The triumph-like Speed Triple RS is like a 3-cylinder 1,000cc-naked superbike that sounds like a tenting proposal—but it isn’t the kind of thing you might anticipate to come from the motorcycle business in China. Although the capacity of China to produce low-cost motorcycles is not questionable, the country’s producers are not known for excellent quality or great efficiency. Yet, the first images of a three-cylinder engine, with a capacity of around 1000cc and a promising high-performance potential of about 1,000, that Zontes – one of the newer motorcycle brands in the country – has now become the basis for a wide range of models designed to compete directly with Japanese and European brands. Its a good news for readers of Bikes Catalog that Zontes to launch a Triple-Cylinder Naked Motorcycle.
Zontes is one of the newer motorcycle brands in China. Guangdong Tayo Motorcycle Technology, its parent business, was established in 2003 with an emphasis on advanced and high technology production. The brands under which Tayo is manufactured are three: Haojiang, which produces unmistakable, small-size commuting bikes and scooters; Kiden, which specializes in higher-speed smaller bikes, more sophisticated equipment, including DOHC water-cooled and cast-alloy mounting machines.
“Larger,” however, is relative. Zontes’ current line consists of a variety of 312cc DOHC water-cooled single-cylinder machines, although with exceptionally high spec components, including single-sided aluminum swingarms on some of the models. Zontes sells these motorbikes already across Europe, but the Company has been open to admitting that there is no longer a multi-cylinder engine with more capacity to advance to the next class.
While several competing China companies introduce twin-cylinder motorcycles between 500 and 800 cc—most notably Zongshen, which has acquired Norton’s new 650 twin rights, and KTM twin CFMoto, Zontes has chosen to design a three-cylinder engine for these rivals.
Last year, the business initially sketched the concept and published a video showing the previous engine and several of its internal components, including engine blocks, crankshafts and camshafts, in manufacturing. The aim is to provide the machine in various capacities, although Zontes references only to a 1.000cc version, perhaps the first.
The engine is based on the original Yamaha MT-09 847cc triple in its general configuration, although there are sufficient variations to indicate no replica. The cylinders and block of the MT-09 are cast in one piece like the MT-09, although Zontes claims to have a distinct casting technique. The company has a more excellent compression ratio of 13.5:1 compared to 11.5:1 for the MT-01. This identical ratio refers to the absolute performance levels of the engine because no rivals three times are so compressed. In addition, the ratio is 12.5:1, with the triple Triple Street RS motor, 13.2:1, and the three-way MV Agusta F3 800 13.3: 1. The triple speed of Triumph’s Street Triple RS is 13.5:1.
Zontes claims its 1,000cc version has greater force and torque than 80 percent of the same size competitor engines and suggests that the north of 150 horsepower would not be aimed at the peaks of the 200-plus hp literbike. That aims to make it the most vital Chinese bicycle immediately and surpass the 1200cc, 135 horsepower Benelli 1200GT and the CFMoto 1250TR-G of 140 hp, using current engine designs from Europe.
There is still no definite timetable for launching the first Zontes Triple, but the engine is nearing its completion. Once in production, the bike lineup will probably emerge in a range like Zontes, which covers the 310R naked sportbike and the 310X, 310T and the unique Ducati Diavel with forward-mounted sticks and broad flat bars.
Although western customers are reluctant to purchase Chinese mountain bikes, especially in the US, more than 40% of all imported products sold in this nation are already manufactured in the United States. Maybe we should not be shocked if, in the next several years, the motorbike industry follows suit.
