So Motorcycle Live 2024 has finished. 90,000 visitors attended to be entertained and see what bikes will be available next year. But what’s new in our world of overlanding?
Well, there’s a mixed bag of upgrades for existing machines of course, new colours, lower emissions and a ton of new electrickery, but what really stood out was the new influx of ‘adventure-ready’ bikes with Oriental roots, regardless of the badge on the tank.
Kove were only founded in 2017, but they’ve really made a name for themselves at the Dakar Rally with a 450 and they are generating very good performances in the 300 World Supersports series. Now they’ve turned their attention to the adventure sector and were showing a 510 twin and very impressive 800X twin which is lighter than most of the competition at 185kgs and certainly powerful, producing 92hp. What’s most striking though is the price, at £8499.
It’s a good-looking bike, with a clean, light front end and – hooray – no beak!
Benelli (Italian name and design) have recently increased the size of their TRK and are now offering a 700cc (702X) and 500cc (502X) version. The ‘X’ models with high exhausts and spoked wheels cost £200 more than their cast wheel stablemates but both are definitely heavily road-biased machines. Again it’s the price that’s incredible, as the TRK502X is currently £4,999 and the 702X with it’s 70bhp is available pre-reg for £6899 and that includes a full set of luggage!
More of a styling exercise than a trail bike the Benelli Leoncino 800 Trail makes just over 80bhp from its twin cylinder engine. We’re yet to ride one but something certainly appeals, for weekend trips or b-road giggles.
CFMoto were at Motorcycle Live too of course and they’ve been in the UK for many years, now wholly distributed by KTM (so there may be some changes given KTM’s current financial dire straights). The lovely little 450MT and very competent 800MT were on show, but so too was an interesting 800MTX, a real ‘rally’ edition with extra fuel tanks offering a total of 31 litres. Price is yet to be announced, but the 800MT Explore model is £12,199 on the road, so it’ll definitely be north of that.
We tested the first offering Voge made to the overland sector back in 2021, the 500DS, and it was some way off being a suitable tourer, needing much higher gearing to be comfortable, but they too have been hard at work and now have a big range, from the 300 Rally through 525DS twin and 650DS single to the DS900X. All were on show and all are competitively priced.
So the Chinese charge is on, but I’ve left one of the more interesting bikes to last. Nestled away at the show and not shouting like many others, was the first big Zontes to hit British soil; the Zontes 703F. So new infact, it doesn’t appear on the Zontes website, even as a news story.
Apart from standing out from the crowd as a 699cc triple, it seems to be coming fully loaded with everything from quick shifter to onboard cameras front and back, and the chassis componentry is high quality; Michelin tyres and Marzocchi long-travel suspension for example.
That engine is all new and produces a whopping 96bhp and 56ft/lb of torque, though how that is delivered on the road we don’t yet know. A test ride is booked though; watch this space.
As with many of the bikes coming from China the list of rider aids and electronic gizmos is long, so bear with me because here’s just some: Keyless ignition, 6.75″ screen, 4G, GPS and Bluetooth connectivity, dedicated Zontes App, blind spot detection, 128GB of onboard recording memory for the front and rear cameras, A & C type USB charging ports, tyre pressure monitors, then all the usual riding modes etc.
The swinging arm is aluminium, the engine is a stressed member and the main frame is aluminium twin spar, so they are certainly aiming to achieve low overall weight, but at 240kg it’s not class leading and a bit of a porker compared to Yamaha’s T7. Maybe it’s all the gizmos like the electronically adjustable screen that add to the weight, so too the standard inclusion of centre stand and bash plate, which are very welcome.
If you’re of ‘Rally’ mindset and love a big metal tank, then this Zontes is right up your street, as the standard tank is 22 litres and there’s a 5 litre auxiliary tank available that slots in behind the luggage rack. Continuing that ‘rally’ theme the wheels are 21″ upfront and 18″ at the rear.
The crash bars and luggage framework in the photos isn’t standard equipment but is being offered as a whole package, with the boxes, for an introductory time.
There are 45 Zontes dealers in the country now, and that network does appear to be expanding, but there are still large gaps; south of the M4 for example. It must also be remembered that for years Zontes’ bread and butter has been smaller commuter bikes and scooters so it’s doubtful many of those dealers will be holding large stock of this 700cc machine. We hope to have some of the Zontes 703F at The Overland Event in August though, so you’ll be able to test it and many other bikes there 28th – 31st August 2025.
