Zontes has unveiled the ZT853R at EICMA 2026 in Milan, presenting a three-cylinder hypernaked prototype aimed squarely at the upper end of the performance naked-bike market. The motorcycle is more than a styling exercise: it introduces the company’s new 847 cc inline-triple platform and combines a claimed 150 CV with a chassis and electronics package built to match that ambition.

A new-generation 847 cc engine

The engine is described as a second-generation design developed from the ground up, rather than a simple enlargement of the smaller three-cylinder unit Zontes presented in 2023. It uses combined water-and-oil cooling and meets the Euro 5+ standard. Zontes quotes 150 CV at 12,500 rpm and 96 Nm of peak torque at 9,000 rpm, with the engine’s maximum speed set at 13,000 rpm.

The performance figures remain manufacturer claims rather than independently verified results. Zontes gives a 0–100 km/h time of 2.8 seconds, while the projected top speed is close to 280 km/h. Those numbers place the ZT853R firmly in the territory of the most aggressively specified hypernakeds, although the bike is still a prototype and its final road specification may evolve during development.

A serious aluminium chassis

The second-generation cast-aluminium frame has been redesigned with greater torsional rigidity and faster changes of direction in mind. The main frame and rear subframe together weigh 10 kg. At the back, an aluminium single-sided swingarm supports the rear wheel, while the exhaust uses two high-mounted outlets and a variable-geometry system.

KYB provides the suspension. Up front is a fully adjustable 43 mm upside-down fork with DLC coating, matched by an adjustable rear shock. Braking hardware comes from Brembo: radial Stylema calipers work with twin 310 mm floating front discs and a Brembo PR16 radial master cylinder. The specification is completed by low, adjustable clip-ons and aerodynamic winglets on the front section.

Carbon parts and six-axis electronics

Zontes also lists genuine carbon-fibre components as standard equipment. These include the front panel, tank cover, front and rear mudguards, and the protection for the oil sump. The electronics are managed by a six-axis inertial measurement unit, which supports cornering ABS and traction control that responds to the motorcycle’s lean angle.

The rider interface uses a horizontal TFT screen with map-based navigation, an integrated timer and dedicated telemetry pages for monitoring riding performance. Zontes now plans an intensive programme of road and track testing to refine the prototype’s reliability and dynamic behaviour. The company has not yet announced a final list price or a definitive launch date for the Italian and European markets, so the ZT853R remains a technology statement under development rather than a production motorcycle ready for ordering.