Test Fantic 125 XE and 250 XEF: ready to win?
Both in enduro and motocross, we are witnessing the great return of Fantic. The Italian brand is back with serious ambitions in both disciplines and its machines seem to have what it takes to become winners. This was confirmed on the field with the XE125 and XEF250 enduro models, and we were not disappointed!
In 1968, Mario Agrati and Henry Keppel (two former Garelli employees) created the FANTIC brand. In the 70s and 80s they had their glory years with three world titles in trials, and then several international titles in the enduro category. The next years will be less glorious as the Italian manufacturer will experience financial difficulties that will push the brand into bankruptcy in 1998.
In 2003, Fantic is bought by Federico Fregnan, an Italian industrialist passionate about the brand and enduro. He renews production and revives several of the brand's flagship models, while launching new models to revive the brand's glorious past in enduro.
In 2012 Fantic launched a 50cc 2-stroke enduro motorcycle renowned for its performance and quality as well as other 2 and 4-stroke enduro models. A new chapter in the brand's history started in 2014, when Fantic was bought by Venetwork, a group of investors from Veneto. The management of the company has since been entrusted to Mariano Roman, former technical director of Aprilia and Guzzi. Today, thanks to the partnership with Yamaha, Fantic Motor is back on the market with a new high-tech enduro range, and always with an image associated with care for design and passion for off-road.
It was in 2019, at the mecca of off-road shows in Italy, that Fantic unveiled what was to be the future of the brand, the would see. Today, thanks to JF-Racing and SM Bike, we were able to test not only the 125 125-stroke, but also one of the very first 125 2-strokes that has just arrived on Belgian soil.
We performed these tests in two parts. First we were able to drive about 70 km in the Brabant countryside in fairly cool temperatures and some March wet snow. A week later we found ourselves in a private wooded area under a beautiful late winter sun, with two short, fast and technical stages to assess the two bikes.
XEF250
From the start we asked ourselves several questions, the most important one being: is the
The answer to our questions did not take long, the Italians have prepared a 250 4-stroke motorcycle that is very well adjusted. In the Fantic we find all the know-how and expertise that the brand has had in this discipline for years.
This may sound like a rather radical and simple opinion, but we found this machine to be perfect. Usually, when we take it out of the crate, we always have some comment to make to be completely satisfied with the engine. With this 250 4-stroke, this is indeed the first time that we really have nothing to complain about. It's simple, we keep the engine as it is. Of course, you'll need to take some time to adjust the levers, steering wheel and gear lever to your taste, but once these basic operations are done, just press the starter button and you'll be ready to go for a spin or start chasing lap times.
The ergonomics are impeccable, you immediately find a good sitting position. The steering, the saddle, the suspension, nothing deserves criticism, the operation is direct, intuitive, easy. While the WR-F base is already a good reference, on the Fantic you clearly feel the work of the Italian engineers. Meticulous work has been done in developing the engine, it is round, smooth but also very lively, it will take you anywhere without reluctance and without you having to stretch your arms.
At no point did we feel like we were lacking power, whether on the rolling roads or on the slow, technical stages. This engine is well balanced and performs well at all levels. As for the chassis, we liked the stable and reassuring behavior of the Yamaha, the suspensions offer a smoother feel than on the WRF, here too we feel the work of the Italians.
Conclusion, this XEF 250 will probably have a lot of success. With a fairly successful design, a proven and reliable foundation, and the know-how of enthusiasts and connoisseurs, you get what will probably be a future bestseller.
125
The XE 125 offered by Fantic is the XC (XCountry) version and not the YZ (MX). We already had the chance to test an MX Action hardened YZ 125, this was our first ride with this XC version. Wow! This 125 feels very light, whether in tight corners or technical sections. The work on the suspension makes the bike very comfortable, but also much more enjoyable in enduro-style sections than the YZ version.
