International Dealer News 162 Aug/Sept 2021 IDN162 August/September 2021 | Page 24

NEWS

China ' s " most powerful " motorcycle is nearly ready

By Ben Purvis
China ' s motorcycle companies pump out millions of bikes every year , but until very recently they were almost all sub-125 cc mopeds and commuters . Now there ' s a sharp increase in interest in high-powered , largecapacity bikes in the country and Chinese manufacturers are rushing to fill the demand . Zontes might be a relatively young company , but it is forging a strong reputation both at home and in export markets , including Europe , with a range of relatively high spec 312 cc singles . In China , Zontes has faced criticism for having no mid-sized twincylinder models in the range , and to answer those critics it is leapfrogging that sector entirely and jumping straight into building a range of 650 cc and 1000 cc triples . The larger engine is expected to debut first , and Zontes has already revealed the first images of the motor and some of its components , including crankshafts , cylinders and camshafts - apparently on a production line . A sketch of the first bike to get the engine - a naked sports model with a single-sided swingarm - has also been revealed . The company admits that the Yamaha MT-09 engine is its inspiration , but unlike some less scrupulous Chinese companies , it hasn ' t opted to make a straight copy of the Japanese design . Like the Yamaha , the cylinders and upper engine cases are cast as one , but
Zontes three-cylinder sports bike will likely produce in the region of 150 hp
Zontes claims to have a new process to achieve this that adds extra strength to the engine and means it can be tuned for more performance . As a result , the compression ratio is set at 13.5:1 , which is higher than any rival three-cylinder . The MT-09 achieves only 11.5:1 , and even MV Agusta ' s F3 engine has a 13.3:1 compression . Zontes also says that the
1000 cc unit will be more powerful than 80 % of similarly sized engines on the market , suggesting a peak power of somewhere in the region of 150 hp . At the moment , China ' s most powerful home-grown bikes are the CFMoto 1250 tourer and the Benelli 1200GT , both using engines derived from older European-designed motors and offering around 140 hp . Other
details of the Zontes engine include its use of finger-follower valve gear , as featured in many modern superbikes , and a 240-degree firing interval . The 1000 cc unit will be followed by a 650 cc three-cylinder , although at the moment it ' s not clear whether it will be a sleeved-down version of the same design or a completely separate unit . The latter makes more sense , as a sleeved-down litre engine would be unnecessarily big and heavy for a 650 cc class bike . Given that Zontes currently offers its 312 cc single in a range of machines from naked sports bikes to cruisers and adventure models , with both dual and single-sided swingarms , the triples are also expected to appear across a wide array of models in the future . With an existing worldwide dealer network , the machines are sure to reach markets in Europe not long after their official Chinese launch . We ' re expecting to see more of the engine , and perhaps even a complete bike , at shows later this year , but mass production is probably still at least 12 months away .

CFMoto ZEEHO Cyber production form leaked

By Ben Purvis
CFMoto launched its ZEEHO electric sub-brand earlier this year with a concept scooter - the Cyber that promised 125 cc performance and impressive range . Now the production version has been approved for sale in China and its styling revealed in detailed patent documents . The Chinese type approval means key dimensions and performance details have been confirmed . Power is listed at 5kW , which is just 6.7 hp , but it ' s worth pointing out that ' s a ' continuous ' rating reflecting what the motor can sustain for unlimited periods without overheating . During its launch earlier this year , CFMoto claimed a peak of 10kW ( 13.4 hp ) for the concept version , and it ' s likely the production model will achieve similar
performance for short periods , putting it close to the 11kW limit on 125 cc bikes . The officially rated top speed of 64 mph certainly suggests that ' s the case and is close to the 68 mph that CFMoto originally cited for the concept version of the Cyber . The numbers mean the Cyber should be capable even at A-road speeds , even though it is by no means a ' big ' scooter . At 1,380 mm , the wheelbase is the same as a Vespa GTS125 , and the wheels are small 12 inch units with 100 / 80 front and 120 / 70 rear tyres . Compared to the concept version , the changes include a more sensible seat unit , with space for a passenger , replacing the original show bike ' s single-seat design . The floor has also been made flat , where the concept
featured a significant hump between the rider ' s feet . Another subtle but welcome change is the switch from chain drive to a quieter , less maintenance-intensive belt for the final version of the bike . Brembo brakes are retained for the production model , although surprisingly the Chinese market version isn ' t certified as having ABS . That might change as and when the bike reaches Europe . Although the certification documents don ' t reveal details like range , CFMoto claimed the original concept version was good for 80 miles on a charge and that the battery could be topped up to 80 % in half an hour on a fast charger . The documents do confirm the bike ' s weight , putting it at a surprisingly light
133 kg . With type approval gained in China already , and patents for the styling published worldwide , the official launch of the production Cyber can ' t be far off .
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