MotorStar Magnum 250

It is easy to see that the MotorStar Magnum 250 is meant to be a naked streetfighter. Apart from the huge tank extensions on the bulging fuel tank, there is scant bodywork to speak of. The tank extensions also incorporate large squared off turning indicators that help the bike keep a compact stance. They also extend lower towards the engine and act as shrouds for the oil cooler. The headlight takes the butch appeal further with its robotic appearance. The rider gets a deep and curvaceous seat that ends in a rather sporty split grab handle for the pillion rider. Other sporty touches include the exhaust with a narrow cross-section and a sporty engine cowl. Large 17” 5 spoke alloy wheels add to its presence with wide and sporty 110/70 front and 130/70 rear tires. The Magnum manages to keep compact dimensions with a length of 2050 mm, a width of 760 mm and height of 1073 mm. The bike rides high above the ground with a ground clearance of 170 mm. There are two colors on offer here – white with red accents and black with white accents. Instrumentation uses an analog tachometer alongside a digital display for speedometer and other information. On the whole, the bike does stand out with its own identity and manages to not look too much like the copy of other bikes, as is normally the case with Chinese bikes.

The MotorStar Magnum 250 comes with a 223cc oil-cooled engine that produces 16 hp and 17 Nm of torque. This gives it a claimed top speed of 110 kmph. The fuel tank has a capacity of 16L and the engine can manage up to 45 kmpl of fuel economy.  The power developed from the engine is a bit disappointing for the engine capacity and it is not the most refined engine either. Its competitors do have it beat in this department.

MotorStar has given the Magnum 250, disc brakes for both the front and the rear to keep up with its performance.

Undeniably there is a lot on offer here. Jialing, and by extension MotorStar seem to have a good product on their hands. The MotorStar Magnum 250 packs in some very aggressive styling, a decent engine and some modern equipment for a price that you would normally pay for something with a much smaller engine. But price is not everything. A little known, Chinese brand at a very low price raises serious doubts about the build quality of the product. Parts availability and service is also very unpredictable. So the MotorStar Magnum 250 might only be reserved for people really desperate for a low-cost motorcycle that looks good. It will still take some time for bikes from Chinese manufacturers to get to the level of their modern competition.