Racer Panther 200: what are the roads to when there are directions?

Why are lightweight utilitarian enduros like the Racer Panther 200 so popular in Russia? And you look around. In most corners of our vast homeland, good asphalt is somehow a little tight, hence the need for good suspensions. But Chinese motorcycles are simply affordable, and they are usually structurally simple , and therefore more or less reliable. Judging by the reviews, the Racer Panther 200 belongs to the second category - this bike is designed according to the principle “no innovation, only proven solutions, only hardcore!” It is unlikely that he will be able to surprise his owner, but he will almost certainly not give him any unpleasant surprises. In addition, universal motorcycles like the Racer Panther RC200GY C2 are chosen not for their beautiful appearance, but for their endurance and technical characteristics. He is okay with this, and the bonus is a nice price .

Technical characteristics of Racer Panther 200

Judging by the appearance and layout, the source of inspiration for the Chinese engineers was the Honda XR125, a motorcycle that was once very popular, but has long been discontinued. However, this is a good example to follow. And even though the Racer company didn’t succeed in its Honda, the Panther 200 should still be considered a success. In an effort to keep the price at an affordable level, the Chinese assembled the motorcycle according to a proven design, resorting to the simplest and therefore reliable solutions. And what could be simpler than a tubular steel frame , a 1-cylinder air-cooled engine with a carburetor, and a simple 5-speed gearbox ? However, considering that the Racer Panther 200 is designed for harsh operating conditions, all this is only for the better. The impression is somewhat spoiled by rough welding and pockets of corrosion on the frame, noticeable even on a new motorcycle, but this is not critical.

But its 14.3-horsepower engine performs well off-road. It has practically no top end, but at low and medium speeds it behaves decently. On asphalt, the Racer Panther 200 can accelerate to 110 km/h , but it is not recommended to drive in this mode for a long time - such engines do not like it. But somewhere in the forest mud, he is able to get out of almost any puddle with a brave hoot, giving a solid roar at the end. And the Chinese, by the way, were concerned that the Panther Racer would sometimes fall outside the asphalt. They chose quite strong plastic for their creation, and in most cases it does not suffer if it falls on its side.

A plus will be the modest weight of the bike, only 118 kg . The only disappointment is the 10-liter gas tank - really couldn’t have added at least a couple more liters? Of course, the Racer Panther’s engine is not very voracious, but off-road its appetite still increases. But the brakes and suspension can only be praised. Braking is provided by two discs with 2-piston calipers, exactly the same as those installed on many other Racer motorcycles, and shock absorption is provided by an upside-down fork and a monoshock absorber. Of course, they could use some adjustments, but the suspension on this motorcycle is still surprisingly pleasant and also durable.

Reviews from owners of Racer Panther 250

I don’t even know what to write, but in short, the bike is a mixture of successful and unsuccessful decisions. The engine is reliable, so is the gearbox, and in principle all the main components are normal. But the entire periphery is rubbish, the plastic can be broken with your fist, you slide out of the seat, the speedometer died at around 1700 km, the throttle cable broke a week later. The standard tires are normal. The only thing that saves the Panther from curses is the price; there is simply nothing cheaper than a 250 cc one. Ilya, Tyumen, Racer Panther 250 '2017

It's a light bike, easy to learn how to ride. Dropping is not recommended, the plastic is scratchy and difficult to solder. But if you drop it, it’s easy to pick it up. It steers with two fingers; hand protection saved me from being hit on my fingers several times. Box, motor - no complaints. Sergey, Yaroslavl, Racer Panther 250 '2017

An ordinary disposable Chinese craft, that’s why it’s so cheap. It drives well, but there are a lot of minor problems, mainly complaints about the build quality. Only here it is not clear who is to blame - the Chinese or the assemblers in the showroom in Russia. There are no questions about the quality of spare parts, everything is fine. It's worth the money, you can buy a used one for 50 thousand. Vladimir, Petrozavodsk, Racer Panther 250 '2017

Total

Having ridden the Racer Panther at least a couple of times, you notice the imperfections of this motorcycle. It is made as budget-friendly as possible - savings are felt literally in everything, in every detail. But he doesn’t try to pretend to be something else, honestly declaring who he is with his whole appearance. As a first motorcycle, or as a replacement vehicle for the holiday season, it’s not bad - it’s cheap and rides tolerably well. What else do you need from a budget bike?

