Technical characteristics Minsk D4 125
A good budget bike should be exactly like this! No, really. The Minsk D4 125 motorcycle is close to becoming a standard in its price category. On the one hand, we have already seen all this, and more than once - a steel frame, a simple 4-stroke air-cooled engine (10.5 hp), a 5-speed gearbox , spoked wheels, a carburetor, a chain wheel drive... Even outwardly it resembles its ancestors, produced back in the USSR. But the devil, as we know, is in the details. In the case of the Minsk D4 125, this detail was the overall quality of the motorcycle. It is really up to par, and the manufacturer is vigilantly monitoring it.
To keep the price at an affordable level, the designers decided to go the proven route and create the simplest possible bike . They achieved their goal - the Minsk D4 125 motorcycle received a drum brake at the rear and a disc brake at the front, suspensions originally from the 80s of the last century, a hard seat and an instrument panel similar to the one found on hundreds of other Chinese bikes. But there is a nuance: here it all works as it should. Most likely, this is the merit not so much of the Chinese component manufacturers, but of the employees responsible for quality control.
M1NSK D4 125: world's first test drive and other spy details
“How good it is to live in Minsk - I went to the plant and at the same time tested several prototypes...” - Dmitry Novitsky returned to the editorial office with approximately these thoughts after visiting the Motovelo enterprise.
The reason for the meeting was the visit of his Lithuanian colleague Vitoldas Milius to Minsk. Several years ago he already came to test a product of the Belarusian automobile industry, and now he became interested in Minsk motorcycles. Stepping away from the motorcycle topic, we can voice the key phrase of his current visit: “I don’t know what’s better - the fact that we “killed” all our factories in Lithuania, or the fact that you pretend that something you release them..."
The answer that Belarusians not only pretend, but also produce something worthwhile, was a meeting at Motovelo. We were received as dear guests and new models for the 2014 season were rolled out. Among them, the most important new product is the D4 125 motorcycle.
— The motorcycle competes with Chinese and Russian models, and among them it is the most powerful: for the same price the Chinese offer an 80 cc model.
Listed retail price: $1,150! This is indeed a very attractive price. In fact, for the price of a Chinese scooter you can buy a full-fledged motorcycle, moreover, a modern one, and not one developed during the Soviet era.
“This motorcycle does not replace the good old line of classic Minsk motorcycles, but complements it,” plant representatives comment.
The modernized version of the old “Minsk” will appear a little later, and it will still be very strong, durable, for forays into the forest and wild fishing. But the new car is aimed at a different audience - taking into account the fuel consumption of 2.5 l/100 km, you can say it’s for me. Last season I drove 6,300 km on a C4 250 and, based on an average consumption of 3.7 liters, saved over $400 by giving up the car. Therefore, when I saw the new model, I immediately thought about commuting to work - an excellent way to clear my head tired of the computer, save time by “flashing” traffic jams, and save fuel and money.
But most importantly, the motorcycle makes your heart happy.
“This is a very beautiful motorcycle,” says Vitoldas, carefully choosing his Russian words. — I want to buy it for myself as a reminder of my motorcycle youth...
And it’s true: cut me, saw me, but this is a very beautiful motorcycle. The harmonious design with small details like the chrome headlight rim vividly recalled my motorcycle childhood: “Voskhod-2”, “IZH Planeta-4” - oh, where are my 17 years old!
At the same time, the D4 125 cannot be called completely primitive - it has a front disc brake.
Good, clear “tidy” with a fuel level indicator in the tank.
The four-stroke engine has a displacement of 125 cc and a power of 10.5 hp. Average fuel consumption is 2.5 l/100 km. The engine is equipped with an electric starter. Maximum speed is 100 km/h. Dry weight - 100 kg.
The bike has a center stand, which is rare these days.
We conducted a short test drive on the factory premises. What can I say about the motorcycle? It drives just like it looks: simple, friendly, easy. I was pleasantly surprised by the acceleration dynamics: it was not for nothing that we were told about the high specific power - 0.105 hp. per 1 kg of mass. The motorcycle turned out to be really fast - I accelerated to 70 km/h very easily. The motor runs smoothly, without unnecessary vibrations. The brakes are informative, the deceleration is sufficient.
