Zontes 350 T 2024 — Specifications

Four cubic centimetres. That is what separates the old 310 T from this new version, and yet those four small centimetres make all the difference in a segment where every horsepower counts. By moving to 348 cc, Zontes repositions its A2 trail in a more comfortable zone, between the BMW 310 GS stuck at 34 horsepower and the KTM 390 Adventure playing the big shot with its 44 horsepower. With 39.4 hp at 9,500 rpm and 33.3 Nm of torque at 7,500 rpm, the 350 T doesn't crush the competition, but it now takes a seat at the table with a little more credibility.

Let's talk about style, because on this front, Chinese manufacturers have long stumbled. Not here. The design department has clearly worked carefully on every surface, every curve. The LED strip running across the fork head to decouple the screen from the bodywork gives the bike an immediately recognisable character. And the exhaust — that detail which so often betrays a manufacturer's ambitions — pleasantly surprises with its two slim outlets evoking MV Agusta aesthetics. It is precisely this kind of boldness that sets the 350 T apart from the anonymous trail bikes filling showrooms. The electrically adjustable screen with two positions, keyless ignition, standard crash bars, handguards and luggage rack complete a specification sheet that many established brands charge as optional extras. The TFT display even shows tyre pressure and temperature, which remains rare at this price point.

The engine deserves a closer look. The six-speed gearbox allows reasonable cruising revs for a single-cylinder, and the claimed consumption of 3.7 l/100 km combined with a 19-litre tank paints a theoretical range close to 500 kilometres. The slipper clutch manages engine braking under deceleration, and two riding modes (eco and sport) allow the character of the machine to be adapted despite a cable throttle. It is not the sharpest engine in the segment, but it gets the job done without any complex.

There is, however, one black mark that cannot be glossed over. The weight. Fully fuelled, the 350 T tips the scales at 196 kg, some thirty kilograms more than its two direct European rivals. This is the recurring Achilles heel of Chinese production bikes of this generation, and a beginner seduced by the price tag must be forewarned. The 830 mm seat height does not make life easier for shorter riders either. The 43 mm upside-down fork and rear monoshock, paired with 175 mm of ground clearance, paint a profile more oriented towards roads and graded tracks than genuine off-road terrain. Honest, then, in its positioning.

The braking system, entrusted to J.Juan with a 320 mm front disc and a radial four-piston calliper, inspires confidence, and the Bosch ABS managed independently on each wheel rounds out a serious safety package. And then there is the price: €5,690, with a three-year parts warranty and two-year labour warranty. At that price with that specification, Japanese and European brands simply have no direct answer to offer. The 350 T targets the A2 licence holder who wants to travel without breaking the bank, and on that precise niche, it hits the mark.