Zontes triples hit the market By Ben Purvis
China's Zontes has been promising a range of three-cylinder bikes for years and finally got around to unveiling the 703F adventure bike and 703RR sports bike at EICMA last year. Now they're starting to roll off production lines in China and we've got more details of some of the most intriguing machines yet to emerge from that country's motorcycle industry.
The 703F is the first model to reach Chinese showrooms and is expected to be heading to the West in the near future, and the full specifications reveal some surprises. Starting with the basics, the 699 cc triple features a 70 mm bore and 60.6 mm stroke along with a high 13:1 compression ratio, putting out 96 hp (71.5 kW) at 10,000 rpm and 56 lb-ft (76 Nm) at 7,500 rpm. It's mounted in a cast aluminium beam frame with fully adjustable Marzocchi suspension and touts its off-road credentials via a 21 in front and 18 in rear wheel, while a large 22-litre fuel tank promises plenty of range.
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| 703RR |
The real surprises are the level of standard electronic equipment. Keyless ignition, for example, along with electronic locks for the seat and fuel tank, as well as electric adjustment for the screen, heated grips and automatic, light-sensing headlights. There are cornering lights as well, plus scrolling indicators and tyre pressure monitors. ABS and traction control are standard, but so is a rear-mounted radar unit that monitors vehicles behind and provides blind spot warnings via lights in the mirrors.
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| 703F |
Deliveries in China are already underway, and Zontes' decision to unveil the bike in Milan last year indicates that international sales will follow soon.
The 703RR sports bike isn't quite in dealers yet, but it has passed Chinese type-approval, showing that it too is production-ready. The approval documents confirm that it puts out a bit more power than the 703F, with a peak of 100 hp (75 kW), and it's a lot lighter, coming in at 196 kg, including a tank of fuel. The approvals also show that Zontes has refined the styling since EICMA, adding more subtle headlights than those seen on the show version, which unusually are mounted on either side of the fairing, incorporated into the winglets.
