Universal fighter: motorcycle Stels Desna 220 Phantom

RU-MOTO rating

• Reliability
• Chassis
• Appearance
• Comfort

3.5

Verdict

Concluding the review of the Stels Desna 220 Phantom, we conclude that this is a budget SUV that can easily overcome:

— broken off-road outback; — freshly fallen snow (15-20 cm) when going on winter fishing; — sand dunes of quarries and mud of the autumn forest; — city curbs, when overcoming terrible traffic jams; — steep stairs, if the driver is interested in extreme sports.

Stealth Desna 220 Phantom is a godsend for lovers of adventure, drive and conquering the natural features of the terrain. It meets the needs of summer residents, hunters and fishermen.

So that once again you do not have to repair the old IZH-49, I proposed a solution to the problem. At the end of 2013, the Desna brand was revived, previously the name given to bicycles produced in the Soviet Union for motorbikes. And there they located the Velomotors production site, from whose assembly lines ATVs, motorcycles and snowmobiles roll off. The brand’s line is budget motorcycles (reliability and comfort are another matter).

Other motorcycles from the manufacturer: Stels Enduro 250 , Delta 200 and Flame 200

Stels Desna Phantom. Profile photo.

Specifications

Maximum speed is 130 km/h, fuel consumption depending on driving style is from 3.2 liters to 3.7 liters.

• the new motorcycle was equipped with a four-stroke engine with air-oil radiators that prevent overheating in severe off-road conditions and a volume of 4 cubic meters. cm;
• engine power - 16 liters. With.;
• forced ignition - contactless with electronic control system (CDI);
• engine starting – electric starter;
• fuel tank volume 11 liters;
• manual transmission;
• wheels: front 130/80-18, rear 180/80-14;
• brake: front – hydraulic disc, rear – drum;
• Dimensions: length – 2072 mm, width – 836 mm, height -1155 mm.

Can handle any road!

The main advantage of the Stels Desna 220 Phantom motorcycle is its versatility and endurance. It has enough power and torque for a comfortable ride (16.3 hp and 16.6 Nm, respectively), and the simple but energy-intensive suspension absorbs road bumps perfectly. The bike weighs, however, a lot (dry weight is about 150 kg), and the seating position on it is quite high, so you shouldn’t ride it on serious off-road conditions - you can easily fall. But on dirt roads, the Stealth Desna Phantom 220 drives quite confidently - the standard tires literally bite into the ground. This motorcycle should not be confused with a full-fledged enduro, of course, but for everyday driving around the area it is perfect.

From the photo of the Phantom 220 Desna it is clear that the seat on this bike requires the driver to have fairly long legs, otherwise it will not be easy to reach the ground. Of course, this will not hurt an experienced biker, but a novice motorcyclist may at some point fall on his side without finding support with his foot, so this circumstance should also be taken into account when choosing a bike. The passenger seat is a bit cramped, and besides, the second number will inevitably slide towards the driver, displacing him onto the gas tank. The seat is quite hard, but comfortable. It partially covers the gas tank, which reduces the chance of hitting your groin on it on some treacherous bump.

Otherwise, the technical characteristics of the motorcycle correspond to its price. Average but tolerable dynamics, rather sluggish brakes (all due to the drum brake mechanism on the rear wheel), chain drive, reliable carburetor, noisy but no less reliable transmission - that’s probably all. You don’t have to expect any speed records or amazing abilities to conquer unexplored frontiers from this motorcycle - the good thing about it is that it is equally well suited for all purposes at once. And there are few such multi-purpose bikes being produced now, so the Stealth Desna 220 Phantom is a motorcycle that is a pleasant exception to this trend. It's too specific to become very popular, but that certainly doesn't make it any worse.

Tuning

The motorcycle looks brutal in a “combat” camouflage livery with “evil” tires and a frame made of tubular luggage racks and protective arches surrounding it on different sides. The trunk above the headlight and the brackets above the rear turn signals look reliable, seemingly capable of supporting the weight of a person. A suitable option for hunters and fishermen.

“Civilian” versions, which are suitable for driving in traffic jams, are shod with less aggressive tires.

Tuning Stels Desna 220

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Advantages and benefits

• Versatility. This sets the Desna 220 Phantom motorcycle apart from other inexpensive Chinese bikes. Moreover, it has practically no competitors in this niche, especially those comparable in price.
• Availability. This model is inexpensive. In terms of maintenance, the bike also doesn’t put a lot of pressure on the owner’s pocket - all consumables and spare parts are usually available at dealers, and their prices are reasonable.
• Simplicity of design. In this model, everything is done for the sake of reliability. You can repair and service the bike yourself in your garage, armed with a standard suitcase with tools, purchased at the nearest Auto Parts store for 2-3 thousand rubles. In addition, this will be a good experience for a beginner - being able to understand the design of a motorcycle has never hurt anyone.
• Energy-intensive pendants. Despite the lack of adjustments, they cope well with bad roads. Of course, this does not turn the Stels Desna 220 Phantom into an enduro, but this bike is not afraid of broken asphalt and primers.

