New Chinese brand QJMotor has been making big waves in UK motorcycling recently and is continuing to do so into 2026 with the further launch of, not one, but SIX new 125cc models of which this SRK125S is one of the likely best sellers.

QJMotor is the own brand of Qianjiang Motorcycle, which was launched in 1985, is now owned by the massive Geely group (which also owns Volvo, Lotus and Polestar cars), is best known to bikers for also owning historic Italian brand Benelli since 2005 and currently produces around 1.5million motorcycles a year.

They arrived in the UK last autumn with a dozen-bike line-up of mostly adventure and naked machines ranging from 600 to 900cc and with engine configurations varying from parallel and V-twins to transverse fours. While for 2026 this offering has been expanded further with six new 125s, of which this is the first, another 450 adventure, a pair of new four-cylinder 800s and 921s in naked and sportster guise, a new V-twin 600cc cruiser and even three new scooters.

To announce the new bikes UK importer Moto73 (and offshoot of independent specialists MotoGB) invited us to its HQ near Chorley in Lancashire to sample the new additions. We’ll be reviewing the other 125s and more in due course.

As mentioned, there are six new 125 QJMotor motorcycles for 2026, plus another two scooters.

The motorcycles are: The COV125S and X (an enduro and supermoto based on the same platform); the 125cc V-twin SRV125 cruiser; the budget priced TRX125 roadster (starting at just £2299 which we’ll be reviewing shortly) and the SRK125S and R which Moto73 describe as ‘Sporty naked and supersports 125s with all of the aggression and attitude of their bigger brothers’ (such as the SRK800 and R or 921 and R). 

We’re focusing on the naked S here, as it’s likely to be the most popular, but will make references to its faired, sportster sibling, which shares the same motor and cycle parts but has lower bars and a full sports fairing, as we go along.

The 125 scooters, incidentally, are the imminent adventure-style ATR125 and the LTS125 we’ve also already reviewed here.

Although not intended as an ultra-affordable budget machine (QJ has the TRX125 and LTS125 scooter for that), the SRK125S is still impressively affordable.

At launch, it was priced at £2499, although this doesn’t include ‘On The Road’ charges, or OTRs, such as transport, assembly, PDI inspection and registration, which usually add £200 to the basic price. That said, even at £2699 the SRK125S is remarkably and temptingly cheap.

Obvious rivals include more established Chinese-built brand Lexmoto’s LS-Z 125, which is slightly more, starting at £2535 + OTR charges. While of the Japanese offerings, Suzuki’s GSX-S125 is £3999, Honda’s CB125R is now £4799, while Yamaha’s admittedly impressive and premium MT-125 is now a hefty £5301!

Nor does the good news end with its base list price. If you choose to buy on finance, such as hire purchase, through QJ’s own finance scheme, the SRK125S can be had with a £499 deposit, with just £45.20 a month for 60 months.

As for availability, all QJ’s new 125s are available now from Moto73’s 25-strong dealer network, with that number predicted to rise to 40-45 before the end of 2026.

Nor, despite that temptingly low price, is the SRK125S a basic, unsophisticated machine.

At the heart of both the S and R models is QJMotor’s own modern, Euro5-compliant, liquid-cooled, four-valve, single overhead cam four stroke single which breathes in through Bosch fuel injection, out through a smart, stylish upswept stainless steel exhaust and drives via a six-speed box and conventional chain.

The product of all that is peak power of 11kw (15bhp) @ 9500rpm, which is right on the A1 licence classification’s limit, along with peak torque of 12Nm @ 7000rpm.

As such it performs pretty much like any of the better, more performance-oriented A1 125s, too, with enough go to entertain mildly yet also being soft and progressive enough to ease in motorcycling novices.

The bonus here, however, and certainly compared to some previous Chinese offerings, is that the SRK S and R also seems pleasantly refined with a responsive throttle, slick gear shift and none of the vices of bikes you may normally expect around this price point.

Our test route took us from importer Moto73’s HQ in Chorley, Lancashire, out into the beautiful countryside of the northwest, and I’m impressed from the outset.

I take the roadster S first and, despite my bulky 6’3” it doesn’t seem overly ‘titchy’ or cramped. The riding position is natural with a slightly sporty forward gait. Hand and feet find bars and pegs easily and naturally; the scalloped tank is a nice fit, and the view to the slick and smart five-inch TFT seems far more premium than its £2699 price might suggest.

The S’s handling and chassis are equally impressive. Compared to the cheaper, air-cooled TRX, both SRK models get not only a liquid-cooled four-valve engine but also a steel perimeter beam frame, 35mm inverted forks, a preload-adjustable monoshock rear end and trendy wavy disc brakes front and rear.

With an all-up weight of just 143kg and a stumpy wheelbase of 1345mm, the end result of all that is ultra-light, nimble steering that, with its sporty riding position, really encourages you to attack corners; yet also enough sensible stability and assured control to reassure novice riders.

The ride, while not exactly being cultured, was controlled and capable, the brakes were sufficiently powerful with bags of feel and backed up by dual channel ABS and my only slight doubt, especially as our ride started damp and slightly slippery, was the budget tyres from Chinese brand CST which didn’t instill huge amounts of confidence, but they’re still reasonably competent.

After swapping briefly to the R version, which, as you might expect, is very similar but with slightly lower bars and a more sporting attitude due to its race style fairing, then pausing for photography at two different moortop locations, I rode the S back to Moto73’s base and quickly concluded that, if I was 17 and had the option of the R I’d be more than satisfied.

Another area where the SRK125S (and R) impresses is with the level of its equipment and features. Simply, at this price point, you’d never normally expect so much.

First off, there are not one but FOUR different two-tone colour options available, which make the most of the aggressive ‘streetfighter’ styling. These are: black/green; white/red; red/silver or silver/black. 

There are also LED lights all around, including twin headlights, DRLs, indicators, and stop light. The five-inch full colour TFT dash is a particular premium touch and includes digital speedo, gear indicator, rev counter, fuel gauge and Bluetooth connectivity.

While rounding it all off are dual USB charging ports and even a Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) of the type you’d normally only expect as an extra on high-end adventure bikes. Never was a budget 125 so well equipped.

In fact, as we arrive back at Moto73’s HQ near Chorley, I couldn’t really be more impressed with the SRK125S.

Irrespective of price, it looks great, is well equipped, has decent build quality and all the right things in all the right places. In fact, with TPMS and that flash dash, it has more than that.

But the real ‘proof of the pudding’ is how it rides and, in general terms, and with the exception of its CST tyres and unproven reliability, it pretty much has everything a far more expensive rival has.

Ultimately, of course, price is the headline feature of the QJMotor SRK125S (and R) – but it shouldn’t be.

For £2699otr (the R sports version is £3199otr), this sporty, stylish learner legal A1 125 is a helluva lot of bike for the money.

Not only do you get the basics of a liquid-cooled engine, twin spar chassis and half-decent cycle parts, you also get premium parts such as the TFT dash and TPMS you wouldn’t expect on a bike at double the price.

And that’s the overall point with the SRK125S. Yes, it’s Chinese and so new it’s difficult to be certain about things like reliability and future values. But it’s also so good, not just in terms of spec but in how it goes and performs, that it seriously asks the question of why would you go for anything else?

Thanks to Moto73 for inviting us on the UK launch. Check the full specs and information at Moto 73.