It’s no secret that the SA economy has been under the cosh for some time. Global issues have also impacted the fuel prices in a big way, which in turn impacts the prices of most commodities. As motorcyclists, we have two choices. Either we do push-ups on our pen knives and sob quietly into our beers, or we do what we do best. Get on your bike and ride through this magnificent countryside with which we have been blessed, letting the everyday issues fade into the ether. We do have the reality of expense to contend with, though. Enter QJ Motor’s SRT 700SX. The fit and finish of my test bike was impressive, and the red paint job looks really good, set off beautifully by the gold rims.
The SRT 700 SX will set you back a mere R129 995. What you get for your hard-earned loot is truly astounding. Providing the thrust is a 698 cc liquid-cooled DOHC parallel twin fed by electronic fuel injection, pumping out 70 hp @ 8000 rpm and 70 Nm of torque @ 6,000 rpm. A 6-speed gearbox puts the power to the tar and is perfectly geared for SA conditions. The SRT has a 10 000 rpm redline and is geared to run at the legal limit with 50% of the revs in reserve. At 5k rpm, the bike trundles along effortlessly, showing 123 km/h on the TFT display and is close enough to its torque peak to respond nicely to throttle input, passing slower traffic without requiring a downshift. I think that in this day and age, with road conditions and traffic volumes being what they are, middleweight bikes are the sweet spot. They are large and powerful enough for two-up touring at highway speed without a purchase price that breaks the bank.
The chassis is tubular steel and utilises Marzocchi suspension. The specs do not give a wheel travel number, but I would estimate travel to be at least 150 mm at each end. Ground clearance is a decent 210 mm. The suspension provides a reasonably damped ride, pretty much on par with any other bike in this class. Brakes are by Brembo, yes, you heard right, Brembo, with 2×320 mm discs up front and a 260 mm rear chap. Brakes are ABS-equipped but cannot be disabled, which, given the stated purpose of the bike as an all-road tourer, is fine.
Wheels are spoked but tubeless, which gives the rider the option to plug, bomb and go in the event of a flat. Vastly more expensive bikes in the middleweight class don’t give you that option. The front wheel is a 110/80×19 and the rear is a 150/70×17 shod with Metzeler Tourance rubber. Brake and clutch levers are adjustable for reach. The windshield is adjustable for height by loosening two hand-adjusted knobs, setting the preferred height and re-tightening—another feature not available on most other middleweights. Now let me really astound you. I collected the bike from KMSA the day before torrential rain and serious early winter cold lashed Gauteng, so the bike really endeared itself to me with some standard features which are unique in this class and especially at this price point.
The excellent rubber and decent suspension really impressed me with total stability despite the atrocious conditions, but it got even better. The hand guards helped to deflect water and wind from my hands, but I also engaged the standard heated grips and heated seat to ward off the frigid cold. Suffice to say, I was sold! Back that up with a sump guard, main stand, crash bars, aluminium top box and panniers, all standard, and literally all you need to hit Botswana and Namibia is your credit card and passport. On the electronics side, I was chuffed to see no traction control, which, in my opinion, is nothing other than an unnecessary intrusion on a bike with user-friendly power delivery. If you need traction control to keep you upright on a 70 hp bike, you need to question whether you should be on a bike at all.
The dash is a TFT display which keeps you informed of the bike’s vitals. Switchgear has illuminated surrounds, so you are not left in the dark when operating the bike at night. There is a USB port mounted in the instrument nacelle for easy access. They really seem to have thought of everything! Attention to detail is astounding. For example, on each side of the motorcycle, where the radiator exhausts the hot air, there are two small protuberances which deflect unwanted heat off the riders’ legs. Impressive! The fuel tank is a decent 19,5 litres, which will translate to a touring range of over 400 k’s at highway speeds. The seat is comfortable all day for both rider and passenger—a must for a bike with this touring ability. The wet weight of the SRT is 246 kg, which you may, at first glance, think is a bit porky. But here is the thing. Look at the equipment that is standard! Main stand, crash bars, panniers, top box, sump guard and hand guards. Most competitor bikes are naked by comparison. Strip off all the extras that are standard on the SRT, and it is right in the weight ballpark.
I enjoyed my time on the SRT 700. Low-key vibrations were apparent through the seat, foot pegs and bars as I negotiated traffic back to my home in Pretoria, but in truth, by the time I returned the bike, and having spent significant time in the saddle, I didn’t even notice them anymore. The engine character is mellow and soft off the bottom, making the SRT 700 super easy to live with, building into a nice mid-range kick. It is really not necessary to rev the hell out of it to really enjoy your ride. The more I rode it, the more it endeared itself to me. The SRT handles really well, exhibiting stability and neutral steering in all conditions and speeds.
So, how do I sum up my time on the SRT? In one word, impressed! It is not only due to the incredibly high level of standard equipment, but also to the riding experience. The fuelling, engine feel, power delivery and handling combine to make the SRT 700 totally unrivalled value for money. All other offerings at this price point give you 500cc or smaller engines, which, practically speaking, exclude long-distance two-up touring. I would really like to do an extended two-up tour on this bike. It delivers on all its promises and then some. Commute in the week and then pop the panniers on for weekends away. You can literally buy an SRT 700 and leave the next day on tour without having to buy a single extra! Add to that the backing of KMSA, and it has to be the travel bike for the thinking man.
QJ Motor SRT 700 SX
For more information on the bike featured in this article, click on the link below…
