This Chinese ADV Motorcycle Will Make Beginners Look Like They're Ready For Dakar

While everyone else builds 150-horsepower land missiles, Chinese manufacturer Zongshen made something people might actually use.

Photo by: Cyclone

By: Enrico Punsalang

May 12, at 9:22am ET

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Chinese motorcycle brands have spent the last decade trying to shake off the reputation of being cheap knockoffs, and a few companies are finally starting to pull it off. Names like CFMoto and Benelli (through its parent company QJ Motor) have infiltrated the US market, with a lot of riders actually vouching for the quality of their products.

But as we've discussed before, the global motorcycle market is so much bigger than the US, and there are quite a lot of other Chinese manufacturers that have started to make it big in Europe, as well. One of those names is Zongshen, one of China’s oldest motorcycle manufacturers. Founded back in 1992, Zongshen isn’t some random startup pumping out disposable scooters. It builds engines, powersports vehicles, and components at massive scale, and it’s worked with global brands for years behind the scenes.

The Cyclone branding you're seeing here is essentially its attempt to step out from the shadows and prove it can build motorcycles people actually want to ride, not just tolerate because they’re affordable.

Photo by: Cyclone

That’s why bikes like the Cyclone RX2 125 are so important. On paper, it’s just another small ADV-style motorcycle for A1 and B license holders in Europe. But look at the bigger picture, and you’ll see something more interesting happening. Chinese manufacturers are getting really good at understanding what everyday riders actually need. Not everyone wants a 150-horsepower adventure bike loaded with radar cruise control and a monthly payment that hurts more than the bike’s suspension ever will.

The RX2 125 goes after a totally different kind of rider. Someone who commutes during the week, disappears onto back roads on weekends, and maybe wants something that looks like it could survive the Dakar Rally even if its toughest challenge is hopping curbs and dodging potholes downtown. And to be honest, there’s nothing wrong with that.

It’s powered by a liquid-cooled 124cc single-cylinder engine making the A1-legal maximum of 15 horsepower and 8.1 pound-feet of torque. That doesn’t sound exciting until you remember this thing weighs just 357 pounds wet and carries a surprisingly massive 15 liter fuel tank. For newer riders or budget-conscious commuters, that combination matters more than outright speed. It means fewer fuel stops, approachable handling, and enough punch to comfortably survive urban traffic without feeling completely overwhelmed on secondary highways.

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Photo by: Cyclone

Cyclone also clearly understands that modern entry-level riders expect more than bare-bones transportation. The RX2 gets a five-inch TFT display with smartphone mirroring, full LED lighting, standard traction control, and dual-channel ABS. Ten years ago, stuff like that barely existed on premium middleweights. Now it’s showing up on a $4,000 beginner motorcycle. At €3,495, the RX2 lands at around $4,160 USD. Even the luggage-equipped touring version only climbs to about $4,520. Just imagine how well this would sell if it ever made its way to the US.

And unlike a lot of small-displacement adventure bikes that are basically street bikes wearing hiking boots, the RX2 actually leans into the dual-sport aesthetic properly. It rides on tubeless wire-spoke wheels measuring 19 inches up front and 17 inches in the rear, paired with mixed-terrain tires and nearly 7.5 inches of ground clearance. There’s also an engine guard, frame sliders, a center stand, and even interchangeable front fenders included from the factory.

Photo by: Cyclone

What makes the RX2 interesting isn’t groundbreaking technology or crazy performance figures. It’s the fact that companies like Zongshen and Cyclone are getting pretty good at delivering motorcycles that seem complete, at least on paper. They’re no longer competing purely on price. They’re competing on value, usability, and the ability to give newer riders something aspirational without destroying them financially.