Review of the enduro motorcycle Racer Enduro 300 RC300-GY8A

A typical touring enduro is a large, heavy and in most cases powerful motorcycle, reliable and unpretentious. Bikes in this class are designed to withstand the longest and most difficult roads, which is partly why they are usually equipped with fairly powerful motors. The Chinese decided otherwise and offered novice bikers a budget alternative - a lightweight Racer Ranger RC300 GY8 motorcycle, positioned as a full-fledged touring bike. Let's see what they got?

Advantages

• Affordable price, both for the motorcycle itself and for all the spare parts suitable for it.
• Flexible plastic from which the case is made (on impact it does not shatter into fragments, but bends, which is easy to fix).
• Convenient seat fixation (easy to adjust and remove).
• Large oil cooler for cooling.
• The stainless steel muffler, although it does not have a heat shield, is recessed and does not burn the driver’s feet.
• Light weight (this is the lightest motorcycle in the touring enduro category).
• The durable engine protection is made not of plastic, but of metal.
• Soft and fairly wide seat. Comfortable seating (even a large driver can ride a motorcycle comfortably).
• The exhaust sound is pleasant - not very noisy, but impressive and sporty.

Appearance

The naked eye can see that the Enduro body is covered with plastic. It is characterized as durable, but not flexible enough. Plastic can be made in orange, white, green and brown.

If you have a great desire to purchase an inexpensive Enduro, then the Racer 300 is one of the suitable “candidates”. Despite being made in China, the motorcycle is made with high quality. This is evidenced by numerous positive reviews of the Racer 300.

Flaws

• The standard speedometer without calibration overestimates the speed by 15-20 km/h.
• The driver's footpegs are narrow, without rubber bands or spikes (the legs easily fall off in the rain).
• Weak fastening under the case (only a small box can support it).
• The lever on the engine rests against the exhaust pipe and does not allow the clutch to fully engage (leading to towing).
• Very small glove compartment (only fits a couple of packs of cigarettes and a lighter).
• Small tank (only 12 l), which is not enough for long-distance trips.
• The slippery leatherette that covers a motorcycle seat.
• Removal requires dismantling the feather guards.
• Frequent oil changes (needed every thousand kilometers).

Reviews from Racer Ranger RC 300 owners

The moped is cheerful, it moves briskly for its price, it drives through the mud without straining. Consumption up to 4 liters on the highway, if you turn the knob all the way, if you drive 90 mph, it turns out to be about 2.5-2.7 liters. Eats any gasoline. I bought it new from a dealership, drove it for two years and bought a Cava Versus 650, but I still have warm memories of the Ranger. For almost 10 thousand kilometers there were no problems or breakdowns, but a new bike from the showroom requires the use of hands, otherwise the Chinese like to not tighten the nuts completely, and chips can easily float in the engine in the shipping oil. Pavel, Novorossiysk, Racer Ranger 300 '2014

Last year I bought a Racer with a mileage of 6,000 km, and so far I’ve driven a little less than 5,000. The previous owner installed stiffer springs in the fork and a factory kit for 300cc, and says the motorcycle has gained more dynamics and the suspension has become better. I don’t know myself, there’s no way to compare it with stock. I got the mot for 70k rubles, it’s worth the money. Simple, but reliable. Igor, Sevastopol, Racer Ranger 300 '2015

Acceleration is sluggish, the brakes are also so-so, but due to the vegetable dynamics they are enough. For a large guy, the moto is too small (I weigh ~100 kg), plus the suspension immediately sags under load, so you feel every hole with your tailbone. It steers easily, no more difficult than a bicycle. The transmissions work well, no issues. I would like a more powerful engine and better suspension, otherwise in my case it’s not a tourenduro, but an ordinary road bike. The standard Nylon tires are slag, they don’t hold up at all in the rain, or on cold asphalt either. I installed Shinko, and the behavior of the motorcycle immediately changed for the better. The original chain stretches quickly, so I replaced it with a Japanese one. In general, there are plenty of spare parts and tuning for Ali, they are cheap. Ruslan, Omsk, Racer Ranger 300 '2016

Design

The Racer 300 Ranger motorcycle comes off the assembly line in 4 colors. For lovers of the classics there is a stylish monochrome. The most non-staining option is brown-black. For those who want to stand out from the gray mass, models with orange and acid green “colors” are offered.

The front panel is simple, but all the data on the tachometer and digital screen is clearly visible. There are two USB connectors on the side.

LED rear brake light and turn signals. There is additional lighting: when you press the brake, a strip on the side of the body and the tachometer light up. The headlights are adjustable to adjust the direction of light to your liking.

