie Rarlie being Nationalist is fine, but The Chinese bikes are coming and that is that.
Looks good. Mirrors must be BMW as they're made in the same factory. Think back to when you first got a bike as a kid and I'll bet it wasn't as good as this. Was that pigeon shit welding on the shock bracket by the way. Got to expect it I guess.?
125's haven't taken off in the US, probably because there are no rules for what size bike you can get and only one license, unlike the UK where there are different classes.
couldnt agree more ..small light bike great fun....mines a xr 125 which is be no means fast but great fun and green laneable too. also great to see all the roads i am used to........now i am not sure i could ride a bike the is named a Sinnis ! its a bit like owning Skoda or Lada ...not for me.........er and my xr 125 dosnt come with a usb port ! :-( nice review .......and my triumph 955i daytona cuts the engine when the side stand goes down........just so as you know ! :-))
The bigest issue with things like this is the depreciation. Setting aside that a new price of £2250 is only £650 less than a new CB125F, in a year the Honda will be worth about £2000 whereas that thing will be worth about £1000 That's a hell of a % difference.
They've both still lost £1000ish and with the Sinnis you didn't spend as much in the first place....my BMW GS is regarded as having good residuals, but probably depreciates by about a Sinnis a year! To my mind when you spend so little on a bike in the first place the depreciation is a bit of a red herring, but I take your point...thanks for watching and for stopping by - TMF
It is true. I have friends in the trade and they wont touch anything Chinese. Too much aggro for them after they have tried and been burned. I know of dealers that have bought loads of stock only to be so burned with warranty claims and lack of support from the manufacturer they've literally scrapped their remaining stock and taken the loss simply to get out of the Chinese bike market. Maybe Sinnis will be different, I hope so...they need to be.
Not sure I have any status!! ;0) I'm happy to ride all bikes and these Chinese sourced machines (let's not forget Sinnis are a UK company!) get a bad press most of the time, I thought it would be good to find out for myself...I've been pleasantly surprised - I think we ignore Chinese made bikes at out peril!
TheMissendenFlyer Having seen the bikes you own and the amount of different mega expensive ones you have ridden and reviewed think it is very kind of you praising this bike, now Sinnis owes you big time for this happy days :)
TheMissendenFlyer with the new Euro 4 stuff the price is about the same but you can still get new 16 plate from a 1000 to about 1700 depending on the bike the only difference is they are carbed and no abs
125's are allowed on motorways, your allowed a 50cc scooter with a max speed of 30mph on motorways, and can ride a battery mobility scooter on a dual carriageway permitting it has a top speed of 8mph and a flashing yellow beacon. Still I wouldn't dare try that nowadays
Perfectly legal for a 125 to be on the motorway. You might be confusing the fact that learners aren't allowed on the motorway and they're usually the ones riding 125's.
It might have less than ten times the power, but in the real world are you really ever going to need 155 horsepower? Can you ride your Panigale ten times faster? Back in the 80s I once made a day trip From Frederick Maryland to Ocean City (360 miles or 579km) on a 125cc Honda Elite scooter. So I guess it just depends on fully using what you have?
There very brave giving anybody the chance to review one of these. (similar to the Lexmoto brand) My son had a Ktm Duke 125 which was excellent but unfortunately got written off, then we had the chance to buy a brand new "Lexmoto Adrenaline 125" (with the Suzuki engine) what a mistake!. The engine was at best ok but the rest of the bike (now i don't normally swear on youtube reviews) was a complete pile of shite- and i mean rubbish. There's a reason why these types of bike are so cheap its because there complete Horseshit. I do very much like and appreciate your reviews and love how you never dwell on the negatives too much and i hope the Sinnis is a much better Brand than the Lexmoto, i don't know wether the Sinnis and Lexmoto are sister companies but wherever you can buy one you seem to be able to buy the other. Things to watch out for: Speedo not working after 3 days, Chain trying to wear itself through its rubber stay and then through swingarm in no time at all, Decals peeling off after 30 minutes of ownership, Tyres being of less worthiness than a poor quality mountain bike from Halfords, it's a good job the clutch lever is a foot long because you need that extra leverage to pull the clutch in, service intervals of 1500Kms then 4000Kms and every 3000Kms after that- and yes that is Km's not Miles. I would say that if you need some form of transport for 6 months and are prepared to loose £1000 in the process- the very best of luck to you sunshine, or just buy a second hand Honda 125 and get your money back when you've finished with it. As always excellent video editing skill Sir and keep up the good work.
Hi ther, I agree re many Chinese products, people should not jump to conclusions regarding this type of product. There is a technique when dealing with our Chinese friends, once you get a good working relationship I had no problems dealing with them. And the big bonus is who, in their right mind is going to copy a Chinese machine. Tee Hee. Thunder and lightning here last night on A82 but lovely today, may head out on my 2003 GS (super spangled) Adventure this am. Kindest regards. Joe.
Metal sucks I had to look it up. Highway code 253 "Motorways MUST NOT be used by pedestrians, holders of provisional motorcycle or car licences, riders of motorcycles under 50 cc, cyclists, horse riders, certain slow-moving vehicles and those carrying oversized loads (except by special permission), agricultural vehicles, and powered wheelchairs/powered mobility scooters (see Rules 36 to 46 inclusive)". As 50cc is not "under 50cc" so would technically be allowed. You'd be barking mad to try though...
DannyBomBom Just had my theory test recently the reason Im aware of it lol, I was surprised myself that a 50cc is allowed if anything you're asking for trouble these laws sometimes are confusing, and like you said you have to really bark the life of it to keep up with traffic.
The reason they get a bad rap, is because they are shit, try riding one for 2 years and see what falls apart, usually parts are hard to source etc. Horses for courses though.
