NEW BIKE NEWS
With an eye on European success, motorcycle giants Zongshen whip the covers off two new models using an engine from the Midlands...
Chinese Nortons – Zongshen whip the covers off two new models.
THESE ARE THE first pictures of two new 650s from Chinese giant Zongshen. Shown at the International Motorcycle Exhibition in China recently, the Cyclone RX6 adventure bike and leftfield RK6 use a parallel-twin engine – and it’s the one from Norton’s new Atlas. Zongshen paid ‘millions of dollars’ for a 20-year licence to produce the 650cc twin-cam unit, developed by Norton with renowned engine gurus Ricardo. The British company claim 84bhp at 11,000rpm and 47 lb.ft for the Atlas, but the version built by Zongshen has a lower state of tune – they claim 69.7bhp at a rather more accessible 8500rpm, with peak shove of 46 lb.ft at 7000rpm. The RX6 using the twin is a step up in the equipment and performance we expect of Chinese metal. ‘Cyclone’ is Zongshen’s premium brand – think what Lexus is to Toyota – and the adventure bike has features including a TFT dash, LED lights, adjustable Kayaba suspension, Nissin radial brakes and Pirelli Angel GT tyres. It weighs 215kg (same as a Kawasaki Versys 650) and has a claimed top speed of 112mph. And the RK6 scooter/bike hybrid whatsit adds more with a stereo and daytime running lights. Ramping up quality is important for Zongshen, as they’re hunting European success. They’ll have a range of new models at the EICMA show in Milan in November, and we’ll have all the bikes and stories from the show in next month’s issue of Bike. Pitched up near the 650s in China was an Aprilia GPR250 – which was also the work of Zongshen, as they have a partnership with Piaggio too. A concept to test the water, the small sportsbike is likely to go into production at the end of 2020. Alas, it’s sadly not the return of the RS250 – it’s a four-stroke single for starters, and will only be for the Asian market. Hey-ho.