What bike is this?

[croyde]

I know you lot have got sick of me blathering on about running mid and full size bikes in London and the cost of insurance even after having ridden now for 40 years.

On the thread about the chap who wants to learn to ride as his son wants a 50cc bike, someone helpfully suggests that there is no point ruining the supposed economy of running a bike by getting something big that'll do rubbish mpg and will cost a fortune to insure.

Light bulb moment for me.

Lately I have seen a few small green 125cc looking bikes with trail tyres whizzing through the London traffic with a throaty exhaust.

The engine looks like a Honda single but I can't find it on their website.

Some Chinese copy maybe?

Any ideas?

[bimsb6]

Maybe a herald .

[croyde]

I was going to add that it looks old school, like an 80s CG125 all in green with knobbly tyres but with 18 reg plates.

I first thought it was a custom job until I saw the plate and then seen a few more.

[dern]

Is it one of these...

https://muttmotorcycles.com

Our local dealer in Newbury has started selling them..

[croyde]

Thanks guys. It could be either.

Really fancy one. Just need to sell my thief magnet of a TMAX.

[croyde]

Wow. Normally soft stuff like a Honda CB500X will only come up with one company quoting nearly 600 quid tpft.

Just stuck in a Herald 250 scrambler and 14 quotes starting from 260 quid and from companies I have heard of.

[CAPP0]

Where in London have you been seeing them? I work near Shoreditch and see a lot of those Mutts (and similar variants).

[croyde]

I only just noticed one the other day on the Vauxhall Bridge Rd on a Sunday, then seen a couple since.

I have been in the car so only saw them from behind.

Just been looking at their websites and YouTube. Very tempted.

Seems it's a bunch of Brits who buy in the cheap Chinese bikes then upgrade the parts and do nice tanks and seats.

[Ceeejay]

Suzuki vanvan??? With a custom exhaust?

[croyde]

Definitely a Mutt or a Herald. Seems there's a whole industry here based on Chinese licenced copies of old Jap bikes that are given a classic Brit twist and some decent paint and suspension.

And I like them cos I'm old and it would appear far cheaper for me to insure than my current maxi scooter or even a plain Jane Jap 500 twin.

I would still love a litre sports bike again, like I had in the 90s but unless I move well out of London, that ain't ever gonna happen.

ETA

Had a look at some Mutts today. Like the Hilts 250 and the RS-13 250 but a quick look on Meercats shows the Mutts as much more to insure than the Herald 250s.

Also less companies willing to insure the Mutts.

Edited by croyde on Thursday 18th October 14:44