Zontes Motorcycles ZT310-T (2021-on) Review

Highlights

  • Great value
  • Generously equipped
  • Well built

At a glance

Owners' reliability rating: 4.5 out of 5 (4.5/5)
Annual servicing cost: £140
Power: 35 bhp
Seat height: Medium (33.1 in / 840 mm)
Weight: Medium (426 lbs / 193 kg)

Prices

New £4,299
Used £2,300 - £2,500

Overall rating

Next up: Ride & brakes
3 out of 5 (3/5)

Yes, it’s Chinese, built down to a price and has performance that won’t set the world on fire, but the A2 licence-friendly Zontes Motorcycles ZT310-T is also a hell of a lot of surprisingly well-equipped bike for the money.

Originally named the T 310 when launched in 2019, it’s comfortable, smooth, swift, doesn’t panic when you show it a corner and way cheaper than its A2 and even 125cc rivals.

Only time will tell how durable it will be and what it will be worth a few years down the line, but engines have always been bulletproof and Zontes build quality has moved on from the bad old days of Chinese bargain buckets.

Parked up on the Zontes T310

Updated for 2021 and renamed: Zontes ZT310-T

Detail changes for 2021 add extra refinement to what was already a capable, very well-equipped, nicely finished and incredible value A2 licence-friendly all-rounder. It isn’t the last word in excitement but the Zontes is comfortable, smooth, gets from A to B with little fuss and never lacks real world power or gets flustered in corners.

If you opt for the 19in front wheel version it could handle some very light off-road trails, but the grip from its dual-purpose rubber in the cold and wet could be better. Best of all Zontes Motorcyles are starting to get top marks in our online owners’ reviews, which bodes well for the Chinese firm. However, alongside the above changes for 2021 was a £500 higher price tag to justify the extra kit.

Ride quality & brakes

Next up: Engine
3 out of 5 (3/5)

Granted, it doesn’t ride with the grace of a Ducati, or have refined controls of a Honda, but you know what? It isn’t half bad, especially when you keep reminding yourself the ticket price starts with a three. Even the major manufacturers would struggle to produce so much metal for so little.

Once you’ve picked yourself up off the floor from the shock of the impressive spec list, you’ll ride down the road and discover the Zontes does nothing wrong on the move. There are no nasty vibes from the engine, thanks to its balance shaft, it doesn’t go one way when you want to go the other and everything works exactly as it should.

It doesn’t have the behemoth dimensions of a big capacity adventure bike, so carrying pillions will be a squeeze, but that keeps things light and manageable. The 159kg machine is comfy enough for one and has a roomy riding position. Big mirrors are clear and the two-position screen quiet and effective.

Non-adjustable suspension offers up an unflustered ride and there’s no sign of the cheap, crashy ride your bones and false teeth would normally have to contend with a Chinese bike over bumps.

Unlike most adventure-style machines the T 310 wears a 17-inch front wheel up front rather than a 19 or 21, so your off-road pretentions will need to be tempered to bumping up a kerb at the McDonald’s Drive-Thru, but on the road the Zontes rolls easily from corner to corner with little effort.

Dual purpose CST tyres have adequate grip wet or dry, the single 260mm front disc and twin piston caliper gets you stopped easily and a dab of rear gives you extra stopping power when you need it.

2021 Zontes ZT310-T ride verdict

Cornering on the Zontes Motorcycles ZT310-T

The way the Zontes rides and conducts itself in the corners is perfectly acceptable for the price. Returning a claimed 74mpg from its 19-litre fuel capacity (up from 15 litres in 2021) will get you a theoretical 300 miles from full to empty…or Portsmouth to Birmingham and back without having to get off. The riding position and large padded seat are comfy enough to do those kinds of miles in one hit and its two-way electric screen shields you nicely from the elements.

Its physical size is somewhere between a 125 and a full-size adventure bike, making it manageable at low speed and easy to get feet down at a stop, but it’s slightly cramped for bigger riders and for two-up work.

For 2021 the ZT310-T comes with either cast aluminium 17in wheels, or a spoked 19in front, which raises the seat height from 795mm to 830mm. They’re shod with CST dual purpose tyres, which are fine in the dry, but lack grip on cold, wet tarmac. The adventure style wheel and tyre combo are there more for looks than any real off-road pretensions, not least because its cruiser-style front mudguard would quickly scoop up mud and lock the front wheel. For more natural on-road handling and a lower seat the 17in wheel option is the one to go for.

A twin sliding piston front caliper bites a bigger 300mm disc (up from 260mm) for 2021 and the rear is up 30mm to 230mm, so braking power is never a problem, even at spirited speeds, plus there’s Bosh 9.1M ABS to bail you out just in case. Steering has the slightly lazy feel of a bike with a 19in front wheel, which you quickly get used to, but it’s an easy bike to jump on and ride and doesn’t spring any nasty surprises. Non-adjustable suspension is soft, forgiving and never sloppy or crashy, just well balanced and confidence inspiring.

