CHINA SYNDROME
Power: 43bhp Weight: 150kg Engine: 449cc liquid-cooled, 4v single Price: £6399
THIS TIME LAST year Fantic weren’t really on anyone’s radar and why would they be? The recently resurgent Treviso factory, a skimming stone’s throw from Venice has started out small with 125s, 250s and electric pushbikes their bread and butter. But their new Caballero Scrambler 500 is set to change all that and challenge the retro establishment.
But the engine is Chinese. Yes, it is, but this single cylinder lightweight lump of pure joy is a purring, gem of a thing. It’s packed full of punch, has a perfect throttle, a poppy scrambler soundtrack and a penchant for walking pace wheelies.
Best of all is the price and what you get for your money. £6399 is all you’ll need and for that you get proper kit: Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR dual purpose knobblies, spoked wheels, anodised rims, Domino grips, LED lights, upside down forks, a wavy disc and radial brake set-up, billet aluminium goodies and a bit of carbon fibre. Paintwork and attention to all the little details are befitting of a machine thousands of pounds more.
The new Fantic conjures up rose-tinted memories of 1970s TV high water mark Kickstart and vogues that cool yellow number board just like a 500cc Grand Prix bike, and it rides beautifully too. It also, and crucially, doesn’t take itself too seriously with unnecessary power, fussy electronic rider aids or a nauseating PR back story. We like that.
You don’t need to be doing a zillion mph to enjoy the Fantic. Anything from a snail’s pace to 60mph is where the good times live, but thanks to its taught suspension, predictable chassis set-up and meaty brakes the Caballero Scrambler 500 can be teased way beyond. Grab it by the collar, stuff it into corners and you’ll come out the other side with a massive grin.
It’s armchair-spacious and being so light it’s easy to paddle around off your drive and is a doddle around town. As far as pure retro riding experiences go the charming Fantic is the surprise of 2019. Simple, light, fun, cheap and brilliant. It’s a giant-killing two-fingered salute to its posher retro rivals. Michael Neeves
‘But the engine is Chinese. Yes, it is, but this single cylinder lightweight lump of pure joy is a purring, gem of a thing…’