Pitbike
The role of a pit bike today is Sachs MadAss 125 RE, in which a pit bike engine with a horizontal cylinder and a four-speed gearbox is installed in an original frame welded from two thick steel pipes. Moreover, the top tube also doubles as a five-liter gas tank, providing a range of more than 150 km.
Why not an ordinary pit bike, the sales volumes of which in Russia are several times, if not an order of magnitude, higher than the sales volumes of motorcycles? It's all about the documents. We wanted all three test participants to be legal on public roads, so that they could be registered without problems and would not make them tremble in fear at the sight of traffic police officers.
The German company Sachs Motorcycles first showed the unusual MadAss (“Wild Ass”) motorcycle in 2004. Production was established in China, which did not have the best effect on the quality of the products. “Sax”, like all Chinese pit bikes, has for many years now been characterized by childhood illnesses associated with the poor quality of components and materials. The test bike had some gremlins in the electrical wiring, the rear monoshock was snotty and the chain tensioner locknuts kept coming loose, causing the chain to sag.
But, despite these annoying little things, Madass itself is a very interesting format of urban transport. It confidently drives 100 km/h on a horizontal surface, steers very sharply and accurately, allows you to jump over speed bumps without slowing down, and drive on/off high curbs. It's fun and easy to ride.
The RE (Race Edition) version we tested differs from the regular MadAss in having a blue-annealed stainless steel muffler located “under the tail” and the presence of a large oil cooler, which eliminates the problem of overheating even when driving slowly in hot weather in traffic jams. Everything else is exactly the same, but the trunks and additional headlights are tuning.
The 120 cc engine traces its origins to the Honda Cub engine, which produced millions of copies and is the most popular engine in the world. It is as simple as a manual meat grinder, its technologies have been honed over six decades of production and there are no unnecessary or controversial details. Even in the Chinese version, it is ideal - it works confidently and without interruptions, starts quickly and easily, and produces good power for its volume. One of the minuses is the lack of balancer shafts, which causes vibrations that annoy the driver's footpegs.
There are not enough four gears in the box - you are constantly trying to stick in a non-existent fifth. Even replacing the front sprocket with +1 tooth did not help - the engine still “spins” in top gear, especially when driving downhill with a tailwind. This chassis is capable of coping with more powerful engines - it has enough frame rigidity and brakes to spare, so it seems that the engine power is not enough.
The installation of additional luggage racks and frames under the side bags, if it did not make the MadAss a “tourist”, did greatly simplify the transportation of luggage. A regular motorcycle net can be used to secure luggage both in front of the seat and to the trunk. If desired, you can firmly attach a trunk to the trunk, into which you can stow your raincoat, helmet and gloves when parked.
From the experience of riding over distances of “half a city,” I can say that such a “scratcher” in traffic does not seem slow at all and can compete with fast and powerful motorcycles, especially in dense traffic, where its agility will compensate for the lack of engine power.
Alex Motors 1136 units sold. You can trust us!
Sachs Bikes
The company's history begins on April 5, 1886, when Carl Marschütz founded the Hercules-Werken bicycle factory. At the time of its founding, the company produced bicycles and consisted of eight employees. Within eight years, the number of its employees had grown to 170 people.
Since 1903, the company has also produced motorcycles with purchased engines of various cubic capacities. Since the late 30s, the company has been closely associated with the industrial concern Fichtel - Sachs.
The German company SACHS Fahrzeug und Motorentechnik GmbH (SFM GmbH) is one of the leading manufacturers of high-quality and stylish motorcycles and scooters. The modern production program includes motorbikes, electric bicycles, scooters, mopeds, road motorcycles and ATVs. Today, the production facilities of SACHS BIKES are located in Guangzhou (China), which has significantly reduced the cost of products. SACHS BIKES, as the oldest brand producing two-wheeled equipment in the world, has its own difference - all equipment produced by the company is designed for consumers of different ages.
Sachs' most famous product is the extravagant MadAss moped, which can be translated in different ways. (For example, “crazy ass” or “mad ass”).
