Motoland XR 250 is the most popular Russian-Chinese motorcycle on the used market

Chinese motorcycles flooded the Russian market. The reason for the phenomenon is simple - Soviet factories stopped producing equipment of this type. It is hopelessly outdated and could not stand the competition with foreign models.


In the 90s, the main buyer of Izh and ZiD had no time for motorcycles. And then, when a resident of the countryside demanded an inexpensive two-wheeled vehicle with minimal fuel consumption, it was already too late.

Where did Russian-Chinese tales come from

Izh went bankrupt in 2008 completely, although motorcycles have recently been produced there by the piece. The Degtyarev plant managed to save something - they are now collecting Chinese bikes.


But there were homegrown enthusiasts. Everyone started according to the same scheme - they imported batches of Chinese motorcycles and sold them. By the way, stickers were molded in the Celestial Empire - bikes were made to order.

Stels, for example, dreamed of creating its own motorcycle and actively implemented localization. They promised to make their own frames, as with bicycles, they even had engines of their own design in the plans. But Stels did not succeed with motorcycles, as a result they were abandoned altogether.

But the companies Motoland and Racer never claimed to be manufacturers. They quietly imported batches of various Chinese bikes and sold them under their own brands. It’s also not bad, considering that the firms have been in our market for a long time.

The secret to success is simple:

✅ Variety of model range
✅ Extensive dealer networks throughout the country
✅ A guarantee that really works, not just on paper

Of course, with the last point, not everything is so simple - sometimes you have to wait, not everyone likes to go to MOT regularly. But it's the same with cars. Given that motorcycles are structurally much simpler than cars, many are removed from the warranty and service them themselves.


Today we will talk about Motoland XR 250 - the most popular Russian-Chinese bike on the used market. By the way, there are new motorcycles of this model. The price starts from 80 and ends at around 145 thousand rubles. Naturally, the lowest price bar is used, the highest, respectively, is new.

Appearance

Let's start with the fact that Motoland XR 250 is an enduro, and with a clear bias in the cross. Most of the devices on the market are sports equipment. Accordingly, you can move on them without a license, but the path to public roads is closed.

If this state of affairs does not suit you, you should look for versions with TCP, but there are few of them. The value of the Motoland XR 250 lies precisely in the fact that you can almost fully endurize on it - the model is strong.


Externally, the motorcycle does not stand out among the Japanese "classmates". Someone likes it - some owners specifically rip off stickers that expose the Chinese essence of the bike.

Classic cross-enduro, with an aggressive look. In this model, it even corresponds to the possibilities - the plastic here is strong and not prone to breakage during falls.

Engine and gearbox

On the motor of the Motoland XR 250, everything is complicated and simple at the same time. Engines in the frame are different, but they have a cubic capacity in the region of 250 cm3. As for power, it depends on the year of manufacture and batch. Usually from 16 to 21 liters. With. The motors are in any case four-stroke air-cooled.

The maximum speed is 120 km/h. The bike reaches this mark only on the speedometer, which shows higher than the real numbers. But this is irrelevant for a cross-enduro class motorcycle. All the same, off-road, they do not accelerate to such speeds.


The gearbox is standard for Chinese models - 5MKPP. As a rule, there are no problems with it, except that the shifts are hard compared to Japanese bikes.

Neutral gear is not always "caught" the first time. Although this is a matter of practice - after a few days of active operation you get used to it. The shifting algorithm is standard - the first gear is down, the rest are up.

Other performance characteristics

Motoland XR 250 is the simplest motorcycle in terms of design, which determines its price. The frame is steel, and the suspensions are without adjustments. Despite this, they have enough moves for aggressive off-road movement, even enough for jumping. Not on a permanent basis, of course, and provided that the weight of the driver does not exceed 100 kg.


Rear mounted monoshock with swingarm. Front simple telescopic fork. Brakes on all wheels disc. Not to say that they are effective, but for 250 cm3 they are enough. It is advisable to adjust the front brake - as a rule, on new motorcycles the lever is too tight.

The bike does not have any complex electronics, but the wiring should be revised immediately after purchase. On used copies, the previous owner could already do this, but it's better to play it safe. It is desirable to isolate contacts with silicone.


Despite its Chinese origin, the bike is tall – it fits even riders up to 190 cm. The weight of the bike is 125 kg – this is important if you have to pull it out of the mud alone.

Controllability

It can be seen that the Motoland XR 250 was developed by specialists. More precisely, they copied it well. The center of gravity is low, the motorcycle can be tilted to the side, holding with one hand. The steering wheel rotates at a small angle - this helps to avoid falls during inaccurate work with it.


The traction of the motorcycle is inferior to the Japanese "classmates", but for its volume it is enough. Interestingly, the bikes of this model can ride in different ways. It depends on the selected sprockets, engine markings and piston diameter.

As for fuel consumption, it is declared at the level of 3,5 liters per 100 km. It sounds good, but this figure has little to do with reality, except to drive at a speed of 80 km / h. If you use the equipment for its intended purpose, then a consumption of 5 liters will be real, and even then, if you do not endure hard.

Features of operation

As for the repair of the motorcycle, there are no problems with this. The engines of Chinese bikes are of the same type, regardless of the brand. Therefore, it is not difficult to pick up spare parts, especially since they are cheap. Clutch and gas cables often fail - it is better to take them with you in reserve or replace them with Japanese ones.


As for improvements, the Motoland XR 250 is rarely subjected to them, except for those who prefer cross-country operation. Like most Chinese motorcycles, the quality of the metal on the bike is not impressive. If you intend to aggressively endure on it, you should strengthen a number of nodes, and change the handlebar and fork to Japanese ones. The wheels are also better to take from a motorcycle from the Land of the Rising Sun - the “native” ones are rather weak.

Pros of the model:

✅ Low price, especially for used items
✅ Reliability compared to other Chinese bikes
✅ Sturdy plastic that bends but doesn't break

As for the disadvantages, first of all it is a large mass for the cross-enduro class. An air-cooled engine is not the best choice for a sport bike that often runs at top speed. This is critical when the cylinder fins are covered with mud.


Taken as a whole, the owners of the Motoland XR 250 are satisfied with the technique. The motorcycle allows you to try the cross-enduro class with minimal investment.

If you don't like it, you can sell the bike. For this reason, it is better for those who doubt to look at used equipment - it will not lose value over the season.