It was because of this review I ended up buying this bike, owned for 6 months and 2500 miles of trouble free riding, passed my A license now and whilst trading in for new bike I actually had the pleasure of bumping into Mark when he was dropping of his next review bike, was good to meet u mark 👍
Always enjoy your no nonsense reviews. Informative, honest, not long winded as some tend to be. A pleasure to watch. You are a natural at this. Thank you once again.
Good to see more of these types of alternative manufacturer bikes. We know the usual brands are really good etc so to see these bikes in detail is excellent. Many thanks! 👍
Hey Mark. That was a blisteringly good video. You cover all the nuances that a buyer needs to know, and do it so gracefully. Ive just ordered one of these but the lists are long and the queues at Felixstow are many. Stay rubber side down friend, 🏁
Had one of these as my first bike now for a few months now. Fantastic value for money new. No gripes with the bike at all. Learner friendly and comfortable. Agree with all your comments within the review.
This review along will all your bike reviews is excellent, I can sit and watch video after video. This review has sort of been the decider for my decision on what bike to order next March. I'm currently 16 and own a 50cc and can't wait to go and order my Zontes from Poole Moto next year. Keep up the great content.
Hi Mark great video as always very thorough .... Just a note your friends at Poole Moto may want to update their website as I wanted to see what they had and they detail all ok their brands other than zontes which is just a link to Zontes website so want sure they sold them... Look forward to the next one
Hi Mark, Great review. I have the G1 and use it mainly as a weekend ride around the Cornish roads, but it’s quite happy on longer trips too. I have nothing but praise for the Zontes 125. Put over a thousand miles on it in just over a month! That’s how much I am enjoying it. Build quality as you say is first class and I can confirm is a match for any other premium manufacturers. Value for money it’s in my opinion unbeatable. Also gets comments on it’s looks. As a first bike or weekend / commute ride most would be more than happy. Cheers.
Chris Any idea what the wheelbase is? Can’t find it on the internet and the Zontes website is wrong quoting a WB of under 3 feet!!!! All reviews seems to quote that without realising it can’t be right. Thanks Denis
Excellent review! I bought one of these and its superb I utterly love it, like you said its so comfy , nice size if your a big chap like me. Just great, Ive got rid of the safety bars as I think it looks better but its such a great looking bike and looks like a much bigger bike than it is.
Another great review. Love your reviews, you've already made me want to buy the Honda Rebel CMX1100 and Ninja 1000SX. Any chance you could review a Hyosung Aquila GV125S? Will continue to watch your reviews, great stuff!!
Cross-spoke wheels on a 125. There there's fatbars, a good dash, bar-end mirrors etc. It's a pity 150 isn't the significant size in GB instead of 125. Out here in Thailand, 150 cc bikes are common. The extra 25 cc makes such a difference. Great little bike, though. And an excellent review again, Mark.
In some countries we have both...but 125 is the limit for A1 license in Europe. And for A2, the 155 cm3 is maybe too far from the 47 hp allowed. So they won't find a place I guess.
Hi Mark. Another great review. You look very confident on that bike for a Learner. If you need any help with the highway code before your test give me a shout.
Love the new low down camera view. Super bike new riders are spoilt for choice. On a side note I now own a Honda nc 750 your video on the model made a difference
Great review Mark as always. Zontes seems to be the best of the Chinese machines. There`s much interest in the new Royal Enfield Meteor. Now that`s definitely a bike that many of us I`m sure will want you to review very soon.
Should probably put some bungs in the end of them horns where the hand wind shield is meant to screw on. That's why the front brake has a ball on the end. So it doesn't pierce you as easy
I'm looking at getting a 125 as a first bike to get me going. I saw this crop up on a honda thread. it looks a good alternative. I was close to buying a honda a few years ago then changed my mind.
I ride a 2020 bmw s1000rr and 2014 Daytona 675R and I’ve just bought one of these for a run about to the gym etc I was quite surprised how well it went and sounded. Fit and finish is very good
Was looking at the G1 they have in Poole Moto but kind of needing a rethink. Wrote my Firefly of on February 28th courtesy of a fox. Nice to see a bike on roads I know.