What is Sachs MadAss?
This is a motorcycle developed by German engineers, with a unique minimalist design that combines the aggressive style of a streetfighter with the functions of a simple and classic enduro, while it is designed to carry a driver and a passenger. You can call it a small motorcycle or a large manual moped.
The innovative design of the MadAss motorcycle in high-tech style has already earned the recognition of designers and always attracts the attention of viewers. The MadAss design with a tank in a frame was borrowed from a distant relative from back in 1939, the model was called Presto Saxonette. 70 years later we get a new modern design, which, as then, causes delight.
The MadAss motorcycle is equipped with a four-stroke engine with a horizontal cylinder arrangement (analogous to the legendary Honda Cub), with an interlocked four-speed gearbox, reliable front and rear hydraulic disc brakes, two powerful lens headlights, rear suspension with a monoshock absorber, the most powerful front fork in its class and 3-wheel drive. beam alloy wheels. On the MadAss 125, with a bike weighing 100 (99.80) kg on a stock 120cc air-cooled engine, you can accelerate to 105 km/h, and on one 5.5-liter tank. You can travel up to 200 km.
Due to its size and the presence of a 50cc engine in the range, the MadAss is often mistaken for a moped, there is nothing wrong with that, but it is not entirely fair to call it that, the MadAss is a motorcycle in its purest form! With the cool MadAss design, exhaust sound and motorcycle-like ride feel, it's not hard to imagine that every ride on it will delight not only you, but also the passers-by around you.
Beginners on MadAss will get that feeling of confidence they miss on other bikes, while bikers with years of experience will live up to their expectations and have a lot of fun.
Scooter
For scooters, we have a single-cylinder “125” from the Taiwanese company SYM, which has established itself as an absolutely problem-free mid-ranger with an unmemorable design. The installation of slanted headlights, a large rear light and a trunk in the form of a wing made its exterior not so archaic, but the characteristic features of Japanese vehicles of the late twentieth century are visible to the naked eye.
The main thing in this scooter is functionality. It determines both the layout and appearance. In order to obtain a volume “in the toilet” suitable for placing a motorcycle helmet, the rear wheel was set to 12”, and in order for the feet to fit on a flat floor, a 13” wheel was placed in front. Small wheels are not able to provide a sufficiently smooth ride, which affected the scooter’s weak off-road capabilities. On the dirt road he shakes noticeably, and his belly also regularly touches the terrain.
The cleverly shaped headlight, which appears to be double, houses a single dual-filament halogen bulb to provide plenty of light. But when turned off, the headlight looks more solid, and when turned on, it looks rustic in the rear-view mirrors. The turn signals built into the plastic are clearly visible. The standard horn with its cracked falsetto can only make the surrounding drivers laugh, which is also not bad - it reduces the level of aggression on the road.
Being able to tuck your knees and hide behind the plastic shield will help a lot when riding in bad weather and cold. There is a real chance to arrive practically dry, only if you are not hit from a puddle on the side when overtaking, but they can. The scooter travels 90 km/h and can accelerate to 100 km/h only under a fortunate combination of circumstances. Power losses in the variator and centrifugal clutch give it both cruising and top speeds lower than both opponents.
But if we lose in something, we must gain in something. And the variator gives an advantage in the smoothness of speed acquisition. It's tuned to perfection and performs beautifully, delivering smooth but assertive acceleration from all speeds and revs - no jerking or hesitation when shifting into the next gear.
The SYM Jet4 125 has the narrowest handlebar - only 675 mm wide, which allows it to fit into gaps in traffic that the driver of the Goldwing would not even pay attention to. The main thing is not to forget to fold the rear-view mirrors in advance so that they do not scratch on the cars, and to be more confident in turning the throttle. There are enough brakes, so try to leave yourself a small margin in length to the car in front, or be ready at any time to go into the gap when braking. To be honest, the front brake disc with a diameter of 40–50 millimeters larger than it costs, would fit perfectly inside the wheel; it’s strange that they took a disc with a diameter of only 226 mm.