Engine

Next up: Reliability
3 out of 5 (3/5)

A liquid cooled 311.7cc single cylinder dry-sumped motor (oil is stored in the frame) will never set the world on fire for the experienced, but for the new rider there’s a broad spread of throbby single cylinder power, decent low-down punch, perfect fuelling from the Delphi injection and enough oomph to cruise at motorway speeds and above. There’s no slop in the gearbox and not a false neutral in sight.

2021 Zontes ZT310-T engine verdict

Zontes T310-T engine

The ZT310-T is powered by the same liquid cooled, DOHC, 312cc dry sump (oil in the frame) single with nickel silicon carbide plated aluminium cylinders. It produces just 35bhp and 22ftlb of torque, but it’s enough to push the Zontes along at a decent rate of knots. It’ll handle A-road overtakes with a few down changes (the six-speed gearbox works perfectly) and tops 90mph. The engine is smooth at low and mid rpm (a bit strained above) and has nice fuelling with Bosch fuel injection replacing Delphi for 2021, along with the addition of a slipper clutch to get rid of unwanted engine braking.

Reliability & build quality

Next up: Value
3 out of 5 (3/5)

Cylinders, swingarm and wheels are aluminium, the steel fuel tank is galvanised, plastics are sturdy and the stainless-steel exhaust (which has 'cool touch' stacked end cans, that won’t burn luggage or your pillion’s leg) all count towards long term durability.

This current generation of Zontes machines are getting the thumbs up from owners (see Zontes ZT310-T owners’ reviews section - nothing concerning to note from a reliability perspective). Paint finishes and plastics are sturdy and you get a two year warranty. Servicing is every 3000 miles.

Zontes ZT310-T front wheel brakes

Value vs rivals

Next up: Equipment
4 out of 5 (4/5)

Chinese-built bikes always score against their rivals in the price department and the T 310 is no different. Add in all its toys and an impressively capable ride and it’s an even bigger bargain.

Zontes ZT310-T exhaust

To ride and live with the Zontes is a pleasant surprise. Of course, it’s never going to be as polished as something like a Honda CB500X, but then the T 310 is two grand cheaper and most importantly a step towards convincing us that Chinese bikes really can be taken seriously.

2021 Zontes ZT310-T vs rivals

In terms of bang for your buck the Zontes ZT310-T has a level of standard equipment to embarrass a top-shelf European adventure bike and it’s cheaper than a KTM 390 Adventure and BMW G310GS. In terms of price and performance the Zontes is on par with the Sinnis Terrain 380 and Royal Enfield Himalayan.

Equipment

4 out of 5 (4/5)

The Zontes is surprisingly well equipped with keyless ignition, two riding modes, Bosch 9.1M ABS, an LCD display, lightweight lithium battery, USB charger, adjustable brake and clutch levers, electric screen, seat lock and fuel tank cover. Rugged, hard adventure-style panniers and a top box are also available as an accessory.

2021 Zontes ZT310-T equipment

Zontes T310-T LED screen

A TFT colour display with Bluetooth connectively replace an LCD display for 2021 and doesn’t look too dissimilar to an exotic MV Agusta’s.

Elsewhere the spec level belies its bargain basement price: keyless ignition, two riding modes (Sport, Eco), a USB charger, adjustable brake and clutch levers, an electric screen, automatic seat and fuel flap release, a cubby hole under the dash, rack, bullbars, handguards, LEDs, backlit switches and a metal tab on the pillion peg for a disc lock and MV stainless-steel 'cool touch' stacked end cans, that won’t burn luggage or your pillion’s leg. Hard adventure-style panniers and top box are also available as an accessory.

Specs

Engine size 312cc
Engine type Liquid-cooled, 4v single
Frame type Tubular steel spine
Fuel capacity 15 litres
Seat height 840mm
Bike weight 193kg
Front suspension Upside down 37mm forks, non adjustable
Rear suspension Single shock, non adjustable
Front brake 260mm disc with twin-piston calipers. ABS
Rear brake 210mm rear disc with single-piston caliper. ABS
Front tyre size 110/70 x 17
Rear tyre size 150/60 x 17

Mpg, costs & insurance

Average fuel consumption -
Annual road tax £55
Annual service cost £140
New price £4,299
Used price £2,300 - £2,500
Insurance group -
How much to insure?
Warranty term Two years

Top speed & performance

Max power 35 bhp
Max torque 22 ft-lb
Top speed 93 mph
1/4 mile acceleration -
Tank range -

Model history & versions

Model history

  • 2019: Model introduced
  • 2021: Updated with a tweaked name (ZT310-T), Euro 5 updates, a slipper clutch and Bosch fuel injection replacing Delphi. Bigger fuel tank and brake discs, TFT colour dash and comes with 19in spoked or 17in cast wheels.

