MotorStar MSX200-II

Styling doesn’t really matter when the bike is going to end up covered in mud. Still the bike looks serious business with its lanky profile and dimensions 2155 mm (L) x 804 mm (W) x 1194 mm (H). Everything you’d expect on a trail dirt bike is present here – from the high riding front mudguard, tiny headlamp, minimal fairing, an exhaust pointing skywards hidden under the tailpiece bodywork, flat and long seat, and long legs. The wheels are spoked and use a 21” for the front and an 18” for the rear. This makes it a good choice for people with long legs who also want to go trail riding. The tires themselves are knobbly as expected and 2.1 for the front and 4.1 for the rear. There are practical touches too, like the rear grab rails that are long and split and can be used to hang bags. MotorStar has made the bike available in two color schemes – black and white. Build quality is pretty good for a Chinese bike but it can catch some rust after some time out in the elements.

Handling and ride suffers from a few issues of its own. There is some modern Showa inverted suspension on the front as well as an adjustable monoshock for the rear. But while the front might be too hard with not a lot of travel on the front for some, the rear might prove to be too soft and too difficult to adjust for others. To get to its true off-roading potential, some better tires will also do well. The seat could also use some firmness. But an average rider will find everything quite adequate. Best of these is the seating position that serves a taller rider especially well.

Bikes in this segment need to be torquey above all else. The MotorStar MSX200-II’s 200cc air-cooled carbureted and overhead cam engine makes 11.2 kW at 7500 rpm and 15.6 Nm of torque at 6000 rpm. The engine performs admirably well for what it is and does not feel underpowered at all. At 127 kg it is a bit on the heavier side but manages to pull its weight without much fuss. The bigger issue here is with the 5-speed transmission that has become infamous for being troublesome. Finding neutral is often a chore while smooth shifting into gears takes habitual precision. These issues may or may not resolve themselves on their own after some time, but at this price and with this build quality, this is a gamble that you will have to play. The 6.5 L tank could also have been bigger with its fuel economy of around 30-32 kmpl.

The bike comes equipped with disc brakes both front and rear which give it sufficient stopping power for all purposes.

Bikes like these often end up being compared to more established Japanese rivals that cost many times more. And that is a bit unfair. The MotorStar MSX200-II is cheaper and therefore built to a price. But it delivers some very good value for money at the price. There were always going to be compromises and there are many to be made here. If you are fine with them, you are in for a huge bargain.