The small ADV recreation is exploding proper now and an enormous chunk of that motion is coming straight out of China. CFMoto, Zontes, Kove, QJ Motor, Benelli, and now Morbidelli are all combating for a similar slice of the journey pie. Riders need lighter bikes they’ll truly deal with on actual trails, and the phase’s gotten so packed that each new mannequin appears like somebody squeezing into a photograph the place everybody’s already shoulder to shoulder.
Morbidelli coming in is attention-grabbing as a result of the title sounds tremendous Italian, however the story is… let’s simply say layered. The unique Morbidelli was an actual Italian race outfit. This contemporary Morbidelli is what was MBP, which stood for Moto Bologna Passione, which was already a QJ Motor creation making an attempt actually laborious to sound Italian. Then QJ rebranded MBP into Morbidelli and out of the blue the entire thing had classic racing vibes once more. Besides it’s nonetheless QJ Motor beneath. The identical group that owns Benelli and Keeway and pumps out an enormous portion of China’s middleweight bikes.
So yeah, the heritage exists, however largely as a result of somebody purchased the naming rights. Whether or not that issues is completely as much as the customer.
Model shenanigans apart, the T352X is genuinely doing one thing totally different. It’s coming into a category dominated by bikes just like the Royal Enfield Himalayan, CFMoto Ibex 450, and the coming-soon BMW F 450 GS. Everybody calls these “small ADVs” however let’s be actual. They’re creeping up in dimension and weight yearly. Fairly quickly the class’s going to wish a brand new title as a result of “small” is getting tougher to justify.
Morbidelli determined to flip the script. As an alternative of going greater, the T352X goes smaller and lighter. It appears like they needed an precise path bike that simply occurs to be street pleasant as a substitute of a street bike pretending it’s prepared for Dakar. That concentrate on agility offers it a character that’s getting rarer on this phase.
Energy comes from a 349cc parallel-twin making 41 horsepower at 10,500 rpm and 31.5 pound toes at 8,500 rpm. It’s clean, approachable, and never making an attempt to choose a battle. Morbidelli claims round 54.7 miles per gallon and the 18 liter tank will get you about 400 kilometers (round 250 miles) between stops. Curb weight is roughly 397 kilos which is heavy for a dirtbike however gentle for an ADV.
Suspension’s dealt with by a 41 millimeter the wrong way up fork with 160 millimeters of journey and a linkage rear shock with 56 millimeters of journey. Wheel sizes are your ordinary road-oriented ADV numbers with a 19 inch entrance and 17 inch rear on Pirelli tubeless rubber. Seat peak is 820 millimeters so most riders ought to get together with it, and it’s simple to face on the pegs with out feeling awkward.
Braking comes from a 300 millimeter entrance disc and a 240 millimeter rear disc with Bosch ABS. There’s an off street mode that kills rear ABS so you possibly can slide the again round when the terrain loosens up. Electronics are surprisingly loaded. You get a vertical seven inch TFT, three driving modes, and Morbidelli Join which packs navigation, an SOS operate, anti theft options, and distant shutdown.
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Supply: Morbidelli
Lighting’s full LED with a definite X formed face and you may package it out with aluminum instances or comfortable baggage. Nothing feels outsized which inserts the entire small however severe concept the T352X goes for.
In the long run it’s your name whether or not a Chinese language constructed ADV with an Italian title is one thing you’re into. What’s simple is that China’s pumping out extra bikes yearly and so they’re not slowing down. Morbidelli or MBP or no matter title they go together with subsequent is simply one other participant in a wave that’s solely getting greater. And that wave isn’t going wherever.
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