Lexmoto Viper Review (2017)

What Is It Like?

Lexmoto Viper 2020

Tell us a bit about you

I’m a 28 year old male from Darwen, England. I rode back when I was 16, up to 19, then I stopped riding and picked it up again when I was 27.

I’ve owned a Sym Jet 50, a Peugeot Speedfight 50, a Yamaha YZF-R125 and my current Lexmoto Viper.

Why did you choose it?

It was a cheap alternative to paying £70 a month on the bus to get to work. Financing this at £90 a month along with having my own form of transport to go anywhere I want was a no brainer.

What is good about it?

I like a lot about this bike and with it being Chinese, it’s really surprised me and surpassed all of my expectations.

It will sit comfortably at around 60-65 mph with a top speed of around 75 (Speedo indicated). I’m 15 stone so I’m not exactly a scrawny person either.

The styling of the bike is great. It doesn’t look or feel like a small bike.

What could be improved?

It could do with a 6th gear and possibly a wider rear tyre, but those are just my preferences. Nothing that actually hinders the performance.

I guess the metals that are used could be better, but it is Chinese. The bikes are definitely getting better from China.

Any mods or upgrades?

• Lextek YP4 full exhaust system
• Lextek levers
• Oxford bar end mirrors
• Upgraded 16T front sprocket
• Combined Brake System delete

What is the economy like?

It has a 14 litre tank, costs around £17 to fill and will do 300 miles off a tank.

How is the engine?

It’s a small 125 cc engine but it’s not too bad. It’s put up with some abuse with me taking it up through the lakes a few times.

I’ve even managed Hardknott Pass and the engine didn’t give out or seem to struggle too much. It’s a very easily serviceable engine for a novice to do themselves.

How does it handle?

The handling is great. The stock tyres, which are CST Magsport, haven’t been an issue as of yet. They’re 8,000 miles in and still have around 3-4 mm of tread left.

Those will be getting replaced soon but the tyre of choice is undecided. Possibly Metzeler Roadtec 01 X-Ply’s.

What are the brakes like?

The brakes are good but I don’t like the CBS style brakes. It gives the feeling that you’re not fully in control, since the front brake automatically applies when the rear brake is pressed on. I’ve gone ahead with a CBS delete for this and the brakes are now excellent.

Is it comfortable?

It’s a really comfortable bike with a nice upright riding position. I did alter the angle of the bars from how the dealer installed them, and I changed the levers as the stock levers were too far out for my liking.

I’ve done many full 8-10 hour days on this bike and my body hasn’t really suffered!

How reliable have you found it?

It’s never broken down on me. I’ve had some minor issues such as the throttle cable snapping, fork seals going and the stock chain stretching, but nothing that’s forced me to take it to a garage and fork out loads of cash to have it fixed.

What's the servicing frequency and cost like?

Servicing is very regular. The intervals are roughly 311 miles, 932 miles, 2,300 miles and then every 2,000 or so after that.

The cost varies by dealer but mine was £70 for a standard service, or £90 with the valves done. I’ve done all my own servicing since the second service.

To Sum Up

The Lexmoto Viper is a great, cheap, all-rounder for someone looking for a 125 on a budget.

- Jamie B, 2021

Related Bikes

Lexmoto Venom - Essentially the same bike but with smaller brakes, a standard fork, no mini-beak at the front and a 35mm lower seat although it does have crash bars around the engine.

The Second Opinion

Lexmoto Viper 2019

Tell us a bit about you

I'm a 38 year old male, 6ft 4 and I have 2 years riding experience with one bike.

Why did you choose it?

To gain experience for the DAS test.

What is good about it?

The styling.

What could be improved?

The quality of metals.

Any mods or upgrades?

Lextek YP4 full exhaust.

What is the economy like?

I see about 260 miles of range to a tank.

How is the engine?

I've never had any issues so far.

How does it handle?

It handles okay but the tyres can be a bit slippy on damp roads.

What are the brakes like?

The brakes are consistent but I would prefer no linked brakes for Winter riding.

Is it comfortable?

I've been on a 3 hour ride and it was comfy enough.

How reliable have you found it?

So far I've had a few hiccups:

• Standard battery didn't last
• Brakes needed to be stripped and rebuilt from dirt ingress after 3 months

What's the servicing frequency and cost like?

At the start it's 300 miles and costs an average of £70.

To Sum Up

The Viper is a good bike for learning on and cheap. I would recommend if you are only gaining the experience to move onto bigger bikes.

- Barry E, 2021

A Few More Thoughts

What's Good?

I’m in love with the bike and it feels like you're riding a proper adult's bike. The 14 litre tank provides more than enough range to go anywhere and it’s quick to 30 / 40 mph but then quite slow progress up to 70 mph.

Mods

The only thing I've done so far is change the mirror sticker kit.

Any Issues?

I've had two issues with it so far but they have both been fixed under warranty. The fuel sensor got stuck on full and the dash suffered condensation on the inside at the first hint of rain.

To Sum Up

I would recommend that any new rider try this bike. In my opinion it’s the best budget bike out there and I only paid £2,000 for it.

Yes it's Chinese but once you have looked at the bike you can see they have changed the game. It’s a massive improvement on the Lexmoto Venom.

- Tommy T, 2019

More Info

Check out this video from Lexmoto.