Test Zontes E125: Introduction, positioning and rivals
In just a few years, Zontes has fully established itself in the Spanish market. The sales figures say it. It is already the seventh brand by number of units sold and leads the 125 cc segment with gears. For this to occur, it is necessary that the market perceives the quality of the products and that behind Zontes motorcycles and scooters there is a sales and after-sales infrastructure that meets the needs of its customers.
Such rapid growth of such a new brand (it is only 6 years old) is only understandable if behind it there is an economic and industrial support such as the Tayo Motorcycle Technology Co. Ltd. group, a Chinese giant that manufactures more than a million engines. year.
In the case at hand, it manufactures them for its premium brand Zontes, of which today we present the new Zontes E125 scooter (14.55 HP, €3,887) that complements the scooter range that its sisters D125 and M125 represent until today. . It is a GT that, due to its dimensions, can be classified as a maxi scooter.
Its appearance is almost identical to its older brother, the Zontes E350, with which it shares a platform (frame and body) and from which, apart from the engine, the only difference is a 27 mm shorter wheelbase and less suspension travel. We are therefore faced with a scooter of generous dimensions, a lot of equipment and a power less than 0.5 HP of the maximum power allowed in the category.
This allows it to fight against the Honda Forza 125 (14.75 HP, €5,375), Peugeot Pulsion 125 (14.21 HP, €4,660), SYM Cruisym Alpha 125 (14.80 HP, €4,999) or the Yamaha XMAX 125 (12.06 HP, €5,499) with obvious advantages in terms of price starting at €3,887. For this reason, it also fights against cheaper options on the market such as the SYM Joymax Z+ 125 (14.30 HP, €4,499), or the Voge SR1 125 (11.56 HP, €2,787).
Due to its dimensions, it is larger than any of them, revealing itself to be a very serious option for larger sizes.
Test Zontes E125: Technical characteristics of the Zontes E125
If the Zontes E125 shares a platform with the E350, it also has the same engine as its sisters the Zontes D125 and Zontes M125. Through synergies and manufacturing its own components, Zontes achieves an unparalleled quality-price-equipment ratio.
As for the engine, it contains all the technology of a modern engine. It is a single-cylinder, water-cooled engine with a 4-valve cylinder head and powered by Bosch MSE 8.0 electronic injection. It obtains 14.5 HP at 8,250 rpm and a torque of 12.8 Nm at 6,500 rpm.
There are elements that it shares with the E350, such as the 16-liter fuel tank. If we make an upward correction of the 2.7 l/100 consumption approved by the Zontes E125 and leave it at a more credible 3.5 l/100, we obtain a theoretical range of over 400 kilometers.
As soon as you fill up the fuel, the computer shows a range of close to 600 kilometers (592 km). Advantages of “oversizing”, although then the autonomy will not reach that much. The opening of the tank (and the seat) is electric via button.
Already in the presentation of its 350 cc older sister, we noted the generous dimensions of the scooter, which remain almost unchanged here. It is curious that, with the seat only 757 mm from the ground, large people fit so well either with their feet on the horizontal platform or resting against the shield. Plenty of space.
The chassis is a steel tubular frame, with a telescopic fork with 109 mm of travel. It should be noted that it is supported by a double seatpost, upper and lower, not very common in scooters and which provides solidity to the grip and braking. At the rear, a pair of shock absorbers with 101 mm of travel with preload adjustment are responsible for the suspension.
The front braking consists of a 265 mm diameter disc clamped by a 4-piston J.Juan caliper. The rear wheel (both are 14 inches) repeats a 265 mm diameter disc bitten by a single-piston Zontes caliper. The ABS is independent in both trains, that is, dual channel.
The levers are adjustable, with an ingenious handbrake system on the left lever that should be on any scooter. It is very useful to free your hands on a slope with the scooter stopped. Both levers are protected by separate hand guards, very useful on cold winter days.
One of the not so positive aspects that it inherits from the E350 is the weight. More than 180 kilos in running order make the E125's performance discreet, despite the power of the engine.