Similar models

• Zongshen ZS250GY . Not a bad and durable tourenduro. More modern than the Racer Ranger 300, but also more expensive.
• Stels 400 GT. This bike stands one step above its peers thanks to its less archaic design and more power.
• Stels 400 GS. In many ways it resembles the previous model, but differs from it in a number of details.

Specifications

Engine

The engine of this horse is of high quality, but it cannot be called powerful. The rather archaic 2-valve, 1-cylinder power unit is unlikely to cope with long and difficult crossings. The Ranger RC300 engine loves high revs. The maximum speed of 145 km/h stated in the passport is difficult to achieve; in practice, even when driving on a flat road, only 130 km/h can be achieved (and then only with the gas fully opened).

Brake system

The brake system of the motorcycle is good - it works quickly. One of the disadvantages is the strongly protruding brake foot, which makes riding in a standing position impossible. In addition, many pilots complain about a knocking sound that occurs when braking sharply from the front - the problem is solved by tightening the chain and adjusting the bearings on the steering wheel.

Frame

Metal shields on the Racer Ranger 300 motorcycle reliably protect internal parts from impacts from below. The exhaust pipe is placed so as not to bend when the bike falls. The plastic of the bike is quite thin, but flexible, so it does not shatter into fragments when the motorcycle overturns.

Suspension

The suspension of the motorcycle is a telescopic fork and a classic monoshock absorber. The design is not adjustable and is not particularly durable; slight vibrations are possible when driving.

The bike is only suitable for traveling on roads (city, forest, dirt, country roads, etc.); it is better not to drive the vehicle completely off-road. Due to the design of the Racer Ranger's suspension, it is better not to use it for extreme stunts - this horse is not ready for jumping without serious modifications.

Transmission

The Racer Ranger 300 has a five-speed gearbox and a simple design. It works flawlessly. The first two gears are short, thanks to which the motorcycle starts off quite briskly. The speed of acceleration is also ensured by the lightness of the bike - in comparison with modern enduro bikes (200 kg and above), the 130 kg Racer ranger looks like a real “skinny bike”.

Chassis

It would be more correct to call the Racer Ranger RC300 GY8 not an enduro, but a tourenduro. There is no need to drive it on rough off-road conditions. But on a relatively smooth road the bike will obey the owner perfectly. It is light and maneuverable, responsive to all tilts and turns. The standard tires are Taiwanese (YUANXING 3.00-21), but made in good faith - stable and wear-resistant.

Pros and cons of Racer Ranger RC300

Advantages

• Price! What other touring enduro can you buy for a couple thousand dollars? The secondary market offers only 20-year-old 400 cc Japanese tour enduros in unknown condition for this money. Once upon a time they were, of course, quite good, but nothing lasts forever, and age usually takes its toll. Chinese motorcycle manufacturers rarely spoil us with bikes of this class.
• Overall thoughtfulness of the design. The Chinese often build on the same base “like a sportbike”, “like a chopper” and so on. That's not the case here - the Racer Rager 300 is truly designed to be in its class.
• Light weight . Despite the rather high seating position, the motorcycle does not seem heavy, and it will be easy to handle even for a beginner.
• Comfortable fit . Despite the modest dimensions of the bike, even a fairly large motorcyclist can sit on it with relative comfort.
• Lots of tuning and spare parts at affordable prices. Dealers, however, have a small selection, but Aliexpress has everything, including engines, gearboxes and other spare parts.

Flaws

• An archaic engine that smells like mothballs a mile away. The Racer Ranger 300 is, of course, not bad, but it clearly lacks power.
• Slippery seat . The standard “seat” is covered with some kind of cheap dermantine. Jeans or textile pants slip on it a lot, especially in rainy weather.
• Gas tank volume . 12 liters is more than enough for everyday travel, but this is not enough for travel. On the other hand, how many Racer Ranger 300 owners will ride this motorcycle for real long distances?
• Standard headlight . This is a typical drawback for most budget Chinese motorcycles - the original headlight shines worse than ever. But the problem is easily solved - many better analogs are sold on Aliexpress, and they are inexpensive.

Photo

Dimensions and weight

Due to the increased body kits and capabilities, the curb weight of the model was 124 kg.

From China the bike comes in a box.

Unpack and start assembling it yourself.

The binding to the class is also reflected in the external dimensions. The bike has:

• length - 2180 mm;
• width - 790 mm;
• height - 1061 mm;
• saddle height - 1000 mm;

Wheelbase - 1430 mm.