Zontes is moving into a more serious performance class with the ZT853-R, a naked motorcycle powered by an 847cc three-cylinder engine said to produce 150bhp. The stated 183kg weight makes the package more notable: the new bike is not relying on engine size alone, but is also targeting a highly competitive balance between power and mass.

A strong power position

The claimed output exceeds the 130bhp quoted for the Triumph Street Triple and the 120bhp of Yamaha’s MT-09, even though the Yamaha uses an 890cc triple. At 150bhp, the ZT853-R is closer to the 140bhp MV Agusta Brutale RR Ottantesimo and the 148bhp Brutale Serie Oro, which uses a 931cc three-cylinder engine. For an 847cc naked bike, that is an ambitious position.

Its stated 183kg weight is just as significant. The ZT853-R is listed as 5kg lighter than the standard Street Triple and 10kg lighter than the standard MT-09 without the Y-AMT transmission. It is more than 10kg lighter than both referenced MV Agusta models, while also undercutting Zontes’ smaller ZT703-R by 15kg.

Where the weight saving may come from

The gap to the ZT703-R may be partly explained by thinner walls in the frame and engine. Further savings may have been made in the wheels and other cycle parts, including the KYB suspension. Brembo supplies the braking hardware, giving the ZT853-R componentry intended to support its headline performance.

The ZT853-R is planned to reach Europe in late summer 2027. No price has been announced for the new model; as a reference point, the ZT703-R is listed at £6,799, while the ZT853-R is expected to sit substantially higher.