TheMissendenFlyer no because of the reasons I have mentioned and the numerous bad reviews. Look at the amount of older Chinese bikes on the road, oh yeah haven't seen any :)
I've not seen a bad review on these bikes (in fact the MCN one is complimentary) - every one is of course entitled to their view, but the people that have actually experienced these bikes, say they aren't bad at all....
I have been riding one for 2 years now and 10k miles later still going strong, there are people who have 40k+ miles on these bikes. If you need parts you go to Cmpo or somebody like OilyBikers ltd and they have everything you need to your door in a couple of days. Take what you read online with a pinch of salt, they are the kind of people that buy a 300 pound busted up bike and are surprised when it has problems.
As a new motorcyclist I've found so many of your videos to be really helpful. Great though they are, most of the bike magazines seem to concentrate on high performance dream machines. I'm not there yet so your honest reviews and tips are all greatly appreciated. I'm not in the market for a 125 (I'm happy with my CBF125 for now, until I move up the scale in the next few months) but if I were I'd probably check one of these out based on your conclusions. Keep up the good work, it really is appreciated.
+Patrick Collins Appreciated Patrick - cheers...TMF
This corresponds with my experience. I purchased a 250 Chinese scrambler and it works a treat. If I convert our currency it cost me 1100pounds. I'm sure it will last a while, but to put it in perspective I can throw it away every second year and buy a new one and still be operating cheaper than the maintenance and depreciation of a 250 Honda in our part of the world (South Africa). I am pretty sure I will be able to stretch the throwing away bit to 5 years because it is still running like new after the first year.
Thanks for your info on the little 125. Perfect for kids and students I think.
Yes exactly - given they have a 2 year warranty you know you are good for at least that, and like you say, I'm sure they will last a lot lot longer than that if properly looked after. Thanks for watching - TMF
TheMissendenFlyer Just so you all know, the 2 year warranty only applies to the initial purchaser. I was told this by Sinnis after buying a year old bike. Bike has now developed a dodgy wheel bearing, no big deal. Otherwise I recommend.
I have a Sinnis Apache 125 2014. It's my first bike and it's great! These bikes certainly exceed everyone's expectations.
...well those who have actually ridden them for sure...
TheMissendenFlyer You're right! It was a hand me down so no complaints lol. Keep up the great reviews - Just subscribed!
An outstanding and honest review as always, I've been looking at either the RSX and Sinnis Terrain to get me back on 2 wheels as a low cost option after 20 years, this may just be the bike, brilliant thank you.
Glad to be of help Issi - more on this bike soon!
I'm convinced now that you, similar to me, just like anything with 2 wheels - all fun, all have redeeming qualities
So optimistic, so uplifting, your reviews
I'm glad you find them that way, thank you! ...and yes, I do love anything on two wheels, for me the novelty of not having to pedal makes any motorcycle a brilliant bit of kit...
I have one the lexmoto Zsb Just hit 10,000 miles after a couple of years of ownership, blown a couple of bulbs other than that absolutely no problems. Absolutely love these little bikes, wish I could have a whole collection of them. Taken mine up to the peak district and I loved it, even made it up the snake just about. Hate it when I get a "real biker" telling me I don't ride a real bike just because my bike came from a different geographical location from theirs, but I don't let it get to me I ride for my own pleasure and enjoyment. Absolute blast to own these little bikes, recommend them to any new rider as long as they take care of it!
+TriggerdMelon Brilliant - thanks for the feedback. There's a lot of brand snobbery in the biking world - personally I'm happy on a bike, any bike! If others don't like the fact your on a Chinese bike, that's there problem not yours!
TheMissendenFlyer well, the laugh is that parts of many bikes, and even complete ‘big name’ machines are made in China and India etc.. why should they be worse for that? Every iPad is Chinese, but no one calls them poor quality because of that. Many expensive and good production machines (milling machines, and ‘engineering centres’) are also made in China. I look forward to your next reviews on Sinnis machines. Today I was offered a new Sinnis 250 (Euro 3 machine) for £2000 on the road. I’m tempted... Les
Had a Lexmoto Street 2012/13 - £1150 OTR - Suzuki engine. Reliable apart from two minor electrical faults.
After the recent Euro 4 fuel injection/ABS compulsory upgrades many Chinese bikes are now too expensive.
Local Honda dealer selling new CB125Fs for £2500 (only £300 more than these) and they're bullet proof.
So you've spoken to Mike, with a beard? :) I know his other half Carla, admins a local M/bike ride group down here in Devon. Heard good things about Sinnis bikes, looking forward to more video's on it to make my mind up for my daughter's first proper bike! Can't fault your reviews, watch every one, and I must say, you're usually pretty good in your judgement. Keep them coming and RSM8.
+Ian Collings Thank you Ian...and I've never had a beard!
Lol I meant Mike has the beard, ...... hehe
That is a very competitive price for the bike. I was ready to hate on the bike, but it does not look too bad, has ABS, and the USB port is essential for generation Y riders.
My prediction is that Sinnis will shift a few of these, and we will see a 300 and possibly a 600 in the next few years.
Good review. I think a review after 2-3 years ownership will be the true test.
Yes I agree - perhaps I can get them to lend me one for two years to find out ;0)
TMF, I'm 6'7" tall yet I still fancy a ride on that Sinnis. Another intriguing vlog. Thank you, sir!
+PONCIAU It actually feels quite roomy, you may well be OK on it...there are 120 dealers across the U.K., give one a go!
I had a Sinnis Apache 125 as my first bike last year. Absolutely loved it. Never had any issues with it and it was a treat to ride. Currently looking at Sinnis's 250cc retro star as well as the Herald 250cc range for a second bike. Couldn't recommend them enough tbh
I also added a full system to it and it sounded surprisingly nice!
