CFMoto XO Papio puts fun at top of agenda
There's a cultural infatuation with the 1980s that shows across everything from fashion to movies and TV shows like Stranger Things at the moment, and it's being reflected in motorcycling with a number of adventure bikes inspired by the peak years of the Dakar rally. CFMoto's new XO Papio manages to hit that 80s aesthetic and combine it with a sense of fun inspired by the runaway popularity of Honda's MSX125 Grom.
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Although the XO Papio's styling doesn't try to replicate any specific model, its shapes have overtones of old endurance racers, while the twin circular headlights were an 80s theme that ran across everything from superbikes to enduros. Papio, incidentally, means 'baboon' - a clear nod to the Honda Monkey, Gorilla and Ape bikes that set the template for small, cheap, fun motorcycles.
Under the skin, the XO Papio uses the same 126 cc, air-cooled single that CFMoto uses in its existing ST Papio model, which has modern styling, but the XO's frame and suspension are new, including upside-down forks. Although Europe is denied the ST Papio - its 126 cc engine is 1 cc too big for the continent's learner laws - it's already sold in the USA and Asia, and the XO Papio is likely to reach the same markets. An electric version of the Papio - dubbed Papio Nova - has also been launched in China recently, and it's easy to envisage the XO's retro style being combined with the Nova's modern powertrain to bypass the capacity problem.
The XO Papio's 126 cc single puts out 7 kW (9.4 hp) at 8,250 rpm and 9.2 Nm (6.8 lb-ft) at 6,500 rpm, roughly in line with rivals in the minibike market.
It's the styling, though, that stands out, with neat details including an under-seat exhaust and removable panels on either side of the fairing that can be swapped in seconds to personalise the bike. One example shown in CFMoto's press photography even has an LED display inset into the side fairing, suggesting it could be offered as an option.