Other versions

R 310 (naked) and X 310 (faired sports). Essentially the same mechanicals with different styling and ergonomics.

Owners' reviews for the ZONTES T 310 (2019 - on)

6 owners have reviewed their ZONTES T 310 (2019 - on) and rated it in a number of areas. Read what they have to say and what they like and dislike about the bike below.

Review your ZONTES T 310 (2019 - on)

Summary of owners' reviews

Overall rating: 4.7 out of 5 (4.7/5)
Ride quality & brakes: 4.2 out of 5 (4.2/5)
Engine: 4.2 out of 5 (4.2/5)
Reliability & build quality: 4.5 out of 5 (4.5/5)
Value vs rivals: 4.7 out of 5 (4.7/5)
Equipment: 4.8 out of 5 (4.8/5)
Annual servicing cost: £140
4 out of 5 A good all round bike, but not without its issues.
21 July 2023 by HeloTippers

Version: T2

Year: 2020

Annual servicing cost: £200

I had this bike from new and it has been a reliable commuter but it has had a few issues along the way.

Ride quality & brakes 4 out of 5

The ride quality is pretty good, its a comfortable bike with the big gel seat. I have the Shad luggage system fitted so my pillion was leaning on that and completely comfortable on our 150+ mile ride.Its a big bike but its also very light, its also not massively powerful but it isn't slow. This makes it a lot of fun to throw around corners with the peace of mind you aren't overdoing it.

Engine 3 out of 5

The engine copes well but it isn't particularly exciting being a single cylinder, there isn't much of a difference between the sports and eco modes, if accelerating in eco mode, sport mode will automatically kick in around 7k rpm but its not massively noticeable. In eco mode ive managed about 300 miles on a single tank, but this was being mindful not to let it go into sport mode at any time, which was pretty dull to be honest.I've definitely not tried to find out the top speed of about 110mph...The engine sounds ok, but does have a bit of that single cylinder 'whine'.

Reliability & build quality 3 out of 5

Overall the bike's construction and materials are good however I have experienced a couple of problems: - The RH headlight daytime LED failed resulting in the loss of the RH indicator and required the whole headlight unit to be replaced as it is one sealed item. - Although it is considered a wear and tear part, the factory fitted chain is low quality and prone to stretching, no amount of tensioning allowed me to keep it the proper tension until I eventually replaced it.- The rear type pressure sensor frequently displayed a low pressure warning despite being inflated correctly, the sensor has now failed and needs replacing, I am yet to find out how to correctly pair the new sensor to the bike's onboard system.- I have used this bike in all weather so there is some corrosion to the exhaust pipes and spots of rust forming which need keeping on top of, but this is not unexpected for my usage.

Value vs rivals 5 out of 5

I have had the bike serviced at the same garage I bought it from, they were fairly pricey but they also understood the bike, as at the time there were not many in the country yet.I generally paid between £150-£200 depending on the size of the service, the initial cost is fairly high due to the low mileage intervals required in the manual, but this soon spaces out to a normal servicing schedule.

Equipment 4 out of 5

I love the toys on the bike, the USB charger is great, the electronic windscreen actually makes a difference during the ride, the electronic fuel and seat release are fun but not massively necessary.The electronic seat release has caused some minor issues as my Scottoiler drained my battery and I was unable to remove the seat to charge it back up.Thankfully the charger comes with an adapter which plugs in behind a plate above the rear wheel which allows charging of the battery without having to get under the seat.There are some good features on the bike's computer system. The displays are changeable which is nice, along with the brightness. There is also a tyre pressure monitoring system but as mentioned, I have had issues with this. I have found the fuel monitor to be pretty accurate along with the tank's estimated range.

Buying experience: I bought this from a dealer after having major issues with the Zontes ZT125 G, I asked if they could get any in and they did a bit of enquiring and managed to get one shipped in - I think I paid around £4300 for it.

5 out of 5 Zontes zt310
06 October 2022 by Shogun

Version: 2nd generation

Year: 2021

Annual servicing cost: £120

Excellent value for money small cc bike..there are no issues,it suits me...i was looking for a lighter bike but with road presence,not small physically,after years of riding large heavy bikes.This bike would suit a2 license holders and experienced riders alike..recommended.

Ride quality & brakes 4 out of 5

Adequate suspension,nimble in town,dual carriageways fine,yet to try motorways and derestricted A roads,brakes again adequate.

Engine 4 out of 5

Power is fine for a small capacity machine,reasonabley smooth for a single.

Reliability & build quality 5 out of 5

well made,no corrosion,i have just bought it,early days.