+grownsimbaa Nice one! Great to get some owners feedback - which so far has been overwhelmingly positive!
hi mate just seen this I got a sinnis to get me started in biking it starts first time all the time some people say they are no good but it does what you need
Here in Mexico, Chinese built bikes have become quite popular due to their low price. The most popular are in order: Italika, Keeway and Benelli. The all look ok, but I do worry about how reliable they are in the long term. They all have a 24 month warranty, but I´ve heard some real horror stories about their service centers and customer service. That kept me from really considering them in the past. It would be interesting if you kept it for at least 6 months and see how well it does in the long term. Ride safe!
Yes I'd love to keep one through an English winter to see how it faired....you never know!
Another interesting installment. Never heard of Sinnis before today.
Glad to bring them to your notice...thanks for watching as ever - TMF
parked my CBF125 next to one of these today and judging by the size of the tyres initially thought it was a bigger bike, it made my bike look quite puny. I soon cheered up when I spotted rust. Even so, I'd get one, it looks nice.
I was (and still am) very impressed with this bike....
Very interesting review. When I bought my first bike a Suzuki AP50 in 1979 it was intended as a bit of fun with my mates but actually it was bought as a cheap form of transport, in fact I think that's why most bikes were bought back in the day. These days most bikes are bought as expensive toys so it's interesting to see these new machines which are capturing the essence of cheap transport whilst still offering a bit of fun. Like you I still enjoy riding bikes with modest power, it takes me back and is more fun than it has any right to be, lol.
Cheers TMF, tony.
+AoToGo I 100% agree Tony, not bothering with small capacity machines means you are missing out on oodles of fun....not to mention your driving licence staying in tact...
Nice review as always but one question for you, no temperature gauge you say do any air cooled bikes have a temperature gauge? I know my Ducati hasn't, just saying.
No - possibly not...
I don't think there have been any air cooled bikes with a temperature gauge.
They do actually exist as aftermarket units.
They come with a sender that has a washer that fits under the spark plug.
No I've never seen a temperature gauge on an air cooled machine but I think some makers use the oil light as a high temperature warning indicator.
The BMW R Nine T does. But it does cost quite a bit more than this Sinnis...
I also stand with the others who said no air cooled bike engine has a temp gauge, and having watched a few of your videos especially on this one you mentioned it in the negative side of the pros and cons, but I think why even mention it, as its completely irrelevant to an air cooled engine and only relevant to liquid cooling, hell I rode 125 's in the 70s and we never even thought about it.
Nice review matey... Stunt Practice bike.?
thought you hated these chinese bikes ;P
Cheers Del and please hijack away! - Completely agree with what you say about the cost of bikes these days and the willingness for the bike press and dealers to push loans (read "PCP") onto anyone who can't really afford them... As far the little Sinnis is concerned I had very low expectations of this bike and they have been smashed! I've been riding it lots the last couple of weeks and have found very little about it that I don't like (although nothings perfect of course).....I'll be doing my longer term review in a few weeks and will let you know all things I like and don't like about the bike then, but I don't think I'm spoiling anything by saying the Chinese are definitely upping their game!
Moonfleet41 - here in Thailand most 125cc bikes from the main Japanese manufacturers are around a 1000 pound. However many lower level workers earn only 3-400 pound a month...
I guess its all relative aye..
well said.. totally agree
Thank you for the review, based on your two posts I’ve just ordered one of these, rsx,s
No worries Richard - will be interested to hear how you get on - this is one Chinese made bike I thought was pretty good quality and certainly excellent value...
TheMissendenFlyer well I’m two weeks, 600 miles and one service in. I have to say it does exactly what it says on the tin. It’s fun to ride so long as speed isn’t your goal.( just touches 70, but it’s quite laboured.) but my 60 mile round trip to work takes ten minutes less tanks to filtering and costs £12 a week compared to 45 to 50 in my car. On the down side my last bike about a million years ago was a bandit six hundred so it does feel under powered, that said though it’s only a baby engine by comparison. Highly recommend this one so far.
Good and interesting review as always. Moot point, I don't think air cooled bikes usually have a temp gauge... !?
You are right of course - but I fly an air cooled aeroplane and I watch the oil temperature gauge on that very closely!
Got this bike for my first, absolute blast
I browsed the Sinis website after this review - and noted their Retrostar 250 along with an old mcn review of it. Phil West was fairly impressed and the biggest criticism simply being the lack of a top brand name. That 250 costs less than 2.5k, is pleasantly styled and seems to be ok quality similar to the rsx125. Only 20hp but that's enough to do short motorway commuting especially given it's so light. Half the price of my season ticket and avoids unnecessary wear and tear on the expensive bike.
Exactly Gary - what's not to like? Just have to get over the whole "but its Chinese" thing.....
Nice looking little bike, something like an old GS 125 engine. Nice review. Wonder what the service intervals are like. The cost for town commuting is really really good. The fact that it is put together in a BMW environment makes you believe it would be a tremendous starter bike. Can't recall if you have tried the old K1300 GT I know you are into new bikes but if you get chance an older bike review would be much appreciated. Thanks for all your time and video's... Mark
I like all bikes Mark!
I've had mine for 4 months now and loved it, I'm trying to sell it now to move to a bigger one now that I'm comfortable on the road but I'll miss this one afterwards for sure. Feels like a big bike so it's awesome to get used to them and fuel is so cheap it's ridiculous... full tank usually around 11 litres that I can put in it goes above 280 miles! The big tires and ABS it's a massive plus on security.
Yes I was very impressed with this one I must say....
I know the video is old, interesting about the Suzuki engine loaning but the RSX/Terrain/Hoodlum uses a CBF125 engine.
