Road bike Stels Flame 200 - Chinese answer to YBR 125

RU-MOTO rating

• Reliability
• Chassis
• Appearance
• Comfort

2.8

Verdict

Stels Flame 200 is a good motorcycle. This is an excellent choice for everyday city and country trips. It will appeal to both young people and experienced motorcyclists. The first - for bright colors and dynamic lines, the second - for maneuverability and reliability.

Stels Flame 200 is a product of the Chinese motorcycle industry, produced at several factories in the Middle Kingdom. Recently, unit assembly has been established in our country. This is a classic city motorcycle equipped with a 4-stroke air-oil-cooled engine. A model with an engine volume of 125 cm3 is coming to Europe, and to Russia – 197 cm3. The latter produces 13 hp, which allows it to accelerate to 120 km/h. Agree, it’s more than enough for our roads.

Motorcycle Stels Flame 200

Price

Stels Flame 200 can be classified as mid-priced. The cost from Russian dealers is from 69,000 rubles . The price of a used motorcycle depends on the mileage, technical condition and a whole bunch of circumstances, individual for each fact of sale. But for 40 thousand you can find a pretty decent device.

Prices for a used motorcycle 2011-2014:

Read other motorcycle reviews Review of the IZH Planet-5 motorcycle

Price list for used Stels Flame from 2011 to 2014.

Prices for a new motorcycle:

Prices for the new Stealth Flame 200 motorcycle. Screenshot from the service moto.auto.ru

Main competitors

• The YBR 125 motorcycle is an incredibly popular motorcycle, inexpensive and ubiquitous on the roads. There is also a 250 cc modification, but it has never been officially sold in Russia. It’s also an excellent choice, but if you decide to buy a YBR, you’ll have to buy a used bike, or prepare a slightly larger amount than what you’ll need to buy a Flame 200.
• The Honda CB 125 is also a great bike, but it entered the market too late when Yamaha already reigned supreme in the budget segment. Its technical characteristics are similar to the Stealth Flame 200, but the price is slightly higher. But this is Honda!

Source

Specifications

Thanks to an economical carburetor, fuel consumption is 3 l/100 km. Taking into account the spacious 17 liter tank, you can cover considerable distances. The transmission is chain with a multi-disc clutch in an oil bath.

Brakes

The brakes on both wheels are disc brakes, petal type, hydraulically driven. This is especially important for the front wheel: the disc brake mechanism is lighter than the drum one, which makes the Stels Flame 200 easy to control. The reliability of the brakes is indicated by the use of 4-piston calipers, which is rare on motorcycles of this class. 17″ tires are a widely used size, so there will be no problems with the selection of tires.

Suspension

The rear is pendulum, equipped with spring-hydraulic shock absorbers with the ability to independently adjust the rigidity. The front is an inverted telescopic fork.

Dashboard

The dashboard provides the minimum necessary information:

1. Digital speedometer.
2. Analog tachometer.
3. Speed ​​indicator.
4. Fuel level sensor.

Separately, it should be noted the ignition switch with built-in cylinder protection.
It can only be opened with a special device on the “native” key. Brakes Discs

Description

If you compare the Stels SB 200 with other similar models, you will notice that this particular model is distinguished by its reliability, modern design and, very importantly, stability. The motorcycle is a pleasure to ride, as its low weight makes it easier to turn into turns and allows you to confidently hold it at high speeds.

Stels SB 200 has a 190cc four-stroke engine. Air cooling and a five-speed manual transmission make this bike suitable for city riding. It must be said that the narrow wheels increase traction at high speeds, and the shock absorption is able to withstand small bumps while driving over rough terrain.

Spare parts and repairs

Stels Flame 200 has a simple classic design. A person who knows the structure of any Soviet motorcycle can easily cope with the repair of this model. And a beginner, with effort and instructions, will be able to master the basic stages of repair. But it is better to carry out high-quality repairs at a service station. A developing dealer network provides the necessary spare parts. You can also order the necessary parts from China.

