Morbidelli T125WR: Chinese-Italian brand targets the 125cc class with new off-roader

• Design registrations from China reveal a new Morbidelli T125WR with enduro orientation
• New DOHC single-cylinder with an estimated 15 hp, upside-down fork and aluminum swingarm
• Engine and frame share no connection with the existing Morbidelli 125cc models

The growing segment of lightweight dual-sport motorcycles in the 125cc class may be getting a new addition from a direction that few had on their radar just a few years ago. Chinese design registrations show a new model from the Morbidelli brand, listed under the designation T125WR, which is significantly more geared toward off-road use than anything the brand currently offers. CycleWorld magazine discovered the documents and published them first.

What is known about the Morbidelli T125WR?

According to the design registrations, the Morbidelli T125WR uses a completely independent chassis and a new engine that share no technical relationship with the brand’s existing 125cc models. Neither the dual-sport variant T125, nor the adventure version T125X, nor the retro scrambler NR125X share their platform with the new model. This is noteworthy because the three aforementioned machines are based on similar technology with a 124cc DOHC single-cylinder, double-cradle steel frame and 41mm upside-down fork.

The T125WR instead uses a perimeter-style steel tube frame reminiscent of KTM’s frame designs. An upside-down telescopic fork sits at the front, while an aluminum swingarm works at the rear. Passenger footpegs are present, suggesting road homologation. Lighting and a license plate holder are also visible in the design drawings. The T125WR is therefore not a pure competition motorcycle but is designed as a road-legal dual-sport off-roader.

How much power does the Morbidelli T125WR have?

According to the drawings, the T125WR’s engine is a DOHC single-cylinder with 125 cubic centimeters of displacement that visually differs from previous Morbidelli powerplants. Concrete performance figures have not yet been confirmed. However, since the machine targets the European market, output is likely to be a maximum of 15 hp (11 kW). This corresponds to the legal maximum for the European A1 license class and the British CBT (Compulsory Basic Training) certification, which allows novice riders from age 17 to ride motorcycles up to 125cc and a maximum of 15 hp.

What sets the T125WR apart from the existing Morbidelli T125?

The existing Morbidelli T125, which has been on sale since 2025, is aimed at riders who want to move between urban and light off-road environments according to the manufacturer. The T125 uses a double-cradle steel frame, wire-spoke wheels in 19-inch front and 17-inch rear format, a 41mm USD fork with 177 millimeters of travel and a preload-adjustable central shock. The engine produces 14.21 hp at 9,500 rpm and 11 Nm at 7,600 rpm. The seat height is 820 millimeters, and the ABS cannot be deactivated for off-road use.

The T125WR, by contrast, adopts a significantly more committed off-road concept. The bodywork is more minimalist and aggressively styled, and the tires appear noticeably more knobby according to the design drawings. The frame is a perimeter-style tube frame rather than a double-cradle construction. While suspension travel figures are not yet known, the visibly long travel and the raised fenders front and rear suggest a noticeably more trail-capable setup. The narrow, long and flat seat reinforces the enduro character further.

How does the T125WR fit into the Morbidelli lineup?

Morbidelli has expanded its model range at a remarkably rapid pace since the brand’s revival in 2024. The brand’s international website currently lists 26 models, not counting the recently unveiled Timeless 1200 and the T125WR itself. In the 125cc segment alone, Morbidelli now offers a range of vehicles targeting different buyer groups: the dual-sport T125, the adventure T125X, the retro scrambler NR125X, the roadster N125V with its unusual V2 engine and single-sided swingarm, and the cruiser C125V. The overall range spans from 125cc to 1,200cc.

The T125WR would occupy the off-road end of this 125cc spectrum and position itself as the most trail-capable model in the brand’s lineup in this displacement class.

Who is behind the Morbidelli brand?

The Morbidelli name carries a long history in the motorcycle world. Giancarlo Morbidelli founded the company of the same name in 1968 in Pesaro, Italy. In the 1970s, the brand won four world championship titles in motorcycle Grand Prix racing: three in the 125cc class and one in the 250cc class between 1975 and 1977. In the 1990s, Morbidelli made headlines again with a V8 prototype based on an 850cc eight-cylinder engine featuring a design by Pininfarina. The eccentric machine never reached series production, with reportedly only four units built.

After years of dormancy, the Keeway Group acquired the Morbidelli brand rights in 2024. Keeway is a subsidiary of the Chinese motorcycle manufacturer Qianjiang (QJMotor), which in turn belongs to the Geely Group. Other well-known brands such as Benelli also operate under Qianjiang’s umbrella. Today’s Morbidelli models are manufactured in China, while design work is reportedly still based in Italy according to Keeway. The smaller models like the existing 125cc machines come from in-house production, while larger models such as the 1000cc adventure bikes are manufactured by Chinese manufacturer Gaokin. According to reports from China, Keeway has since also acquired Gaokin and is increasingly integrating their models under the Morbidelli label.

What could the Morbidelli T125WR cost?

Official pricing for the T125WR is not yet available. At this point, it has not even been confirmed whether the model will actually come to the European market. The T125WR name comes from the design registrations and may not necessarily be the final commercial designation.

For the existing Morbidelli 125cc models, there are likewise no official Euro prices for the German market. In Italy, the Morbidelli F 125 naked bike is offered for 2,790 euros (approximately 3,100 US dollars) according to MOTORRAD magazine. The Morbidelli T 352 X, a touring enduro with a 350cc twin-cylinder, costs 5,490 euros (approximately 6,110 US dollars) there. The brand thus fundamentally positions itself as price-aggressive, sitting well below the prices of Japanese and European manufacturers in comparable segments.

Whether and when the T125WR will be available in Europe remains open. Should Morbidelli maintain its current pricing strategy, the machine would likely be positioned below the established competition.

When the T125WR will hit the market remains unclear

Neither Morbidelli nor parent company Keeway have officially commented on the T125WR so far. The design registrations in China are a clear signal that the model is in development, but they do not guarantee an imminent market launch. Morbidelli has in the past introduced its models first in China and the United Kingdom before making them available in other European markets. Business is also already underway in Italy and Spain. In Germany, there is no independent dealer network for Morbidelli as yet, although distribution structures exist through the related brands Keeway and Benda, which could theoretically serve as a platform.

The 125cc class is a fiercely contested segment in Europe, gaining additional relevance through licensing regulations such as the A1 class in the EU and the B196 extension in Germany. That an emerging manufacturer like Morbidelli is tackling this segment with a dedicated off-road model shows how seriously the brand takes the European market. Whether the T125WR ultimately has what it takes to compete against established rivals like the Yamaha WR125R will depend not least on pricing and local availability.

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