Wow, with that fuel tank you could go on one tank until it needs an oil change. The only detractor I see is how the exhaust doesn't really follow the lines of the seat/frame. Aside from that it looks like a fun toy. Enjoy it and look forward to your follow-on review.
Yes it's a heck of a lot better than I anticipated - on a fun/£ ratio it's excellent....
Just saw this bike for a price of £1700 as an ex display unit and thought it was good, now that i've seen this review i think it would best for me. I've yet to do my CBT yet though but because i'm 5'3 i am dubious about if its small enough for me, but maybe i will try to see if i can test ride one after my CBT. Thanks for the in depth review.
Really interesting to see a real world review - would love to see what you thought of the Sinnis Terrain as it's their go at a baby GS...
Maybe in future I can get a go on one, I believe it's their best seller....
Hi mate Jean Alain from mauritius here..always loved your reviews 1 of my favs...i was wondering when ur goin to go for a good review on the new kawasaki versys 300??,keep up the good work...👍
Sadly I don't have access to any Kawasaki's currently :0( I am working on it though and thanks for watching.....
No word of you trying something from SWM?. It would be interesting to hear what they are like and how you get on with one,I fancy one as a runabout .Wife says i look like something out of the circus on a 125!!!
Hah, yes these 125's tend to be on the smaller side, although this Sinnis doesn't feel small....would love to have a crack at one of the SWM's (in fact I came extremely close to buying one recently!!)....
Exhaust note sounds good for a 125 on start up. For that money not a bad deal for learners that want something that looks a little sporty. I had a Chinese AJS for my first bike and it was a good learner, got me through my test, giving me some good foundation skills before i moved onto a very busy biking adventure with my triumph and xDiavel. As for London know one gets above 30 anyway, so I would guess a good option to weave in and out of the traffic during the working week with minimal commuting costs.
One point to pull you up on though TMF. "If you don't need to go any faster, why get anything bigger"........... Response: because you can. Chapter 1, . Section 2, Sub Section 7 of the Man Toy Bible. Only jesting of course. Excellent review as always!
I agree with the man toy bible 100% - hence my own bike collection ;0)
To be fair it is one hell of a man toy collection. The man cave is pretty impressive too. One aspires to such levels. Wife lobbying in progress :)
Great review. Good to see a cross section of bikes and interesting how these Chinese offerings are improving. Sorry if I missed it but what tyres does it come with?
They are OEM ones that say "Cordial" on them - not tried them in the wet yet but they seem fine in the dry I must say...
Never looked into bikes till now, and I see more and more affordable, quality and amazing looking machines. I am considering taking a cbt and getting one like this as a commuter. Any recommendations for 2016 models onward, learner legal?
+john jones This one! ....or any of the main brand 125s....the KTM if you can afford it?
Had a kymco pulser s a few years back, Korean I think as opposed to Chinese but looked at in the same way by most. It was a great commuter bike.
Had features you don't get on bigger and more expensive bikes such as a gear indicator, fuel level dial and a passing light switch. Fuel economy was amazing over 100 mpg.
Really I could not fault it apart from eventually wanted a bigger engine capacity and could not afford to keep 2 bikes. Trade in no problem, it was cheap from new so lost little in depreciation.
+Paul Austin Cheers Paul - exactly, what's not to like!
Very interesting to try to conceptualize this from the US, where a 'learner' is more along the lines of a 300cc and it's not a requirement but a suggestion. However, it seems that the lower cc end of the market - which is a necessity in Europe and UK and the norm in much of Asia is greatly underserved and it's interesting as a market segment to learn about. For the money, that looks to be a good starter - Suzuki sourced engine primarily being the reason for that assessment.
Yes I think that engine is pretty sound....so there are no 125cc machines in the US then??
No tiered licensing, cheap petrol so learner bikes here are marketed from 250cc up, more commonly 300cc.
The only 125cc bikes you'll find on the street are the odd scooter, and Groms.
...and are the hospitals full of broken teenagers?
Quite. Also the other big starter demographic: Middle aged men.
For example, in the state of PA, you can take your written test for the Motorcycle learner's permit (analogous to the DSA theory test in the UK) and once you have that, you are free to go out and ride a Huyabusa, should the mood take you.
Yes, it's not ideal.
Crikey - it's pretty hard to get a bike licence here...and I think that's a good thing!
That's mph or kmph? I'm assuming kilometers
Mph....
Looks great! £2200's a nice price from new too.. I really regretted spending daft money on a new yzf-r 125 a few years back
Yes starting out you really don't want to be spending big big money, most of us soon move on and up - this is an ideal first toe in the water bike I reckon...
I think Sinnis sell pretty decent bikes, I had the Retrostar 250, based on Suzuki GN250 mechanicals and I was impressed with its decent build and quality.
So I can imagine that RSX is a pretty decent bike.
I’m a big fan of 125’s as well, great fun, despite myself also owning a large capacity machine.
Yeah this was a pretty impressive bike for the money - didn't feel cheap at all unlike some Chinese imports....
@@TheMissendenFlyer Yes I’ve had a few Chinese scooters, most have been pretty decent machines, yes some niggles but nothing major.
I’ve currently got a 125 Chinese bike from 2013, it has tested my patience once or twice but that’s mainly because of age and wear and tear(and low quality engine castings) but I’ve persisted with it and it’s paid me back with a reliable machine.
Have you changed your camera? The video quality looks very "pixilated" on this video compared to your other ones. I'm watching at 1080p too.
Nope....??
It looks like its a really low data rate - I've watched some other videos and the problem isn't there. Weird!
One year of owning this thing been riding in rain and cold slippery weather I got to say it's a strong powerful bike not the faster but still it can take some beating
So the bike engine won't turn over if the stand is down while the bike is in neutral? So you have to sit on it while waiting for the engine to warm up?. Not a bad looking bike, could be a good commuter.
