Macbor may currently only be in the Iberian market, but the expansion plan promises to take the Spanish brand to many more countries. With a new look and a front optics that is the central image of the Montana XR1, this motorcycle promises to be Macbor’s ticket to the global market, not only with 125 cc motorcycles, but possibly also with higher displacement models.
The XR1 is Macbor’s best-selling motorcycle, deserving special attention from the brand that joined forces with one of the world’s largest manufacturers to create a solid and updated engine for this motorcycle. We are talking about a single-cylinder engine, manufactured in partnership with Zongshen, the Chinese manufacturer that produces about 1 million motorcycles per year. We are thus talking about a manufacturer with vast experience that effectively delivers an engine that showed quality and good performance.
We may not be at 15 hp, thus being slightly below the maximum power limit for A1 license holders, however, the 12.6 hp and 9.6 Nm at 5,500 rpm proved to be very responsive and with a well-geared gearbox, always providing a good response when requested. Only off-road did we feel that the power fell a bit short in certain situations, but we are talking about a 125 cc motorcycle. But still in the engine department, it is worth mentioning that despite some vibrations at higher revs, we cannot say that it was abnormal for a 13 hp single-cylinder engine. A very positive note was also the injection, which responded quite well, as well as the maximum speed that exceeded the 115 km/h announced by Macbor.
BALANCE IS EVERYTHING
At the front, the XR1 features an inverted fork and a rear mono-shock. The suspensions are not adjustable, which may be a bit alarming, because if they don’t work correctly, we will have a problem. However, this is not the case with this Montana XR1. In fact, it was one of the aspects that pleased us the most. The suspension and frame setup showed homogeneity and a very precise behavior on and off the road. During our off-road journeys – despite the aluminum spoked wheels not having the most suitable tires for the terrain – we realized that with a more suitable rubber for rough terrain, Macbor does not shy away from some good off-road adventures. However, the brand states that the focus of this bike was on road riding (especially since we have a 17” wheel at the front), still thinking about offering a good standing riding position off-road.
But there is an important point here regarding venturing off-road. The braking system incorporates a 265 mm disc at the front and a 240 mm disc at the rear – quite biting, one might say – with CBS system. What does this mean? It means we have a combined braking system and therefore, if we try to lock the rear wheel, the front will also lock. However, this is further proof that Macbor wanted to put all their chips on the on-road behavior of this small trail, still managing to offer good off-road performance for the more adventurous, requiring extra caution due to the CBS system. The truth is that over 150 km were covered in a morning with this XR1 and we have little to complain about in terms of accumulated fatigue. ESTHETICS AND TECHNOLOGY
The new XR1 has shown a very ergonomic position, and as we mentioned earlier, after 150 km, there was little or nothing to point out in terms of fatigue. Also well built and with personality is the front headlight of this XR1, which we mentioned at the beginning. Macbor has registered and patented this front optic, which means that it will most likely be used in more models and will be a strong image of Macbor. In terms of equipment, we also have a center stand, crash bars, plastic crankcase protection, and a kit of three cases with protection bars, all of this as standard, at least in an initial launch phase. The 5″ LCD panel is also provided as standard and although it is quite simple in the information it presents, it has good readability. The least positive point is navigation on it, which is done by touching a button on the right side, but it did not prove to be intuitive, requiring getting used to the touch and its functionalities.
JUST THE BEGINNING
The idea that Macbor intends to take a leap in terms of expanding the available displacements in its range was clearly in the air. Proof of this will be its presence at this year’s EICMA show and also the patent registered for the headlight of this Macbor XR1 that suggests it will be present in more models. This evolution of the small trail bike from the Spanish brand points to a bright future and may not be perfect, but in the end, it is important to mention that we are talking about a motorcycle with a price below €4,000 that offers everything it promises, without excuses.
MACBOR MONTANA XR1
ENGINE single-cylinder 4T, liquid cooling
DISPLACEMENT 124.2 cc
POWER 12.6 hp @9,500 rpm
TORQUE 9.6 Nm @5,500 rpm
GEARBOX 6 speeds
FRAME tubular steel
TANK 14 liters
FRONT SUSPENSION 37 mm inverted suspension, 120 mm travel
REAR SUSPENSION adjustable preload shock absorber
FRONT BRAKE 265 mm disc, three-piston caliper, CBS
REAR BRAKE 240 mm disc, 1-piston caliper, CBS
FRONT TIRE 110/80-17
REAR TIRE 120/80-17
WHEELBASE 1,370 mm
SEAT HEIGHT 780 mm
WEIGHT 153.5 kg
MSRP (from) €3,999