There is nothing more to say. It’s damp, cold, slippery, so we’ll postpone a detailed introduction until spring. But let’s record: it so happened that abw.by journalists were the first in the world to ride the new M1NSK.
They gave us a chance to try it on the TRX 300. You can read in detail how it rides from Pavel Kozlovsky. We only state that by the start of sales (March 2014), the motorcycle acquired an injector. The price hasn't changed, the TRX still costs $5,100.
But we saved the best for last: it turns out that the TRX will have a more powerful version! The factory workers have already installed a larger engine and are testing it. They let us drive the prototype too. They asked us not to write about the power, volume and brand of the engine, but I can tell you that it will be a bomb. The balance of handling, weight and power is shifted towards power - on wet, cold asphalt I was frankly afraid of sudden movements. When you sharply open the throttle, the motorcycle instantly lifts the front wheel.
And I’ll tell you that the plant definitely needs to have such a model in its range. Moreover, give it to every motorcycle journalist for testing in order to rid the brand’s image of “budgetism.” Just as Volkswagen launched the Phaeton project at one time, Minsk-Moto needs a TRX with a powerful engine. This is an interesting motorcycle. It is interesting to study it, approaching the limit of possibilities. Moreover, there is a reserve for the “running gear” - Pavel Kozlovsky wrote about this. With this engine you want to jump and misbehave.
But in winter it’s simply scary with this engine and weight, so we’ll wait until spring to ask for a powerful prototype for full testing.
With this we say goodbye to the new Minsk-Moto products, I hope until spring. Can't wait anymore! Anyone who has a two-wheeled virus in their blood, you know what I mean.
Dmitry NOVITSKY Photo by Pavel SLEPUKHIN ABW.BY
Postscript note in the margin
While walking around the motorcycle plant, a rethinking of the slogan “Belarusian Buyer” came to me. Seeing women assembling motorcycles made me want to buy a D4 125 even more. Not to take it for a test, but to buy it, because it was assembled in Minsk. Because the Spaniards buy Seat and don't ask questions. And for Belarusians, it has become a rule of good manners to scold one’s own - guys, why? Yes, M1NSK motorcycles are not BMW or Yamaha, but they are assembled by living people of the same nationality as me. And I damn well like their product, even if it's made from Chinese parts, etc. But not either, but Minsk motorcycles are produced and sold. There will be a “Direct Transmission” about this feeling a little later, because after walking along the assembly line, my attitude towards the Geely and Zotye projects also changed. But that's another story, I'll write about it later. Follow the site, which, by the way, is also “broken up by Belarus”!
Advantages and disadvantages
Advantages
- High reliability of all main components. Despite the low price of the Minsk D4 125, there are practically no reviews about problems with the gearbox, engine or other important parts.
- Light weight . The dry weight of the Minsk D4 125 is only 100 kg, and physically handling this bike is very easy.
- Capacious gas tank of 12 liters . The motorcycle has a power reserve of 300-400 kilometers, depending on riding style and operating conditions.
- High ground clearance - 21 centimeters. You can safely force obstacles like “collective farm” speed bumps made of asphalt.
- High quality paintwork . It is not so easy to scratch the varnish and paint on the Minsk D4 125, which, in general, is not very typical for budget motorcycles.
- Versatility . Thanks to its simple and even “oaky” design, the motorcycle is extremely durable, and it can handle even bad roads, especially if you install suitable tires on it.
Flaws
- Weak pendants . Under an overweight rider, the bike immediately sags noticeably.
- Insufficiently informative and effective rear brake . The situation is partially saved by the very precise operation of the front brakes.
- Vibrations at high speeds . They are strong enough to be annoying at times.
Advantages and disadvantages of a motorcycle
Minsk S4 125, like any other type of equipment, has both advantages and disadvantages, which are better to know in advance - even before purchasing the equipment. Otherwise, driving a motorcycle will cause exclusively negative emotions, and traveling on business or to work will be torment.
The advantages of the model include:
- Low fuel consumption with a large gas tank.
- Small dimensions and weight.
- Unpretentiousness (works smoothly at temperatures from -10 to +45).
The disadvantages of the motorcycle are:
- Inconvenient location of the engine start button.
- Unreliable fastenings.
- Small mirrors that do not provide a good view.
