2017 SSR Razkull 125 Review

Troy Siahaan
by Troy Siahaan

Another Grom competitor pops up from China - and it's good!

Two obvious questions spring to mind when talking about the SSR Razkull 125. First, who the hell is SSR? And second, how soon will Ducati’s legal department come knocking on its door? Because let’s face it, the Razkull looks like a miniature version of a Ducati Monster.

2017 SSR Razkull 125

Editor Score: 78.5%
Engine 16.0/20
Suspension/Handling 10.0/15
Transmission/Clutch 6.5/10
Brakes 8.0/10
Instruments/Controls4.0/5
Ergonomics/Comfort 8.0/10
Appearance/Quality 8.0/10
Desirability 8.0/10
Value 10.0/10
Overall Score78.5/100

We don’t have an answer for the latter, but the former is an interesting tale for anyone who followed the 50cc pit-bike craze in the early 2000s. Remember those wildly tricked out mini motocross bikes from China that were hugely popular? SSR Motorsports was one of the primary companies bringing them into the country. At around minute 14 of the craze’s 15 minutes of fame, SSR realized it needed to branch out and expand its line if it wanted to stay afloat. Fast forward to the present day and SSR Motorsports has a varied selection of motorcycles ranging from 450cc motocross bikes, 250cc cafe racers, to dual-sports and scooters. There are even electric bicycles in the line as well as an electric scooter. And yes, the company still sells a 50cc pit bike, too.

No, this is not a top-secret spy shot of a Ducati Monster 125 to be introduced at EICMA. It’s a Chinese copy of one.

SSR Motorsports is also the U.S. distributor for famed Italian marque Benelli, having reached an agreement with the illustrious yet financially troubled, brand in 2014 to distribute the Tornado TNT 600 and 300 motorcycles, as well as the Zafferano and Caffenero scooters. The common denominator here, between these Benellis and the rest of the SSR lineup, is their current origins in China. SSR’s mission is to reshape how we think about Chinese motorcycles, and if the $1,799 Razkull 125 is any indication, it’s best we pay attention.

Made In China

It would be easy to chalk the Razkull 125, or Yingang YG125-21A as it’s known in its motherland, as another cheap Chinese knockoff, especially considering its low price tag and its striking resemblance to a certain Italian motorcycle from Bologna. But the Razkull is an intriguing specimen once you get over it’s country of origin. Don’t expect any technological marvels from this little 125cc, air-cooled, two-valve Single, but at almost half the price of the $3,200 Honda Grom, it’s certainly an attractive alternative if you’d rather stand out from the Grom-loving crowd. Our test unit spun the drum at MotoGP Werks to 7.7 hp and 6.9 lb-ft.

Fit and finish is better than you’d expect for such an inexpensive motorcycle, though one of the major components contributing to its low cost is the lack of electronic fuel injection like the Grom and Kawasaki’s Z125 Pro. The Razkull makes due with a carburetor, but the only time you’ll really tell the difference between EFI and the carb is during cold start ups in the morning. The Razkull actually requires a little throttle action when you press the starter. Our tester was equipped with a choke lever, but activating it didn’t help a bit with cold starts.

As basic an engine as they come, the Razkull’s Single gets its fuel/air cocktail served through a carburetor (you can see the petcock beside it). It also features both electric and kick start.

Once warm, the little Razkull pulls away cleanly. Well, as clean as you could hope for with 7.7 horses. You’re seated fairly low to the ground at 29.5 inches, and the pegs are a comfortable distance below, too. The knee bend is fairly relaxed for my 30-inch inseam, and the riding position is relatively neutral for average-size adults.

Of course, the byproduct of low and comfortable pegs is a lack of cornering clearance. The bike flicks fairly quickly thanks to 12-inch wheels and 120/70-12 tires at both ends, but peg feelers touch down quickly. Clearly the Razkull isn’t meant to be a racer, but its lack of ground clearance is a little off-putting. For tooling around town, however, the flickability to dart between gaps in traffic is nice, and when you need to stop, the surprising strength of its single-piston caliper and wavy 190mm single brake disc has got your back.

