Geon CR6Z 2022 — Specifications

In the saturated market of small displacement motorcycles, it takes a considerable amount of nerve to launch a carbureted motorcycle in 2022. Geon, a Chinese brand little known on our roads, takes up the challenge with this CR6Z. Its 224 cc single-cylinder engine, a two-valve four-stroke, claims 18.5 horsepower at 8500 rpm, a power output that clearly places it in the A1 category. The six-speed gearbox and mixed oil-air cooling are serious assets, but the choice of mechanical fuel delivery versus the omnipresent electronic injection raises questions about the manufacturer’s priorities.

Technically, the CR6Z plays the card of robust simplicity. The steel tubular frame, the classic telescopic fork, and the steel swingarm paired with two shock absorbers recall architectures proven twenty years ago. The braking system, with a single disc at the front with a two-piston caliper and another at the rear, announces modest but probably sufficient performance to contain the 125 km/h top speed. The 80/90 and 130/70 tires, both 17-inch, confirm the versatile orientation of this naked bike, capable of weaving through city streets without shunning back roads.

What strikes you is this feeling of going back in time. In a segment where Honda CB125R and KTM 125 Duke models focus on aggressive design and sophisticated electronics, the Geon CR6Z assumes a basic, almost austere profile. The 18-liter fuel tank is a good idea, promising considerable range, and the wheelbase of 1360 mm with a ground clearance of 260 mm should guarantee correct stability. But it’s hard to imagine this model competing with the finish and responsiveness of European or Japanese products, even just in terms of the feel in use.

The CR6Z may find its meaning in a very specific context: that of the novice motorcyclist or the economical commuter who seeks a machine that is simple to maintain, without pretensions, and whose elementary mechanics can be understood and pampered with basic tools. It is aimed at those for whom the word "carburetor" is not an insult, but a promise of accessible troubleshooting. In the aseptic landscape of modern 125 cc motorcycles, it represents a voluntary anachronism, a bet on rusticity as a virtue. The question remains whether the market is still ready to buy this philosophy today.