Two versions of Zontes 703F Triple By Ben Purvis
China's Zontes has been developing its new three-cylinder engine for years, and the first results finally broke cover at EICMA last year, when the 730 ADV and 703RR sports bike were unveiled.
Both show machines looked more like concepts than production models, but now we can see the real version of the 703F via Chinese type-approval documents, which also reveal a new road-biased version of the same bike.
.jpg)
Where the EICMA version of the 703F was a fully loaded model, complete with crash protection bars, auxiliary lights and luggage, the approval reveals what the stripped down version looks like - and it's arguably improved by their removal, revealing a clean, uncluttered look.
The approval also includes specifications that weren't announced at EICMA. We now know that the 699 cc three-cylinder engine has a 70 mm bore and a 60.6 mm stroke, making it a relatively long-stroke design compared to similarly sized triples from other companies. That bodes well for its torque, but also suggests that Zontes' original plan to make a larger, 1,000 cc triple from the same basis is achievable by increasing the bore.
'three-cylinder ADV bike in production soon'
According to the approvals, the engine's peak power is 71.5 kW (96 hp), and the bike weighs in at 228 kg, including fuel.
While the only versions of the machine officially shown by Zontes so far have had wire wheels, with a 21-inch front and 18-inch rear, the approval document also reveals a road-biased version with a cast 19-inch front and 17-inch rear wheel.