Advantages and disadvantages

Advantages

• Versatility of spare parts . Many of them fit both other Racer motorcycles and motorcycles from other Chinese manufacturers.
• Plastic quality . It is durable and quite flexible, with the possible exception of the front fender.
• Nice pendants . Slightly harsh, but energy-intensive, reliable and effective.
• Confident traction at the bottom . This is undoubtedly very important for a universal off-road motorcycle, which the Racer Panther 200 is.
• Modest fuel consumption . The bike consumes on average no more than 3 liters, and the quality of gasoline does not seem to matter much to it at all.

Flaws

• Poor quality metal frame . Uneven welds and traces of corrosion are clearly visible in places.
• Quality of components . It leaves much to be desired, especially when it comes to the external elements of the body kit.
• Unstable footrest . If you place your motorcycle on a surface that is not perfectly level, there is a risk that it will fall.
• Vibrations . There are a lot of them, especially at high speeds. Off-road this is not so noticeable, but when driving for a long time on asphalt roads, they quickly begin to get boring.

Chinese Racer Panther 250: toothy, or not so much?

The Racer company presented another fighter in the light off-road enduro class. The Pantera 250 promises off-road enthusiasts plenty of adrenaline at an affordable price. Is it worth buying this motorcycle, or is it better to give preference to other models?

Chinese companies specializing in the production of budget motorcycles produce especially many classic “road bikes” and lightweight enduros.
This is understandable - in these classes, successful sales do not require any expensive technical innovations. A low price and a pleasant appearance will be enough. Well, reputation, of course, matters - although brands from the Middle Kingdom still have some problems with this. Most often, the Chinese rely on price, and this is obviously what they were guided by when releasing the Racer Panther 250 motorcycle onto the Russian market. Looking ahead, let’s say that the price of a new bike in the showroom for 2022 is about 85 thousand rubles .

In general, the motorcycle is called Racer Panther RC250GY C2 , but Russian bikers have already dubbed it simply “Panther”. Behind this loud name lies a generally unremarkable lightweight enduro, which, among other Chinese bikes in this class, stands out only for its even lower price than most of its competitors. The motorcycle is as simple as possible in all respects, and this can be attributed more to its advantages than to disadvantages. The simpler the technology, the more reliable it is, right? Considering some complaints about the quality of Chinese motorcycles in general, the primitiveness of the design can be considered a plus for the Racer Panther 250.

Reviews from Racer Panther 200 owners

It's a durable piece of hardware, but the suspension is hard, so you can easily knock off your seat. What’s interesting is that the Panther doesn’t drive at all off-road, but floats, but on the asphalt, where there are all sorts of irregularities with sharp edges, the impact is immediately felt. The rear shock absorber cannot be disassembled, I don’t want to change it to a new one, but the issue with the fork was resolved by changing the oil. Anatoly, Chelyabinsk, Racer Panther 200 '2017.

I ride every day for work, I attached a trunk and a case (a copy of the Chinese Givi), and I carry tools. During the season I drove almost 19,000 km, without any breakdowns or anything else. The motorcycle is indestructible and is never afraid of bad roads. Evgeny, Pereslavl-Zalessky, Racer Panther '2018.

Another disposable Chinese toy. I took it new from the dealership, after 500 km the front headlight went out, after about another 500 km the rear shock absorber began to leak, or rather, this was discovered. Everything was changed under warranty, we took it to the dealer without any questions, but the overall build quality is quite depressing. You can remember for a long time the loose nuts, metal shavings in the crankcase, wires that were routed unclearly how or by whom, and everything else. Probably the only thing there are no questions about is the engine with the gearbox, everything else is typical China. Alexander, Moscow region, Racer Panther '2018.

Similar models

• Irbis TTR 250R. Another Chinese enduro, similar to the Racer Panther 250 in both characteristics and price. The good thing is that it has been on sale for a long time, so all the “childhood ailments” are well known, as are the ways to solve them.
• BM Enduro 250 R. A bike assembled in Russia at the Baltmotors enterprise from Chinese spare parts. According to reviews - quite good. But it costs significantly more than the Panther Racer.
• BM Enduro 250 DD . It is an improved version of the previous bike, but costs even more.
• Lifan LF 250 GY-7 . Inexpensive Chinese motorcycle, produced for many years. Due to its low price and the possibility of “on-the-knee” repair, it is quite popular.

