The Lexmoto XTRS

Waiting around for an V-Twin Honda Varadero for ages I decided to take a plunge for the Lexmoto XTRS 125cc KS125-24 while I wait. The Veraderro being an big V-Twin no longer in production & in demand can hold it's price high. The average life span for any 125cc no matter who the manufacturer is, is about 4 -5 years, mainly in terms of the engine life, rebuilds etc (even if you know of ones lasting much longer) & paying a high amount for a nail with the  Varadero like any 125 of a certain age is an obvious possibility. That's something I have no intention of doing, so I'll wait for a decent one.

I managed to get an 5 month old machine, virtually brand new (XTRS), which means I don't have to run it's engine in as it virtually has been. The thought of having to run the thing at 30 - 50 MPH everywhere while it was running in would've been a killjoy to any of the project mods.  It is a chinese manufactured bike & although in the past people have had trouble with such bikes, they seem to be getting their act together in much the same way the Japanese did. Of course there's better manufacturers than others in this arena too & Lexmoto appears to be one of them alongside the likes of Sinnis etc.

The XTRS itself is an update over the previous XTR model, although the two look near identical. I think mainly it's update is down to the engine, an OHC (over head cam) version of an Honda based 156 / 157fmi CG engine (a licensed adapted clone) laballed an 156 fmi 2. The previous model used a standard OHV (over head valve) version. The OHC allows for slightly more power / speed.
The engine is a 4 stroke, so 'reliability' over speed. It's rated for around 70 MPH, which to be fair is the UK speed limit any way. Of course with the project the aim will be to try & get more power & speed than that, if possible (even if I do have to carry out the speed tests on private land).

I've been assured any 156/157fmi engine can go in or be swapped out for another chassis designed to take one as they have standardized fittings. There are many different chinese licensed clones around as well as the genuine Honda ones, so it's always good to know, should I damage the engine messing around. Although there's also a comprehensive list of individual engine components available too.

So it won't be touching speeds near 100 MPH + off the bat like it's 125cc 2 stroke counterparts but, it won't be going BANG! Like them either. Trust me, I know from experience just how much of a pain & how temperamental 2 strokes can be, even if they are quicker. A bike that works is always better than one that finds itself in pieces on the garage floor every couple of months.
People talk about chinese motorcycles but I've seen certain Italian bikes engines blow & heard many more such stories from other owners elsewhere in regard to them. I've even seen the after math of two friend's Japanese blown engines too. I'm not too bothered about the bike being chinese & it's all part of the project experience. Look after your bike & you should be fine full stop. This engine should be bulletproof, unless 'I' do something to hamper it.

The XTRS has it's fair share of chinese dopplegangers, under other names knocking around also. For a start it's sold under the brand name Kaisar elsewhere & is also imported as such. SKYJET, Superbyke, Yuan, XJGAO, & Mototek are just other brand names for the identical bike. Although which ever engine version they use is for closer inspection, all the other parts are interchangeable which means getting spares & mod parts is even all the more easier online. & people that own versions of those bikes can also make use of this blog.

A SkyJet:

An quick early mod was to exchange the bulky original bulbed indicators either side of the front to small Lextek l.e.d versions, as one needed replacing anyway. It involved the removing of the side panels, securing the indicator to the fairing with the provided nut & connecting the two wires where the previous flasher was connected. No new flasher unit was needed to make them flash & the indicators work just fine as they are. I was going to replace the back ones also but wondered if they would be a bit short visibility wise, especially in the daylight? So I left the back for now. There was a small hole left where the old indicators were connected but isn't a big deal, besides I plan on vinyl wrapping the fairings later anyway & they won't be seen at all then. I also added an new set of wing mirrors, they were cheaper to get the Skyjet ones so I did. It was pointless an spending unneeded amount especially on something like that, which was the beauty of my point about parts earlier.