There’s not much to be intimidated by with the Razkull, making it a great learning tool for a new rider.

Getting back to the fit and finish on the Razkull 125, we were impressed with the little details that come on such an inexpensive motorcycle, like LED indicator lights front and rear, stylized mirrors and mirror stalks, an inverted fork, digital gauge cluster (with gear-position indicator!), and even a headlight we’re convinced is pillaged from a stack at Ducati that were supposed to be destined for the Monster. Last but not least, the Razkull is fitted with a huge 3.2 gallon fuel tank – it’s practically a tourer!

Turning Heads

Needless to say, we’re hugely impressed with the SSR Razkull 125. For less than $2,000 you can have a fun little runabout that looks good, performs well, and does all the tasks you’d want from a small play bike. It’s not without its drawbacks, though. Beyond the lack of fuel injection, shifting gears isn’t one of its strong suits, as the transmission is a bit clunky and it’s hard to find neutral sometimes. Even with the bike turned off.

Sparks will fly rather quickly once you start getting comfortable on the Razkull. Those flames might flicker, however, if there isn’t a dealer near you.

If by now you’re wondering where you can get a Razkull, you’ve hit perhaps SSR’s biggest downside. The company clearly doesn’t have the customer support you’d receive from a Honda or Kawasaki. With roughly 200 dealers around the country, coverage is sparse, though there’s likely a SSR Motorsports near you if you live on one of the coasts. To be sure, use SSR’s dealer locator to find your closest retailer.

2017 SSR Razkull 125 Review

+ Highs

  • Only $1,799!
  • Looks like a mini Ducati Monster
  • Fairly well made for a Chinese bike

– Sighs

  • No fuel injection
  • Clunky transmission
  • Limited dealer network

2017 SSR Razkull 125

MSRP$1,799
Engine Type125cc, single-cylinder, air-cooled, carbureted, SOHC, two-valve
Bore and Stroke52.4mm x 55.5mm
Compression Ratio9.0 : 1
Rear Wheel Horsepower7.7 hp @ 6,600 rpm
Torque6.9 lb-ft @ 4,800 rpm
Transmission4-speed
Final DriveChain
Front SuspensionInverted telescopic fork; 4.7 in. travel
Rear SuspensionSingle shock, 4.0 in. travel
Front BrakeSingle 220mm disc, two-piston caliper.
Rear BrakeSingle 190mm disc, single-piston caliper
Front Tire120/70-12
Rear Tire120/70-12
Rake/Trail26.0°/3.0 in
Wheelbase47.7 in
Seat Height29.5 in
Curb Weight247 lbs.
Fuel Capacity3.17 gal
Troy Siahaan
Troy Siahaan

Troy's been riding motorcycles and writing about them since 2006, getting his start at Rider Magazine. From there, he moved to Sport Rider Magazine before finally landing at Motorcycle.com in 2011. A lifelong gearhead who didn't fully immerse himself in motorcycles until his teenage years, Troy's interests have always been in technology, performance, and going fast. Naturally, racing was the perfect avenue to combine all three. Troy has been racing nearly as long as he's been riding and has competed at the AMA national level. He's also won multiple club races throughout the country, culminating in a Utah Sport Bike Association championship in 2011. He has been invited as a guest instructor for the Yamaha Champions Riding School, and when he's not out riding, he's either wrenching on bikes or watching MotoGP.

More by Troy Siahaan

Comments
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2 of 41 comments
  • Mike Mike on Aug 17, 2018

    For the fuel capacity states 2.9 gallon on the manual. Actual gauge
    flashes after just 1.3 gallon. The flash is weird, goes from 2 to 1 bar
    than back to 2 bar. It does this once every minute. So what is the
    actual capacity from fellow razkull owners

  • OJ OJ on Jun 15, 2020

    Is its Monster subframe fits on Grom (msx125)??
    I wanna try it.
    Anybody knows??

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