Comparison with competitors by class and price

The Stels Desna 220 Phantom is inferior in reliability and performance to its Yamaha counterparts, but is superior in price. Compared to the Racer Forester, the cost is the same, but Desna was equipped with LED turn signals, in the absence of a fuel sensor.

Racer Forester. Profile photo

Yamaha TW200. Dynamic photo

Hello from the past

Externally, the Desna 220 Phantom motorcycle is very similar to the well-known ZiD 200 “Owl”, perhaps slightly modernized. However, the general outline immediately reveals the habitat for which the Chinese bike was created. Decent ground clearance, large radius wheels, a moderately aggressive tread of standard tires, a pre-installed trunk - all this tells us that the Stealth Desna Phantom 220 is a motorcycle that was created not so much for city streets as for dirt roads and graders. The only more modern design element is the angular headlight instead of the standard round one, but otherwise this bike really looks like a guest from the 90s of the last century. But does anyone say that this is bad? Before us is not a city dandy, but a hardy worker who will equally confidently push through traffic jams and make his way along a forest path.

There are few dual-purpose motorcycles produced these days, as they are not popular. One of the few small-capacity representatives of this class is the Suzuki VanVan, but it is unreasonably expensive, so the Stealth Desna 220 Phantom can be an excellent alternative to it - it is inexpensive, and copes with its tasks no worse. This motorcycle is as simple as three rubles, and even the auto mechanic Uncle Vanya from the neighboring garage cooperative can immediately understand its structure. This is one of the main advantages of the bike - it is reliable and as simple as possible, which is what is required from equipment that is often operated in rather harsh conditions.

Advantages and disadvantages

pros

• Off-road tires give the motorcycle an advantage on off-road terrain. This is a suitable option for rural, rugged terrain.
• Availability of PTS (technical device passport).
• Sturdy, reliable frame.
• Even with a large driver, it can easily accommodate a passenger.
• Affordable price.

Minuses

• The original nuts and bolts are unreliable; you constantly have to tighten and tighten them. It is better to immediately replace it with locking or spring washers, which were specially designed to prevent the nut from self-unscrewing.
• No kick starter.
• Body painting requires regular updating.
• ABC plastic, which cannot be glued independently.

In the video below you will learn more about the disadvantages of this motorcycle:

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Reviews from real owners

I took a motorcycle to the village to go fishing and pick mushrooms. I went through the run-in carefully, and for the first thousand kilometers I hardly gave it any gas. After the first oil change, some metal shavings came out of the crankcase along with the oil. The wiring was hanging in snot, so I had to remove it myself. Otherwise it’s fine, it eats any gasoline, and it runs confidently on wet dirt roads. I didn’t add any tuning, except for the trunk case. Yuri, Ivanovo, Stealth Desna 220 Phantom '2016.

For a long time I couldn’t decide whether to take Desna or Racer, but since in my city there is less asphalt than holes, the choice fell on Desna. I read the reviews of the owners - people praise the survivability. So far I’ve only driven a couple of thousand km, our season is short, but the impressions are normal. I thought it would be worse, but it seems the Chinese have finally learned how to make motorcycles. Vlad, Kandalaksha, Stels Desna 220 Phantom '2017.

I looked at the Desna 220 Phantom bike review on the tube and became interested. The price of a new one is steep for me, but I found it second hand with a mileage of 3 thousand km, generally only after running it in. I took it for 80 thousand rubles, changed the oil (another 2 thousand rubles), nothing more needs to be done for now. There are no problems, it drives fine on wet ground. I can barely reach the ground with my feet, but I’ve already gotten the hang of it)) Victor, Krasnogorsk, Stealth Desna 220 Phantom '2016

And so not so long ago, the domestic manufacturer of motorcycles, quads, mopeds and scooters Stels decided to revive the domestic Desna brand. Reincarnation occurred in motorcycles. I purchased one of the newly-made motorcycles. And so Desna 220 phantom

Initially, I wanted to take something like a pit bike, but the small size and lack of a title stopped me. Something more serious has already cost other money, and money is needed now. I liked the Yamaha tw200, but in decent condition - 160 thousand.

And then the release of Desna motorcycles caught my eye. And literally a week later, on February 18, the first assembled sample of Desna Phantom is already available for sale.

