Well it was, especially regarding motorcycles from China. We all knew they’d get it right one day and with this new Zontes 310X they most certainly have. The past variants, from any brand, seemed to have been brushed under the carpet in a dust storm of untrustworthy build quality and mechanical internals that lasted as long as a bag of sweet springs rolls at a weed party. Well forget all of that right now! The Zontes importers and distributors in SA have just unveiled this little crimson beauty and, let’s be honest here, it’s a very, very attractive motorbike on all counts.
That’s all well and good you say but is it just a plethora of pretty plastic that wraps around a fragile and asthmatic engine, making it as exciting as counting erratic ants? No way man is my resounding answer. This is one serious motorbike and so excellent that everyone else who retails bikes in and around this 300/400 capacity needs to become very worried.
Let me start with the engine which has been seen in their previous models but, for some reason, is more refined. The 2020 310X is their second generation though, which explains the improvements, because all manufacturers do the same. It’s still their single-cylinder, liquid-cooled, DOHC, 312cc unit with Delphi fuel injection, producing a claimed 36hp@9,500rpm and 30Nm@7,500rpm. Doesn’t sound a lot but it’s enough to bounce the 310X into its rev-limiter in sixth gear at an indicated 170km/h, not forgetting that’s also at our Jo’burg 1500m power-sapping altitude, so I’d possibly add a tooth to the front sprocket to lift the gearing, which seems to be a little too low. When pulling away I found myself quickly jabbing through the first three gears to get into fourth where the 310X felt less frantic. I could also pull away with very little clutch abuse, in sixth gear, which is a totally pointless exercise but the 310X can do it. Either way the six-speed gearbox is as good as anything in this capacity bracket or, in some cases, even better. 
Once settled into sixth gear, the 310X will happily cruise all day long at 130km/h+, relaying 3.2 litres per 100km (19-litre tank), on the rather fetching full colour TFT display. This cute pod has four different displays if you like change because you can swap them around to suit your desire of how the rev-counter should look - very cool that! It also has Bluetooth connectivity and two, not one, USB ports to power and charge whatever.
Other parts operated by the wealth of buttons are the fuel cap, seat, power modes (Eco and Sport), electric screen (up or down) and more. To add even more entertainment all buttons have a bright red backlight that looks superb at night and makes me wonder why all bikes don’t have the same.
What the 310X does have more than most is practicality and ease of riding, seeing as it only weighs 149kg. It’s as agile as a cheetah full of Red Bull but nowhere near as aggressive. You just feel at one with it the moment you ride; a trait confirmed by everyone who had a go. “Wow, that’s sooooo nice”, is the usual comment and I have to agree because I kept saying it myself, many times. This all comes down to the ride quality with vastly superior suspension to the previous 310X and a new bigger diametre front disc and fatter calliper has equally improved that area too. The braking system has desirable ABS, which can’t be turned off (well I couldn’t), from the German Bosch specialists, again another quality component.
But the best classy part of the 310X is the outstanding build quality in all areas, from the CNC machined gold levers to the dramatically shaped back wheel. Now there’s no denying that back wheel and swing-arm is a close relative to Ducati and those gorgeous twin-pipes are straight from a MV Agusta Brutale, as is the MV’ styled tank. Nothing wrong with that though as both are memorable features.
These splendid parts all seem to gel well because I haven’t, for a long time, had a test bike which attracts so much attention and I’m constantly asked if admirers can take pictures of it. Closet photographers don’t recognise the name, yet, but many think it’s a Honda, which is praise indeed to the Chinese Zontes factory. And if you’re wondering how many motorbikes (all sizes) Zontes make per day from their huge factories, 7,000 is the number and, yes, you read that correctly!
So Zontes is definitely here to stay in SA and I’m convinced they’ll only grow with bigger engines and bikes in the pipeline as we speak. If they’re anything like this beautiful 310X then I can’t wait to enjoy those as well. But, for now, at only R79,900, the 310X is the first Chinese motorcycle I can highly recommend buying and I’ve never said that before, so there!
One more thing, there’s also a new race series where you can ride one of these exact bikes and get your knee down, so do it…
Go to www.zontes.co.za for more details and dealer locations. Also have an interesting visit to www.zontes.com to see the entire range they build.
Images: 2ft-Stu.