- Small fairing.
- An inappropriate set of tools that comes with the equipment itself.
Reviews from owners Minsk D4 125
A good Chinese pepelats, the quality is really higher than that of a bunch of others. When I picked it up from the showroom, I checked everything myself (I had a negative experience with a Chinese 50cc scooter) - but it doesn’t matter, all the nuts are tightened, there is normal oil in the engine, the wires are insulated and neatly laid where necessary, there are no snot hanging around. I didn't even expect it. Igor, Brest, Minsk D4 125 '2018.
The motor reaches the declared maximum speed of 100 mph, but reluctantly, the Ybr 125 leaves it both at the start and then, but the difference is not critical. The shock absorbers are weak, I put stiffer springs in the fork, took them from Aliexpress - it helped. There are no breakdowns, the clutch burned out after 5k km, replaced it, a new one cost a penny to assemble, along with the discs, basket and spring. If you wish, you can disassemble and reassemble it on your knees in an open field. Vladlen, Tver, Minsk D4 125 '2017.
An every-day moto, he doesn’t do any brainwork, he drives everything that burns. I took it used, slightly attached to both sides, but it was cheap, the iron was not damaged. Now the odometer is almost 22 thousand, the mileage is increasing every day, the most serious problem of all time is the rear shock absorber is leaking. Ilya, Vyborg, Minsk D4 '2016.
Similar models
- Yamaha 125. Japanese, assembled in China, incredibly popular in many countries. Reliable, unpretentious and tenacious. Compared to the Minsk D4, it has only one drawback - a higher price.
- Irbis GS 150. Inexpensive and popular Russian-Chinese small-capacity aircraft, which deservedly enjoys a good reputation.
- Racer Triumph RC150 . Another “Chinese”, not particularly remarkable, but, according to reviews, quite good.
Total
took the right path, using the name of a well-known brand and being seriously concerned about quality control. Despite its Chinese origin, the Minsk D4 125 motorcycle is really reliable in operation, and with proper care there are no problems with it. It is also not difficult to find spare parts and consumables for it, since the manufacturer actively supports all produced motorcycles. So if you are looking for your first motorcycle, budget and simple in design, the Minsk D4 125 is worth taking a closer look at. This is not to say that it is better than all other 125 cc competitors, but it is better than many, that’s for sure, and reviews about it are mostly positive.
Small and smart
Compared to modern bikes with 500 cc engines. see and more, a device with a 125 cc engine. see doesn't look too impressive. Many people perceive it as a large moped. After all, the maximum speed does not even reach one hundred kilometers per hour. And yet the Minsk 125 motorcycle is popular. There are several reasons for this:
- For novice two-wheeled enthusiasts, the lightweight and easy-to-use machine allows them to master the basics of control before moving on to more powerful bikes.
- A reliable and easy-to-maintain model becomes a solution to the transport problem in rural areas where qualified technical service is not available.
- The engine, which is undemanding in terms of gasoline quality and provides low fuel consumption, is reliable and has a good service life.
Thanks to these qualities, the model may not have become a sales leader, but remains in demand.
Video Review
Specifications
| Maximum engine power: | 10.5 hp at 8000 rpm HP |
| Working volume: | 125 cm3 |
| Motor type (cylinder arrangement, number of strokes): | 1-cylinder, 4-stroke, vertical |
| Number of cylinders: | 1 |
| Number of valves: | |
| Intake type (Injector / Carburetor): | |
| Bore and stroke: | |
| Starting system (Electric starter, kick starter): | |
| Maximum speed in km/h: | 100 km/h |
| Cooling system: | Air cooling |
| Transmission (gearbox): | Mechanical, 5-speed |
| Clutch (Dry / Wet): | |
| Drive unit: | Chain |
| Frame: | Steel |
| Chassis | |
| Suspension (front/rear travel): | |
| Brakes (Front/Rear): | |
| Wheels / Tires / Rubber: | |
| Dimensions and weight | |
| Dimensions (Length / Width): | |
| Seat height: | |
| Ground clearance: | |
| Curb weight: | |
| Weight: | 100 kg |
| Fuel tank capacity: | 12 l. |
| Battery capacity: | |
| Year of release: | |
| Country of Origin: |