Yes, that is one of my dislikes I have to say...
Is that a thing? Who waits for the engine to warm up?
You can literally just pull the plug on it and presto it will start on the side stand and not turn over when in gear
Me.I Was taught to do it by My instructor and done it ever since for 28 years. Whether it's needed or not you can decide for yourself. Plenty of opinion about it on the internet.
Hi I really like to watch your videos and if you don't mind if you get the chance would you consider doing a full review on the hyosung gv aquila 125cc many thanks
I wouldn’t know where to find one!
@TheMissendenFlyer if I am honest I didn't think that far but sadly I don't know either. I still enjoy your videos all the same
You meantioned it not having a temp gauge, I didn’t know they existed for air cooled engines?
Maybe not - oil temperature maybe??
@@TheMissendenFlyer Maybe not that either, it’s a Suzuki GS125 engine built under licence, they’re 100% air cooled, so no temp gauge of any description.
A mate of mine has a Keeway RKS 125 which is very similar, he’s owned it for 4 years from new, and aside from the throttle cable snapping twice it’s been a brilliant bike, I’ve ridden many hundreds of miles with him following on it so if the Sinnis is the same thing it’s a pretty decent bike.
Nice video :) i have the Sinnis Apache 125 Supermoto love the bike Sinnis is doing a great job with there bike's and i'm glad that i got one :)
Great feedback thanks - out of interest how long have you had the bike?
I got it new from 2015 i did 10,000 miles will over now i did a video of that
Nice one - I'll go and watch it...
Ok thank you let me know what you think of the video
Another great review my friend. Looks like a decent little bike. Those mirrors look like they've come off a BMW.
Exactly! It wouldn't surprise me a bit if those mirrors weren't made in the same place!
With respect after reviewing all the bikes you have. I think you could make a judgement in a matter of hours/days on a Chinese made 125cc.
But if you want the full 4-6 weeks that you mentioned, then the best of British to you sir!
+Sleepingdragon 1 You are too kind sir! ...and to be fair I reckon I can come to a reasonable conclusion in about three minutes!! Doesn't make for much of a video though.... Thanks for sticking with me as ever...appreciate your support - TMF
generic ksr also has the suzuki gn125 engines in their bikes, like the ksr moto grs125, which i own and dont regret
Any issues at all??
not at all, i had a loose calliper-bleeding screw and some brakebfuids got out. but other than that i did't have any problems in the past 2 years.
oh, and on one point my front blinkers blinked in changing intervals, i assume that there was some mositure in the blinker-relays. but that has stopped
Awesome review
Can you try and review the Yamaha mt125
Yep....will see what I can do...
how can it have a temp gauge if it's air cooled? I've never owned an air cooled bike so could be a stupid question btw!
Oil temperature is very important in an aircooled motor. Not many bikes have a gauge though.
Agreed...
Thanks Ian, good point well made about the oil temp.
Nice video as always . . .
+steffydog1 Thank you....
Try the terrain for a review. Looks a little like the GS.
...stay tuned!
Sounds like good value for a couple of grand (which lets face it doesn't buy a lot these days) and it looks like it has mirrors from my GSA which are very good.
Yes I looked closely at those mirrors, identical to my GS too - given the Sinnis is from a BMW partner factory (which also knocks out Harleys) I imagine they may be from the same source! I have a cousin that has bought push bikes for more money....
Sinnis say they are bringing RS Elite edition which is water cooled & uses YZF 125 engine (Rather confusing) They make good commuters but service intervals are terrible every 2000 miles or 6 month to keep within warranty .
...actually on the RSX it's every 2000Km....but I don't imagine you'd do big miles on these anyway
Does look like a nice bike & definitely better & cheaper than public transport .Sinnis is one of the better Chinese manufactures & design & quality is getting better .China need to spend money on a brand identity & design development instead of just redesigning models around old Suzuki engine .The RS Elite information came from a Sinnis UK site .
I notice the right hand mirror bottom stem cover has worked it's way loose and up the stem. Hopefully this isn't a regular occurence!!
+Adrian Nicholson Actually it wasn't fitted properly in the first place (I fitted that mirror)....since rectified...well spotted!
Have you test rode a Grom yet? If not, please do! Or take my word for it and just go buy one haha! I got one last week and I've never had so much fun on a bike on the road. And I've had a few bikes in my 10 years riding. Complements my 675R a treat :)
+aaron0288 No I haven't, but I would love too - they do look a right hoot!
What's your weight, may I ask? I'm 12 stones and wondering if it's possible to get 70mph out if this bike? Thanks :)
I'm 12 and a half stone....70 would be pushing it and ,may be possible down hill with a following wind - you couldn't cruise at 70 though.....
Really wanted one of these but it's now discontinued 😭 so I went with a 2020 cb125f
Good choice!
I own one and I rag the shit out of it on a daily basis. It can take it, but it’s a lot more comfortable and better sounding at lower speeds, especially with an exhaust fitted. 9 months in and no problems other than issues with the quality of assembly, which is more down to the dealership. I suggest nobody tests the abs on the front wheel as it just really doesn’t work, you will faceplant the floor. Looks good but kinda hollow looking around the engine. Good bike that can take a beating
What aftermarket exhaust fits on these?
Kebab The header pipe I used was from CMPO and it cost me around £70. One problem is that the stock belly pan does not fit with the aftermarket pipe, but it’s made from cheap plastic anyway so who cares. Once you have the pipe installed just throw any exhaust can on it. h t t p s://www.chinesemotorcyclepartsonline.co.uk/partno_DWNPP057
Temperature gauge on an air cooled engine?
