Spanking new Italian bike brand
Well, sort of. Bologna based MBP are a spin-off from existing firms, but their large-capacity adventure bike is an all-new design
This handsome lump of motorcycle is the MBP T1002V. Not the catchiest of titles, granted, but the new V-twin adventure bike has much promise. Firstly, its spec and equipment list appear cock-on. And secondly, it’s likely to be a bargain.
MBP stands for Moto Bologna Passione. This obviously sounds Italian, and the firm’s headquarters is indeed in the same town as a certain company called Ducati. However, MBP is an offshoot of Chinese brand Keeway, which is owned by Zhejiang Qianjiang Motorcycle – yes, the same Qjmotor that also owns the thriving Benelli outfit. And this means the T1002V is the largest motorcycle yet to reach here from China.
The recently revealed MBP range has 13 bikes (yes, thirteen) with everything from a 125cc scooter and middleweight naked up to a vast cruiser. This isn’t just a couple of random Chinese bikes appearing, but a considered range from people who know what they’re doing. Head of the line-up is the adventurer. Ignore the ‘1002’ bit as the eight-valve 80-degree V-twin actually displaces 997cc. There’s 75 lb.ft of thump at 6500rpm which is the same as a Honda Africa Twin, or thereabouts. Peak power is also similar to the Honda at a fairly modest 94bhp, arriving at an accessible 7600rpm. The 94-horse peak also means the MBP can be restricted to become A2 complaint.
Suspension is by KYB and adjustable for preload at each end. There’s 160mm of front wheel travel, suggesting the T10002V is aimed more at on-road touring than off-road shenanigans, and is reinforced by just 77.4mm of travel at the back. We hope that’s a typo. Meaty brakes are by Brembo-owned J.juan. Seat height is 820mm, dry weight is a fairly portly 235kg, and the fuel tank holds a handy 21 litres. There’s also full phone connectivity, GPS gubbins, fancy switchgear, an SOS call button and an adjustable screen. MBP bikes are being imported and distributed by Motogb, the company responsible for bringing Benelli and Keeway to the UK (and until recently Royal Enfield too), although they have a standalone website: mbpmoto.co.uk. ‘The C1002V cruiser is production ready and should be with us around April time,’ Motogb’s Matt Kay tells Bike. ‘It’s quite early days on the adventure bike, which is still a prototype. But we hope it will be here by the end of the year, by which time we should be up to around eight different bikes.’ No prices have been announced for any of the models yet, and the figure for the T1002V will depend on final specification as well as where MBP decide to pitch it. However, Benelli’s TRK 502 is £5999 and the Leoncino 800 is £7699, and if this big MBP is as aggressively priced – say under ten grand – it'll undercut every potential rival.