Capetown 5X and 5 Rally: Phelon & Moore brings the Capetown to the A2 class

• Parallel twin with 449.5 cc and 46.5 hp (34.2 kW), A2-compliant at full power without restriction
• 5X with 19/17-inch wheels for road and touring, 5 Rally with 21/18 inches and more suspension travel for off-road riding
• Prices and launch date are still open, and there is no distribution in Germany so far

The revived British brand Phelon & Moore is expanding its adventure bike family downwards. The new Capetown 5X and Capetown 5 Rally belong to the 2027 model year and are the manufacturer’s most important new models at EICMA in Milan. The existing Capetown 7 remains in the line-up. The two smaller sisters are meant to be more compact and more accessible, appealing to riders with an A2 licence without sacrificing an extensive equipment list.

What is the Phelon & Moore Capetown 5?

The Phelon & Moore Capetown 5 is a new platform for adventure bikes with a 450 cc twin, available in two versions: the road-oriented Capetown 5X and the off-road-oriented Capetown 5 Rally. Both sit below the larger Capetown 7 in the model range.

Visually, the new models are related to the Capetown 7 but have their own proportions and details. According to the manufacturer, lines and surfaces should always serve a technical or functional purpose and avoid pure decoration. The motorcycles were designed and developed in Italy and are built in China by selected partners.

The Capetown name goes back to a historic journey: in the 1930s, Theresa Wallach and Florence Blenkiron crossed Africa all the way to Cape Town on a Phelon & Moore Panther. Their trip is described in the book “The Rugged Road”.

What engine powers the Capetown 5X and 5 Rally?

Both models use the same liquid-cooled parallel twin with 449.5 cc displacement and a 270-degree crankshaft. It produces 46.5 hp (34.2 kW) at 10,000 rpm and delivers 39.1 Nm (28.8 lb-ft) at 6,500 rpm.

This keeps the engine below the A2 limit of 35 kW, so riders with an A2 licence can use the full power without any restriction. On parallel twins, the 270-degree crank gives a firing order and sound similar to a V-twin.

Technically, Phelon & Moore relies on double overhead camshafts, eight valves, Bosch fuel injection and a compression ratio of 11.5:1. Bore and stroke are 72 and 55.2 mm. The six-speed gearbox works with a slipper clutch that prevents rear-wheel hop during hard downshifts. The manufacturer quotes a top speed of 150 km/h, and the bike meets the Euro 5+ emissions standard.

How do the Capetown 5X and Capetown 5 Rally differ?

The Capetown 5X is designed for everyday riding, commuting and touring, while the Capetown 5 Rally is aimed at gravel and difficult terrain. The differences show mainly in the wheels, suspension travel and seat height.

The 5X rolls on spoked wheels with a 19-inch front and 17-inch rear, fitted with 90/90-19 and 150/70-17 tyres. Suspension travel is 180 mm at the front and 190 mm at the rear, roughly on the level of the Capetown 7. It also gets a low-mounted front mudguard and a luggage rack. With suitable panniers, the 5X should also be up to longer trips.

The 5 Rally has a 21-inch front wheel and an 18-inch rear wheel with 90/90-21 and 150/70-18 tyres. It offers 220 mm of travel at the front and 230 mm at the rear, 40 mm more than the 5X at each end. A high-mounted mudguard and an enduro-style tail underline its off-road focus.

The dimensions also differ:

• Seat height: 5X 810 or 840 mm, 5 Rally 850 or 880 mm (two positions each, adjustable without tools)
• Dry weight: 5X 192 kg (423 lbs), 5 Rally 197 kg (434 lbs)
• Wheelbase: 5X 1,500 mm, 5 Rally 1,510 mm
• Rake and trail: 5X 27.5 degrees and 107.3 mm, 5 Rally 27.1 degrees and 117.5 mm

Both models are 798 mm wide. Height is 1,360 mm (5X) and 1,400 mm (5 Rally), and the 5 Rally is 2,196 mm long.

Chassis, brakes and equipment of the Capetown 5

Up front, both versions use a 43 mm upside-down fork that is adjustable for damping and preload. At the rear sits a monoshock whose preload can be adjusted via a handwheel. The spoked wheels are tubeless, which makes a puncture easier to fix on the road.

Braking is handled by a 320 mm disc with a radially mounted four-piston caliper at the front and a 240 mm disc with a two-piston caliper at the rear. Dual-channel ABS and traction control are standard.

Standard equipment is extensive for the class:

• 7-inch colour TFT with smartphone connectivity, turn-by-turn navigation and screen mirroring
• Full LED lighting including indicators
• Tyre pressure and temperature monitoring
• Heated grips
• Metal bash plate
• One-hand adjustable windscreen with side wind deflectors (carried over from the Capetown 7)

The tank holds 17 litres, including a three-litre reserve. On its website, Phelon & Moore quotes an estimated range of more than 300 km.

For ergonomics, the manufacturer relies on a narrow seat, a wide handlebar and sculpted tank flanks. This should let the rider control the motorcycle better with the knees off-road. At the same time, the seat should be comfortable on longer rides and leave enough freedom of movement when standing and sitting while riding off-road.

How much does the Capetown 5 cost and is it coming to Germany?

Phelon & Moore has not yet announced a price for the Capetown 5X and Capetown 5 Rally, nor a launch date. A distribution network in Germany is not currently in sight either.

A look at the bigger sister helps to put things into perspective: in Italy, the Capetown 7S costs from 7,600 euros (around 8,500 US dollars) and the Capetown 7X 8,000 euros (around 8,940 US dollars). These are Italian list prices for the Capetown 7, not the new Capetown 5. There, the brand is distributed by the Mobility Village group, MOVI for short.

So far, Phelon & Moore has an official dealer network in Italy, Poland, Portugal and Greece. Several countries in Latin America are added to that, including Mexico, Argentina and Colombia. In markets without its own presence, the manufacturer says it is actively looking for importers. Whether and when Germany will be among them is still open.

Which other models are part of the Phelon & Moore range for 2027?

Alongside the new Capetown 5, Phelon & Moore confirms three further model families for 2027. The Capetown 7 with 693 cc and 74 hp (55 kW) remains the comfort-oriented touring model. It is available as the Capetown 7S for the road and as the Capetown 7X with spoked wheels and protective equipment for unpaved roads. There is also a Capetown 7X limited to 595 units, created together with the Italian design house Pininfarina. The Brighton family stands for classic British looks: the Brighton 6 Roadster and Brighton 6 Scrambler share a 550 cc twin with 48 hp (35 kW), while the Brighton 125 has a single-cylinder engine. The Panthette scooter family comprises the off-road-capable Panthette X with 125 or 300 cc and the Panthette S with large wheels for the city.

For the young brand, the Capetown 5 is an important step. Phelon & Moore was founded in 1904 and closed in 1966; since its relaunch in 2022, the company has been building up a complete model range again. With the Capetown 5, the manufacturer is targeting the mid-size segment and the fiercely contested A2 class, in which several brands are showing new adventure bikes for 2027 at EICMA 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

➜ This article is part of our comprehensive overview: New Motorcycles 2027: All Models, Releases and Highlights at a Glance. Find all key information on this topic in one place.

➜ More on this topic in our overview: EICMA 2026: All New Models and Premieres from Milan at a Glance.