What’s it all about?
Spanish motorcycle manufacturers don’t spring instantly to mind when considering the purchase of a new bike, certainly not in the UK.
Rieju, however, has a range of bikes that are starting to grab the attention of buyers in the UK, and the MRT 50 Pro Supermotard we look at here is one of them.
Customers appear to like the Supermotard’s off-road styling, along with its excellent ability both on the road and off.
What does it cost?
Stylish, robust and good to ride both on and off the road, the Rieju MRT 50 Pro will find a ready market in the UK. With manufacturer’s recommended retail prices beginning at just £2,649, there is a lot to recommend this well-equipped bike.
How does it handle?
Well balanced and relatively comfortable to ride despite its very thin seat, the Rieju MRT 50 Pro is a thoroughly modern Supermotard machine featuring a steel-beam frame, 40mm upside-down Marzocchi forks, twin-piston radial brakes, wavy brake discs by Galfer, hand and fork guards, a single rear shock with a remote reservoir and alloy handlebars. The brakes prove to be well up to the task of stopping the MRT 50 Pro straight and square.
The bike is extremely good looking. Examine it at close quarters and, if you were not aware of its origins, you’d probably think that it had been made in Japan, such is the overall quality of manufacture.
Being manufactured in Spain, it’s built and finished to an impressively high standard in a modern factory renowned for producing solidly reliable machines. There’s full parts back-up too and a network of dealerships across the country that can provide servicing.
The bike is powered by a two-stroke 50cc engine manufactured by Minarelli, which also makes small-capacity engines for Yamaha. This unit is particularly well finished, with its barrel and cylinder head painted shocking purple.
The MRT50 Pro is kick-started, with its liquid-cooled single-cylinder unit mated to a reasonably slick and quick six-speed transmission. The engine is smooth and responsive but a little lacking in outright power.
The new bike was developed on the tracks of the European National Enduro Championships and has already proved to be a winner at the highest professional levels.
This model is available in two colour schemes, Black Series and Black-Green. Rieju has been making Fast 50s for more than 65 years and its machines are renowned for robust designs that cope well with tough road and hard climate conditions.
Verdict
The MRT 50 Pro is one of those products that does exactly what you expect it to do. It looks great, performs well within its remit, is well equipped and is also great value for money. With products like the MRT 50 Pro, it is not surprising that Rieju as a manufacturer is starting to be taken very seriously.
Bike: Rieju MRT 50 Pro
Price: £2,649
Engine: Minarelli NG 50cc – two-stroke, liquid-cooled (2T separate mixture)
Transmission: 6-speed
Weight: 94.6kg
Seat height: 900mm
Tank capacity: 6.32litres