ZXMOTO - Wellington

ZXMOTO: Extreme Passion and a New Generation of Chinese Performance

ZXMOTO represents a new generation of Chinese motorcycle engineering built around lightweight performance, motorsport development and an unusually ambitious approach to in-house technology. Founded in 2024 by engineer, racer and entrepreneur Zhang Xue, the company is one of the youngest major motorcycle brands in the world, but its founder brings extensive experience in performance motorcycle development, including his previous role co-founding KOVE and leading motorcycles into international competition such as Dakar and World Superbike.

Technical Heritage and Characteristics

One of the most distinctive aspects of ZXMOTO is its commitment to developing high-performance multi-cylinder engines rather than relying solely on the parallel-twin platforms common among emerging manufacturers. The 500RR, for example, uses a 470cc liquid-cooled DOHC inline-four engine producing approximately 83 hp in full-power specification. Combined with a kerb weight of only 168kg, it delivers the high-revving character traditionally associated with Japanese supersport motorcycles in a relatively compact package.

At the higher end of the range sits ZXMOTO's proprietary 818cc inline-three-cylinder platform. Used in the 820RR, the engine produces around 133–135 hp in standard road specification, while more highly tuned RR-R and RR-RS versions have been developed with outputs extending towards 150 hp. The triple-cylinder configuration provides a compromise between the compactness and midrange torque of a twin and the high-rpm performance of an inline four, while giving ZXMOTO a distinctive mechanical identity of its own.

The chassis and electronics packages are similarly ambitious. Depending on model, ZXMOTO machines incorporate equipment such as six-axis inertial measurement units, cornering ABS, multi-level traction control, launch control, quickshifters, adjustable inverted suspension and single-sided aluminium swingarms. Rather than positioning itself purely as a value-focused manufacturer, ZXMOTO is using specifications and motorsport development to compete directly with more established performance brands.

ZXMOTO in the New Zealand Setting

ZXMOTO is particularly interesting in New Zealand because its local range spans several very different types of riding. Current models include the 500RR and 820RR sports bikes, the 500F naked bike, MX250 and MX450 motocross machines, and LAMS-approved versions of the 500F and 500RR, with additional models including the 820R and Rally 450 joining the range.

For Kiwi riders, the combination of relatively low weight and strong performance is well suited to the country's technical roads. A machine such as the 500RR can provide the high-revving character of an inline-four without the size and extreme power of a litre-class superbike, making it particularly well matched to winding North Island roads and the tight, constantly changing conditions found throughout New Zealand.

The availability of a LAMS-approved 500RR is also significant. Producing a four-cylinder learner-approved sports motorcycle is unusual in a market dominated by singles and parallel twins. Its 470cc inline-four is limited to 35kW for LAMS compliance while retaining the full-size sportsbike chassis, 168kg kerb weight, quickshifter, riding modes, six-axis IMU, cornering ABS and traction control of the platform. This gives developing riders an unusually sophisticated entry point into performance motorcycling.

For riders in Auckland, Wellington and Taranaki, ZXMOTO therefore occupies an interesting position between accessible performance and genuine enthusiast machinery. The 500-series bikes offer relatively lightweight road performance, while the 820RR moves the brand firmly into serious supersport territory. The motocross and forthcoming rally models extend the same performance-focused philosophy into the type of off-road and adventure riding that forms such an important part of New Zealand motorcycling.

Interesting Facts

• Founded by a Racer and Engineer: Zhang Xue began repairing motorcycles at only 17 years old before becoming a motocross rider, stunt rider, mechanic and motorcycle developer. He later co-founded KOVE before establishing ZXMOTO in 2024.
• A Four-Cylinder LAMS Bike: The New Zealand-market 500RR LAMS combines a 470cc inline-four engine with a 35kW LAMS-approved output—an exceptionally unusual engine configuration in the learner motorcycle category.
• An In-House Triple: ZXMOTO's flagship 818cc inline-three-cylinder engine was developed as one of the company's core proprietary technologies and powers the 820-series performance motorcycles.
• Born Into Competition: Motorsport has been built into ZXMOTO's development programme from its beginning, with the company using international racing as a testing and engineering platform rather than treating competition simply as a marketing exercise.
• An Extremely Young Brand: ZXMOTO was only founded in 2024, making its rapid development of inline-four and inline-three motorcycles, motocross machines, rally bikes and international racing programmes particularly unusual within the modern motorcycle industry.