Hey Mark great review video of the G1... Do you know with the UK bike you tested on the dual carriageway speed test, did you notice what sprocket size was on the rear ? Apparently over in European areas they used to be fitted with 43t. How many miles did the review bike have ? Cheers ( I'm running mine in so can't test top just yet) but it has 46t
That is one nice lookin little bike perfect for new riders with a very good spec how often do you get crash bars and bungs as standard fit even the exhaust looks good which is a rare thing these days normally they are humongous things and it looks like their is no horrible lookin number plate mount either impressive good review : ) .
Nice to see local roads to me, we got both our Sym bikes from Poole Moto. DAS booked for September and looking at the Himalayan's or the 502 X maybe review those if you can. See a mutual interest in Airsoft also! All the best M
@@markpulling12 Seen the 502 vid, was looking for the X seat height in comparison as we seem to be same sort of height. I know the Himi's are 800mm and have sat on one. Not had chance to try the X for size yet. Keep up the Videos.
A very helpful review Mark thank you. All reports speak very highly of build quality. I am definately tempted. Just one concern, did the engine sound a bit clattery at tick over, or is it just my headphones?
Hi grahame....no it's perfect....if anything you can get a bit of water cooling / jacket clattering at tickover but these are great engines Cheers mark
Recently got one of these. I also have a 2021 Honda CB125R. The gearbox on the Zontes is much, much better than the Honda which surprised me. Overall a more substantial bike and the sound is amazing. Don’t get me wrong, the Honda is also a great bike but just stunned by the quality and ride of the Zontes G1.
I will buy my first bike and I can’t choose between g125 and cb125r.. Zontes is cheaper and have a couple of extras but a Honda is a Honda and I think more beautiful too… tough decision..
@@markpulling12 . . You did a great job Mark, and encouraged me to include a Zontes in my thinking. It's a nicely sorted bike, and would suit my needs very well indeed. Thanks again Mark.
Hi Mark, Thx for the review, real cool. I got a question tho. I'm 6 foot 4 and 18 stone... What do you think? Can't think of anything else but 125ccm max. Thx a lot!
Hi ...you will be ok on this bike but as you are tall it may be a little cramped ...maybe look at taller options like the lexmoto RSS 125 scrambler Best wishes mark
I've had a bunch of 125's. Always wary of Chinese bikes, but this is one I would thumbs up. My only query, and its a long running one is service intervals - these seem to be pathetic, very short gaps on mileage and costs - which in the end makes them troubling in terms of longer ownership costs. Its no use being 'cheap' if you are fundamentally not cheap at all. Doing 400 miles a tank is wonderful, but if you have to put it in shop twice in that period - lets be clear, its utterly stupid and self defeating.
Hi Mark, Forgot to mention in my first comment. I live in a very hilly area near Lyme Regis so everywhere you go there seems to be big hills. Do you recon the this bike will perform ok on steeper hills. I am 60kg. Thanks again for the brilliant reviews, just about to watch the new Sinnis Review. Cheers Sam
Hi Sam I Know your area well ...yes rest assured this bike will still pull well up hills ...as far as 125s go it's full power about 14.5 hp so will be fine for you at 60 kg Cheers mark
@@madmaxb2525 yes ...to a certain extent....some people will say one way some another....best way is don't labour the engine ,vary the revs and gears ,not too much redline for the first few hundred miles and generally just ride it normally:) This method has served me very well in 35 years of biking and loads of new bikes cheers mark Never had a mechanical problem
What is the switch gear button for? And also the website says this bike has "electronic seat lock", not sure what that is. Great review, im seriously considering this as my first bike
Cant make my mind up between this one and the adventure version? Is there a diferance in waight between the 2? Just wondering about cruising speed and how it will be ofected with extra waight. Coz i do profer the scrambler version..
Hi again Steve not much in it weight wise ...and they both use the same engine so exactly the same top speed which is arround 70 mph I prefer the adventure it's more versatile when the bad weather hits
Great review as always! As a suggestion for future video's I would like to see a review of your own personal bike(s), maybe go into depth of why you would(n't) buy the same model again.
Hello Mark, I have just passed my CBT on a Honda CBF125, I'm a pretty short guy 5'3 but found that riding the CBF at first a challenge with its height but eventually fairly easy to manage, if I'm not mistaken the seat height is almost the same with the Zontes, if I could handle the height on the CBF would you think I would be able to handle the height on the Zontes?
