Lexmoto ZSX125 first ride - MOTOR GERR

Lexmoto’s new ZSX125 is a good indicator of how far – and fast – the much-maligned Chinese motorcycle industry has come in recent years, being not just as keenly priced as ever but also now being stylish and with an up-to-date spec. So, is it finally time to take ‘Made in China’ motorcycles seriously?...

This bike is much more than just AN Other, ‘cheap-as-chips’, Chinese 125. It’s a wake up call. A barometer for how fast China’s motorcycle industry is advancing. The question is: Is it now time we all woke up and took notice?

It’s the latest from Lexmoto, the slightly tongue-twisting ZSX125, and, thanks to its swoopy styling and fairly impressive spec, shows that Chinese bikes are now pretty much as good looking and credible as they are budget-priced.

Lexmoto themselves, say the ZSX “sets the standard of Chinese motorcycles” and, as one of the largest importers, with over 60 dealers and line-up that currently comprises nine different 125s, ranging from a slightly crass, old school Chinese £849 cruiser to the brand new, funky and upside-down forked £1599 supermoto, they’re probably in a better position to claim so than most.

At first glance, the £1499 ZSX impresses, too. The angular, swoopy styling reminds of a Gladius or Fazer and is pretty much bang-up-to-date while much of the specification – modern switchgear, alloy wheels, part-LCD clocks – is what you’d expect of a mainstream, modern machine as well. So far, so good.

Instead, it’s only when you peer a bit closer that you start to notice that quality isn’t quite up to par and some of the components are a little bit suspect.

So, for example, the tyres are hard and crude domestically made items and the suspension a tad on the flimsy side with forks that remind of biros and twin shocks at the rear that are like the springs from biros.

Mechanically it’s a little on the crude and cheap side, too. The air-cooled single is carbureted in the old fashioned way, meaning that there’s not only a ‘bar-mounted choke lever but also a fuel tap¬ – remember them? – down on the left side panel.

While the finish and detailing in a few areas still has plenty of room for improvement: the plain steel, black-painted exhaust looks a potential rust trap and the multi concentric circle design of the tacho faces looks like its designer had been playing with a Spirograph.

The overall quality of the plastics, I have to say, is more Duplo than Apple and, worst of all, the sidestand is a too short, spring-loaded abomination which reminds of three generation-ago Ducatis and surely will leave more than one tearful learner with smashed bodywork.

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