I bought my Lexmoto Gladiator from Speedway motorcycles in Cannock, with a Lextek top box fitted it came to £1089 OTR with 3 years unlimited mileage warranty (providing I had it serviced by them at the correct intervals). They're a nice and friendly enough bunch, the showroom is basic and not luxurious, but it's clean and adequate. Right now their building is being expanded due to rapidly increasing sales (probably down to the current absurd level of fuel prices).
I actually went to view a Pulse Lightspeed but the Lexmoto Gladiator stood out for me as a better finish (if less sports styled machine than the latter). So... it's a nice looking scooter (probably not for the 'boy racer' but I have a motorbike for that!), and it is physically larger than most other commonly available Chinese 125s. This was a positive as far as I'm concerned as I was looking for something with decent wet weather protection for the legs and that was also comfortable enough for a 16 mile commute. As soon as I got it home I fitted a Universal Perspex screen (£25 from CMPO) to add further spray protection, secured to the mirror bosses it wobbles a bit but works fine.

Overall the build quality is reasonable, I've found one or two little niggles with a couple of missing self tappers but nothing too serious up to now.

I'll try to be fair so here are my negatives...
Lack of a trip on the speedo makes working out mpg a pain!
Speedo (like all Chinese scooters) is way out and VERY optimistic (checked with Satnav)
Underseat storage not large enough, won't take a helmet!
Front indicators could do with improving, they're a little hard to see in broad daylight.
No passing switch to flash headlights.
Tungsten bulbs are OK for daytime use but pretty poor at night (Halogens on order!)
The side stand, like all Chinese Scooters, self retracts and would be better if it stayed down "motorbike" style. (looking at a possible mod for that!)
Handbook provided is generic and has little info of any use.
All of the above said, had I have paid more attention when browsing at the dealers I would have found these areas before purchase.

Would I have still purchased the Lexmoto Gladiator? Yes, without question!

I fitted some self adhesive high intensity LED strips front and back for enhanced visibility (ebay £5 the lot!), coupled with a high viz Caberg Konda helmet for added safety.
Fitted with the ubiquitous GY6 engine the bike cruises at 50 mph (Satnav indicated) fairly easily and I have to say that once or twice I've found myself going a bit faster than that without realising it! Pretty impressive for a 125 with a screen and 17 stones aboard! The seat is comfortable, and the riding position hasn't caused me any aches or pains up to now. The front hydraulic disc brake works reasonably well but isn't as effective as I thought it would be, however although the rear brake is a cable operated drum it works well and is less prone to snatching, overall using the two brakes together stops the bike nicely. Handling is good and the bike feels good when you lean it in to a corner. As for reliability, I haven't really owned the bike long enough to comment.

So am I pleased with my purchase? A resounding YES!
I love it! The Lexmoto Gladiator has made my trips to and from work a pleasure instead of the pain they used to be sitting in a tin box in an endless queue of stationary traffic!
I foresee the Lexmoto Gladiator becoming the most used vehicle on my driveway without question.

Would I recommend it? Absoloutely.
Thinking of taking the plunge?  Go on, do it!!!

Submitted Jun 22, 2012
by Dave Edwards Staffordshire