Chinese motorcycle manufacturer ZXMoto has unveiled two new additions to its middleweight lineup – the 820RR-R sportbike and the 820R naked. The former is a higher-spec version of the existing 820RR that has enjoyed a remarkably successful debut campaign in the 2026 WorldSSP championship, while the latter is an all-new streetfighter built around the same 818.8cc inline-triple platform.
- 820RR-R gets KYB suspension, Brembo M50 calipers, forged wheels
- 818.8cc inline-triple makes 145hp on the 820RR-R
- 820R is a street-naked variant that makes 135hp
ZXMoto 820RR-R and 820R details
The 820RR-R gets a comprehensive hardware upgrade over the standard 820RR
For many enthusiasts, ZXMoto may still be an unfamiliar name, and that's hardly surprising. The Chinese manufacturer was only established in 2024 by Zhang Xue, a former co-founder of Kove Moto, the brand best known internationally for its adventure motorcycles and Dakar Rally programme.
Despite its short existence, ZXMoto has quickly built credibility the old-fashioned way: by proving itself on the racetrack. The manufacturer entered the 2026 WorldSSP championship with the 820RR and made an immediate impact, becoming the first Chinese motorcycle manufacturer to win a WorldSSP race. It has since added further victories and, at the time of writing, sits third in the manufacturers' standings behind only Yamaha and Ducati, ahead of established names including Triumph, Kawasaki, Honda and MV Agusta.
Building on that momentum, the company has now introduced the more focused 820RR-R. While the standard 820RR's 818.8cc inline-triple produces 135hp at 12,000rpm and 80Nm at 9,500rpm, the RR-R raises output to 145hp at 13,500rpm and revs to 14,750rpm. The gains come courtesy of a higher compression ratio and titanium intake valves replacing the standard model's steel units.
The chassis has also received a substantial upgrade. Suspension is now handled by a fully adjustable 43mm KYB USD fork and KYB monoshock, while braking duties are taken care of by Brembo M50 monobloc calipers and a Brembo master cylinder. Forged wheels replace the standard cast alloy units, contributing to a claimed 7kg weight saving that brings the wet weight down to 186kg. The RR-R also gains carbon-fibre winglets, a carbon-fibre exhaust tip and adjustable rearsets, and fuel tank capacity drops slightly from 18 litres to 16 litres.
The electronics package is equally comprehensive, featuring five riding modes, a six-axis IMU enabling cornering traction control and lean-sensitive ABS, a 6.2-inch Android-powered TFT display, TPMS, a bidirectional quickshifter, keyless ignition and a dual-chamber steering damper. Both the 820RR and 820RR-R continue to share the same cast aluminium frame, aluminium swingarm and adjustable rake and anti-squat geometry.
Alongside the RR-R, ZXMoto has also revealed the 820R naked. It uses the same 818.8cc inline-triple and aluminium chassis as the 820RR, producing 135hp at 12,000rpm. Unlike the RR-R, however, it uses suspension from Chinese manufacturer Yu'an and braking hardware from Taisko. It still gets a six-axis IMU, TPMS and keyless ignition as standard.
ZXMoto is actively working to expand beyond its home market of China, and its WorldSSP success is likely to help establish the brand internationally. The company has already confirmed its entry into the UK, where it will initially launch the 500RR sportbike, with the 820RR and 500F retro naked expected to follow in 2027. The United States is also among the brand's target markets, and no plans for an India launch have been announced.
Ved Janve
Rishaad Mody