In terms of equipment, fortunately it has nothing to envy its older sisters. The instrument panel consists of a TFT screen customizable in 4 themes and in which nothing is missing, including tire pressure and temperature monitoring.
In it we can do “screen mirroring” over Wi-Fi, which in French means replicating the screen of our mobile phone, including the navigation application that we use. The mobile phone can also be paired via Bluetooth, to notify and activate calls, in case we have an intercom installed in our helmet. Hence the USB sockets (A and C) provided in the left glove box – with closure – are essential.
The operation of the screen is through only 2 buttons among the nearly 15 that make up the buttons of the E125, which, by the way, are backlit, a real luxury. At first it seems overwhelming, but you soon discover that each button has its function and it is not that complicated. What doesn't work so well is keyless starting and locking-unlocking.
It does not always work the first time and sometimes you have to resort to bringing the key fob closer to the intended system in case the non-key runs out of battery, which is to bring the key closer to a specific point in the right glove box, logically, without closure. When you're in a hurry and the keyless key doesn't work the first time, an old key comes to mind.
The screen is electrically adjustable, of course, by one of the buttons on the left pineapple. The lighting is full LED and the rear turn signals are dynamic. Under the screen there is a small glove box with a retractable lid (difficult to open with gloves) that is very useful for storing the garage remote control or some coins.
The load capacity is excellent, but it does not reach two full-face helmets as the brand indicates, but rather one full-face and another jet type. There is the possibility of connecting both spaces to carry long objects, such as a loaf of bread or a tripod, or on the contrary, separating them by an ingenious practicable system that allows small objects to be carried under control.
Test Zontes E125: How the Zontes E125 performs
If you have come this far, you may think that the behavior of the Zontes E125 should be like that of a Zontes E350 with less power. Stricto Sensu is not like that, because although it is true that it has less power, the small differences in the frame (22.7 mm shorter between axles) give it an agility that the Zontes E 350 would want.
The wheelbase remains long (1570 mm) and provides great stability on straight lines and in wide curves. But the Zontes E125 offers much superior handling than the Zontes E350. With the Zontes E125 it is perfectly feasible to defend yourself in the urban jungle, with the addition of extreme comfort and high-class load capacity.
The main feature of the Zontes E125 is how well it treats its pilot. The position is certainly comfortable and the screen protection in the highest position is very good. Although the seat is only 757 mm from the ground, with my 178 cm height I reached the ground without much bend in my legs. Things change as you move forward, but in the driving position it's not enough for me.
Once underway, the feeling of spaciousness is joyful and the softness of the seat is perfect. The scooter accelerates well, although there is some delay between the request for gas and the moment it is started, so you will not be the first at the traffic lights. That does not mean that it cannot be integrated into urban traffic normally, since the acceleration is good.
It is capable of sustaining cruises of 100 km/h on the flat, but it will not exceed 106 km/h, the moment when the engine reaches the ignition cut-off, on the flat or downhill. The limitation comes not only from weight, but from aerodynamics. It is certainly a large scooter, especially with the screen in its highest position.
When facing roundabouts or curved sections, its behavior is very good, as it is neutral despite the extra kilos, which are not even noticeable when changing direction. Braking is outstanding thanks to the 4-piston radial front disc. Exaggerating a little, it is one of the few scooters where it is not necessary to recommend using both brakes at the same time.
Weaving through traffic, due to the turning radius and wheelbase, it is better than I expected. Being able to travel at very low speed, without having to put your feet on the ground, is really useful in traffic jams. The mirrors are at a good height to avoid most cars.
There are no perfect mirrors, simply for the reason that not all cars, SUVs and vans have them located at the same height. Manufacturers are guided by their instincts, because the proportion of different vehicles varies from city to city. On this scooter and in a city like Madrid, it seems to me that it is well resolved.
The suspension setting is very good for the bumps in the cities, prioritizing comfort, but they are neither soft nor dry, but adequate.
The ride of the motorcycle conveys security and poise, as well as build quality. It may seem silly, but those sensations contribute to driving safety, because trusting the mount is one more vector of good driving performance.