New £5k Sinnis Terrain 380 could be the baby GS you need
Three boxes, two cylinders and one low price add up to the Sinnis Terrain 380
‘Its motor is small but the bike isn’t small physically’
‘It feels quite content along a smooth, flat, gravel trail’
Adventure bikes are increasingly defined by big engines, big power and even bigger price tags. But the new Sinnis Terrain 380 does things differently. This A2-compliant parallel twin costs just £4594 on the road – and a mere
£255 extra adds a three-piece suite of lockable aluminium luggage. That’s a quarter of the price of those famous European flagships, half the price of a Yamaha Ténéré, and a solid saving over KTM’s 390 Adventure, BMW’s G310GS or Honda’s CB500X. So, what do you get for this temptingly tiny sum?
Twin speak
Sinnis is the Brighton-based brand emblazoned on the engine cases, but the VIN plate on the tubular steel trellis frame reveals the bike is built by Chinese goliath Zongshen. The twincylinder motor’s design has its roots in Suzuki’s Inazuma 250, but larger pistons swell capacity to 378cc and its top end has been upgraded to four valves per cylinder.
Claimed output is 36bhp, though the motor needs to be spinning hard at 9000rpm (not far off the rev limiter) to access it. Thankfully peak torque (26lb.ft) comes much earlier, at a more usable 6500rpm.
Around town it feels nippy enough, pulling easily through the revs and snicking slickly through the six-speed gearbox with a light clutch action. But overall gearing is very short, which can make it feel revvy when roads open up and speeds increase. In top gear at 60mph the motor sits happily just short of peak torque, but by a motorway cruising speed of 77mph it’s at a frantic 8000rpm. Top speed is around 85mph. Disappointingly fuel economy didn’t get above 50mpg, while valve clearance checks are needed every 4000 miles.
Larger than it looks
Its motor may be small-capacity, but the Terrain 380 isn’t small physically. The 820mm seat height means a 5ft 9in rider can just about get both feet flat on the floor. The handlebar is set high in true adventure-bike fashion, while the rubber-topped lightly serrated footpegs allow reasonable legroom. You feel sat inside the bike, well sheltered behind the tall, wide windscreen, aboard a comfortable (if slightly squidgy) seat. However, those full-size proportions extend to the Terrain’s weight. Sinnis claim a kerb weight of 200kg, but it’s probably more. With its fuel tank brimmed our test bike, complete with its luggage, tips MCN’s digital scales at an eyebrowraising 240kg. It’s unlikely the luggage accounts for that 40kg difference. If you’re a shorter or lessexperienced rider looking for a low, lightweight machine then the Sinnis may prove heftier than expected. But if you’re an average-size type who doesn’t want to feel scrunched up, the Terrain is surprisingly spacious.
Plenty of practicality
From onboard your eyes are mesmerised by the Terrain’s gigantic 7in colour dash. Speed, revs and gear position are all shown clearly, along with a fuel gauge. The display does have a habit of flicking frequently between three different colourschemes though, almost certainly in response to ambient light but, sometimes, seemingly at random. The average fuel economy figure it shows is all over the shop too. The dash is straddled by a pair of power sources – a 12-volt socket to its left and a USB port on the right – so smartphones and satnavs can be kept charged. The dash also boasts Bluetooth, but go to the trouble of pairing your phone and all it’ll do is show when someone’s ringing. More traditional practical touches include standard-fit crash bars and a centrestand. The aluminium luggage set is optional, but for just £255 it’s a no-brainer. The only downsides are that the boxes use separate keys, the right-hand pannier sticks out further than the left (due to the silencer), and the topbox isn’t quick-release.
Chassis spec looks promising, from the beefy upside-down forks with adjustable damping to the four-piston radially mounted brake calipers and large petal discs. In practice, the setup works reasonably well at steady speeds, but try to ride sportily and the components’ limits quickly become apparent. The brakes have fairly good feel but need a strong squeeze if you need to stop sharply. Hit a bump with any lean angle and the springy shock pogos around, lacking in control. And while the adventure-treaded Timsun tyres behave fine in the dry, they struggle to generate grip or confidence when it’s wet.
Tiptoeing along a smooth, flat gravel trail the Terrain 380 proves quite content. The riding position feels natural standing up, the bike is nicely balanced between your knees, and the soft response from the motor and brakes is unlikely to catch you out. But for anything gnarlier it needs a bashplate to protect the engine, handguards to cover levers, and more capable tyres.