AJS 71 Desert Scrambler 125 2022 — Specifications

At a time when an A1 license often feels like a punishment with underpowered machines, the AJS 71 Desert Scrambler 125 throws a stone into the pond. It doesn't claim to imitate large displacement bikes, but offers a much more appealing idea: that of a real motorcycle, light and mischievous, with a taste for adventure. Its 124 cc four-stroke single-cylinder engine, square like a dice with its bore and stroke both measuring 54 mm, delivers barely a dozen horsepower. We're talking about a top speed approaching 100 km/h, but that's not the essential thing.

The soul of this machine lies in its proportions and attitude. At 126 kg, fully fueled, it boasts a wheelbase of 1340 mm and a ground clearance of 200 mm worthy of a true trail bike, promising to leave the beaten path without trembling. The USD fork and tires with generous sidewalls confirm this vocation. The 13.5-liter tank, coupled with a frugal consumption of 2.2 liters per 100 km, is a passport to escape, not to the gas station. The braking system, with its combined system, is there to bring a too-enthusiastic beginner back to reality.

The steel frame, the 76 cm seat, and the stripped-down scrambler look combine to form honest mechanics. It assumes its 125 cc status without complexes, with a simplicity that recalls the Honda CB125T of yesteryear. Chain transmission on a five-speed gearbox is robust and unsurprising. It’s a loyal platform, which doesn’t hide its limitations but offers in return immediate maneuverability and pleasure. We are far from the garish plastics and constrained ergonomics that often populate this segment.

The AJS 71 Desert Scrambler 125 is aimed at the young license holder who refuses the simple urban gadget, the aspiring traveler in search of dirt roads, or even the seasoned motorcyclist looking for a second, unpretentious and economical mount. It won’t win any races, won’t tow any bulky luggage, but it will make every little trip much more fun than average. It’s a return to basics, a declaration of independence on two wheels that proves that character is not measured in cubic centimeters.