Bullit Motorcycles Review: Range, Reliability and Cost (aka Bluroc)

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Editors Note: Bullit has been rebranded and now goes under Bluroc motorcycles.

We’ve noticed a trend in recent years.

Imported bikes made in China used to look like inferior copies of the latest models from the big three.

This is no longer the case.

Taking direct inspiration from the classic British cafe racers of the 1960s, Bullit Motorcycles focus on smaller displacement machines with style.

Brands like Bullit, Mash, Mutt, and Sinnis offer well-thought-out commuters using tried-and-tested engine designs and modern, convenient touches. We’ve covered them all in previous articles:

It’s good to see so many viable alternatives to buying a secondhand Suzuki/Yamaha/Honda as a first-timer.

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Bullit Background – Who Are They?


Designed in Belgium and manufactured by partner factories in China, Bullit is another small displacement, classically styled bike manufacturer.

These machines’ finish, manufacturing, and look are similar to those from Mash Motorcycles. They focus on smaller bikes and offer options for new riders, A2 license holders, or people who prefer that classic lightweight feel.

Aesthetics


Bullit scene

On their website, Bullit references the late 60s scene in England as an inspiration.

This seems about right.

Many of the miniaturized components and little touches are reminiscent of the kind of custom work that defined the cafe racer/scrambler era.

Back in the day, this kind of work required hours with a grinder and welder, custom-fabricated bits, and lots of tinkering. These bikes roll off the factory floor with that look already dialled in.

Reliability


As far as day-to-day reliability goes, these things are solid. Low power output, low tuning, and a focus on staying on the road with minimum maintenance keep this dependable.

This is not a critique specific to Bullit, but we would suggest giving all the nuts and bolts a once-over when you first get it.

The manufacturing is solid. That’s not always true of the final pass in some of these factories.

The Bullit Range


Bullit’s bikes all fall into the 125-250cc categories, making them ideal for someone on an A2 license.

There’s also an army of people who love small-displacement bikes for another reason. Throwing a lightweight 250cc around country roads is a lot more fun than trying to contain the power of a machine built for the track.

Power is fun. But only if you have the conditions to unleash it.

When commuting, using a machine purpose-built for smaller roads and tighter conditions feels way better (to some of us) than underrunning a YZF R1 1000cc.

V-Bob 250

V-BOB 250

Specs

Engine: Two-cylinder 4-stroke air-cooled 250cc
Power: 20pk/ch – 13,5kW
Brakes: Front and rear disk ABS
Seat Height: 71cm
Wheelbase: 1530cm
Weight: 179kg (wet)
Tank Volume: 20L

The V-Bob is a chunky v-twin-style bobber hybrid. It keeps the aesthetic of a single-seater but can comfortably carry a passenger when needed.

Everything here adheres to its blocky design principle – knee-indented tank, cowled headlamp, and squared-off, shortened mudguards.

A comfortable, relatively low seating position and its 179kg weight make it feel lively despite the slightly underwhelming BHP numbers.

But that’s not what these machines are about. Like the rest of the Bullit range, the V-Bob trades all-out power and performance for reliability.


Bluroc 250 V2

Bluroc 250 V2

Specs

Engine: Two-cylinder 4-stroke air-cooled 250cc
Power: 20pk/ch – 13,5kW
Brakes: Front and rear disk ABS + CBS
Seat Height: 82cm
Wheelbase: 1440cm
Weight: 143kg (wet)
Tank Volume: 20L

The Bluroc 250 may look familiar to some. Apart from its impressive paint job and detailing, this bike is identical to Lexmoto’s Vendetta 250.

This is more than an uncanny coincidence. Both models are built with the same components and Lifan Co. manufactured engine.

It goes for a fairly bold, aggressive, mono-shock scrambler look which its power output doesn’t quite match.

Still, there’s enough grunt here for your average commuter. And there’s no point going too fast when you look this good. And we concede she does look good. Available in dark silver or British racing green.


Hero 250

Hero 250

Specs

Engine: Single-cylinder, Twin Cam 4-stroke air-cooled 250cc
Brakes: Front and rear disk
Seat Height: 82cm
Weight: 179kg (wet)
Tank Volume: 15L

The Hero 250 is one of the liveliest feeling bikes in the Bullit range. Lightweight, upright, and sporting a Fastec swing arm and mono-shock dampener, the geometry backs up its scrambler aesthetic.

The Hero is by no means a true off-roader. But you could have some fun doing some light romping on this little machine.

Neat little touches like the sump guard, headlight cowl, and branded crossbar wrap make this look like it’s rolled out of a custom shop.

The aggressive styling might be over the top to some people. But we love the high tailpipe, chopped mudguards, and big wheel clearances.