Value vs rivals 5 out of 5

I will probably have it serviced at local dealer to keep service book up to date.

Equipment 5 out of 5

TFT screen excellent,Loboo top case is excellent quality,I have bridgestone battleaxes fitted,no off road use.

Buying experience: Dealer bought,paid 3650,this included top case witch is expensive.

5 out of 5 T310 Zontes great value
11 January 2022 by Lionel Patterson

Version: T310

Year: 2020

Annual servicing cost: £120

Exceptional specification for the price. Comfortable and pleasant to ride. Battery capacity is marginal and really needs a intelligent charger to keep it topped up when not used. The 19 inch front wheel was a mistake for me as it makes the seat too high. Should have tried it first.

Ride quality & brakes 5 out of 5

Definitely comfortable and no surprises, except better performance for a 312cc than I imagined. Riding mates thought it was larger engine.

Engine 5 out of 5

Engine is very willing and economical. Gearbox is good. I have fitted a one tooth larger gearbox sprocket to keep engine from buzzing on fast roads. Worth doing as close ratio box means using six gear quite early.

Reliability & build quality 5 out of 5

Paint on the rear light mount chipped, could be stone damage though.

Value vs rivals 5 out of 5

Service intervals are quite short but compares to Harley Davidson costs (previous bike) they are cheap...

Equipment 5 out of 5

What's not to like ? All equipment is well made and sturdy. Enough switches to keep nerds happy. The eco/ sport button is probably unnecessary though. Adjustable screen is good on motorways.

Buying experience: Dealer. Inta Motorcycles Maidstone. £5500 I think. Had full pannier and top box added on order. Around £800 of the total figure.

4 out of 5 Great Looking, Feature-Packed Economical Runabout with Adventure Touring Ergonomics
25 June 2020 by SolidZebra

Year: 2020

Great Value, Looks Fantastic, Loaded with Features, More Polished than Expected, More Show than Go, Adventure Ergonomics, Pseudo-Adventure components

Ride quality & brakes 3 out of 5

As an economical runabout, 5 out of 5. Given the limitations of its suspension and compared to what is state-of-the-art, a 2 out of 5. Hence the 3 out of 5 rating. Everything works, but is not state-of-the-art.

Engine 5 out of 5
Reliability & build quality 4 out of 5

My brother and I bought two of these to tool around dirt roads and run errands at our shared second home. We added Givi top boxes for US$80 each (factory three piece luggage was US$800 each). These bikes have filled the bill completely. We are long term riders and have 6 bikes between us in our home garages, several of which are established dual purpose adventure bikes (KTM, Ducati and Aprilia). In terms of quality, everything works, and this bike has more unique (and sometimes superfluous) details than the more expensive bikes. The cartoonish beeps, the electric windscreen, the electronic seat and gas compartment latches are amusing and work, but in the long run, and on a real adventure tour, are just doodads that can break and cause unnecessary headaches. Adventure bikes are all about functionality and components built to withstand adverse conditions. The Zontes is more about appearances. It is clearly a small road bike wearing Adventure Bike makeup. Hence Plastic covers that imitate steel structural elements and components, funky metallic gold paint on the handlebars, crash bars, side stand and other bits, and the tallest handlebar clamp in the world to provide and adventure bike look. Is this bad? Yes if you expect to do serious touring, not at all if you are looking for a fun practical bike with great ergonomics that looks like the real deal.

Value vs rivals 5 out of 5

Both Zontes together cost less than any other bike we have. Fuel lasts forever...the range is longer than any other bike I own. ANd Zontes provided the first filter and a battery charger for the lightweight lithium battery.

Equipment 5 out of 5

The 2020 TFT color display is impressive as a feature, and unexpected at this price. That and the overall look and ergonomics are top features.

Buying experience: Great...I ordered over the phone and had both bikes delivered to my home.

5 out of 5
05 December 2019 by FREDERICK

Year: 2019

Nice bike I like it

Ride quality & brakes 5 out of 5

Good for curves

Engine 3 out of 5
Reliability & build quality 5 out of 5

Waow

Value vs rivals 3 out of 5
Equipment 5 out of 5

Neat

Buying experience: I now need one

5 out of 5 The Chinese Motorcycle comes of age.
26 August 2019 by CB

Year: 2019

Annual servicing cost: £100

The extras given with this bike are exceptional. The quality is of a very high standard and the engine is smooth running for a single.

Ride quality & brakes 4 out of 5

The suspension is obviously non adjustable but copes very well either on or off road.

Engine 5 out of 5

Engine performance is excellent and good torque from third gear. Cruises easily at motorway speeds and above.

Reliability & build quality 5 out of 5

2000kms done so far not one problem.

Value vs rivals 5 out of 5
Equipment 5 out of 5

Electric screen, keyless ignition, crash bars, hand guards and more unbelievably value for money.

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