+David Besant Not normally I know - I'd still like one though! I fly an aeroplane with an air cooled engine and I watch the oil temperature gauge on that very closely....maybe not so critical on a bike ;0)
Yes, and with no oil cooler fitted (I presume) there's no thermostatic valve or other temperature regulator to fail. The beauty of this little Suzuki engines is their simplicity.
David Besant you're right David. Air cooled anything should have been designed correctly so as long as you've got the correct level and grade of oil in, there's nothing else you need except a warning light for low pressure. What can you do? If I was in an air cooled plane though I'd probably want an oil cooler and a temp sensor. Or a spare engine! Lol.
Hi - this one doesn't play on firetv FYI . Cheers Steve
Sorry I take that back . Now playing fine ... My bad
All very odd - glad it sorted itself out!
Why would you want a temperature gauge on an air-cooled engine?
+Robert Ruskamp So I can tell how hot it is (?)
TheMissendenFlyer fair enough. Didn't notice the question had already been asked. But as was also pointed out, no air-cooled bikes have it
+Robert Ruskamp I'd still like one though!
The 125s are fun but wow with a pillion they aren't good.. Nice little review
Actually I rode this with my 17 year old daughter on the back today - wasn't any particular drama...
Sinnis or Lexmoto?? Can't decide
+isthiswhereitype1 I’ve never ridden a Lexmoto so can’t comment I’m afraid - all I can say is that I was very impressed with this Sinnis....
That's fair, thanks bud.
My KSR GRS 125 is super similar to this bike and I absolutely hate that it also turns the engine off when the stand goes down while in neutral.
Can you not just disconnect the switch on the stand (or bypass it)? Can't be that hard.....
I personally don't want to mess around with a machine i'm not that familiar with and the booklet that came with it isn't very helpful. Also there isn't really much info on the bike online and I've not even seen another on the road yet in the UK.
Fair enough - I've never heard of them I must say....
Ye their made in the same factory as some of KTM's bikes and the styling is pretty much a copy of their smaller bikes.
TheMissendenFlyer I'm going to guess the company doesn't want the engine to idle for too long without air moving. Engine may overheat. Not a bad thing, just reality. My BSA 441 VS didn't like sitting still.
Hi
How tall are you and would it suit a 32 inseam
Thank you
5'8" and yes definately....
TheMissendenFlyer thank you as I’m six foot and it’s going to be my toe dipping bike 👍🏼
It's perfectly legal to ride a 125cc bike on the motorway in the UK. The bike must be above 50cc capable of more than 30mph and the rider must have a full licence. Last weekend I rode my 125 bike about 150 miles down the M74 and M6 no problem - even did a few overtakes!
+CleverCam Rather you than me! :0)
CleverCam the rider must have A1(module 1), not full licence.
I have got one there's bike and its got the 125 Honda engine as found in cbf125 which is also made in China
Can you review the new Yamaha YS125? Thanks.
Richard Collins
the YS125 is basically the 'new' YBR125. I've ridden the YBR125 for a year and it's fantastic, it's comfy, reliable and super cheap to run!
It tops out at around 70-75mph with the wind behind you or on a hill... it cruises between 50-60mph.
It costs me £7 to fill up and I get about 160-180 miles on the tank so about 100-110mpg.
I added a top box and heated grips and it just makes the bike easier for longer journeys. I've ridden 6000 miles on the bike so far and it's still riding like brand new!
Cheers AB -and yes, I'm working on reviewing the new bike :0)
Anonymous Biker cheers for the reply AB. I bought one of the YS125's in July. With the larger 14 Litre tank it comes to about £12. I mistakenly thought the bike had ABS due to the new Euro 4 regs, as they state all bikes 125 and over for 2017 require them. The YS125 is a fraction under 125cc and so doesn't require ABS, though it has a unified braking system. I'll find out more on the 600 mile first service on Friday about this new braking system as I'm interested to know whether applying the front brake activates a percentage of braking on the rear calliper or the same amount as the front. It's a great first bike for me living in London and I've only got it up to 45mph on the A4 leading up to Earle's court. 😊
Richard Collins 125's are fantastic for cities, economical, cheap road tax, cheap insurance, great for filtering! I'm sure you'll get on well, is this your first bike?
Richard Collins I thought they had to have ABS as well, that's a shame! I'm unsure how the linked breaks work as well, how long till the service?
That's a nice looking little bike , afraid i'm one of the poor sods that rushed out and got an early chinese 200 , it was the sort of experience that could have Possibly scarred a first time rider for life ,rode it for 2 weeks and it stood in the back of the garage for 6 years ,I never understood how something so dangerous could be alloud on the road in the UK.
someone once said '' you have to have owned a fast bike to appreciate a slow one ''' or it might have been''' a big bike to appreciate a small one'' ..personally,, whatever's taken pride of place in the garage theres allways been a 50,90 or 125 as well to ride on the rainy,snowy and icy days while the Harley/Triumph/Hayabusa/Bsa/Vincent (delete as applicable) stays at home in the dry,or to pop down the shops on , to take the 5 mile commute to work,Apart from the practically of protecting your valuable investment( from the thiveing bas***ds when your working a night shift ) small bikes are so much fun to ride ,cheap to run and in my case allways make me feel like i did when i was 16 at least till you get off and try walking again .
Sinnis are going in the right direction by assembling in the UK ,, but I long for the day (that will probably never happen ) when we see Triumph Tiger cub on a side panel or a made in England sticker on the downtube of a 125 . Until then ill stick with my wave or grom cos you meet the nicest people on a Honda ,
goodnight ,be safe whotever you ride
+john's shed Now Triumph have signed this deal with Bajaj in India perhaps a 125 Tiger cub will be on the cards? I'd take one for sure!
