Zontes 310 V motorcycle test

Menus

• Mini Power Cruiser
• 312 cm3, 35 hp, 157 kg, A2 compatible, keyless start, connected TFT screen, 5,190 euros
• Discovery
• In the saddle
• Contact
• In the city
• On the highway
• On departmental
• Braking
• Comfort
• Duo
• Consumption
• Convenient
• Revisions
• Video test of the Zontes 310V
• Conclusion

Mini Power Cruiser

312 cm3, 35 hp, 157 kg, A2 compatible, keyless start, connected TFT screen, 5,190 euros

Zonts! Who knows among the multitude of Chinese brands that are invading the market today? This is a small Chinese manufacturer from Guangdong belonging to the Tayo group, a start-up born in 2003 against the giants Zongshen whose machines can be seen rebadged under "French" brands.. And yet, we already told you about it a few years ago at international trade fairs, especially because they have an incredible pencil stroke that has nothing to envy Italians. Moreover, the similarities are sometimes striking, with a clearly European inspiration. But what is certain is that the machines are pretty, well designed with engines now coming out of the 125 with small 300 cm3. And the rule is confirmed with the Zontes 310 v, a small custom that makes you want to ride in custom, even if you are not a fan of this type of machine at the base. What to transfer his cuti? Zontes 310 V test.

Attention to detail and finish

Discovery

The first reaction that comes to mind when you discover her is her beauty, really. The Zontes 310 is really pretty and we wouldn’t be surprised to learn that an Italian designer was hired to design it. She even looks like Diavel, while having her own personality. And if yellow is debatable, it has the merit of further enhancing the eyes of passers-by at red lights. In short, she is eyeing everyone.

Mini version of an Italian icon

It must be said that beyond the general look, the finish is also there. Between the levers that seem to come out of a preparer, the pretty headlight and its LED light signature, the well-designed saddle with its sissi-bar, the perfectly integrated and mesh exhaust, the casings protectors, the elegant mirrors, the the front…

LED headlight
Sleek exhaust and swingarm axle

Attention to detail extends to the side stand or side guards, or even the anti-theft mount.

Original protective pads and anti-theft support (in red) !

Even the rear tire of 180 worthy of a big one is imposing for the displacement. Nothing denotes here and everything is original! This is not even a special prepared version or a limited series.

LED rear light

Even the TFT dashboard is not an option and yet it is a real TFT screen! Zontes achieves a flawless performance here and we dream of seeing all these details and original contributions from other brands but also to see the model in a larger displacement (which is on the program for 2020)

An elegant line complemented by an excellent finish

And the best of the best is the backlighting of the commodos, in red.

And inside the trellis frame is a small 312cc single cylinder delivering 35 horsepower. And a rare thing among traditional assemblers, Zontes manufactures all the parts from the frame to the engine in-house (except tires signed CST and ABS signed Bosh).

In the saddle

Custom requires, we can say, but the rider of 1.70 will easily put his feet on the ground, helped by a saddle at only 720 mm. The fairly wide handlebars fall well under the hands and you immediately feel at home, with a rather straight back. The feet are positioned forward and a rare thing in current production and usually reserved for much more expensive machines, you can even choose the position of the driver’s footrests, with three possible settings. We then discover a complete TFT screen with a multitude of information, perfectly readable, with information that some larger engines do not have such as the fuel gauge, the gear indicator engaged. And what about the Alien welcoming you on board? In short, we expect a bestial machine.

Clear and legible LED dashboard with all information

Contact

No ignition key, thanks to the keyless start. And the motorbike warns you if you go three meters away! Saddle, gas hatch or steering are also blocked electronically, via a specific button on the right stalk! We would like it on all original motorcycles.

Neat rider footrest

The crutch is handled naturally. Once kicked out, the small mono then snorts in a small sound of 125 but not unpleasant. First, we raise and advance our feet even if it is in a less exaggerated way than most customs. The maneuverability is at the rendezvous and the machine is easily and instantly taken in hand.

2,099 mm in length for 1,488 mm of wheelbase

In the city

The machine is small and weaves its way with ease. The mirrors pass just above those of cars, while being at the same height as those of SUVs and other vans. But since there are more cars than SUVs and the machine remains fine, even in these cases, we slip by without thinking about it..

