MotorStar Xplorer Z150

People discounting MotorStar as any of the numbers of Chinese upstarts need to be reminded that Zongshen is the largest motorcycle manufacturer in China. The bike itself was made in collaboration with Piaggio, who own Aprilia among many other two-wheeler giants. This then is no half-assed attempt at a motorcycle. And the design itself would have conveyed that message quite clearly. Unlike other Chinese designs, this is a very much original design that incorporates many European design features. The bike sports a naked look that stands unique from Japanese models. The large headlight uses LEDs to give the brightest illumination. It also uses a 3D lighting effect that eliminates glares at night. The indicators both front and rear also use LEDs and are very slim as a result. Moving back, we are faced with a curvy and muscular tank with large angular tank extensions. The seat is curvy and ergonomic that is carefully shaped to follow the contours of the bike. The rear pillion seat is stepped and provided with an adventure tourer style grab handle and a large carrying rack behind it, that somehow does not seem too out of place. The tail section otherwise carries a chiseled look that looks very modern. The exhaust is made to be practical and compact. The 17” wheels use 5 swanky Y shaped spoke alloy. They come wrapped in 90/90 front and 110/80 rear tires that give it good presence without making it look ungainly. Its dimensions at 2040 mm (L) x 755 mm (W) x 1045 mm (H) also help it in keeping its proportions in check. The instrumentation uses an analog tachometer and a blue backlit digital display for the speedometer, gear indicator, and other information. It might not be the easiest to read, but it is a premium feature to be found at this price range. The bike also features sporty engine cowl to protect it from damage on the road. There are four colors to choose from. There is one fully black option while the other three are white with red, blue or orange combinations. The non-black options come with body colored seats that might not appeal to everyone’s taste.

Zongshen has succeeded in creating a very comfortable bike with a very conventional setup. The suspension uses large hydraulic telescopic front forks while the rear comes with dual shock absorbers that are adjustable. 170 mm of ground clearance makes the bike usable on bad roads while the full sized handlebars mounted on risers give it commuter like handling and a relaxed riding posture.

Powering the MotorStar Xplorer Z150 is a 149cc air-cooled and carbureted engine mated to a5-speed transmission. There are other arguably better engines that are offered in other markets. The one we ae provided with produces 8.7 hp at 8000 rpm and 11 Nm of torque at 6000 rpm. The engine also delivers almost 50 kmpl fuel economy and never feels underpowered at any load. It is also provided with engine balancing technology that keeps it free from vibrations. Additionally, the bike comes with both an electric and a kick starter, which is slowly becoming a rarity with modern bikes.

Braking is relegated to a disc brake on the front and a drum brake for the rear.

The MotorStar Xplorer Z150 is an exceptional bike for its price. It comes with unique styling, adequate power, decent modern niceties, and an unbeatable price. If you can look at the bike’s merits while ignoring its Chinese reputation, you can have a brand new motorcycle for a fraction of what you would have spent with any other choice.