Our friend Hugo writes to us at the MotoGuía office because he has obtained his A2 license, he does not have much experience beyond practical classes with the driving school and some occasional dalliance with a motorcycle in an enclosed area, and he is looking for a motorcycle. But you’re not looking for a motorcycle for just anyone.
What Hugo is looking for is quite defined in his head. He tells us that he will ride between 5,000 and 15,000 kilometers a year and that he is interested in a motorcycle that has a low displacement to get more comfortable with the bike. He likes neoretros and has set his sights on the Zontes GK350, although he is open to other possibilities as long as the bike is native to the A2, is reliable and its price is, at most, 5,000 euros.
First of all we would like to highlight that the approach is very correct. If you do not have experience, it is better to opt for a motorcycle that is as easy to ride and forgiving as possible. For this reason, and although we can also use the limitable motorcycles for the A2 once they are delimited, if you do not have experience, opting for a “pure” A2 facilitates the learning process because they will be lighter and more permissive in every way.
As for options, the truth is that the market has many options and it will be that limit of 5,000 euros that will really make the cut. Because if we have a little more budget there are even more options. There is also an interesting thing and that is that most of the models that we are going to see are single-cylinder, although there is one interesting exception.
Since we have to order them in some way, we are going to do it from least to most powerful.
Royal Enfield HNTR 350 – 20.2 HP – €4,187
The Royal Enfield HNTR 350 is the least powerful motorcycle on this list, although in reality it is very similar to the next two with which it shares some other similarities such as the fact that it has a five-speed gearbox. Obviously, as is the norm, it has ABS and can be considered a more urban and simple option than the Guerrilla despite the fact that it has an LED headlight, mixed instrumentation with Tripper and USB-C.
TVS Ronin 250 – 20.4 HP – €2,995
It is the motorcycle with the least displacement on the list. Its single-cylinder engine cooled by oil and air reaches 20.4 HP. It must also be said that the TVS Ronin 250 has five gears. Although it is true that its power is the lowest of all, so is its price, well below its rivals and below 3,000 euros, something difficult to see even in 125. That does not mean that this motorcycle, which is a mix of roadster, scrambler and neo-retro, does not have interesting details such as, for example, SmartXonnect connectivity with navigation and notifications.
Honda GB350S – 21 HP – €4,650
Since the arrival on the market of the Honda GB350S was announced, it attracted attention and the Japanese manufacturer had embarked on a category that is not usual for it. In this case we can say that it is more retro than neo, but also that despite its 21 HP, everyone who tests it highlights its smoothness and behavior. It also has five speeds and is not focused on offering great performance but rather comfort. Of course, it has HSTC traction control.
Zontes GK350 – 39.44 HP – €4,587
With the Zontes GK350 we raise the level of performance quite a bit, because we practically double the power of the rest of the motorcycles we have seen so far. It still has a single-cylinder engine but now has liquid cooling, a slipper clutch and two driving modes: Eco and Sport. Likewise, its equipment is more extensive, with color TFT with Screen Mirroring, tire pressure and temperature control, proximity key, Full LED lighting, double USB, 43 mm inverted fork and four-piston J.Juan radial front caliper.
Macbor Eight Mile 500 STR – 47 HP – €4,999
The Macbor Eight Mile 500 STR closes the list for power, since it remains at the limit of what is legal. But it is also the only twin-cylinder motorcycle on the list. It combines its neo-retro aesthetics with greater performance. We also find KYB as the suspension supplier, Nissin for the calipers, Pirelli for the tires, Bosch electronic injection, Full LED lighting, six-speed gearboxes… We could say that it is an option for the A2 and much more.
