Motorcycle specifications BrixtonCromwell 125 2022 New plant for old neighborhood

The Brixton 125 BX changed its name to the Cromwell in 2020. A warmer appellation for a bike that hardly changes. No matter. This machine has managed to carve out a slice of the cake under its fake little Bonneville accents. It may not get a single job from London or the surrounding area, but it sure knows how to provoke a certain amount of excitement.

Brixton is, above all, the name of a South London neighborhood with a strong Afro-Caribbean culture. In the 1910s, a small manufacturer - Brixton Motors Works - offered a tricycle powered by a huge V-Twin.
But this brand and model are English only in name. It's one of the motorcycle brands of the Austrian KSR group. Brixton's desire to enter the retro segment, in the image of Mash productions, has resulted in a Cromwell as multi-national as the eponymous district. It sounds British, was designed in Austria and produced in China.

This Cromwell has charm. The kind of charm you'd expect to find on a trip across the Channel in the days and sounds of the Beatles. Its almost square fuel tank, finned engine, long seat, spoked rims, fork gaiters, sausage muffler and heat strips covering the exhaust system are all thoroughly retro. Modernity is more subjectively present, with an LCD display in the round needle-type speedometer, a USB socket, LED indicators and daytime running lights.

The vintage vibe is also present in the single-cylinder engine. Its design and performance are from another era. This is true of all made-in-China motorcycles at particularly affordable prices. Although its technology is simple, with 2 valves and 1 ACT, it benefits from fuel injection. It boasts 11 horsepower at 9,000 rpm. Torque is now 9.7 Nm at 6,500 rpm. It's not much in absolute terms, and Euro5 has had a slight impact on its strength; but this power is right in the middle of the pack for this category of sino-retros. It's just right for the city, and sufficient for gentle jaunts along the country lanes. On the other hand, forget the fast lanes or the desire to put your head in the handlebars. The Cromwell isn't made for that.

Let's stay in the city, where the 125 Brixton will make the most of its short wheelbase, slim tires and measured weight (134 kilos). Given its aggressive price tag, you can't expect any fine-tuning of the suspensions - when it comes to saving money, they're always the first to suffer.
Coupled braking optimizes braking between the 276 mm front and 200 mm rear discs, both gripped by two-piston calipers. ABS has been available as an option since 2018.

Even with 5 gears in the gearbox, this little mono doesn't consume much fuel. The 14-liter fuel tank should provide at least 350 km of range. On a day-to-day basis, the steering lock on the steering column can be a pain. On the other hand, the presence of a central stand, incredible for its range and price, will be much appreciated for maintenance. Let's hope it's a reasonable one, and belies the reputation of chinoiseries with their random reliability.....

M.B - Manufacturer's photos