Mutt Razorback 250

Well, it's been exactly a year to the day since I wrote my first review of my 250 Razorback My bike now has 2660 miles on the clock and I'm going to book it in for its second service (due at 3k miles) sometime next week. The fuelling issue reported last year has not reoccured since only using E5 fuel. Fuel consumption is somewhere between 75 and 90 mpg depending upon how I ride it. I got rid of the plastic rear mudguard extension that the EU seem to insist on. I replaced it with a pressed steel number plate. I had to change the rear bracket and stop light but these parts are available direct from Mutt. I also managed to break the offside, rear indicator light with my clumsy right foot (a legacy of the hip replacement). Its replacement was freely available from Mutt too. The bike looks just like the picture on the article above with a discreet number plate and bar end mirrors. Oh yes, at around 2400 miles, the ABS light started to come on and remains on for about 70% of the time. My dealer, Thor Motorcycles of Bodmin, will sort this at the next service but (apparently) this is a common issue on all modern bikes. The bike is still "in warranty" and Colin at Thor says Mutt are very good should this turn out to be a warranty claim. I changed the original headlight bulb to a halogen one a couple of weeks ago along with the parking light which had blown. That's about it for the "issues" one year on. The bike still gets loads of positive comments, not only from the local cruiser riders, but also from the bikers who come down to Cornwall on their bikes for holiday. Apart from the locals, its had really nice comments from Irish, Dutch, German and French bikers. Two German guys commented that it would be illegal over there due to the bar end mirrors and new number plate mounting which are the only serious mods I've made! I am hoping the weather is going to get better soon as I need to get out and get some more "smiles per hour" under my belt.

I bought my 250 Razorback (in red) in October 2022. since then, it has had its first service at 500 miles and has performed well apart from an issue when refuelling the bike. I have had 3 instances where the bike runs erratically for about a mile shortly after filling the tank up. Initially, I thought it might be down to using E10 unleaded but it states in the handbook not to fill up more than 60mm from the top of the tank as it may cause temporary "fuel starvation". On the one occasion I used E5 super unleaded, the problem didn't arise but I may have not filled it up quite as much. Going forward, I will stick with E5 and be more careful not to overfill the tank. Fuel consumption to date is around 85mpg with careful running in. The bike is beginning to loosen up and a top speed of 70-75 mph will be more than sufficient for the Cornish roads I ride along. I'm 6'4" tall so the seat height is just right even after 2 full hip replacements and everything is where you want it from a retro styled dirt bike. There is only an electric start but who wants to kick start a bike these days? I bought the bike as a way back into biking after 16 years of not riding with arthritis making it "impossible to get my leg over" (stop sniggering) for the last 6 years or so. I've replaced the standard mirrors with bar-end ones which give a good unobstructed rear view. The bike looks absolutely stunning and gets many admiring looks wherever I go. Yes it could do with an extra 100cc and 10mph but I will be sticking with it despite this. Once out of warranty, I will be servicing it myself as it really is a very simple air cooled 4 stroke, single cylinder machine with screw and lock-nut tappets. Mutts have gained a bit of a reputation as "hipster bikes" but don't let that put you off as the only thing "hip" about me is my new ones. If you want a well made, cheap to run, traditional 4 stroke single that looks the dogs b*ll*cks then look no further. My next job is to remove the baffle and see if it sounds even better than it already does!