Cruising through an off-the-beaten path, the wind on our faces and the throaty hum of the exhaust, it would be an understatement to say that we enjoyed our time with the KAYO K6, the new dirt bike in town.

DESIGN AND FEATURES

Like with all dirt bikes, the K6 has a slender body, beefy forks, an under-seat exhaust and knobby tires. It has an imposing stance and stays true to its motocross styling. It’s tall, with a seat height of 980 mm, which could be a challenge for people who are not that tall, especially in bumper to bumper road conditions.

The handlebars are wide and provides good maneuverability. Its silver exhaust with a black cap along with the orange frame coupled with the white body adds to the aesthetic build of the K6, which comes with standard features like an all-digital instrument cluster loaded with speedometer, trip, gear indicator and fuel indicator. The bike also comes equipped with disc brakes at both ends and a kick start along with an electric start.

ENGINE AND PERFORMANCE

The K6 is powered by a 250cc fuel-injected liquid cooled engine. It weighs 115 kgs dry and produces 25 BHP peak power at 9000 RPM. And although the brochure specs might put you off, you will be in for a surprise when you take the bike for a spin.

The bike feels powerful with its combination of a rear large sprocket and a small sprocket at the front. Its lower and mid-range performance is good but the top end leaves you asking for more. The engine feels smooth and the bike effortlessly powers through uphills and muddy terrains. Overall, the ride is fun and the performance more than what we expected from a 250cc motorcycle. But the engine could heat up in busy traffic.

BRAKING AND SUSPENSION

Stopping duties are taken care of by two single discs. The K6 sports a 270 mm disc with a double piston pump hydraulic brake system at the front while the rear is equipped with a 240 mm disc with a single piston pump hydraulic brake system.

For its suspension, the front gets adjustable upside down forks whereas the rear sports an adjustable monoshock, both developed by Fastace.

COMFORT AND HANDLING

You don’t judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree. The K6 in its natural environment breathes when the dirt is the turf. The bike handles tough terrain excellently and its knobby tires provide excellent grip, making one feel confident enough to push the bike to its limits.

VERDICT

The bike may be ‘Made in China’ but its fit and finish is on point. The K6 is an absolute beast and provides enough power to satisfy experienced riders, yet it is not too much to intimidate beginners. If you’re fairly tall and in search for a dirt bike that hits all the good spots, the K6 might just be a good fit for you.

This review was co-published with AutoLife, a magazine on all things automobile.