The adventure motorcycle segment continues to grow and new manufacturers, especially the Chinese, are taking advantage of it. EICMA 2023 revealed a series of new Chinese-made adventure motorcycles, ranging from small-displacement entry-level models to top-end bikes with cutting-edge technology and performance. The latest one comes from a relatively new company called Moto Bologna Passione and, although its name may sound Italian, it is not as Italian as one might think.
MBP is a new company founded by the Keeway group. Subsequently, Keeway’s parent company is none other than the Chinese motorcycle empire Qianjiang Motor, also known as QJ Motor. So, yes, MBP may have European roots, but it is indeed a Chinese company and its products are manufactured in China by Chinese workers. That being said, MBP aims to conquer the European market with its latest adventure motorcycle, the T502X.
From a styling perspective, the MBP T502X is different from other motorcycles in its class. Its style reminds me of the Harley-Davidson Pan America, especially when viewed from the front. Meanwhile, from the side, the T502X presents some hints of Benelli’s BKX adventure bike series. After all, Benelli and MBP belong to the same parent company, so it is likely that they have been developed and designed by the same team.
According to MBP, the T502X was developed for use on road and off-road. It has front and rear wheels of 19 and 17 inches with Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR tires. The suspension consists of adjustable inverted front forks and a rear mono-shock that provide an impressive 180 millimeters of travel. This gives the bike a generous ground clearance of 210 mm and a fairly accessible seat height of 830 mm. The dry weight is 195 kg, but with the 16-liter tank full, we would be looking at around 213.1 kg.
