Minsk C4 300 - a new road bike of the Belarusian assembly

Motorcycles manufactured by the Motovelo plant are a real legend that will live in the hearts of experienced bikers for a long time to come. And almost any man whose childhood was spent in a Soviet village will definitely remember Minchik.


These are two-stroke motorcycles, with a characteristic sound of the engine, leaving clouds of burnt gasoline-oil mixture, some still dream of. "Minskachi" did not differ in power, but they were reliable, economical and inexpensive.

Decades have passed since then, the classic two-stroke Minsk motorcycles were produced until about 2008, like IZH, after which the enterprise turned into an assembly shop. Now they simply assemble Chinese models there, calling them Belarusian.



Motorcycle Minsk C4 300 is one of the latest innovations. It replaced the C4 250 model, which has been out of production for about seven years. That simple road bike is called the best creation of the enterprise of the post-Soviet period. The creation, or rather, an order in China, of a new, similar model is an attempt to “make a cash register” in the name.

Although, during the release of Minsk C4 250, the bike was not bought very actively. In 2017, the plant sold cheaply the remnants that were stale in the warehouse.

What and who can attract

Externally, the Minsk C4 300 turned out to be quite controversial - the motorcycle is made in the spirit of the 60-70s, but with a number of modern “blotches”. If we draw analogies with Soviet models, then the bike looks like the fruit of the love of the two-stroke Minskach and Dnepr MT-11. Just the engine size turned out to be average - under 300 cm3.



It is impossible to call a motorcycle unambiguously beautiful - its tank stands out as something alien, too large. Alloy wheels are out of style - the bike needs spoked wheels.

The dashboard also looks strange, it is combined - analog and digital at the same time.

The cost can also attract a potential buyer - they ask for 4 rubles for Minsk C300 231. Although, this is a "sweet" price only for the European or Japanese model. If you remember that the bike is Chinese, it turns out to be a little expensive.

Build quality

The motorcycle is made in China, although it is assembled in Belarus. This is a screwdriver assembly that anyone with minimal locksmith skills can handle.

There are few reviews about the Minsk C4 300, after talking with the owners, you can understand that the bike seems to be assembled with high quality. On the other hand, the owners take care of new motorcycles, someone else is running. Runs are scanty so far - several thousand kilometers. Under such operating conditions, modern Chinese motorcycles rarely break down.



The Minsk C4 300 has an important difference from other models from the Middle Kingdom - a liquid-cooled engine. Is it necessary for a small-capacity bike in Russia?

We do not have long hot days for air- or oil-cooled engines to overheat. For some India, this may be relevant, although even there there are no complaints about simple Bajaj Boxer. Yes, and there is such a legend as the Yamaha YBR 125 - also air-cooled. And no one complains about it, although it is operated in the hottest corners of the planet.

On the net you can find a bike that spare parts for the Minsk C4 300 in Russia are easier to find than in Belarus. The phrase of the owner of Minsk C4 300, who bought a trunk for a motorcycle right in the salon in Tyumen, is given. This accessory is not for sale in the company store in Minsk. The fact is that the trunk was welded by local Tyumen craftsmen in a couple of hours and fitted onto a motorcycle.

In fact, there will be problems with spare parts everywhere. The model is new, the motor is atypical for Chinese technology, most of the parts will have to be ordered from China.

Engine and its features

The power unit installed on the Minsk C4 300 has a working volume of 283 cm3 with a power of 29 hp. With. The manufacturer is not ready to share information about the origin of the engine. By simple comparisons, we can assume that this is a modification of the Zongshen 174th series.

The maximum speed declared by the manufacturer is 130 km / h. The engine is tuned for low speed driving. Despite the fact that this is a typical “single-barrel”, vibrations at speeds of more than 100 km / h are not very annoying - the engine has a balancing shaft.



Compared to its predecessor, the new motorcycle develops 10 hp. With. more. This is felt in the dynamics of acceleration, although next to the Japanese from 400 cm3, even the 80s, the new Belarusian-Chinese bike loses.

Other Features

The Minsk C4 300 has LED optics. Somehow it does not fit into the classic design. For motorcyclists who remember and miss Soviet models, this will definitely not “go down”. But the youth will appreciate it.

For two, the bike is frankly cramped. At first glance, beautiful “handles-handles” for the passenger only interfere with it. If you plan to ride with the second number, then it is better to remove them.

The motorcycle is narrow - 78 cm, so you can safely maneuver in the urban aisle. There are no traffic jams for the Minsk C4 300, but you shouldn’t be impudent and annoy motorists with the desire to squeeze into every gap either.

The tank doesn't just look big, it actually is. 18 liters for a small cubic capacity is somewhere beyond good and evil. And here is just such a volume. With a consumption of 3, maximum 4 liters per 100 km, you can refuel once a week, driving 80 kilometers a day.

By the way, the manufacturer put an omental chain on the bike - this is not typical for the Chinese motorcycle industry. It is not known who tried hard here - engineers in the Middle Kingdom or customers from Belarus. In any case, it's a virtue.



The inverted fork improves the handling of the bike and makes it comfortable to ride on bad roads.

Disadvantages

The main disadvantage of the Minsk C4 300 is the rarity of the model. This suggests problems when looking for consumables and parts. There will be much fewer questions when buying Russian-assembled motorcycles, like Racer or Motoland.

Mirrors on Minsk C4 300 are a useless thing. They are some kind of bicycle, from the slightest vibration it is difficult to see something in them. You need to either change the mirrors to more informative ones, or get used to turning your head in different directions.

Some owners complain about the lack of a sixth gear in the box. However, you can increase the speed in another way - by replacing the stars. But something still needs to be sacrificed. By increasing the speed, you will have to put up with the loss of traction at low revs.

The motorcycle does not have a regular windshield, if it is supposed to ride on the highway - this is a minus. At speeds over 100 km / h, the wind blows noticeably off the bike.



The braking system of the motorcycle is more budgetary than that of its predecessor, despite the engine power. The Minsk C4 300 has one disc in front, the 250 cm3 model had two.

By the way, the engine that is installed on a motorcycle is sold in Russia for about 80 rubles as an assembly. This is almost a third of the cost of the bike.
Buying new models of the Minsk brand is a lottery. You need to be aware that this is a typical Chinese technique with all the ensuing problems. The new models of the Belarusian assembly have nothing to do with the Soviet Minchiks.

Finding parts can be a quest. But if you like the model, then it’s worth the risk - 231 rubles is not such a big amount for a new motorcycle. Although, it is better to purchase something of a Russian assembly - this will definitely simplify the search for spare parts and consumables.