I didn’t think much about it. Yes, China, there are no spare parts, it is not known whether they will be available or not. But I liked the moped.

I felt it in the salon. I didn’t see any obvious jambs. Brewed no worse than the same Kawasaki Versys. Or rather, not better, because on Versus the welding does not impress with its beauty.

The cost of the device is 63 thousand wooden ones. Equipment with a title is issued immediately.

There are no obvious jambs

There are no complaints about the engine. According to later confirmed data, the engine 165 FML (CBB200 250) produced by Chonqging Yinxiang (hello YX pits) jointly developed by Husong, overhead four-valve with a balancing shaft. There is an oil filter (not a mesh) and 2 oil coolers on board. Radiators are not decoration - they cope with their duties with a bang. Volume 200 cc 16.3 hp 12Nm - characteristics similar to yamaha tw200

ABS plastic. - fragile. After the 2nd hellish-forest-swamp ride, the wing broke into 2 parts. I glued it - it didn't help. I installed a universal enduryak made of polypropylene for 200 rubles in Sokolniki. Surely there is a native endur wing, because the mount is present.

The side plastic is alive, because when it falls in contact with the ground it does not participate.

There were doubts about the engine paint. But the paint holds.

But the body is poorly painted. It will be necessary to remove everything in the off-season, prime and paint it properly. But so far everything is holding up. Let's see how it behaves.

Rubber with powerful mud tread. But at -6 on asphalt it behaves predictably, it doesn’t ask to skid, it brakes normally. It paddles through snow and mud more than confidently. Never got stuck. Although I climbed into very decent places. Fat tires - the same size as tw. At about 70 km/h it starts to swing up to 75 km/h - you need to balance it.

Steering wheel with steering weights - everything looks decent. The light can be turned on and off completely. There is no kick starter (((. It’s not a buzz, but you can start it with a push. (In 4th gear it starts normally) The light shines. I don’t understand how yet, I need to adjust it.

The remote controls, headlight, and tidy are the same on the Lifan LF200-16C 2013, subjectively better than on the Yamaha ybr

LED turn signals - the light is so-so. Like they don’t fall off - they pulled and struggled. Devices. Here the Chinese brothers saved money on the fuel sensor. There is a place for it (everything is fine on the Lifan), but the caring Chinese inserted a voltmeter there. Why the hell, it’s not clear. So there is a tank, a trip meter and a reserve tap. You can live. There is a high beam flasher and a kill engine button. Starts up without problems. The gears switch on clearly - subjectively - more clearly than on an Ebrike. With Kawasaka Versus there is parity. The node does not draw attention to itself. The exhaust growls. Just like a little enduro. Much louder than on the ebre, but the head does not buzz, as with two brothers.

I liked the seat - it was so fat) Comfortable - butt said thank you. There is room for the second number. There is a trunk, I have already stuck a case from Hepko Becker in there. Got up well. There are no handles for the mesh string bag (((The chain is a regular sealless chain. It will stretch like snot. Size - 428.

I really didn't like the transfer switch. Hidden under plastic and very tight. Switching to reserve on the go is not realistic. Yes, and so you have to puff.

It feels like a 250cc Honda Phantom made in Thailand. It growls a lot, it doesn’t go as much))) But subjectively it’s faster and more powerful than the ebrik. It’s quite certain that it has more torque, it gives good throttle up the steps on the ebrike, and here, practically at idle, it climbs quite a steep staircase. The ground clearance is greater than that of an Ebrik. The front suspension is soft, but does not break through. The back is tough. The motor is heavier and does not wobble in turns. I am 180 cm tall and confidently stand with my feet on the ground.

At the moment the mileage is almost 800 km. And far from being gentle

Over the course of 800 km, I changed the oil once, cleaned the filter, and tightened the chain. Didn't do any after-sales training. Nothing fell off on its own (except for the wing, but in that hole I would have broken my leg without a moto). The motorcycle starts and drives properly.

Maximum speed - 120 km/h. The valves need to be adjusted.

For the money, this is a great option for both beginners and those who need a versatile rural-urban horse with the ability to go where evil jeepers wouldn’t even think of going. The mot is light enough for an adult man to get him out of a difficult situation on his own. The horse is not for jumping - you can slowly climb into the shit on it, catch fish and ride back. Due to the width of the tires and the high-torque engine, it can climb into places where it would be better not to go on another motorcycle without proper training and skill. The consumption is negligible. In 800 km I refueled 2 times. tank 12 liters. Despite the fact that I drove through shit with speeds reaching up to 7 thousand revolutions in 1st gear.

Well, a little video of how it drives and sounds.

Beaver everyone!