Macbor shakes up the trail market once again with an update for its Montana XR5 510

I remember how, a couple of years ago, I was taking part in a challenge with my sports bike to ride 1,000 kilometres in a day within a time limit. As you can imagine, it’s cannon fodder for trail motorcycles, while those of us riding R’s, sport-touring and depending on the day naked bikes are the odd ones out. That was where I first saw a Macbor Montana XR5, and I have to say that, before seeing it up close and knowing what bike it was, it simply charmed me, since although it was clearly not a “big” bike, it looked like a proper trail bike.

Obviously I couldn’t ride it, and to this day I’m still keen to get on one, because the Spanish brand Macbor is definitely one you should take very seriously if you want to get into the world of trail bikes. I doubt you’ll easily find another brand that offers you so much for so little in this segment. If the small Montana XR1 125 cc is already impressive, its flagship, the new Montana XR5 510, continues the same line of offering you a complete, attractive product at a more than competitive price.

The Montana XR5 has been on the market for four years, and now it faces a renewal that will undoubtedly keep it on the same successful path. This renewal is embodied in this new Montana XR5 510, whose great characteristic is versatility, combining a light weight of 178 kilograms with top-spec equipment and an engine that makes it suitable even for riders who still hold an A2 licence.

The changes the new Macbor Montana XR5 510 receives are few but effective, and they start with its engine, which still relies on a 8-valve DOHC twin-cylinder engine with liquid cooling and BOSCH electronic fuel injection, whose displacement now rises from 471 to 498 cc, so that power increases to 47 hp at 8,500 rpm and torque reaches 45 Nm. This power increase will suit it wonderfully and, as I mentioned earlier, it will still allow A2 licence holders to enjoy this bike.

It will also let us be more playful with it and ride more sportily, since it now comes as standard with an anti-hop-up clutch, with which we can make faster downshifts with complete confidence. It also features backlit handguard switches so that we can operate them more safely at night and, look at this, it incorporates a new 5-inch colour TFT instrument panel with screen mirroring function, which also lets you project routes directly from your phone thanks to the Carbit Ride app, along with two interface customisation modes and a day&night mode. All of this is complemented by a design that gives it a refreshed look.

Obviously all of this comes with standard equipment you might not expect on a Macbor motorcycle, but you should know that the Montana XR5 510 continues to show off its KYB suspension with an adjustable front inverted fork in both rebound and compression, and a rear monoshock that is also adjustable, which, combined with spoked wheels and Metzeler Tourance tubeless tyres, let us tackle off-road routes with great manoeuvrability and grip.

Obviously off-road riding carries a greater risk of falls, but this shouldn’t worry us too much, since the Montana XR5 510 comes perfectly equipped as standard to minimise damage, with crash bars, aluminium sump guard or hand guards, plus a centre stand, a two-position adjustable windscreen, two 12 V power sockets and a USB port, and two seat options: Standard (841 mm) and Low Seat (820 mm). Finally, braking is entrusted to a Nissin braking system consisting of 298 mm dual floating wave front discs with dual-piston calipers and a 240 mm rear disc with caliper, all aided by switchable ABS with three configuration modes.

And the price? Pay attention, because you can have this impressive Macbor Montana XR5 510 for just 6,199 euros, plus you can benefit from a launch promotion to buy the luggage kit at 50% off, that is, for 650 euros when they normally cost 1,300 euros. Finally, if you buy it before 30 September, you’ll get free insurance for the first year.