Zontes GK350 ‖ Redefining the Motorcycle Value Proposition...
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- Опубліковано 26 чер 2024
- The Zontes GK350 [ZT350-GK] is a £4,500, 188kg bike that has a surprising amount of power and technology. In this video we talk about all the features and give the bike a good going over with some city riding to see how it performs.
Let me know what you think about the review and any comments please drop them down below.
See this bike and others at midwestmoto.co.uk/
Gear I use:
Jacket🧥: Alpinestars Andes Touring I / RST Pro Series CPX-C Leather Jacket - Neon Green
Trousers👖: Alpinestars Andes Touring I / RST R-18 CE Leather Jeans
Gloves🧤: RST Thermotech Heated Gloves / RST Blade 2 CE Leather Gloves
Helmet: Arai: RX-7V Gold Rea edition (signed)/Shark S900
Boots🥾: RST Tractech EVO III/ Pharoa Robson
Action Camera 🎥: GoPro Hero VII x2
Audio🎵: Olympus LSP4 sound capture device
Mic🎤: Rode SmartLav+
Still images📸: Redmi 10C smartphone/ Fuji X-H2 + 18mm F1.4 R LM WR Lens - Авто та транспорт
Got mine last week, I already have 570 kilometers on it!. I love it, actually everything about it is grand!! 39.2 horse
Power is plenty.
I will say this, the auto tyre temperature and pressure control is touchy...
And a bit of vibrations after 5.000 RPM's, but for a single cylinder that is pretty much normal...
Very sporty on the curves!!
Hi Lefty, glad you got the Zontes in the end. Nice little bike and good for the city and some curves 😉. Congratulations on your bike!
Great looking bike, these newcomers are getting better and better.
Very enjoyable and informative video. Well presented. I think I'll go for a test ride on one of these. 👍
Well thank you Steve, appreciate the comment and feedback. 👍🙏
Great Video, I bought mine back in October 22, it has 2000 miles on the clock, and so far so good, it's comfortable crusing as 70mph and obviously will go much faster but as it's a naked bike you get a fair amount of buffeting at that speed. Around town and short journeys it is a great fun bike. Well done to Zontes.
Just a bit of feedback for you, Video was of great quality, however the audio levels were a bit up and down, otherwise fantastic work, keep em coming!
Hi Howardski, thanks for the comment and feedback, that's really helpful. I presume when we switched from the piece to camera to the on board mic 🎤? I've been playing with new lavilier microphones just to try and get it right, I think 🤔 in this video I was on the old set up. It should also sound a lot 'clearer' on my new videos. Anyway thanks for the comment and glad you are enjoying your bike!
Lovely looking bike.
Not bad is it...
Impressive!
Similar to the new Triumphs in performance.
I have watched this video three times, I love the black and gold version but they also do a 350x and 350adv and its the comfort I am looking for (no strain on bad back) the version that might be for me is the 350X; here in Malaysia I do alot of through traffic driving and its weight and power seams ideal. would love to see you test the 350x touring version style against this the GR.
Hi Andy, thanks for your comment. I just sent Clements Moto another email asking if I can ride one of the 350 Adv bikes. Cannot promise anything as I am the whim of the Zontes importer but I am trying! I also like the GK125 as it has a 19-20litre tank and I bet it would do 500+ miles with that little engine sipping fuel... Regards, Sean
Was sad to trade in my G1 but am loving my new Himalayan!
For the price these GK 350's are brill I think.
Hi mate, what was the G1, a scrambler? I think if they made the GK350 into a scrambler that would be nice. Yes you can't go wrong with a Himmy...
@@MindfulMotorcyclist Yeah was a scrambler. If the GK was a scrambler I would have test ridden.
You could change the tyres. The other thing is the Zontes dont have bars at the back for luggage straps.
Yeah the Himmy am very happy with. At least for a few years!
P.s oh I rode the G1 off piste a bit in Wales was fine and my drive is gravel. The Himmy def handles it better but the G1 coped well.
@@MauriceTarantulas I think my next bike might be a scrambler. The moto morini or the Fantic both have caught my eye...
@@MindfulMotorcyclist I did really want the motomorini but thought if am gonna be doing adv stuff and dropping it etc....
The fantics dont grab me as much but heard they were good fun.
Good review.
Zontes are comparable to Japanese for quality and reliability unlike most Chinese machines
Reason for the higher power compared to say the Meteor is RPMs and Compression ratio.
Eg 9500 rpm compared to 6100 on the Enfield and 12.1:1 on the Zontes 8.5:1 on the Enfield
Different machines aimed at different markets.
Home maintenance on the Zontes is a pain on the Enfield its a doddle
Thanks Lee. Appreciate the comment and the info regarding the engine specs.
