At present’s crop of latest middleweight journey bikes are, for probably the most half, created from the identical mildew. All of them boast a level of off-road functionality, tons of tech, and rally-inspired styling. It’s not a foul factor, actually, as ADV bikes are cooler and extra enjoyable than they’ve ever been.
However there comes some extent whereby the stuff that comes out is simply too just like what’s already obtainable. Working example could be the brand new Xplora journey bikes from the Spanish firm Rieju. The brand new bike is available in two flavors, a road-focused 557, and a barely off-road succesful 707. The 2 fashions are based mostly on the MV Agusta LXP Orioli—a challenge that appears to have been placed on the again burner since KTM took over.
However the Rieju Xplora journey bike solely will get extra complicated, as from a styling perspective, I wasn’t fairly positive what I used to be taking a look at once I first noticed it. The twin LED headlight is clearly impressed by the MV Agusta LXP Orioli, however Rieju’s execution appears to be like extra like a Honda Africa Twin knockoff. Kinda disappointing for a model as specialised as Rieju.
Photograph by: EICMA
The Rieju Xplora 557 is a extra road-focused bike with 17-inch alloy wheels.
Photograph by: EICMA
The Rieju Xplora 700 appears to be like a bit burlier, however nonetheless solely will get a 19-inch entrance wheel.
As for the bikes’ inside workings, nicely, they aren’t precisely authentic, both. The Xplora 557 will get an engine from QJ Motor, extra particularly, a 554cc parallel-twin engine good for about 47 horsepower—proper on the restrict of the A2 license bracket. In the meantime, the 707 will get a much bigger Benelli twin with 70 ponies, which, in case you didn’t know, can be made by QJ Motor. So yeah, it appears to be like like Rieju and QJ Motor are working collectively now, too.
And whereas extra choices within the ADV market is all the time a great factor, I can’t assist however want that Rieju labored a little bit bit tougher on the brand new ADV. The Rieju model has all the time been identified for off-road efficiency, and possibly, they’d have been higher off engaged on only one enduro-derived journey bike actually leaning on the model’s off-road heritage.
However what do you suppose? Did Rieju miss the mark by popping out with two journey bikes which don’t precisely appear positive of what they need to be? Or are their extra road-focused platforms a breath of contemporary air in a market dominated by off-road-focused ADVs? Share your ideas within the feedback beneath.