Here you can download the official catalog of spare parts from velomotors

Full troubleshooting algorithm:

in pdf format

Important: in China, Stels Flame 200 is called qj150-19a. Please keep this in mind when searching for and ordering spare parts.

In 2014, the updated Stels Flame 200 model entered the market. Main differences:

1. New PZ30 carburetor.
2. New colors with a stylish inscription on the tank.
3. New, stitched with red thread, material for the driver and passenger seats.

A utilitarian motorcycle for every day

Of course, the Japanese motorcycle monsters have their enormous experience and reputation on their side, but China is the world’s main manufacturer of small-capacity bikes, so the Stels Flame 200 motorcycle performs quite confidently in this field. Lightweight, cheap, reliable and economical - it is exactly what a first bike should be. And after the introduction of subcategories A and A1 in driver’s licenses, where “A1” means motorcycles with an engine up to 125 cubic centimeters, Flame 200 began to be purchased en masse by many motorcycle schools, because it can legally teach straight to category A, and on the super popular YBR- 125 - only on the A1, although these bikes actually differ very little, and don’t be confused by the number “200” in the name.

The Chinese have already become skilled in the production of budget motorcycles, successfully installing the same engines, gearboxes and suspension elements on a variety of models, sometimes even produced at factories of different manufacturers. This is for the better - such a wealth of experience allows them to make inexpensive, but quite high-quality bikes for every day, and the Stealth Flame 200 motorcycle is an excellent confirmation of this.

Comparison with analogues

In all respects, the closest motorcycle to the Stels Flame 200 is the Yamaha YBR 125. The choice fell on the Japanese model due to its wide popularity among motorcyclists in our country. We did a comparison of the Yamaha YBR 125 with Chinese 250 cc motorcycles and a separate review of the YBR 125 .

1. The Chinese have a wider steering wheel. This is convenient in terms of handling, especially at speed, but gets in the way in city traffic jams. The steering wheel and mirrors often match the height of car mirrors.
2. On the Yamaha YBR 125, the rear brake is drum type versus the disc brake on the Stels Flame 200.
3. Stels Flame 200 looks more powerful and has a nicer design.
4. The Chinese motorcycle has wider wheels, thanks to which it holds the road better.
5. Stealth is cheaper than Yamaha by several hundred in hard currency.

Road bike Stels Flame 200 - Chinese answer to YBR 125

The first motorcycle should be light, inexpensive and not too powerful - that's a fact.
Stels company offers an excellent bike for beginners - Flame 200, a budget road model, simple, reliable and unpretentious. For many years, the Yamaha Yubr, an inexpensive lightweight bike for every day, has been considered the favorite of all new motorcycle riders. It has so confidently conquered the niche of budget two-wheeled vehicles that it is very difficult to displace it, but the Chinese company Stels (which, by the way, bought out the Italian motorcycle manufacturer Benelli several years ago) still tried. And, it should be noted, not without success.

Owner reviews

Motorcyclists express the following opinions:

Advantages and disadvantages. Screenshot No. 1

Screenshot reviews No. 2

3 reviews of Stels Flame. Screenshot from the vk.com group

Screenshot of review No. 4 from the VKontakte group.

Screenshot of review No. 5 from the VKontakte group.

Read other motorcycle reviews Classic Dream - review of the Honda CB400 motorcycle

Yamaha YBR 125

Japanese two-wheeled stallion is one of the common names for the small-capacity, compact, but quite powerful and dynamic motorcycle Yamaha YBR 125 for its class.

By the way, we recently did a detailed review of the Yamaha YBR 125. I recommend checking it out.

The first generation of which was produced from 2004 to 2006. It is characterized by:

• optimally balanced parameters;
• efficiency in terms of fuel consumption;
• good maneuverability;
• excellent handling.

