Sinnis GPX 125 (2022) review | Sports bike on a budget

If you’re fresh on your CBT, on a budget, and after a sports bike with a bit of style, the Sinnis GPX 125 could be calling your name.

Alex headed over to Lightning Storm Motorcycles in Lowestoft - home of Motors for the Masses - to test out the latest 125cc sports bike from China from a brand (Sinnis) which finds a home down in Brighton.

But don’t let any prejudices get in the way here, the days of dodgy Chinese-built bikes can be considered to be all but over - a plentiful number of parts are available, and build quality has noticeably improved from a number of years back, yet ultimately the tempting price point still prevails, here.

How much is the Sinnis GPX 125?

Priced at £3,399 (OTR cost may up this slightly, but Lightning Storm were keen to let me know their price is £3,399 including OTR), the Sinnis GPX 125 is new for 2022 and is available now in Carbon Black & Ultimate Grey (as seen on the test).

If bought brand-new, the Sinnis GPX 125 will come with a 1-year parts & labour warranty, 1-year of breakdown cover, with the parts warranty extending for an extra year on top.

Style-wise, it’s super sporty & stylish, very reminiscent of the Yamaha R125, which no doubt many younger riders will be eyeing up as their dream option - this GPX could well serve as an attractive alternative.

Rivals on the market include the cheaper options of Lexmoto LXR 125 (£3,099) & Lexmoto LXS (£3,099), with premium options including the Yamaha R125 (£5,000), Aprilia RS125 (£4,850) and Suzuki GSX-R125 (£4,699). You could also consider the Super Soco TC Max (£4,399) if you’re welcoming of an electric future.

Whilst it is a smidgen more on the wallet than the top-selling Lexmoto, the GPX 125 is far cheaper than the big-brand options, which in my opinion are creeping into outrageous territory for a 125cc machine.

You could argue it’s like going for a microwave burger when there’s a homemade flame-grilled burger on offer - but sometimes you just want a burger, and you’re working on a budget…

Engine

Fitted with a Euro 5 compliant 124cc liquid-cooled single-cylinder motor, peak power is approximately 12.7 BHP @ 9500 rpm, with torque peaking at 10.6 Nm @ 7500 rpm. The motor itself is also found in the Sinnis Terrain 125 (or Sinnis T125), albeit tuned a little bit differently.

Sinnis say 3 years of development across the model range has allowed this motor to be finely tuned in for both low & ‘high’ speed riding, giving good throttle response and smooth power. To be honest, I’d have to agree - it was easy to ride and happy to be revved.

Power delivery is screamed through 6 gears, getting me (at 14 stone) to an indicated 72 mph in wet weather. Whilst indicated and real speed are two very different matters - even the case on bigger bikes - it was enough to comfortably keep up with other cars on the road, especially on dual carriageways where that’s vital for self-preservation.

In order to reach maximum velocity, you’ll need to rev each and every gear to redline making use of the peak power found at the top, shifting regularly. Other premium models may have quickshifters, but if that were to add a few hundred quid to the price the GPX would start to lose its edge in price over rivals.

Attempting to quickly build speed in 5th gear is not worth the time, and certainly warrants a few downshifts - though, this is absolutely a 125cc affliction. You’ll have to be very positive with your gear shifts around 1st & 2nd to avoid false neutrals, but the gearbox was a very clicky outside of that with a nice and light clutch, and 6th is very tall - allowing you to cruise at 70 mph without bouncing off the limiter.

Where you’ll find the most fun on one of these is on the twisty back roads, where maintaining your speed through successive corners is motorcycling in its purest form - and ultimately a huge amount of fun.

Weight, Brakes, Suspension 

Weighing in at 158 kg, the GPX runs with a tubular steel frame, with a sporty riding position promoted by an 816mm seat height and clip-on bars. You’ll find a 48mm upside-down telescopic fork and linkage rear mono-shock for suspension, which felt rather firm for me, but provided a consistent feel when riding - and I’d imagine the typical rider may weigh less than this 6’4”~ test rider.

The 17-inch wheels run an unknown-to-me brand of rubber (that I’d certainly look to swap to some name brand alternatives for greater grip in the wet), and braking power is provided by a single 276mm disc up front and 220 disc at the rear - with brightly coloured red callipers. Whilst there is no ABS, there is a Combined Braking System to apply some braking pressure to the front and rear simultaneously. 

I’m always a bit wary of CBS, as it can be unsettling when you apply the rear brake and the front comes on, but once used to the subtle front dive, it didn’t get in the way of normal riding.

Back to the riding position, and whilst my short test ride can be no indicator of long-term comfort, I was happily riding away on the nearby country lanes - and with prior experience on other 125cc sports bikes (all the way up to middleweight and litre bikes), it was a true sports bike ride with rear sets and clip-ons to encourage a good ol’ twist of the wrist.

Tech and dash?

Switching on the Sinnis GPX 125 you’re greeted with a cacophony of colour from the digital instrument panel, displaying the essential info plus fuel gauge, gear indicator, time & odometer - with a couple of buttons to flick through other information. It’s brightly lit, simple and very clear.

Tank size is 12 litres, and whilst I certainly didn’t come close to using a full tank on the ride, low-capacity single-cylinder motorcycles are seriously frugal to run, you’d probably get around 80 miles per gallon if you ride sensibly!

Switchgear is laid out nicely, though when you’re up in the revs the mirrors will vibrate a huge amount, and on the test bike I was riding the left mirror was wobbled out of position on a number of occasions. 

Naturally, there are no rider modes or electronics to worry about - just switch on and go.

You’ll find LED running lights with LED headlights neatly integrated into the front fairing, completing the stylish look - and for me, it’s certainly on par with other sports bike offerings. The ‘Ultimate Grey’ colour really stands out in a sea of black motorcycles.

Sinnis GPX 125 verdict

When it comes to finding a bit of budget fun on two wheels, the 125cc market can be a step in for many riders who are looking to get a taste of sports bike life with a fresh CBT certificate in their hands. A huge consideration for a first step into the motorcycle world, at least in my mind, is the initial cost versus style - and the Sinnis GPX 125 firmly ticks these boxes.

Sporty, easy to ride, a revving machine, I’d certainly love to razz around a track on one of these to see what it’s got - perhaps a Visordown 125cc Challenge Cup is in order…

Anyway, it may not have a quickshifter and ABS, but the price point of the GPX is a huge factor for those after a 125cc machine to get to grips with for a couple of years.

I can’t comment on build quality long-term (though Lightning Storm told me there haven’t been any major customer complaints with the GPX 125 at their dealership), but a 2-year parts warranty would allow that peace of mind if you’re eyeing up a move to A2 middleweight motorcycles.

The Sinnis GPX 125 is a true sports bike that provides just as many thrills per mile as the rest on the market, but for a cheaper price.

Check out more spec on the Sinnis website.