Zontes 350R, Track Test

A brand-new motorcycle or car brand that’s unheard of before will always have a tough time convincing Indian buyers to even consider them as a choice, let alone fully trust their products. But let’s give Zontes the benefit of doubt, and look at its offerings purely for what they bring to the table. In this case, we have the 350R – a 349cc single-cylinder motorcycle that makes close to 40bhp and over 30Nm of torque. Does this sound familiar?

Let me start with the bits that we all loved about the Zontes 350R – its looks. Park it anywhere, and the 350R is bound to attract your attention – it stood out among the bikes that we had for the test. The reason for this is simple – it looks unlike anything else on the market and has really sharp styling. The rear end too deserves special praise here. When you move closer to the motorcycle, you realise it has so many buttons, and that’s because pretty much everything is electronically controlled on this motorcycle. The fuel lid, handlebar lock, riding modes… you name it, and it’s electronically controlled.

When you hop onto the motorcycle and take it for a spin, Zontes’ Chinese background sort of comes to your mind. The engine has vibrations and not the good characterful kind. These are persistent vibrations that you can feel through the pegs, and they continue throughout the rev range. But then, you reach a corner, and turn in, and the veracity with which the motorcycle turns re-calibrates your mind. It’s not that it’s something that you couldn’t have experienced before, but because of Zontes’ background, you don’t expect such prowess from a new brand. Ultimately, though, I can’t really say if I can recommend the Zontes to buyers in this segment. Vibrations from the engine are pretty severe, though if it’s fixed in future updates, then maybe the Zontes 350R could stand a chance to take over the hearts of Indian motorcycle riders.

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