Nice review and an interesting budget bike, for me the RE's still win though as I prefer a classic look. The point that seemed to be missed is that it's not because it's a chinese bike that they're able to get more power out of it but because its water cooled as oposed to the RE's air cooled 350. The technology is "nice" but I'd be worried about the longevity/reliability of all that kit given the price point it's aimed at. What happens when all the button operated releases fail in a few years and why is itn any better than just using a reliable key operated latch (other than the "ooh shiny" response)
Thanks for the comment. You raise a couple of good points. RE also have very thick paint, good residuals (traded mine in for a small loss), many established dealers as well as the classic look. True that the water cooled lump enables a higher power output, I did love my Meteor but I sold it because it was a labour to make progress/overtake. Can't help but think that bike with a very subtle rad hidden somewhere would be fantastic. As far as the mod cons/gadgets the only one I would probably want these days is cruise control just for the long distance tours and the like. Cheers
I'm with you on the tech and I too am drawn to RE because the bikes are simple & understandable which is important if you intend to keep a bike over a long period of time!
Hello, nice vid, planning to do my test next Spring, this bike looks good. On a CBT currently, riding a YB100 as I really like classic bikes, will only get 53mph though so very limiting out of town when the traffic is out, also im not into mechanics and it ended up costing a lot to get it sorted, I thought it was all ready when i bought it, so looking for a new bike this time, one question Please, does the screen have speakers?
Hi WotW, thanks for the comment. The screen doesn't have speakers no but I assume you could use headphones and connect them wirelessly?
Oh and if you like classic look, the Royal Enfield Classic 350. Massively successful bike, not too powerful and looks period correct. Perhaps check it out too...
Excellent 😊
Thanks William, appreciate the comment...
im thinking of.buying this bike
Hi Maxtan, it's a great bike out of interest did you also consider the Triumph 400? Cheers, Sean
@MindfulMotorcyclist yes of course but speed 400 is more expensive compared to GK350.
Nice bike, had a test ride and can say pretty nice motorcycle 👍 looking forward for a 500 or 650cc...
I was quite impressed especially given the price. Seeing as I don't live in the city a 500cc is probably minimum for me, 650 would be ideal...
@@MindfulMotorcyclist I agree, next week will go to test some Voge bikes also chinese bikes and they have 500 and 650cc...regards from far away Serbia 🇷🇸✌️
@@svaralen I would like another Voge but they haven't even got them in the UK yet. Distribution partner has changed. The 525 range is quite appealing, not so much the 650 as the single is quite vibey...
It would be interesting to see a 0-50mph run between a Meteor and the Zontes. Long stroke torque verses short stroke bhp. At least I think that's the difference.
The Zontes I expect would blast the Meteor because although torque is good on the Meteor it isn't bad on the Zontes and the Zontes also has BHP to spin up at the higher RPMs. I did have an offer of a company to send me a racelogic lap timer to test sadly they disappeared as that would have been the tool to accurately test what you are describing! Thanks!
Great video and nice to see you riding around Worcester City , my adopted home. Really surprised at the 40hp on that Zontes, double the amount of an Enfield. Keep the vids coming 😊
Thanks for the comment and the support. Really helps with motivation to read these 👍. I never ride in the city on a review, always do countryside partly because I think it looks 'nicer' on camera but the city ride does test the bike a bit more. Might do that again...
Nothing surprising on a high compression, higher revving liquid cooled engine putting out more power 😊
Such a beautiful bike but it may have service centers and parts problem in future..
Hi Foxy, this is a possibility but not guaranteed by any stretch. Let's give them a chance to sort out the dealer network and spares... thanks 😊
Nice review, however please look at the camera lens when you're talking mate and not yourself on your preview screen as it's much more engaging for the viewer 👍
Ah you're right, I looked back over at the video and I know the bit you mean, where I'm right down next to the bike. You can't normally tell when I'm 10ft away from the camera 😂. I'll keep that in mind, thanks for the pointer 👍
@@MindfulMotorcyclist very informative content though👍
How all that tech stands the test of time is the crux of the value equation..personally I'd be happy to have it without the tech as..let's be honest...how hard is it putting a key into an ignition or tank filler cap? I think u would need some deep diving with the aerospace grade protector to stand a chance of everything working 3 years down the line..I'm impressed with the quality, just not unnecessary gimmicks! Great review though and those who like a bit of electrickery should love it😁
You have to pay for the sat nav
Can you not just use your phone and mirror the screen? I can't remember the details...
@@MindfulMotorcyclist
Yes m8 that’s what I did
Please level your audio
Which part is clipping? The piece to camera of the on bike seg?
is it electric or petrol?
Petrol 🙂
Huh 😳
Stopped the video at keyless ignition :(
Why? it is handy for this bikes intended use case...
I've dropped one of my keys from my pocket while riding and the warning from the bike came on too late, I was already far away from here I've dropped it and couldn't find it, now I'm down to one key.
Yikes 😳, never thought of that. I guess zipped pocket only from now on but hindsight is a wonderful thing as the saying goes... Can you get a new key from Zontes?
I'd just rather buy a bike from one of the big 4 than a Chinese brand. Even if a few years old.
Maybe do some research into where motorcycle parts actually come from. From Ducati to BMW and everything in between motorcycles are built from parts manufactured from all over the world. A Chinese bike has as many European and Japanese parts as a European or Japanese bike has Chinese parts. Things are not as they used to be it's not longer the 60's.