Total

The Racer Panther 200 definitely has more positive qualities than its shortcomings. This bike was not originally created for any sporting achievements, its element is to be transport for every day, and mainly somewhere in the countryside or just in the provinces. The Panther 200 racer is well suited for asphalt, but its element is rough terrain, graders and dirt roads, on which it can demonstrate everything it is capable of. And, perhaps, this is the very case when a motorcycle can be safely called both inexpensive and reliable.

Who is it suitable for?

The bike's riding position is optimal for riders of average height.

Due to the very low seating position, tall riders are advised to look at another model or check the bike thoroughly before purchasing. A low seating position and mid-mounted footrests will not provide riding comfort.

However, for people up to 170 cm tall, a bike can become an off-season vehicle. Stock tires feel good on untrodden snow. Installing winter tires will allow you not to interrupt the season and drive through snowy forests.

Video Review

Specifications

Specifications of RC200GY-C2

Scan from passport data.

The Panther RC200 uses a smaller version of the powertrain that Racer uses for most of its motorcycles. Despite the reduction in displacement, the engine's performance capabilities remained virtually unchanged.

The 4-stroke, 1-cylinder engine has:

• working volume - 197 cm 3;
• power - 14.3 hp;
• number of valves - 2;
• cooling - air;
• fuel supply - carburetor;

A Japanese carburetor is already installed in the basic configuration.

The fuel tap at the bottom of the gas tank has three positions: Closed - Open - Reserve, but there is no filter, you will have to install it yourself. But this is not such a big problem, since most Chinese cars come with disposable gasoline filters.

It is interesting that some reviews write that the carburetor, as well as the tires, are made in Taiwan, although all versions of the brand are equipped with Japanese units .

Transmission and clutch

The bike is equipped with a 5-speed sequential gearbox.

• The operating principle is standard - neutral between 1st and 2nd gears .
• The pedal travel is normal, gears shift clearly and are found immediately. The box doesn't cause any problems.
• Main drive - chain .

The chain drive is equipped with a roller tensioner.

Brakes

Unlike the prototype, Racer installed disc brakes on its model, both front and rear.

• Disc diameter 240 mm ,
• support - 2 pistons ,
• hydraulic drive.

Quite a decent system for such a bike, which is why it is often taken for motorcycle racing. No options provided.

Maximum speed

The maximum speed according to the manufacturer is 115 km/h.

According to users, the figure is slightly overestimated, but 105 km/h can be reached, and at the same time there is a sense of power reserve. It is worth noting that this is on asphalt. For dirt tracks, the Chinese do not show more than 50. And the panther was no exception.

Dynamics

Acceleration dynamics are average.

The motorcycle starts confidently, gains up to 60, then the power decreases. According to users, “up to 100 seconds in 15” will gain .

Fuel consumption

Fuel consumption is 3 liters per 100 km.

When traveling on dirt roads, you can expect no more than 4 liters per hundred.

Motorcycle RACER PANTHER RC250GY-C2

Place an order in 1 click

The RACER RC250GY-C2 PANTHER motorcycle can be purchased in our extreme market with delivery to any region of Russia. The motorcycle is perfect for country walks. It is possible to install side bags and trunks. The conceptual design of the bike will definitely not let you go unnoticed on the road!

• Disc brakes front and rear
• Electric and kick starter
• Low fuel consumption
• High cross-country ability
• PTS included!

The RACER RC250GY-C2 PANTHER motorcycle can be purchased in our extreme market with delivery to any region of Russia. The motorcycle is perfect for country walks. It is possible to install side bags and trunks. The conceptual design of the bike will definitely not let you go unnoticed on the road!

• Disc brakes front and rear
• Electric and kick starter
• Low fuel consumption
• High cross-country ability
• PTS included!

The Racer RC250GY-C2 motorcycle is equipped with a powerful 224 cc four-stroke engine. cm. The maximum power is 15 hp, and the maximum speed is about 120 km/h. This motorcycle is ideal for use on country roads, forests and fields. Unlike the Panter Lite, there are disc brakes front and rear.

The engine can be started using either an electric starter or a kick starter. The engine is cooled by air, consumption is only 3 l/100 km. The gearbox has five forward speeds. The tank volume is 10 liters, which is enough to cover a long distance.

• Front wheel - 90/90-19
• Rear wheel - 110/90-17
• Front brake – disc
• Rear brake – disc
• Instrument panel – electromechanical
• Front suspension – telescopic fork

Consultation on repair, maintenance, maintenance and assembly of the RACER PANTHER RC250GY-C2 motorcycle in our service. Buy spare parts and consumables for Motorcycle RACER PANTHER RC250GY-C2.