Civilian sports motorcycles, commonly known as “racer imitative model”, are niche products. Since it has dip toes into the civilian sports field in 2018, TARO has launched the GP2 200R and GP1 380R. With original attractive appearance and ultra-high cost performance, TARO’s civilian sports models have won many fans over the past two years.

In May this year, on the basis of GP1 380R, TARO brought the optimized and upgraded GP1 250R, with CBS and ABS versions. GP1 250R continues the dynamic appearance of Italian design, and the differences between the two versions lie in the power system, decal and the rear flat fork. With the experience from 380R, the stability of GP1 250R is well guaranteed and the development cycle is shortened.

The 250R body is plump with TARO logo at many locations. It is decorated with the theme color of TARO blue, and the entire body is designed with three colors: black, white and blue, which is simple but high-end looking.

TARO not only produces complete vehicles, but also is a supplier of exterior parts, instruments and lamps of many domestic and overseas brands, which is one of TARO’s advantage as a complete vehicle manufacturer.

New TFT LCD meter

The new TFT LCD meter can automatically switch between day/night modes according to the external light, which is not available on the 380R.

Shock absorber and rear fork

Based on the positioning of the motorcycle, GP1 250R uses a positive shock absorber and a steel rear flat fork, while the 380R uses an inverted front shock and an aluminum alloy rear flat fork.

Wheel hub color (optional)

Color-blocking wheel hub and electronic quick shifter are optional equipments. The color-blocking wheel hub will make the finishing point.

Power system

250R carries a 250cc oil-cooled two-cylinder engine from ZONGSHEN. The maximum power is 12.5kW/8,500rpm, the maximum torque is 16.5N·m/6,000rpm, and the compression ratio is only 8.7:1. It is a mature engine, although the data is not that impressive.

Riding experience

A 1.7m-tall rider can touch the ground by both his feet on the 780mm seat, adding to the confidence of beginner riders. The riding posture is not as aggressive as a professional sports bike, but also not as casual as a standard bike. It takes into account both the handling of the sports model and the comfort for daily commuting.

The engine makes pure and deep sound, with smooth power output even at low speed. During riding, the matching between the throttle, clutch and gear position does not need to be too accurate–the fault tolerance rate is relatively high. The steel tube frame brings good rigidity, excellent torsional resistance and high-speed stability at curves.

The original factory tire grip and shock absorption effect is better than expected. The shock absorbers are reliable. The rear central multi-link shock is rare on similar models.

Unlike some civilian sports bikes, which are “too civilian”, GP1 250R comes with split-type handlebars and relatively high pedals. If you’re a racetrack enthusiast, you can get started on it with little modification.

The engine strengthens power at around 2,000rpm, a mid-low rev-inclined engine making the bike more user-friendly for entry-level users and easier for daily city commuting. But earlier output comes with early vibration–there is obvious vibration at the handlebars and the body at about 5,000rpm.

Summary:

GP1 250R is targeted at the young consumers and entry-level sports bike enthusiasts. Such a comprehensive entry-level civilian sports bike with good sound, appearance, equipment, handling, and price, will be another competitive product of TARO in the market. (Source: WeChat: newmotor)