Ever since its inception, the Honda Grom has been one of the most popular mini bikes in the US. No other bikemaker has replicated its fun element, although Benelli and Kawasaki did come close. With both these companies waving the white flag, the newest competition for the Grom comes from CFMoto. The Chinese bikemaker sells an entire lineup of fun little mini bikes here, and things are getting even better soon with a new fully faired mini moto.
CFMoto Is Preparing A New Fully Faired Papio Mini Bike
The news comes straight from CFMoto’s type-approval documents in China. They confirm the company’s newest creation: a faired mini moto based on the Papio SS sold in the US. This mini bike flexes sports bike-inspired side fairings, complete with mini winglets that remind us of the CFMoto 675 SS. This is topped with already likable design elements seen on the Papio SS.
There are dual-pod round LED headlights, flanked by a sporty fender and tinted windscreen. At the opposite end lies an angular tail section, complete with a distinct underseat exhaust. All that, along with the new fairings, gives the new mini bike a retro sports bike vibe–something like the OG Suzuki GSX-R750. A bright new livery rounds things off.
Key Design Changes
- New side fairings
- Tinted windscreen
- Aerodynamic wings
- New livery
The New Papio Will Feature A 126cc, Single-Cylinder Engine
While this new mini moto is different from the outside, the internals are largely the same as the existing bike. You get a 126cc, single-cylinder engine, which is good for 9.4 horsepower and 6.8 pound-feet. A six-speed transmission sends all that power to the wheel to enable a claimed top speed of 56 miles per hour. Those numbers are right in the ballpark of the Honda Grom.
The mill sits inside a steel chassis, suspended on slim USD forks and a monoshock. A set of 12-inch wheels is present, too, each of which has a single disc brake to shed speed. Interestingly, even with the extra bodywork, the claimed weight is unchanged at 251 pounds (wet). That also suggests there are no additional features here, although we do see ‘TCS’ (short for traction control system) on the front fender.
CFMoto Might Launch The New Papio In The US
With CFMoto’s Papio range already in the US, we believe it’s highly likely we’ll see this new model here. The ‘when’ is unclear, though, as the Papio hasn’t even been launched in China yet. What’s also unclear is whether this will replace the Papio SS sold here or serve as the third variant. If you like what you see, stay tuned to TopSpeed, as we’ll bring you all the latest details on the matter.
CFMoto Papio Key Specifications
Engine |
126cc, single-cylinder |
Power |
9.4 HP |
Torque |
6.8 LB-FT |
Transmission |
Six-speed |
Chassis |
Steel tubular |
Suspension |
USD forks/monoshock (front/rear) |
Wheels |
12-inch alloys |
Weight |
251 pounds |
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