I had a Sinnis Phoenix 50cc for a year it was alright but the starter motor went after 1,000 miles but other than that great bike
Do you know I've never ridden a 50cc bike (well bar an old FZ1 and the odd moped when I was a kid) - would love to have a go on one now.....
TMF They're great fun until you get on a bigger bike mate then you understand how slow they are lol
So how does the launch control work?
lol
You have to give it a bit of gas and then gently ease out the clutch lever.... ;0)
Magic!
Nice bike, to bad dealers in the states don't do long term loans, you can only loan a bike for 24 hours
+Jack Peterson Wow, I'm not sure you'd get a 24 hour loan from a dealer over here!! That would be good...
Chinese helmet the other day and now a Chinese bike, what next ? You'll be vlogging from Hong Kong with an English takeaway in the ruck sack with the commentary overdubbed in Chinese, can't wait for that one . Always enjoy your reviews and tours etc but this pile of S**** would never be given floor space in my garage . At least it was a nice day when you took it out 😂
Hehe, I must admit I did think about taking a thumbnail shot outside the chinese restaurant :0) Seriously, this appears to be a great little bike, I don't understand why people are so anti bikes that can get new riders into motorcycling? Have you ridden a Sinnis/Kymco/Lexmoto???
TheMissendenFlyer I sat on one but at 6' 1"" I felt like I was on a child's push bike and it just felt like a toy LOL. I'm sure someone would appreciate it but definitely not for me , hoping for one last ride up to Scotland next month before the colder months come , now that would be a challenge on that thing , think I'd give up before I got out of Yorkshire. Cheers for now and look forward to seeing whatever you grace our screens with next C.
BTW , sorry to say I also noticed some real bad pixelation on that last vid , the picture was OK of the cockpit area , i.e. Stuff that was moving in conjunction with the camera but the road and hedgerows etc seemed to be of a very much lesser quality? It was bearable on the smaller screen of the iPad but when put onto the larger screen of the TV it was very difficult to watch . 😐
Is there a 125 cc bike even make in the UK. And the bikes that are built in the UK have a horrible reputation for being reliable too. So, Charlie Rarlie being Nationalist is fine, but The Chinese bikes are coming and that is that.
Charlie Farlie Not everyone is tall or a fat ass or disrespectful towards others, as they say in the UK burger off.
Looks good. Mirrors must be BMW as they're made in the same factory. Think back to when you first got a bike as a kid and I'll bet it wasn't as good as this. Was that pigeon shit welding on the shock bracket by the way. Got to expect it I guess.?
I thing they probably are....and overall the welds look pretty good to me (in the main, bar that one!)....
How are brakes?
Surprisingly good - helps it being so light I imagine....
125's haven't taken off in the US, probably because there are no rules for what size bike you can get and only one license, unlike the UK where there are different classes.
+Boodieman72 Understood, a bit of a shame though, 125s are a hoot!
couldnt agree more ..small light bike great fun....mines a xr 125 which is be no means fast but great fun and green laneable too.
also great to see all the roads i am used to........now i am not sure i could ride a bike the is named a Sinnis ! its a bit like owning Skoda or Lada ...not for me.........er and my xr 125 dosnt come with a usb port ! :-(
nice review .......and my triumph 955i daytona cuts the engine when the side stand goes down........just so as you know ! :-))
Really? I didn't know the older trumpets did that - do you find it as much of an annoyance as I do?
I kinda like it......if the stand is going down it means i am getting off so yes its ok.....
Is this bigger physically than a Grom?
Yes - similar engine size though...
The bigest issue with things like this is the depreciation.
Setting aside that a new price of £2250 is only £650 less than a new CB125F, in a year the Honda will be worth about £2000 whereas that thing will be worth about £1000
That's a hell of a % difference.
They've both still lost £1000ish and with the Sinnis you didn't spend as much in the first place....my BMW GS is regarded as having good residuals, but probably depreciates by about a Sinnis a year! To my mind when you spend so little on a bike in the first place the depreciation is a bit of a red herring, but I take your point...thanks for watching and for stopping by - TMF
but you'd be able to sell the Honda...
That is not true, you're only speaking from personal experiences. Even in our owners group on Facebook we have people buying them up like hot cakes.
It is true. I have friends in the trade and they wont touch anything Chinese. Too much aggro for them after they have tried and been burned. I know of dealers that have bought loads of stock only to be so burned with warranty claims and lack of support from the manufacturer they've literally scrapped their remaining stock and taken the loss simply to get out of the Chinese bike market.
Maybe Sinnis will be different, I hope so...they need to be.
Wow brilliant price reminds me of my Suzuki gs125 I had when I was 17?yr old in 1989 .
Yeah, it's that sort of bike....
A bit unreal of your status to review a Chinese motorcycle but gotta say it's quite interesting nonetheless.
Not sure I have any status!! ;0) I'm happy to ride all bikes and these Chinese sourced machines (let's not forget Sinnis are a UK company!) get a bad press most of the time, I thought it would be good to find out for myself...I've been pleasantly surprised - I think we ignore Chinese made bikes at out peril!
TheMissendenFlyer Having seen the bikes you own and the amount of different mega expensive ones you have ridden and reviewed think it is very kind of you praising this bike, now Sinnis owes you big time for this happy days :)
It's basically a lexmoto slot of parts are identical to my lexmoto zsx-f
Yes there are various flavours of this approach around - I've not tried the Lexmoto - how do they compare on price?
TheMissendenFlyer with the new Euro 4 stuff the price is about the same but you can still get new 16 plate from a 1000 to about 1700 depending on the bike the only difference is they are carbed and no abs
125's are allowed on motorways, your allowed a 50cc scooter with a max speed of 30mph on motorways, and can ride a battery mobility scooter on a dual carriageway permitting it has a top speed of 8mph and a flashing yellow beacon.
