Zontes E350, avant-garde urban comfort at an (almost) unbeatable price

The medium displacement segment -between 25 cc and half a liter- touched 29,000 registrations last year and in the first two months of the year accumulates growth, together with the 125cc-250cc, of 15.5% compared to 2022 .

This Zontes E350 plays a double trick in the GT segment. On the one hand, it comes with the guarantee of power, its single-cylinder engine that it shares with its sisters D350 and M350, which places it at the top of the category of up to 400cc with its 36.7 CV at 7,000 rpm and with a torque which is also one of the best, 38 Nm in the 6,000 laps. With two modes of delivery, one Eco and another Sport, it has traction control and injection signed by Bosch.

On the other is its groundbreaking aesthetics. Like the D350 (the M350 not so much), this E350 attracts attention due to the size and design of its enveloping body lines, very suggestive. On the front it reminds (again like the M350) of some manga cartoon character... I personally am reminded, the black one of Toothless, the Night Fury dragon, and this white one of his alter ego, Fura Luminsa, in the famous saga How train your dragon There is no doubt that its striking front, with a front light unit that has six large LEDs that integrate the daytime vision light (in a nuanced bluish color) and the indicators, is a pleasant breath of fresh air in a universe of scooters. that rarely offers something that really attracts attention.

Its dimensions are large, more than those of its brothers. With a length of 2,195 mm compared to the 2,025 mm of the other two, it is somewhat wider than them (795 mm), but what is striking is its wheelbase because, with a similar seat height (at 765 mm), it is 1,565mm versus 1,405mm on the D350 and M350. This is due to a larger frame and swingarm assembly because, despite some circulating reports, it does not share a frame with its siblings. The reason? According to the colleagues from motonewsworld.com, the brand would have presented at the Canton Fair in China the model that will look face to face at the Yamaha TMax with this same chassis and dimensions and an engine that, according to this website, has a cubic capacity of 491 cc offering a 24 % more power up to around 46 hp and 53 Nm of maximum torque.

This fact carries two things with respect to them: it has more capacity under the seat, where two full-face helmets fit perfectly; and that its driving behavior changes, gaining in driving comfort... in the city.

Its chassis is a high-strength steel tubular frame that is supported by a telescopic fork with 41 mm bars and 109 mm of travel, and a pair of shock absorbers with 88 mm of travel that allow the spring preload to be adjusted in five positions. . The brake equipment for its part is made up of a 268 mm front disc and a 265 mm rear disc, bitten by a four-piston JJuan caliper and radial anchorage, and a single-piston caliper manufactured in this case and curiously by Zontes itself. .

Technology is another of the strengths of this model like all of the Zontes range. With a PKE proximity key to start it, its TFT HD screen has 4 display modes, in addition to the "Screen Mirroring" function (copy the mobile screen to use your browser, for example) and where you can even control the pressure of the tires. In one of the two huge glove compartments behind the shield, there are two USB sockets for recharging and it includes grips as standard.

The E350 shows two distinct profiles. Fitted with 120 and 140 tyres, on 15" and 14" wheels at the front and rear, respectively, in the city it sits like a fish in water among traffic with its good turning radius when stationary and with a suspension that provides extra comfort to the driver while its elastic and powerful engine, smooth and at the same time direct to the fist, make it win integers against some of its segment rivals. On the highway (ring roads) and fast highways, on the other hand, it dusts off its long wheelbase to facilitate driving with its well-studied position and good screen coverage that, again and as in other models of the brand, is electrically adjustable. and with an opening in its center that largely compensates and reduces the turbulence generated by speed.

As for its behavior on secondary roads, the E350 does not end up being completely comfortable when the pace increases. Not when you face ups and downs on mountain roads, for example, where although it is true that your ABS is one point more in terms of its interference in braking (something that is undoubtedly a guarantee in the city), this is done bearable and will even provide a plus of security to those who do not have much experience. It is in the fast sections, with linked and wide curves where the front end, located further forward than its cousin the D350, does not quite find the expected poise when the driving pace increases. If the pace is smooth, fine, if you increase it looking for more intense driving fun, the E350 simply does not accompany and makes the driver notice... the front suspension works on the front wheel clearly outside its comfort range if the muscles are tensed to look for a while of intensity. Perhaps the reason for all this lies in the simple fact of starting from a chassis and length of the set designed for the engine of the recently presented in China, the ZT 500, with a somewhat heavier engine, a circumstance that would explain this difference in weight. behavior to have this E350 less weight in the front.

But make no mistake, this is not the spirit of this Zontes model, the city and the connection between cities by motorway or dual carriageway, where the road and traffic do not invite you to have too much 'fun' is your playing field. You can't always be good at playing striker and defense, if you'll allow the simile.

Zontes is a good urban bet in a segment full of tough and established rivals and with which it hopes to continue gaining market share.