The underseat luggage compartment is well protected from splashes and moisture and is an ideal place to transport things. Because of its presence, the scooter can be forgiven for its tightness and lack of alternative driving position, as well as not the most outstanding dynamic performance. But it is in the “sit on and go” category that the scooter of all three is the most practical and convenient for short daily trips on business.
Motorbike
The Yamaha YBR-125 has been with us for 13 years, and during this time it has remained virtually unchanged. To make a man, God made labor and a monkey, but he did not touch “Yubier” - he immediately came out well. Yes, it looks archaic, yes, the design is from the mid-twentieth century, yes, among the latest technologies it only has electronic ignition. But this cocktail rustles smoothly and quietly, the narrow wheels roll confidently along the asphalt, and the ancient single-piston front brake provides adequate engine power deceleration.
The 13-liter gas tank not only serves as the basis for a magnetic bag, but also provides a power reserve comparable to the BMW GS Adventure, and this “125” can be used to travel to the abandoned corners of our planet. The unpretentious two-valve engine perfectly digests gasoline of any quality, so you shouldn’t expect any difficulties with refueling from plastic bottles on the side of the road. Just don’t forget to monitor the oil level - if you constantly work close to the red zone of the tachometer, it may be consumed a little.
The standard trunk just begs to be installed on top of the plastic trunk. And you can throw side bags over the seat, which will rest on the shock absorbers and will not get into the wheel. The front fairing with a square headlight, borrowed from the old Majesta, slightly diverts the headwind from the chest and arms, in theory increasing the level of comfort when driving in cold and bad weather, but with a maximum speed of 106 km/h (according to GPS), talk about its aerodynamic qualities are meaningless. It just exists and helps the model become recognizable. A regular round headlight would be just as effective.
Narrow wheels measuring 2.75–18 (in metric this is approximately 70/100–18) and 90/90–18 provide the YBR125 with very precise handling. No wonder this motorcycle is so loved by motorcycle schools for its flexibility. When protective arcs are installed on it, it becomes practically indestructible, enduring for many years the mockery of students and the daring of instructors when demonstrating “this is how it should be done.” It is also almost impossible for him to overheat the engine.
“Yobyr” has a full-fledged double seat – wide and long. And the passenger pegs are large, strong and well positioned, so this is a proper two-seater. In the absence of a passenger, the driver can move back and forth on the seat, or can put his feet on the passenger footrests - this will help him get less tired on a long journey.
Comparison
It is very difficult to compare a jar of foie gras pate and two kilograms of pork neck. It’s like both are food, but one can be enjoyed by one, and the other can feed a company of six people. For our test participants, the comparison approach cannot be linear either.
MadAss, like any pit bike, will most likely be bought as a toy, to perform feats and shock the public. Such a motorcycle is unlikely to be the only one in the garage; it is good precisely as a small-range urban addition to a touring motorcycle that you are too lazy to ride into the city. It is not very convenient in terms of ergonomics, but if you need to drive 30–50 kilometers, then you don’t concentrate on this. Here, much more important will be its sharp steering, good brakes and the brazen sound of a direct-flow muffler with sporty cross-country notes in the soundtrack.
A scooter is a purchase with your mind, not your feelings. It will be chosen for its practicality: weather protection, quick start, ease of control, CVT, short wheelbase and small overall width. Let it be “20 minutes of shame, and you’re at work,” but it’s really 20 minutes at any Yandex traffic jam score, and there’s always a raincoat under the seat to ensure you arrive dry and clean, even if the weather changes. And the scooter is less demanding when it comes to equipment - you don’t have to wear boots, motocrossers will suffice.
