Source: Cycle World
Zontes’ 703F has just begun being delivered to customers in China. Will this feature-packed adventure model be sold in the US? (Zontes/)Back in 2021 when China’s Zontes was first promising to develop a three-cylinder bike it was going to be a liter-class machine that would put the rest of China’s motorcycle engines to shame. Three years on, the first production triple from the company is actually the smaller 699cc 703F. Other new Chinese bikes in the meantime have recalibrated our expectations from the nation’s motorcycle industry—but even so the first indications are that the 703F could be a strong contender in the increasingly crowded middleweight adventure bike class.The 703F was officially unveiled last year at EICMA in Milan, alongside the sportier 703RR, but at the time there were few technical details, and the bike on display still looked like a prototype. Now the 703F is officially on the market in China, with deliveries underway, and the company has revealed a full set of specifications and equipment listing.The Zontes 703F is powered by a 699cc inline triple. (Zontes/)Starting with the basics, that 699cc triple has a 70mm bore and 60.6mm stroke and features a design that’s inspired by Yamaha’s MT-09 engine, without being a direct copy. A relatively high 13:1 compression ratio helps it achieve 96 hp at 10,000 rpm and 56 lb.-ft. of torque at 7,500 rpm. A 120-degree crank angle makes for an even firing interval. The engine is slung in a cast aluminum twin-spar frame with a bolt-on, cast-alloy subframe. The fully adjustable suspension at either end comes from Marzocchi. Wire-spoke wheels measure 21 inches in the front and 18 inches at the rear giving a convincing adventure bike stance. The 33.3-inch seat height isn’t as tall as some rivals. Other name-brand components include J.Juan brakes, with four-piston radial-mount calipers grabbing 310mm front rotors, and Michelin tires. But the surprises start with some of the 703F’s levels of standard equipment.The Zontes 703F will come standard with an electronically adjustable windscreen, keyless ignition, and electronic releases for the seat and fuel filler cap. (Zontes/)Keyless ignition, for instance, might not be radical but it’s still far from the norm on affordable, middleweight bikes. The Zontes has it, though, along with electronic releases for the seat and the filler cap on the 5.8-gallon fuel tank. The windscreen is electrically adjustable, too, and there are heated grips as standard. Other equipment includes traction control and ABS as well as cornering lights and automatic headlights. Tire pressure monitoring is fitted, along with a rear-facing radar that monitors blind spots, flashing up warning lights set into the mirrors if another vehicle is hanging around over your shoulder.A view of the Zontes 703’s cockpit shows off the full-color TFT display. (Zontes/)Dig deeper into the equipment list and you’ll find a TFT dash, a standard-fit quickshifter, and both USB-A and USB-C sockets. In other words, the sort of stuff that you might find on a high-end adventure bike from a European brand, but at a bargain-basement price. In China, the 703F costs the equivalent of $6,250 (!). When exports start, it’s sure to be more expensive in global markets, but even at twice that price there’s little else that comes close to the same specification.Another high-end feature is the 703’s standard rear-facing radar for blind-spot detection. (Zontes/)Will the 703F reach these shores? Don’t bet against it. Zontes already has a presence in much of the world, including Europe and the UK where rider’s tastes err toward more expensive, high-end bikes. Its machines are also offered in several South American markets, as well as throughout Asia. The US is surely on the company’s radar for the future.Wheel sizes are 21-inch front and 18-inch rear. (Zontes/)
Full Text:
Zontes’ 703F has just begun being delivered to customers in China. Will this feature-packed adventure model be sold in the US? (Zontes/)
Back in 2021 when China’s Zontes was first promising to develop a three-cylinder bike it was going to be a liter-class machine that would put the rest of China’s motorcycle engines to shame. Three years on, the first production triple from the company is actually the smaller 699cc 703F. Other new Chinese bikes in the meantime have recalibrated our expectations from the nation’s motorcycle industry—but even so the first indications are that the 703F could be a strong contender in the increasingly crowded middleweight adventure bike class.
The 703F was officially unveiled last year at EICMA in Milan, alongside the sportier 703RR, but at the time there were few technical details, and the bike on display still looked like a prototype. Now the 703F is officially on the market in China, with deliveries underway, and the company has revealed a full set of specifications and equipment listing.
The Zontes 703F is powered by a 699cc inline triple. (Zontes/)
Starting with the basics, that 699cc triple has a 70mm bore and 60.6mm stroke and features a design that’s inspired by Yamaha’s MT-09 engine, without being a direct copy. A relatively high 13:1 compression ratio helps it achieve 96 hp at 10,000 rpm and 56 lb.-ft. of torque at 7,500 rpm. A 120-degree crank angle makes for an even firing interval. The engine is slung in a cast aluminum twin-spar frame with a bolt-on, cast-alloy subframe. The fully adjustable suspension at either end comes from Marzocchi. Wire-spoke wheels measure 21 inches in the front and 18 inches at the rear giving a convincing adventure bike stance. The 33.3-inch seat height isn’t as tall as some rivals. Other name-brand components include J.Juan brakes, with four-piston radial-mount calipers grabbing 310mm front rotors, and Michelin tires. But the surprises start with some of the 703F’s levels of standard equipment.
The Zontes 703F will come standard with an electronically adjustable windscreen, keyless ignition, and electronic releases for the seat and fuel filler cap. (Zontes/)
Keyless ignition, for instance, might not be radical but it’s still far from the norm on affordable, middleweight bikes. The Zontes has it, though, along with electronic releases for the seat and the filler cap on the 5.8-gallon fuel tank. The windscreen is electrically adjustable, too, and there are heated grips as standard. Other equipment includes traction control and ABS as well as cornering lights and automatic headlights. Tire pressure monitoring is fitted, along with a rear-facing radar that monitors blind spots, flashing up warning lights set into the mirrors if another vehicle is hanging around over your shoulder.
A view of the Zontes 703’s cockpit shows off the full-color TFT display. (Zontes/)
Dig deeper into the equipment list and you’ll find a TFT dash, a standard-fit quickshifter, and both USB-A and USB-C sockets. In other words, the sort of stuff that you might find on a high-end adventure bike from a European brand, but at a bargain-basement price. In China, the 703F costs the equivalent of $6,250 (!). When exports start, it’s sure to be more expensive in global markets, but even at twice that price there’s little else that comes close to the same specification.
Another high-end feature is the 703’s standard rear-facing radar for blind-spot detection. (Zontes/)
Will the 703F reach these shores? Don’t bet against it. Zontes already has a presence in much of the world, including Europe and the UK where rider’s tastes err toward more expensive, high-end bikes. Its machines are also offered in several South American markets, as well as throughout Asia. The US is surely on the company’s radar for the future.
Wheel sizes are 21-inch front and 18-inch rear. (Zontes/)
