Mutt Mongrel 125: First Ride & Review

The good news is that despite the ruff-tuff looks the Mongrel is as easy to ride as any other geared 125 – the clutch is surprisingly heavy for a such a small bike, but the gears snick home OK. The riding position feels natural and the wide bars give light steering, despite that fat front tyre, with a good lock for filtering through jams on the A45. The test bike didn't have mirrors (a bit too backyard for me) but customer bikes do.

It feels low geared even by 125 standards, the little single rorping away earnestly at an indicated 40mph, though that's really down to the matt black silencer, which is quiet at idle but gives a distinctive blat on the move. The Mongrel has zippy performance in town, well up to Birmingham's ring roads and 40-50 limits. Acceleration is slower beyond 50mph, but the test bike would wind up to an indicated 70, with a bit of buzzing through the seat.

Riding the twisty roads around the back of Meriden, the Mongrel handled pretty well. Again, the wide front tyre hasn't upset the steering, and the bike would track round bends nice and stable. The rear shocks were pretty stiff (though, slap my hand, I didn't check the pre-load) but otherwise the suspension set up works well. The front disc/rear drum brakes felt wooden and lacking in bite, then then the test bike did have just 60km (less than 40 miles) on the clock. In any case, Euro 4 spec Mongrels for 2017 will have discs front and rear with a combined braking system, as all new 125s must have now, along with fuel injection.

Only one thing jarred with the retro custom image. The speedo majors on kilometres, not miles, and has an incongruous digital gear indicator, neither of which fits in with the rest of the bike. Still, other than that the Mongrel looks the part, is easy to ride and comes with a two-year warranty. At £2750, it's a lot for 125, but it does have some genuine UK input and for extra dosh, Mutt will custom paint it as well.