Chinese motorcycle brand Regal Raptor is preparing a second member of its DD1000 family, the DD1000C. The model appears in a new Chinese type-approval document, but the available information does not confirm that it has entered production. It follows the DD1000A, a large cruiser built around a 1,000cc V-twin derived from an ATV, with CVT transmission and shaft drive.

A more familiar shape

The DD1000C is presented as a more recognisable motorcycle than the visually imposing DD1000A. Its tank has more conventional proportions, and the overall design is described as better balanced, even if it is not being called beautiful. The front suspension also changes: instead of the earlier model’s inverted fork, the C uses a conventional fork, a choice linked to its more traditional design.

The frame remains the same forged-steel design used by the previous version. The engine is a 963cc V-twin sourced from a CFMoto ATV, although it is now identified as being manufactured by Lifeng, the company described as the owner of the Regal Raptor brand.

A 772-pound cruiser with reverse

The DD1000C’s central technical talking point is its unusual drivetrain. The CVT uses a centrifugal clutch and provides reverse. That is an uncommon arrangement for a large cruiser; similar continuously variable systems are more commonly associated with scooters or snowmobiles. A parking brake is also fitted, possibly reflecting the ATV origins attributed to the transmission. The available description does not establish whether the forward/reverse selector includes a separate Park position.

The reverse function is particularly relevant because this is an exceptionally heavy motorcycle for a roughly 1,000cc twin. The DD1000C is listed at 772 pounds, 11 pounds less than the reported 783-pound weight of the DD1000A. Its wheelbase is 69.5 inches. The controls are limited to a throttle and two handlebar brake levers, with one lever operating the front brake and the other the rear.

The fuel-tank question

The DD1000A’s bulky appearance is partly attributed to its 10-gallon fuel tank. It is also described as having a tank two gallons larger than that of the BMW R 1300 GS Adventure. The DD1000C is believed to have a smaller tank, but its type-approval document does not state the capacity, so no figure can be confirmed. The A model’s heavily reinforced footpegs are designed to act as protection in a fall and are said to support the motorcycle’s weight without allowing it to go completely onto its side.

A possible US path, not a confirmed launch

Regal Raptor reportedly has ambitions for the DD1000 range in the United States. The original DD1000A received EPA approval in mid-2025, while a 2026 DD1000A also received approval in early May of that year. On that basis, the article suggests the DD1000C could meet EPA requirements once it reaches production. That remains a possibility rather than an approval already confirmed for the C. The same caution applies to its commercial availability: despite its distinctive engineering, the model is not expected to attract a large number of US customers. Anyone riding one, the article concludes, would certainly stand out.