Despite its small displacement, the engine is powerful at the bottom, you can drive in first or second gear and the engine pulls surprisingly well for a 125. You wonder how Fantic's engineers managed to find so much torque at low revs without losing it at mid and high revs. What a pleasure to test a real 125 enduro!
The only criticism we could make of this 125 is the access to the air filter. This is only possible after you have removed the battery. On the other hand, the fuel tank is a liter larger than the previous model, but still very slender, which is good for a comfortable long ride.
We end with a point that both engines have in common, the Arrow exhaust system. Both the 125 and 250 have benefited from close collaboration with Italian exhaust specialist Arrow. The performance is there, while maintaining an acceptable noise level for connoisseurs. As you can see, whether it is the 125 2-stroke or the 250 4-stroke, we have fallen for the charm of these beautiful Italian engines. It's quite rare to test motorcycles that we like from the start.
If you're looking for a 125 2-stroke or a 250 4-stroke, whether for riding, for fun, or for timed rides, you won't be disappointed with the new Fantic. If you are not interested in these two engines, we can only advise you to wait, because the work of the Italian engineers seems to be paying off. We are already looking forward to testing the future 250 and 300 two-stroke engines (with fuel injection), as well as the 450 four-stroke. The range should grow even more in the future, because the Fantic catalog should eventually contain a total of 9 models (MX and Enduro).
We took advantage of the presence of Edouard Charles de Moor to ask him his opinion about the two engines:
“I know the Yamaha well, because it is my third WRF 250 (2018/2019/2020). I really like the Fantic, it is of course very similar to my Yam, but you can immediately see that work has been done to refine the engine. The plastic of the Fantic stands out with different mudguards, a very nice headlight plate with a quality optic, which is quite rare on an original enduro motorcycle. I also liked the grip of the seat. With its original Renthal fatbar the riding position is identical to my WRF, but I'm curious about the exact weight of the two bikes as the Fantic seems lighter. In terms of handling, it is very easy to steer and stable, the Yam frame is known and recognized for its qualities.
The application for the 250 4-stroke allows you to play with the performance and power of the motorcycle. I tried the different mappings available, but I had the most fun with the SOFT mode. In this configuration the engine pulls as it should, without the arms running wild. I think that even in a race, with this mapping, you can get the best out of it because it allows you to be more pure in the stretches without getting carried away by the power.
As for the original Arrow line, we can also feel that the engineers have worked hard to free the engine at all speeds. To conclude with this Negative points...I can't think of any, I really enjoyed it! “
“As for the XE 125, I admit that I am not a 2-stroke rider at all. I'm used to the engine braking of the 4-stroke and I'm having a hard time finding the best range with the 2-stroke in general. Having said that, I must admit that this little 125 shows a nice liveliness and availability, it is very playful and in the end you find your tracks quite easily. For young people who want to start in enduro, this is certainly a bike that should please.
APP WiGET
The XEF 250 is a connected motorcycle. Like Yamaha, FANTIC offers an application to change the mapping of your engine. From SOFT, to HARD to STANDARD, you can choose. Given the slippery conditions, we drove in the SOFT mode, which offered the best traction. On MX terrain, the HARD mode provides more response. You don't want to think too hard during a ride, the SOFT mode gives you everything you need. And if you're an engineer, you can change a whole bunch of specific parameters.
WHAT'S NEW?
XE 125: EURO5 homologation, , complete electrical wiring harness with battery, LED headlight plate, complete odometer (trip meter, hour meter etc...), hand protectors, double grip racing saddle cover.
- headlight plate, complete odometer (trip odometer, hour meter, etc…), hand protectors, double grip racing seat cover.
RACE KIT & ACCESSORIES
Fantic will launch within a few weeks a race kit for each bike, as well as a wide range of accessories that will allow the bikes to be personalized and made even more radical.
Prices & availability
XE 125: EUR 8.490 VAT
XEF 250: EUR 9.490 VAT
Availability: in stock
Info: jfcabu@hotmail.com – s.m.bike@hotmail.com
Text & photos: Frédéric David
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