Motorcycle specifications MacborMontana XR1 125 evo 2026 The tour of the mountain

There are not many road trail bikes in the 125cc category. Since Honda stopped producing the 125 Varadero, no major manufacturer has launched a bike for this purpose. It is the smaller brands that offer alternatives in this segment, with a certain density: the Tabor from Orcal,the Aventura from Rieju, the Hyper Trail from Zontes, the BKX from Benelli, and a few other lesser-known models. This is where Macbor will play one of its tactical cards: the Montana XR1 Evo.

Let's take a quick look at why it's called "Evo." The Montana XR1 has been around in Spain since 2017. It underwent its first redesign in 2023, followed by an E5+ evolution at the same time as its arrival in France. We now find it more mature, better equipped, and more powerful than when it first came out.

A 125cc trail bike that knows where it's going

The Macbor is not a young newcomer lost in the jungle. It even has a successful track record in Spain. Not to mention that its parent company is a major player: Macbor has teamed up with Chinese giant Zongshen to bring this motorcycle to market, which is actually a Cyclone RX1 with its own unique silhouette and more personal character (specific suspension and injection settings).

Its performance will be determined by its small, very conventional single-cylinder engine. A 4-stroke, super-square, liquid-cooled, double ACT engine capable of producing 14.9 horsepower at 9,500 rpm. The torque is also in line with the segment, with 11 Nm peaked at 7,500 rpm. The Montana will be good for cruising but will be hampered by its weight. 179 kilos is a lot for a 125.

Unbeatable price/equipment

Heavy, but you have to look at why. The Macbor is equipped like a true touring bike, as if it wanted to modestly travel around the world. As standard, you get panniers and a top case. Astounding. But also crash bars at the front and rear, a USB port, a center stand, spoked wheels, a 5-inch color TFT screen, an engine guard, ABS and traction control that can be disengaged...
All this for $3,500 is surreal.

On the other hand, the original CST tires are not the best on the market. The limited ground clearance will discourage you from going off-road, but that's not really what this bike is designed for. And the single-cylinder engine may suffer if you take a passenger.

As for the peripherals, we don't know the origin of the 37 mm inverted fork and the rear shock absorber with adjustable preload (but probably from Yuan) or the brakes. They consist of a 265 mm disc clamped by a 2-piston caliper and a 240 mm rear disc with a single piston. The ABS can be either active, deactivated on the rear, or turned off completely.

Enough to take the top spot?

The Macbor 125 Montana XR1 Evo is entering a field where no leader has yet emerged. There is therefore a place to be taken, which will have to be fought for with the young beavers already in place. Its price and equipment will be assets that almost no one can match.

M.B. - Manufacturer photos

The storage compartments have the following capacities:

• Left pannier: 20 liters
• Right pannier: 15 liters
• Top case: 35 liters