Of course, this model costs several times more than the 250 cc Chinese motorcycles, video presentations that flooded the World Wide Web. But the Japanese manufacturer notes that the potential owner will not overpay for the brand and company name when purchasing a Yamaha YBR 125.

The fact is that the cost of this model is fully justified and corresponds to:

• innovative technologies used to manufacture YBR 125;
• high-quality modern materials used to create the motorcycle;
• official guarantees and additional services that a biker receives when purchasing a Yamaha.

But some Chinese 250cc motorcycles are getting quite positive reviews. The main emphasis is on low cost, decent performance properties and unpretentiousness. The only, but important, “but” is the fact that only the original “Chinese” ones receive good ratings, and among the full flow of fakes imported into our country, it is quite difficult to distinguish and identify them without being a professional or a fairly experienced biker.

Advantages and disadvantages

pros

• The economical engine allows you to occasionally visit the gas station.
• A large fuel tank guarantees the ability to travel far from civilization.
• The oil cooler provides efficient engine cooling.
• Disc brakes.

Minuses

• Dim lighting.
• The metal of the chain is “ductile”, which leads to rapid wear of the sprockets.
• Hard rubber with plastic properties, weakly grips wet roads.

Stels Flame 200: for beginners and lovers of leisurely driving

Stels Flame 200 is a representative of the Chinese automobile industry, an ideal motorcycle for city roads, which is perfect for both beginners and experienced bikers. It is assembled in Russia from Chinese components.

The history of the Stels Flame motorcycle dates back to 2011. Three years later, a modified model of the bike appeared on the market, with a new carburetor built into it. The motorcycle also changed its appearance to a new color with a fashionable inscription on the tank, the material of the driver and passenger seats.

The characteristics of the Stels Flame 200 are very close to its closest competitor, the Yamaha YBR 125. But the Chinese motorcycle has wider wheels, making it more stable on the road, has a more stylish design and is much cheaper than its counterpart.

According to reviews from the owners of this motorcycle, it has a number of disadvantages, namely:

• very mediocre build;
• there are irregularities on the wheels, which, however, are easily eliminated;
• Immediately after purchase, the drive chain must be replaced.

In general, comments regarding Stealth Frame are positive. Those who have already given it a test drive note the following features:

• very affordable price in relation to the parameters;
• extraordinary design;
• comfortable fit;
• minimum fuel consumption of 3-4 liters per 100 km;
• stylish electronic panel.

The motorcycle has average characteristics, so you don’t need to place high hopes on it in terms of dynamics and speed. But at the same time, it copes well with driving around the city, so it can become an excellent companion for every day.

The engine is standard, does not produce vibration, and can be started using a starter or kickstarter. The maximum speed that Stels Flame develops is no more than 100 km/h. Perfect for beginners and lovers of quiet walks.

The design of the bike is quite classic. Repairing such a vehicle is possible for anyone who has an idea about the structure of Soviet motorcycles. But it is better to carry out planned and complex repairs at a service station. You can also order spare parts directly from China.

Here's what the happy owners of this “iron horse” say about Stealth Flame 200:

“Excellent quality, despite its Chinese origin. True, the chain stretched literally after 7000 km. In addition, the carburetor acts up and freezes at medium speeds. I had to change the light bulb, because the light bulb in the basic configuration is only 35 watts, and this is very little for driving in the dark.”

“I’m happy with the bike, everything is cool! The cooling works like a Swiss watch: I overheated it and cooled it sharply, there were no problems. Someone wrote here that plastic breaks, so if you don’t know how to drive a motorcycle carefully, then it’s your fault, not the manufacturer’s. Another plus is the low price in relation to quality. The design is also a plus."

“My mileage on this bike is about 300 km. After the first hundred, the chain stretched greatly. After some time, I changed the oil and realized that I should have done this earlier, since my oil is more like water. Otherwise everything is pretty predictable. It starts from the starter with half a turn, sometimes I can give it a kick in the form of gas. It drives well on a straight road, but at intersections there are inconveniences with braking. Overall, I'm very pleased with the motorcycle. It suits me personally.”

