GPX Demon 150 GR: Top alternatives

The funky and tiny world of mini bikes is surprisingly competitive in Malaysia. The newest entrant in this fray is the Demon 150GR, that comes from a little known Thai company GPX. The bike looks like a shrunken copy of the Ducati 959 Panigale and sells for RM 8,000.

It is powered by a 150 cc engine, LED lighting, digital display, USD Kayaba shocks, Pirelli Diablo scooter tires and clip on handlebars. But if all this is not sufficient to convince you, to drop RM 8,000 on a bike, from a newborn local bike maker with a dubious and ill kept website, we will not judge you. But fret not for the Malaysian market has many alternatives for all your mini bike needs.

Honda MSX125 SF

The SF stands for Street Furious. Yes seriously. This is, in fact, the acclaimed Grom - which started off the whole resurgence in this segment in the first place, but in slightly different clothing and spec. The Honda MSX125 SF is powered by a 125 cc, air cooled, fuel injected, Euro 3 compliant engine producing 9.5 hp and 11 Nm of torque. It uses a 4-speed gearbox and even comes with a sizable 5.7-litre fuel tank. Other equally surprising details include 31 mm USD front forks, disc brakes front as well as rear, LED lighting and an LCD instrument panel. But as the specs will suggest, it is not exactly cheap. In fact, it is likely the most expensive option here at RM 11,128. At least it comes from a reputed maker. The specs also suggest that this bike should be much more fun to ride. Does this sound appealing to you?

Benelli TnT 135

Probably the cheapest Benelli ever, this small wonder sells for just RM 8,469. Surprisingly this does not mean that this bike is inferior to the Honda. Quite the opposite in fact. The Benelli TnT 135 is powered by a 135 cc, oil cooled, fuel injected, with twin spark ignition engine producing 13 hp and 10.8 Nm of torque. The engine is very rev happy with a red line at 10,000 rpm. To add to the already impressive list of features, it comes with a 5-speed gearbox, 41 mm USD front forks, adjustable rear monoshock, all around disc brakes, Metzler tires, alien-like LED lighting, digital instrumentation and a 7.2-litre fuel tank. But the best treat is saved for the last. If the GPX was a copy of the Panigale, the TnT gets its design inspiration from the MV Agusta Brutale 800 Dragster, complete with sleek dual exhaust and trellis frame. It is definitely better executed and good looking without the obvious comparison to its inspiration. A very good contender indeed.

Kawasaki Z125 Pro

Selling for RM 9,845, the Kawasaki Z125 Pro is the king of the mini moto segment in the country. Kawasaki had an early start and it benefitted it greatly while leaving the others playing catch up. As the price would suggest, it falls in the middle of the pack. So what does this get you? As you would have noticed, this diminutive bike has the Z moniker attached to it. For this bike, it translates to the extreme styling that Kawasaki’s Z bikes are known for. These include a slim tail with a sharp Z shaped LED taillights, super naked inspired compact engine shrouds, stainless steel muffler tucked under the engine, sporty analogue-digital dash with gear indicator, aggressive multi-reflector headlight and an aggressive engine cowl. But wait, there’s more. With a curb weight of 101 kg, this is the lightest bike here. It too gets optimized suspension with 30 mm USD front forks and petal disc brakes front and rear. The engine is a 125 cc, air cooled, fuel injected single cylinder with power output of 9.6 hp and 9.6 Nm of torque. Best of all is the fact that this comes equipped with a manual clutch that allows the best use of the 4-speed transmission.

Like the segment itself, the level of equipment on these bikes and the prices being asked for them is plain ridiculous. But so is the fun quotient. So is your inner child still alive?