Still I wouldn't dare try that nowadays
Cameron Trotter we are definitely not sister companies
Be wary of the Sinnis Tourer 650 when it comes out.
+Mild Camper ??? I don't think there are any plans for any bikes over 125cc....
I'm just being silly. (sinister) ;-)
As long as they use good quality rubber and plastic parts,had a Chinese quad bike and the rubber and plastic just fell apart every thing else was good
Yes I agree the tyres are one thing I would change.....
Can you take the back mudguard off it makes the bike looks stupid
You can take anything off of anything
If you have to try to look for faults it can't be that bad really, cheap fun ride sounds great
+Phillip kirk Exactly!
Perfectly legal for a 125 to be on the motorway. You might be confusing the fact that learners aren't allowed on the motorway and they're usually the ones riding 125's.
+Andy P Yeah that's possibly it - cheers....TMF
the 2019 bike is not the Suzuki engine, it is the huysong ??, engine.
Maybe...
its air cooled, no need for temp gauge.
+vstromer57 I agree air cooled bikes tend not to have 'em, as an engine sympathiser I'd still like one :0)
Isle of Man here I come😉.
:0)
It has a much nicer looking dash than the KTMs you've ridden recently. Those look like a cell phone clamped above the bars.
The dash is very clear and has pretty much everything you need - not so good in glare though...
It might have less than ten times the power, but in the real world are you really ever going to need 155 horsepower? Can you ride your Panigale ten times faster? Back in the 80s I once made a day trip From Frederick Maryland to Ocean City (360 miles or 579km) on a 125cc Honda Elite scooter. So I guess it just depends on fully using what you have?
There very brave giving anybody the chance to review one of these. (similar to the Lexmoto brand)
My son had a Ktm Duke 125 which was excellent but unfortunately got written off, then we had the chance to buy a brand new "Lexmoto Adrenaline 125" (with the Suzuki engine) what a mistake!.
The engine was at best ok but the rest of the bike (now i don't normally swear on youtube reviews) was a complete pile of shite- and i mean rubbish. There's a reason why these types of bike are so cheap its because there complete Horseshit. I do very much like and appreciate your reviews and love how you never dwell on the negatives too much and i hope the Sinnis is a much better Brand than the Lexmoto, i don't know wether the Sinnis and Lexmoto are sister companies but wherever you can buy one you seem to be able to buy the other.
Things to watch out for: Speedo not working after 3 days, Chain trying to wear itself through its rubber stay and then through swingarm in no time at all, Decals peeling off after 30 minutes of ownership, Tyres being of less worthiness than a poor quality mountain bike from Halfords, it's a good job the clutch lever is a foot long because you need that extra leverage to pull the clutch in, service intervals of 1500Kms then 4000Kms and every 3000Kms after that- and yes that is Km's not Miles.
I would say that if you need some form of transport for 6 months and are prepared to loose £1000 in the process- the very best of luck to you sunshine, or just buy a second hand Honda 125 and get your money back when you've finished with it. As always excellent video editing skill Sir and keep up the good work.
Hi ther, I agree re many Chinese products, people should not jump to conclusions regarding this type of product. There is a technique when dealing with our Chinese friends, once you get a good working relationship I had no problems dealing with them. And the big bonus is who, in their right mind is going to copy a Chinese machine. Tee Hee. Thunder and lightning here last night on A82 but lovely today, may head out on my 2003 GS (super spangled) Adventure this am. Kindest regards. Joe.
Cheers Joe - enjoy!
It's legal to go on a motorway with a 125cc bike. Anything over 50cc is legal.
Yes thanks for that, I thought that was the case just wasn't 100% when I made the video!
TheMissendenFlyer Even 50cc is legal I believe.
Metal sucks I had to look it up. Highway code 253 "Motorways MUST NOT be used by pedestrians, holders of provisional motorcycle or car licences, riders of motorcycles under 50 cc, cyclists, horse riders, certain slow-moving vehicles and those carrying oversized loads (except by special permission), agricultural vehicles, and powered wheelchairs/powered mobility scooters (see Rules 36 to 46 inclusive)".
As 50cc is not "under 50cc" so would technically be allowed. You'd be barking mad to try though...
DannyBomBom Just had my theory test recently the reason Im aware of it lol, I was surprised myself that a 50cc is allowed if anything you're asking for trouble these laws sometimes are confusing, and like you said you have to really bark the life of it to keep up with traffic.
The catch is all the 45kph EU legal mopeds are actually just under 50cc so NOT motorway legal
The reason they get a bad rap, is because they are shit, try riding one for 2 years and see what falls apart, usually parts are hard to source etc. Horses for courses though.
Have you ridden one for 2 years Andrew?
TheMissendenFlyer no because of the reasons I have mentioned and the numerous bad reviews. Look at the amount of older Chinese bikes on the road, oh yeah haven't seen any :)
I've not seen a bad review on these bikes (in fact the MCN one is complimentary) - every one is of course entitled to their view, but the people that have actually experienced these bikes, say they aren't bad at all....
I have been riding one for 2 years now and 10k miles later still going strong, there are people who have 40k+ miles on these bikes. If you need parts you go to Cmpo or somebody like OilyBikers ltd and they have everything you need to your door in a couple of days. Take what you read online with a pinch of salt, they are the kind of people that buy a 300 pound busted up bike and are surprised when it has problems.
Hi there, re plane crash today, I do hope that is not you my friend? Also thoughts going out to families concerned. Sincerely Joe.
+Joe McIntyre Thanks for thinking of me Joe - I believe it was a Tiger Moth out of Compton Abbas...tragic...
Paint it bright orange and you could pretend it's a KTM.
I dont get the China bike hate, do people not realise most Chinese have bikes/scooters, if anything a Chinese bike should be a sign that it will work.