“I drove it more than 1000 km. Still intact! I don’t accelerate very fast on it, at most 6000 rpm, because even though it’s Chinese, it’s somehow a pity to kill it right away. The chain stretches terribly, I have already tightened it several times. Clutch discs stick together. I’ll continue to see what happens to Flame and whether it’s even worth a major overhaul.”

Source

Positive sides

Now let's take a closer look at the advantages of this model:

• Affordable price. Since the motorcycle is designed for a target audience, almost every young person can purchase such a model.
• Minimal operating costs. All the parts that are installed on this bike can be found in any market.
• The technical characteristics of the Stels SB 200 are designed for inexperienced drivers. This point should be attributed more to the positive aspects: after all, if there are higher parameters, the cost will increase significantly and the demand for Stels SB 200 will sharply decrease.
• Stylish design. As mentioned above, craftsmen have worked on the appearance, so many people think that this is a full-fledged powerful motorcycle that has practically no speed limits.

Japanese or Chinese motorcycle – what to choose?

Irbis 250 VJ250. The price is just over 50,000 rubles. Photo 1.

Zongshen ZS250GS 250cc. Price from 80 thousand rubles. Photo 2.

Even based on the appearance, we can conclude that Chinese manufacturers did not save either money or imagination when designing the exterior and giving it a dynamic, moderately aggressive look.

Swift lines, sporty smartness and sophisticated elegance will attract the attention of both other road users and pedestrians, and connoisseurs will appreciate the original execution of the design idea

Of course, in no case can one say that the latest, fourth, generation of the Yamaha YBR 125 can be “outdone”, especially with a smaller budget, but the elegant and, most importantly, individual style of the leading Chinese motorcycle manufacturers was still able to not only create and preserve , and also “adjust” it to the most popular trends in profile fashion. This is at least worthy of respect. Therefore, Chinese motorcycles, the price of which is much “nicer” than the Japanese counterpart YBR 125, are of active interest among those who have “grown up” from small cars, but are not yet ready to switch to powerful and large motorcycles. Demand, as we know, creates supply, and in the very near future the range of inexpensive small-capacity motorcycles will rapidly increase, which will certainly play into the hands of the average consumer or novice biker.

Hooray! Got it!

I've dreamed of a motorcycle since elementary school. During my school years I changed several mountain bikes, which I rode seriously a lot and with competitions for 4 seasons. The Southern Urals are conducive to this. At 15, I entered our SUSU in the city center. Immediately after graduating from school, everyone rushed to take their license and urgently buy rusty buckets. The author, as a cyclist, has already come to hate these vessels. I was in no hurry to give it up)) I rode a bicycle to the university, 16 km in each direction. But the trucks in the industrial zones kept multiplying and making trips quite a feat. By spring 2021, some money has appeared, thanks to an increased scholarship. One look at the cars showed that getting a license, servicing even a bad car and buying insurance is too expensive. Naturally I will take a motorcycle! What follows below the cut is simply madness, but the result has been achieved!

Defrosting – Chelyabinsk

The service work on the bike is generally completed. The tires are new for road use, the rear disc and running boards were straightened by the previous owner. Changed the chain. It’s strange that the old one died after only 6000 km, by the way, with still good stars. When to roll out? here, as always, there is a cloud of opinions... From the very beginning of March, a stable anticyclone came. 2 weeks of completely cloudless weather. It would seem - go and ski, but the author poured all the money into the bike. During the day, temperatures rose to +5, and at night they dropped to -10-15. Thanks to good snow removal this year, all the roads in the city are dry. I went out on my bike several times. Everything is fine, if it weren’t for 10 km next to a crowd of trucks to the city from my area ( *opa is looking for adventure and increasingly insistently suggests: “Hey, do you want to ride a little?!” Well, I also finished at about zero degrees. You probably understand that will happen next