Boutique Italian producer Fantic is stirring issues up in a middleweight section lengthy dominated by massive names like Yamaha, Honda, and Aprilia. For years, these manufacturers have just about set the tempo, however Fantic’s Caballero 700 Scrambler is proving that there’s room for some fairly contemporary concepts. As a result of in contrast to different scramblers that are simply bare bikes with knobby tires, the Caballero is constructed to carry out off-road—and appears good doing it.
At first look, the Caballero 700 Scrambler stands out with its retro scrambler appears to be like. However what actually grabs consideration is its engine, which is a 689cc parallel-twin—however not simply any parallel-twin. This factor’s rocking the famed Yamaha CP2, an engine that’s change into just about legendary due to its grunty torque and bulletproof reliability.
Imagine me, for die-hard Yamaha simps like myself, seeing the CP2 in a motorbike like this can be a dream come true. I simply want I might one way or the other get my arms on it.
Diving into the specs, the CP2 engine is rated for round 74 horsepower, which isn’t rather a lot, however is loads for having a blast each on and off-road. Within the Caballero 700, the engine is housed in a metal perimeter body geared up with long-travel Marzocchi forks up entrance. On the rear, an adjustable monoshock enhances the setup. The brakes include Brembo calipers that put the 175-kilogram (round 385 kilos) bike to a cease with relative ease.
And whereas the Caballero 700 in its base kind already ticks all of the containers for a enjoyable and succesful machine, Fantic isn’t stopping there. They’ve launched two particular editions: the Deluxe and the Journey.
The Deluxe version will get a chic Campovolo Gray coloration scheme accented by black fenders and a particular “3 stripes” graphic that runs throughout the facet plate, seat, and tank. This variant was designed to enchantment to city riders who need model with out compromising performance.
Picture by: Fantic Motor
The Caballero 700 Scrambler Deluxe will get flat-track-inspired styling and a novel colorway.
Picture by: Fantic Motor
The Caballero 700 Scrambler Journey version is decked out in baggage and a windscreen.
On the flip facet, the Journey version is constructed to go the gap. It comes kitted out with facet storage baggage developed in collaboration with Givi, a baggage rack, a tank-mounted storage bag, and even a windscreen. Completed in a daring Tundra Inexperienced with pink quantity plates, this version is geared towards riders who plan to discover gravel roads and twisty backroads.
When it comes to pricing, particulars are nonetheless rising. A report from the Japanese publication Autoby notes that these particular editions have launched in Japan, but it surely doesn’t make clear whether or not they’re unique to that market. In Europe, the bottom Caballero 700 reportedly begins on the 10,000-euro mark (about $10,500 USD), with the particular editions positively carrying a premium for his or her additional options.
However aside from simply admiring the specs and functionality of this bike, I feel it’s price exploring the collaboration between Yamaha and Fantic on the Caballero 700. It raises some fascinating questions—why would a model like Fantic select to include Yamaha’s CP2 engine?
Properly, if we flip again the clock a bit, we’ll discover that Fantic acquired one other Italian model referred to as Motori Minarelli, a model that was as soon as owned by, you guessed it, Yamaha. Granted, the concept right here was to leverage Fantic’s know-how when it got here to electrical mobility. However the growth of the Caballero 700 might be dwelling proof that each Fantic and Yamaha wish to retain some enjoyable issue within the combine.
To that finish, I feel the Caballero 700 Scrambler is kind of a particular bike. It’s a missed alternative for Yamaha to not provide a middleweight scrambler themselves; a motorbike that slots someplace in between the XSR700 and Tenere 700. However maybe this partnership is strictly what that they had in thoughts.
What do you suppose? Would you’re keen on to tear round backroads and gravel roads on a machine like this? I do know I might. Share your ideas within the feedback under.
