Bullit Spirit 125

Make Model	Bullit Spirit 125
Year	2017 -
Engine	Four stroke, single cylinder, SOHC, 2 valves
Capacity	125 cc / 7.6 cu-in
Bore x Stroke	57.0 x 48.8 mm
Compression Ratio	9.5:1
Cooling System	Air Cooled
Emission	Euro 4
Induction	Fuel injection
Ignition	ECU
Starting	Electric with Kick start backup
Max Power	8.5 Kw / 11.5 hp @ 9500 rpm
Max Torque	9 Nm / 6.6 lb-ft @ 7750 rpm
Transmission	5 Speed
Final Drive	Chain
Front Suspension	43mm Upside down forks, right way up spring
Rear Suspension	Swing arm dual spring oil damper
Front Brakes	Single 275mm disc, CBS - Combined brake system
Rear Brakes	Single 210mm disc, CBS - Combined brake system
Front Tyre	110/70-17
Rear Tyre	140/70-17
Dimensions	Length 1930 mm / 75.9 in Width 800 mm / 31.5 in Height 1100 mm / 43.3 in
Wheelbase	1300 mm / 51.1 in
Seat Height	840 mm - 890 mm / 33 in - 35 in
Dry Weight	115kg / 253.5 lbs
Fuel Capacity	15 Litres / 3.9 gal

The Spirit is a fantastic looking café racer 125 that is on fashion as well as on the money. Its price alone makes it worth a second look and it’s a great intro to two-wheels for fashion-conscious learners.

The clip-ons aren’t too aggressive and the seat (which is a solo unit only) is comfortable. Weighing just 118kg and riding on cheap suspension with questionable Timsun tyres does make it feel a little skittish in bends, and again it’s not a patch on something like a 125 Duke, but it’s not that bad and I suspect most machines will spend their days in city streets anyway. The brakes, which don’t have ABS but are combined to pass Euro4 regs, are weak in their performance but they do provide adequate levels of stopping power if you pull the lever hard enough and also use the rear to add some bite.

Bullit use a Chinese copy of Suzuki’s GN125 motor, an air-cooled two-valve SOHC engine that has been made Euro4-compliant thanks to a fuel-injection system. This lump is as old as the hills and irrespective of where it was built, is highly unlikely to have any mechanical issues as it is only making 11.5bhp. It vibrates a bit and isn’t as smooth or powerful as a modern four-valve DOHC water-cooled 125, but in many ways this replicates the retro ethos of sacrificing performance for air-cooled authenticity.

We are talking a Chinese-built bike here so while the engine is unlikely to misbehave, there will always be a few question marks over the general level of finish and plating on its nuts and bolts. When new the Spirit appears well finished, however a few years down the line may well tell a different story.

The Spirit comes with a fuel gauge, electric start, chrome pipe, pillion seat cover, piggy-back style shocks, inverted forks, mini-indicators and a centre stand all on a great looking 125 that is even Euro4-compliant. Now that’s impressive, irrespective of where it was built.