MotorStar MSX 150X

First off, a prospective buyer needs to remember that what they are looking at cannot really compare to something Japanese and twice as expensive. That goes not just for the build quality but even for styling. And seen in isolation, this motorcycle does stand out on its own. The styling does evoke something from a few decades ago, but that shouldn’t really be an issue. The important stuff is all here. This includes a stubby headlight, high front mudguard, thin seat, tall suspension, thin knobbly tires on spoked wheels, plastic handguards and an exhaust that is shrouded by the tail section. The 19” front wheel is larger than the rear at 16”. There is a lot of ground clearance but somehow the seat is not very high. The tires are worryingly thin at 70/100 for the front and 90/100 for the rear. It is not particularly beautiful. The build quality is also not the best – so much so that you may end up with a motorcycle with a misaligned bodywork. But for the most part, the build quality holds up to its expected use. The instrument display uses a big speedometer dial which means that it misses out on a fuel gauge. There is just a fuel light that needs to be paid attention due to the small size of its fuel tank. The bike is otherwise compact at 1970 mm (L) x 820 mm (W) x 1070 mm (H). There are three color options on offer – black, red and blue.

The suspension on the MotorStar MSX 150X is really well suited for its role. The bike itself weighs just around 100 kg which makes it very easy to throw around. And the suspension just keeps up. There is a telescopic setup in the front and a monoshock in the rear.  The tires are thin but they manage for the most part. But a slightly wider profile would serve well in wet conditions. There is a good amount of ground clearance and the seat height is not intimidating for new riders. Of course, the thin seat is not the best suited for long rides, but on shorter jaunts, it poses no problem. Even for a pillion rider.

Powering the MotorStar MSX150X is a 150cc air-cooled and carbureted engine that produces an unknown amount of power as it cannot be found in the company’s literature. Assuming from other motorcycles in MotorStar’s catalog, we can expect it to be around 8 hp and 10 Nm of torque. The power is adequate for most purposes. And can take the bike to speeds of over 90 kmph. The same cannot be said of the 5-speed transmission. Users have reported issues with finding the neutral that takes a lot of getting used to. The engine itself delivers a lot of low down grunt that suits the nature of the bike. The fuel tank holds around 6 L of fuel which with no fuel gauge does sound worrying.

The bike comes with disc brakes both front and rear.

Despite the dodgy transmission, poor build quality and slippery tires, the MotorStar MSX 150X makes a case for itself thanks to its low price, simple nature and approachability. And sometimes that is all you need.