Keel for learning the basics of off-roading
As a novelty on the market this year, a new concept was introduced - two-seater recreational sport bikes. The line is called Randonne, which is French for hiking, climbing, which clearly shows us what the motorcycle is designed for.
In Moto magazine, we gladly accepted the invitation of Jak Ogris, who represents the Gas Gas brand in Slovenia. Since Jaka is a master of the test (this year he will compete in the Austrian Championship, the Cup of Nations in Spain and the Slovenian Championship, if at all), we expected that testing the new TX Randonne 125cc motorcycle would definitely be educational and fun. in the same time.
The TX Randonne 125cc (there is also a more powerful 200cc version) is a "dual-sport" bike that is a mixture of trials and enduro. Quite easy to handle, lightweight, weighs only 86 kg (without liquid) and is designed for undemanding users who want to gradually and correctly master the technique of riding off-road motorcycles. Thus, it is also very suitable for additional training of young enduro and cross-country participants.
On first contact with the motorcycle, the sensation was quite unusual. Everything is done while standing (although it also has a seat that can be easily removed), the seat is more of an emergency, does not bother at all during a test ride, but also comes in handy when using the motorcycle in a more urban environment, for example, for everyday activities, jumping to the store, on a date or something like that while driving is very easy and simple.
The clutch is long and very precise, which is what we expected, given that it is a staple on a test drive. The clutch is almost never fully released. The throttle valve, which is open all the time, is also very important, so the engine is constantly spinning and ready to react quickly. The Randonne 125cc is very suitable for learning the basics of driving techniques.
The design and components of the engine are at a satisfactory level, even the brakes are doing their job properly. The engine gives a sense of reliability and didn't really surprise me negatively during testing, although it is small and light, it does well in the field.
Later Yaka prepared a trial "section" for us and showed how to drive it correctly. He also theoretically explained to us the correct approach to driving certain sections of the site. In general, the test pays great attention to psychological preparation, since concentration is mandatory to achieve balance, which is one of the most important factors in successfully overcoming obstacles.
The TX Randonne 125cc is powered by an air-cooled, four-stroke, single-cylinder engine with five gears. The gear ratios between gears are larger compared to classic tests, which also provides faster and smoother off-road driving, and you can also drive into town if you like. For example, going to the store after a small purchase, since the motorcycle is also legal for road traffic. It has a fairly transparent multifunction display on the steering wheel, it is started by pressing the starter button or feet.
Less than two hours later (after just an hour I had to change my clutch finger due to cramps) I was pleasantly tired and satisfied with some of the basics of test driving. I will definitely come back to the challenge someday as it is really fun, so I recommend it to anyone under stress to relax. As a curiosity, Jaka also offers customized workouts, 2 hours will cost you a reasonable 20 euros.
Summary: A very simple and versatile off-road motorcycle designed for anyone looking to hone their technique in their spare time while having fun and fun at the same time.
More information can be found on the official website of the Slovenian motorcycle dealer Gas Gas www.ogrismoto.si.
Uros Jakopic, photo: Uros Jakopic, Mark Mavretic