The sound this thing makes is an excellent match for how it looks – if that makes sense!


Bluroc 125

Bluroc 125

Specs

Engine: Single-cylinder 4-stroke air-cooled 125cc
Power: 7.8Kw – 10.46bhp
Brakes: Front and rear disk CBS
Seat Height: 80cm
Weight: 195g (dry)
Tank Volume: 20L

This is more than simply a smaller version of the Bluroc 250 model. There are significant changes to the outline, detailing, and suspension systems.

The general feel is similar. But this smaller version goes for a less aggressive, slightly more classic look.

The switch to single-cylinder means only one exhaust and the dual, spiral rear suspension combined with a larger mudguard makes the back end look like something from the golden era of British scrambling.

Each of these import bike companies seems to have a fair bit of Steve McQueen DNA, and Bullit’s influence from big Steve is on display with the Bluroc 125 model.


Hero 125

Hero 125

Specs

Engine: EFI 4-stroke air-cooled 125cc
Power: 11.6BHP – 8.5Kw
Brakes: Front and rear disk CBS
Seat Height: Adjustable 86cm – 91cm
Weight: 121g (wet)
Tank Volume: 10.6L

A slightly lighter and more compact version of their 250cc model with the same name, the Hero 125 is a clean-looking, lightweight machine.

It keeps similar geometry to its larger brother – favouring a high, upright seating position and wide handlebars.

It has enough in common with an off-roader to feel immediately familiar to motocross riders.

And while the low-end whippiness needed for true rock-hopping isn’t here, moderate trails and windy paths will feel good on the Hero.


Spirit 125

Spirit

Specs

Engine: Single-cylinder 4-stroke air-cooled 125cc
Power: 11.6BHP – 8.5kW
Brakes: Front and rear disk CBS
Seat Height: Adjustable 84 – 89cm
Wheelbase: 193cm
Weight: 143g (wet)
Tank Volume: 20L

The purest cafe racer bike of the bunch, the Spirit 125 is a pretty singular vision. All of the lines, components, and paintwork go for a lean, stripped-down, midnight club look.

The narrow tank, blacked-out headlight, and bump seat look like they’ve been lifted straight from late 60s London.

Usually, trying this hard would put me off. But this bike is nicely put together and so unashamed of its influences. It even gets away with its gold racing stripe running front to back.

There’s something about low-displacement machines like this – lean, light, and low to the ground. You don’t need to be going particularly fast to get a cheap thrill.


Hunt S 125

Hunt S

Specs

Engine: Single-cylinder 4-stroke air-cooled 125cc
Power: 11.5 BHP – 8.5kW
Brakes: Front and rear disk CBS
Seat Height: 74cm
Wheelbase: 137cm
Weight: 110g (dry)
Tank Volume: 14L

Bearing a passing resemblance to some of Mutt’s models, the Hunt S is a classic-looking machine straight from the golden era of British scramblers.

It goes for an upright, comfortable seating position – significantly less crouched and aerodynamic than the Spirit.

Clean, classic lines, a muscular tank, and a muted paint job make this a good choice for someone after a commuter that’s not too ostentatious.


Heritage 125/50

Heritage 50

Specs

Engine: Single-cylinder 4-stroke air-cooled 125cc/50cc
Power: 20pk/ch – 13,5kW
Brakes: Front disk and rear drum
Wheelbase: 106cm
Weight: 120g (wet)
Tank Volume: 5.5L

The aptly named Heritage 125 is a fun little monkey bike clone. Usually, if you want something this small, be prepared for it to be ugly. To its credit, the Heritage looks pretty cool.

Super lightweight with small wheels and a compact overall footprint, these type of machines are beloved by owners of large campervans/boats who want an easily transportable backup vehicle to whip down to the shops.

It’s a classic design, built to run forever with fairly low power output. However, with the low seat and tiny wheels, the sensation of speed is certainly present. Way more fun than it looks.


Hero 50

Hero 50

Specs

Engine: Single-cylinder Twin Cam air-cooled 49.7cc
Power: 3.2kW
Brakes: Front and rear disk
Seat Height: 90cm
Wheelbase: 202cm
Weight: 115kg (wet)

Easily beating most learner-legal 50cc bikes in the looks department, the Hero 50 is a nice teenager’s first bike.

Aesthetically near-identical to its larger cousin, this uses the same mono-shock rear suspension, high tailpipe, and chopped mudguards for an aggressive look.

Upside-down forks, a slim, flat seat, and wide, stable handlebars round out the urban scrambler look.

Honestly, we wish they made 50cc bikes this cool looking when we were 16.


Check them out on Bluroc Motorcycles