The Yamaha YBR125 is a motorcycle, it will be purchased as a motorcycle, and not as a toy, and after receiving a full “A” category, it will most likely be sold or counted as a trade-in when exchanging for something faster and more modern. This is a completely different approach. “Yobyr” is not bought for love; the reason for its purchase will always be circumstances: lack of money, lack of category “A”, the desire to sell it in a year without losing much in value. And as soon as circumstances change, the Yamaha leaves the garage. But the scooter and pit bike may well remain as a logical addition to the newly purchased new motorcycle.
If you're looking for a fun toy, MadAss is a very interesting option. It has all the hallmarks of a pit bike: anger, sound, good brakes, cross-country ability and light weight, but in addition to this, it can be legally used on public roads. If you just need a means of transport for traveling to school/work, then a scooter will have no equal. And a backpack with textbooks and notebooks, placed “in the toilet,” will always remain clean and dry. But if you need a universal means of transport that can take you around the city, to the country, or to the sea with a girl, then a motorcycle will have no competitors.
Young people, do not delay studying and obtaining a category “A” license until the age of 18. There are many interesting motorcycles and scooters that you can ride from the age of 16 with category “A1”. There is no need to be snobby, declaring “anything less than a liter is not a motorcycle!” It's not like that at all. It doesn’t matter what you drive, the main thing is how!
The Sachs motorcycle was provided for testing by Technoservice Distribution, tel., www.madass.ru The SYM scooter was provided for testing, tel. (499) 922-43-34, www.velocityk.ru Yamaha motorcycle was provided for testing by Yamaha Motor CIS, www.yamaha-motor.ru
I want to tell you about my first bike, Sach Madass, how I brought it from Kirov, a little about the equipment and my impressions of the results of the first bike summer. If interested, read on. I have liked motorcycles for a long time, but only last year in 2011 I finally decided to get on a motorcycle. It all started when I saw on one of the coupon sites a coupon for training in category A at a driving school for a very small amount. Now most of the emotions have cooled down, but the impression of the driving school is clearly negative. They don’t care about clients, and doubly care about those who rent their license using a coupon. As a result, even though I spent three times more money and time than I initially expected, I completed training at a driving school, rode a YBR125 and even learned to drive a little. But I didn’t manage to pass my license, although I passed the internal exam, the driving school delayed passing the traffic police test until late autumn, and then the season ended and they offered to take everything next year. The Moscow registration, made specifically for passing exams at the traffic police, was successfully completed for me and so I decided that I would do this some other time. In addition, I was left with the impression that in those few hours that I rode at the driving school, it was simply impossible to fully learn to ride a motorcycle and in order to be able to ride, you need your own motorcycle. And to ride a motorcycle, you need a license. It turns out to be some kind of vicious circle. The way out of this situation is to buy something with two wheels and not requiring a license. I didn’t want to take a scooter, since its seating position is very different from a motorcycle, and in the future I want to ride a motorcycle. And then I remembered a moped that I once saw on the street and which at first glance I really liked with its design - Sachs Madass. In the spring of this year, the decision that I wanted this particular bike was made and I began to look at options and save money. In June the situation was like this - new ones from the dealer were quite expensive, 75 thousand. There were no interesting options in Moscow. But there was an inexpensive option in Kirov, in good condition and almost half the price of a new one. Thinking, “why not?”, I began to search the Internet for information about options for delivering a moped from another city. It turned out that doing this in the baggage car of a train is not so difficult and expensive. Having called the ad, I found out all the necessary information and agreed to come the following weekend. In the meantime, they sent me photos of the moped. I came and looked, the moped was not in the best condition, but it rode quite cheerfully. The donkey was clearly used for stunting, as evidenced by the large passenger footrests and the same support on the front wheel. The battery was dead, so the starter did not turn, and one headlight did not light up either. There were no front or rear turn signals. Also, the remote controls on the steering wheel were damaged when dropped, the button for flashing the headlights was torn out by the roots, and some wires were taped together with electrical tape. The owner said that he was scared