Lexmoto LS-N 125 naked takes aim at its premium rivals

Small capacity Chinese bike specialists Lexmoto are taking aim at the premium end of the learner-legal sports naked market – revealing a new £3799 LS-N 125 complete with mobile connectivity, an LCD dash and more than a hint of Kawasaki-inspired styling.

Yours for £1000 more than the firm’s best-selling LXR125 sportsbike, the LS-N is powered by a 124cc liquid-cooled single-cylinder four-stroke engine built by Chinese company Senke, said to produce 13.5bhp and be capable of 69mph.

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Paired with a six-speed gearbox and weighing in at 159kg dripping wet, the learner legal upright is wrapped in a set of modern, jagged plastics with side scoops mimicking the Yamaha MT-125 and a small headlight cluster reminiscent of Kawasaki’s naked Zed family.

This is then suspended by a set of non-adjustable forks and a mono shock, with braking power provided by a single disc brake at the front and rear – both equipped with ABS. Gripping the road are a pair of Timsun tyres – a brand previously criticised in MCN Lexmoto tests for lacking feel in the cold and wet.

Away from the tyres, there’s a 15.5-litre fuel tank, which should mean plenty of miles between fill ups and a dual exit under slung exhaust is a nice feature not seen on some of the more premium European and Japanese bikes in this sector.

Also nice is the inclusion of in-built crash mushrooms on the frame, which could save the bike from unsightly scuffs, likely to occur with new riders.

What’s more, a colour LED dash displays all of your key information, including revs, gears, speed, trip and more and there’s even Bluetooth connectivity to your phone to allow for music through speakers hidden in the bike’s side vents.

Although arguably a bit of a gimmick, it is a feature that sets it apart from the considerably more expensive £4650 Yamaha MT-125, and £4399 Honda CB125R.

That said, at a penny shy of £3800 the Lexmoto is actually 99p more expensive (every little helps) than the Kawasaki Z125, which joins the Honda and Yamaha in providing more power, likely better build quality and the kudos of a major manufacturer.