We don't see many reviews of budget bikes, partly because some editors don't think mainstream riders want to read about anything that doesn't have at least 75kW on its spec sheet and six digits on its price tag.
And partly because distributors don't want their products unfavourably compared with better-established brands.
Well, they're both wrong, because these entry-level machines are the future of motorcycling, just as the much-maligned Japanese clones of 50 years ago have become today's market leaders and, for mainstream bikers with teenage children, which scooter can be relied on to get Sam or Samantha safely to school every day is more importance than whether Superbike A is 0.75km/h faster than Superbike B.
One dealer who isn't afraid to put his budget bikes under scrutiny is Stretch Henrick at Eurobike, who was quite happy to lend me a Big Boy XTG 200 while he worked on my ailing Moto Guzzi.
It is, frankly, old technology - a single overhead cam, two-valve, 198cc air-cooled single with a gritty, five-speed box, unsophisticated cycle parts and no mod cons other than an electric start that's sometimes as reluctant as its rider to get out of bed in the bitter cold of a winter's morning.
But it always starts in the end and does its job. The rattly little engine churns out an unstressed eight kW at 8000rpm and 13Nm at 7000 - enough to keep it ahead of the traffic, although no match for a determined GTI Joe with a point to prove.
Big Boy claims it'll do 95km/h; well, I'm a lot bigger than the teenagers it was designed for and I had to work to get a true 88km/h, but that's more than quick enough for the school run. It cruises nicely at around 75km/h without much vibration although, as with most small singles, there's always a buzz coming from somewhere.
Fuel consumption over a week of commuting and a little green-laning averaged 4.1 litres/100km without any performance testing other than a couple of brief full-throttle runs for the benefit of Mr Garmin and his friends in the sky.
Gearboxes are the most difficult things for a new bikemaker to get right and this one is no better (or worse) than others of its type. It's notchy and occasionally unwilling to change down when hot but a quick double-declutch will always see it back in action - a technique I was taught by a ratty old Suzuki B120 in the early 1970's and which has stood me in very good stead.
The chassis is more of the same - a low-tech tubular-steel double cradle with just-passable welding and a couple of clever touches such as a braced backbone and built-in passenger grab handles.
Suspension is by 30mm conventional, gaitered forks at front and a neat, rectangular-section swing-arm and monoshock linkage at the rear. Travel is limited but neither end bottoms easily, which says much for the maker's choice of spring rates.
13Nm NOT REALLY A BUNDU-BASHER
The maker says the bike is intended for "commuting/gravel road use" but I spent a very pleasant hour or so messing about in a patch of bush near my home. The narrow front tyre helps it track through soft sand and at 860mm the seat is low enough that the rider can get both feet flat on the ground when the going gets rough.
However, 13Nm isn't really enough for bundu-bashing, even in first gear, and I had to abuse the clutch a couple of times to get out of sticky situations - too much of which would probably shorten the life of the plates.
The brakes are surprisingly upmarket, discs at each end with a decent twin-piston calliper on the front wheel that can provoke some misbehaviour from the forks and knobbly tyre if used unwisely. It does, however, have sufficient feel for gentle off-roading, although the rear brake is a little wooden and it's as well it doesn't have sufficient bite to get you in over your head - pun intended.
The saddle is long and fashionably narrow but better padded than it looks, quite comfortable for a hour of commuting, and the bike is big enough to make the relationship between seat, 'bars and 'pegs reasonably adult although very upright - don't think of leaning into the wind on long rides, that's not what this bike is for.
MIXED REPORT
Instrumentation is basic to a fault: a couple of warning lights, an LCD speedometer/odo/tripmeter that's difficult to read in sunlight but even worse at night due to ineffective pale-pink backlighting, and an LED gear position indicator - a nice touch for the young riders this bike is aimed at.
The big issue with budget bikes is always fit and finish and here the Big Boy gets a mixed report. The plastics fit well and seem pretty robust but with less than 400km on the clock the demon rust had already made its appearance on the handlebars - which appeared to have been spray-painted without any preparation whatsoever - and the exhaust.
Two of the indicators came loose during the time I had it and one fell off, which was easily sorted by replacing the nuts with locknuts. No problem, but it should have been done at the factory.
None of that is beyond the capabilities of a teenager with gumption and a bit of self-respect, however, and the important stuff seems durable enough to take a rookie rider through to his or her 18th birthday and first "big bike".
Price:
R11 950
Test bike from Eurobike, Cape Town.
SPECIFICATIONS
ENGINE
Cylinders:
One.
Capacity:
198cc.
Valvegear:
SOHC with two overhead valves per cylinder.
Power:
8kW at 8000rpm.
Torque:
13Nm at 7000.
Induction:
Shengwei PZ30 slide carburettor.
Ignition:
Electronic.
Starting:
Electric/Kick.
TRANSMISSION
Clutch:
Cable-operated multiplate wet clutch.
Transmission:
Five-speed constant-mesh gearbox with final drive by chain.
SUSPENSION
Front:
Conventional leading-axle cartridge forks.
Rear:
Monoshock adjustable for preload.
BRAKES
Front:
Dual 230mm disc with twin-piston floating calliper.
Rear:
190mm disc with single-piston floating calliper.
TYRES
Front:
80/100 - 21 tube type.
Rear:
120/90 - 18 tube type
DIMENSIONS/WEIGHT
Wheelbase:
1370mm.
Seat height:
860mm.
Dry weight:
122kg.
FUEL TANK/CONSUMPTION
12 litres, 4.1 litres/100km.
TOP SPEED
88km/h (measured)
MANUFACTURER SUPPORT
One-year or 10 000km warranty.
SERVICE INTERVALS
5000km.
PRICE
R11 950.
Bike from:
Eurobike, Cape Town