Orcal Astor 125 2022 — Specifications

On paper, the Orcal Astor 125 seems to answer a question that no one was asking: what happens when you graft a classic touring base onto a 125cc single-cylinder engine? The result is an exercise in contrast, an imposing silhouette for modest mechanics, which questions more than it seduces at first glance. With its neo-retro lines and generous wheelbase, it clearly plays the card of presence, a bold gamble in a segment dominated by lightweight and sporty models.

Its 125cc four-stroke single-cylinder engine, with a bore and stroke of 54 mm, delivers its 9.5 horsepower at 8000 rpm. The power is in line with the A1 limit, but it is the torque, announced at 9.5 Nm from 6500 rpm, that dictates the riding. You have to wind it up to feel it breathe, and the five-speed gearbox then becomes an indispensable accessory to keep the engine speed in the useful range. Air cooling and Delphi injection ensure a claimed mechanical simplicity, an argument for those who shun complexity.

With a dry weight of 124 kilos and a seat height of 780 mm, the Astor displays dimensions that bring it closer to machines twice as large. This accessible seat and low center of gravity promise ease in the city, even if the weight could be surprising in tight maneuvers compared to a typical Japanese 125. The 160 mm ground clearance and 110/70 and 130/70 tires announce certain stability, but limit off-road ambitions.

The chassis, with its steel tube frame, 37 mm telescopic fork and two rear shock absorbers, aims for comfort more than agility. The braking, ensured by a simple front and rear disc, will be sufficient for the speeds allowed by the displacement, but requires anticipation. The whole draws the portrait of a quiet touring bike, designed to swallow departmental roads without haste rather than to brush the apexes.

The Orcal Astor 125 is aimed at a specific rider: one who seeks the aesthetics and posture of a classic motorcycle, but constrained by the A1 license or desiring elementary mechanics. It is a statement of style, a gamble on appearance more than on performance, for journeys where the arrival is less important than the way of getting there. We are far from the agitation of sportbikes or the efficiency of roadsters; here, you ride for the pleasure of riding, end of story.