Please read the following report which is in this weeks TMX News:
Rieju'S Marathon 200LC trips the lights fantastic
Trail bikes may not be T+MX's staple diet but we do know a good thing when we see one. And trust us, the Rieju Marathon MRT200LC is a very good thing. This is a Proper little trail bike with cool looks, a great spec, good build quality, zippy performance and is light enough for anyone to handle on any sort of going.
We blagged one for a (wet) weekend and to be honest it was a real surprise to discover just what a little gem the Rieju was. It sports a strong, steel, twin-spar frame - with aluminium swinging arm - housing a liquid-cooled Yamaha motor with Keihin carb and aluminium tail pipe. It boasts 40mm Marzocchi USD forks, a PRS link rear suspension, a radial dual piston front caliper and huge 300mm disc. There's full size 21" front, 18" rear alloy rims, alloy bars with domino grips, hand-guards and fork protectors.
The little Yam motor ought to prove to be bullet-proof, it starts with a push of the bar-mounted button, warms-up quickly, sips petrol and pulls surprisingly strongly. The six-speed box is slick and it will sit all day at around 60mph in top. In bottom gear the Marathon will easily tackle any climb in the country while in between the close knit cogs are perfect for the trails - and you will have maximum fun doing so. Why? Because it is so light and manageable, riding the Rieju off-road is a blast. And it is just as much of a blast swooping along poorly maintained B roads. In fact the worse the surface the more fun you'll have. This little 200 thrives on loose surfaces and pot-holes. Take care with that front brake though as the radial caliper and whopping 300mm disc can easily have the front rubber squealing on tarmac. Just squeeze the lever gently for awesome stopping power.
This is a bike you can use a lot.
If you want a big, heavy brute-force enduro bike for your 'trail' riding then this is not for you. This is for those who want a genuine trail bike. Some-one who used to buy a Honda CR230. The Rieju scales a truly featherweight 107kg. Compare that to the Kawasaki KLX250's positively porky 139kg. Sure the Kwack is a lot more powerful and quicker on the road but the weight is a real handicap on heavy off-road going.
In short, the Marathon MRT200LC, based on its learner-legal 125cc sibling, is the trail bike find of the year. It's a quality-built, snappy handling, zippy performing, cool looking, super-light little trailie that is also excellent value for money at just £3599 inc VAT.
Expect to see more and more Rieju's on the trail.
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