Efficient rear-view mirror with excellent retro-vision

The light weight (157 kilos) makes all maneuvers easy without forgetting a reasonable turning radius for the category, closer to a roadster than a custom which often requires taking a street width to make a U-turn, This is not the case here. Acceleration is straightforward at the throttle with a breaker reached before 50 km / h in first. It is easy to assemble the reports, with a soft and precise gearbox. The reports go up all the more quickly that one passes them first to the ear and the vibrations, when one has the impression of driving a 125. Suddenly, one passes them at the beginning around 5.000 tr / mn and we find the engine sluggish and bland. We can manage to pass the sixth, even if it hits then seriously under 40 km / h. This is the wrong method. Do not hesitate to pass the bar of 6,000 rpm and make climb the mill to extract the substantial marrow. And the engine then displays all its dynamics, especially above 8,000 rpm to tickle the 10,000 rpm.

35 hp at 9,500 rpm

On the highway

The machine quickly takes its turns, at the switch in second at 75 km / h, then in third at 100 km / h, in fourth at 120 km / h and in fifth at 135 km / h. This is how we make the 6 climb to the switch to 150 km / h (odometer). We don’t have to worry about windward at this rate, with good stability at this speed..

On departmental

The 310 returns with pleasure on the small roads to chain turns in a bucolic way in duo and under 7,000 rpm, dynamically above 8,000 rpm in solo. Because yes, as much the custom turns into a power cruiser in solo, as the duo makes it return to a simple small custom. And then you really have to force the engine and not brake to have enough recovery and go from one turn to another. But isn’t the spirit of a custom there? for a leisurely stroll in pairs and enjoy the scenery rather than having a drink with friends ?

Easy to grip, manoeuvrable and good ground clearance

Braking

Despite a single disc at the front, the braking is up to the machine with a good feeling both front and rear. The power is soft but sufficient and the ABS does not trigger inadvertently. The rear seats the machine well and the front offers a good feeling with the necessary power without making the machine dive too much..

Single disc front ABS Bosch 9.1M

Comfort

The saddle is quite comfortable and the shock absorber effective even on cobblestones for use in town and on small roads. The passenger even benefits from a sissi-bar allowing him to rest if he does not need it to restrain himself in the face of acceleration..

Well-made and elegant saddle for the rider

On the other hand, we quickly arrive in duet compression, which significantly reduces the comfort..

Double combined spring / shock absorber arriving quickly in compression

Duo

The passenger footrests (which retract to the side and become invisible if not in use) are instead positioned forward. Result, when the pilot is stationary, he has the passenger’s feet in the calves. Obviously, once on the way, the pilot’s feet forward are no longer in contact with those of the passenger and the problem no longer arises..

Sissi-bar

Consumption

Zontes announced a consumption of 3 liters per hundred. In mixed use, the 310 consumes 4 liters per hundred on average, which allows with the 15-liter tank, to go almost tease the 400 kilometers of autonomy, even if full, the autonomy estimate displayed by the dashboard is optimistic in announcing more than 450 km. After that, it all depends on the cool driving in the last gear or above 8,000 rpm on the first gears..

15-liter tank with a minimum consumption of 4 l./100

Convenient

The key in the pocket is really practical. And the alarm that goes on automatically as soon as you move away from the machine. You just need to be able to extend the start-up time, because you barely have time to stop in front of your garage, to open it is already ringing..

On the other hand, under the saddle, there is no place.

The good idea is the anti-theft support, which will be useful for some disk units, provided you find the right one.

Revisions

After the first revision of the 1.000, the following revisions are linked every 6.000 km with mainly checks and an oil change. The spark plugs are replaced at 12,000 km and at 24,000 the air filter and brake fluid are replaced..

An endearing machine

Note that the full headlight did not work on our test machine or only when we actuated the backlight button on the stems; a priori concern only affecting our model.

Video test of the Zontes 310V

Conclusion

The Zontes 310 is a very pretty machine well finished and rewarding, endearing, ideal for a quiet use in duo but which really shows its possibilities in solo if it is whipped. It remains its price well placed especially when we take into account all the standard equipment, because "only" 700 euros more than a 125 like the Honda CB125R, but only 200 euros less than a Honda CB300R. But like many 300, we are not very far from the prices of the first 500 cm3. It is above all its look and original equipment, unmatched both for the category and even for many higher categories on the market that makes the difference. In short, we can’t wait to see Zontes arrive in the 500 cm3 A2 segment or even more.

Strong points

• look
• braking
• autonomy

Weak points

• duo

The technical sheet of the Zontes 310 V

Test conditions

• Itinerary: small varied roads + interurban highways with a bit of town
• Motorcycle mileage: 300 km

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