and uncomfortable to ride on it, he was more used to a scooter and he was selling it to buy a scooter for 150 cubes. After haggling a little, I finally decided to take it, since there were no other acceptable options within reach. At that time, the only equipment I had was a Marushin 778 helmet with a white tiger, taken back in the winter in Promoto. Driving along Kirov to the railway station was unusual and a little scary, I navigated using Yandex maps, stopping periodically. I arrived at the station and began to find out how to deliver Donkey to Moscow. The luggage department employees offered to come the day after tomorrow, like they don’t have bosses here, they themselves don’t know anything, and so on. After explaining the situation that I wanted to go today with my bike and that I wasn’t going to wait here from Saturday until Monday, they found an option to send Donkey on the Abakan-Moscow night train, which I also took. They didn’t have boards for sheathing the bike; I had to buy it myself at the nearest store. According to transportation rules, gasoline must be drained and gasoline vapors removed from the tank. I poured the gasoline into a canister, but as for the vapors, no one actually checks this. Transporting a bike costs about the same as a reserved seat ticket, and in general it’s inexpensive. I got there safely by train, and I rode Donkey from Komsomolsky station to my house in Perovo, carefully making my way through the streets where there was less traffic. Having looked at the condition of the bike, I realized that I definitely couldn’t do everything myself, I needed to take it to a service center to get the moped in order. I just changed the battery myself. After reading reviews about the services, I carefully took it to Profmoto on Elektrozavodskaya. There they replaced the brake pads, put the electrical system in order, installed turn signals, replaced a burnt-out xenon unit on one of the headlights, pumped the brakes, rebuilt the front fork, and put in place some part dangling from below. After that, I was sure that the Donkey under me would not suddenly fall apart. You will also need to replace the damaged remote controls; apparently, you won’t be able to find them any closer than in England. In the meantime, I needed normal equipment. After looking at the options, I went to the same Promoto. I took a bright yellow-green Rev'it jacket, Kenny gloves with carbon pads, a silk balaclava, and Motto motorcycle jeans. None of the motorcycle boots fit there, then I bought TCX high touring boots from Moto.ru. I didn’t check the equipment during the falls, but if you are interested in general impressions and photos, I can write a separate post. In general, I have a lot of impressions this summer and, fortunately, all of them are good. I got used to the Donkey quite quickly, driving it around the city is a pleasure - I can get through traffic jams without any problems, the speed is quite enough for driving around the city. The skills I learned at the motorcycle school came in handy. Out of curiosity, I also went to the “long distance” - 300 kilometers to my native Ivanovo. For such a device, I think this is the limit of a comfortable range. Both the 5-liter tank and the seat are not suitable for long trips. Among the advantages of this model, I can note an interesting design, which people often pay attention to, disc brakes on both wheels, two xenon headlights, low fuel consumption - 3 liters per hundred square meters, an adequate price. The engine in it is super-Cab, famous and reliable. In general, an ideal device for the first acquaintance with the two-wheeled world. I don’t see any obvious shortcomings in it; the small tank and the seat, which is not very comfortable for long trips, are simply a consequence of belonging to the class of small-capacity motorcycles. The only thing is that it’s difficult to look for specific spare parts. When I called the official dealer and asked if they were ready to do repairs, it turned out that they sell these bikes, but they don’t repair them and they don’t have spare parts for them.
I hope my story was interesting. If you have any questions about the moped or equipment, I will be happy to answer them.
I also have a few questions, I hope more experienced comrades can help me: 1. For the next season I want a more powerful bike, I like the Suzuki XF650 Freewind, but I will definitely need a license for it. I have in my hands all the documents on completing training for category A, but I don’t have Moscow registration. In Ivanovo, the traffic police don’t have motorcycles. To hand them over, you need to negotiate with the driving school, they hand them over a couple of times a season. Maybe there is some opportunity to pass a license in Moscow without temporary registration, or to get an official temporary registration in Moscow for not too much money? 2. It would be interesting to ride and chat with the inhabitants of the bike post living near Perovo, otherwise riding alone is not so interesting. If there is anyone nearby, send me a private message.
Donkey in Kirov, ready for loading
Donkey in Moscow, near the house
