Derbi Mulhacén Café 125

Derbi have done a good job at shrinking their 659cc machine. The bike looks great with deep black paint and those cheeky go faster stripes which give it a distinctive style, it’s nice to see something retro in the overcrowded race rep filled learner legal category.

The Mulhacén may only be a four-stroke 125 but it features that lovely Ducati style trellis frame, decent Paoli suspension and awesome radial brakes at the front end, not a bad spec. The engine is the same as the Adventure but it seemed to be geared slightly differently and I managed to see 71mph on the digital dash. Incidentally the dash is quite nice and even includes a lap timer, good for posing with!

Those radial brakes are fantastic as well and although the engine isn’t too powerful it still kept me entertained on the twisty mountain roads. Hooning around the Spanish countryside in a gang of 10 Mulhacén riding hooligans was a great laugh. On the straights we’d all instinctively get tucked in, hunting desperately for the slipstream, one eye watching the clock for the highest speed reading. Stopping for photos we’d all skid to a halt leaving dark lines in a juvenile display of recklessness and a childish need to produce the longest skid mark!

Tech Spec

■ Engine: Liquid cooled 124.2cc, 4 valve, 4 stroke, single cylinder

■ Starting: Electric start

■ Brakes: 300mm front disc with radial caliper and 218mm rear disc

■ Tyres: Vee Rubber 100/80-17 front, 130/70-17 rear

■ Seat height: 810mm

■ Fuel tank capacity: 13 litres

■ Weight: 120kg

■ Colour: Black and white

■ Price: £2749

■ Contact: www.derbi.com