Maybe it's me as a new rider only got my cbt 2 weeks ago but I find the gearbox really stiff especially going up. I often have to give the gear lever 2 or 3 goes before it shifts, and often get false neutral going down into 1st as well. As I say, probably just my bad technique. What I will say is I'm 6'4" and find it perfectly comfortable
Thank you, I’ll look forward to seeing them very much. They look amazingly good value. Let’s hope that they produce some larger cc bikes in the future. Love your reviews by the way, very informative and enjoyable.
Could you please tell me which 125 in your opinion is best suited to a taller rider, I’m 6’ 3” 100 kg . Used to have a bike in my teens and would love to return to it. Just been to the bike show , come back more confused than I went. Regards Andrew.
That's amazing I'm actually speaking with poole moto and Clements moto about getting me a gk350 to review.. won't promise but I may have one to review in a few weeks Watch this space:)
@@markpulling12 so it's definitely entering UK for resale ? Please talk the importer into the gold wheel/black version not solid black 👍 Maybe I'll take a trip to Poole also want to see that model.
Just grabbed one of these as my first bike, really enjoying it, super comfortable and nice riding position, great peg position and size I find as well. I will say one thing I noticed with my model (although I’m not too bothered) is that I seem to be missing the eco button that enables you to switch it from sport to eco mode, I’m wondering if on the newer models they maybe removed this function for whatever reason, anyone heard anything to the contrary? Mark maybe yourself?
@@thebestbrew1194 Yes. Read somewhere that they've all been remapped to be the most efficient or somesuchwhat. My Feb22 version has the eco button but I think you can pop them in for a remap if desired.
Hi, which Zontes 125cc would you recommend for a complete beginner who is about to do his CBT? Any advice would be much appreciated even if it means recommending another 125cc manufacturer. Ideally, a bike that gives at least 110mpg would be a bonus. I only intend to use it for commuting 24 miles to work and shopping.
Hi all of the zontes 125s are great beginner bikes u u1 g1 or gk they are all fine for yourself as a beginner Just go for the one you like the look of best and fits you They all use the same excellent engine... failing that a used Honda cb125f is a great choice aswell Good luck 🤞
@@markpulling12 Thanks so much for replying! It's much appreciated. I'm 50 years old and I'm hoping to get at least 7-8 years out of my first bike. Do you know if these Chinese bikes are as durable as Japanese bikes? I know Japanese engines have a great reputation for longevity and I was wondering if you're aware of any durability problems with Zontes bikes?
@@ryokan9120 hi again....zontes are one of the best Chinese bikes available....as long as they are well maintained,cleaned lubed and looked after they are durable machines....I have heard of a few niggles but mainly only on bikes poorly maintained...most Jap bikes are built in Asia these days anyway Best wishes mark
Mark, I live in the North East and am very interested in getting a 125cc bike such as this. Where would you suggest buying them, as I am struggling to find a decent motorcycle that isnt overpriced by thousands. Thanks
New prices have shot up this past year. Used prices are still competitive though. £1000 cheaper for just 500-1000 miles on the clock. Someone else has done the running in for you too!
Im 6'2" and 19 stone its the only bike I found where I don't feel like a gorilla on a unicycle if that makes sense, also have a 32" leg I find it really confortable.
I think they're all the same bike just different aesthetics on top It keeps the manufacturing cost down, but also able to use the tried and tested quality parts. And we get a bike that's great value for money
Does this come with a 2 year warranty as I would buy one and after a year part exchange it for the next one up. Definitely would part exchange for my euro 5 lxr 125 which has nearly 2k miles and has a top box fitted so looking to sell for about £2,500
For a minute there... When you tucked in to get an extra 1mph... I was a feckless yooof on my AR125 doing exactly that and on the very same road. Of course I reached a ton, but didn't we all when we were young and there was no one there as a witness. Looks like a nice bike but God knows how someone decides which one to buy. There must be around fifty 125's from various manufacturers to choose from.
@@markpulling12 I bought it from an insurance company, stolen recovered. Couldn't have afforded one otherwise. RXS100 (metallic blue) had one of them. Superb bikes, Id own one now. YPVS RD was a bit later in life. God only knows how I survived that one.
Hi Michele ....it will do 65 mph two people and about 70 mph flat out ...but the speedo will say about 75 mph because they over read a bit Best regards mark
I was going for the Suzuki GSX S125 but to be honest the Zontes 125 chinese version has more technology, its got dual channel ABS (the suzuki doesnt have that) if your buying it brand new its £1,000 cheaper than suzuki and its got a slipper clutch to!! (suzuki doesnt have that on 125) wow.