Zontes ZT903-R: Not a Bored-Out 703, but a Completely New Engine

• Newly developed triple, rumoured in China to displace around 900 cc
• Cast aluminium frame, single-sided swingarm and a sensor for a quickshifter
• Prototypes are already being ridden on roads in China

Zontes is gearing up for its next big step. Prototypes of a new naked bike are already riding on Chinese roads, although still without most of their bodywork. Images from the manufacturer’s design filings show what the motorcycle is ultimately meant to look like. They also reveal quite a few technical details. Zontes has not officially presented the model yet. The name ZT903-R is also just a working title based on the expected displacement.

What is the Zontes ZT903-R?

The Zontes ZT903-R is a streetfighter with a newly developed three-cylinder engine that is set to sit above the existing 703 models. With it, the Chinese manufacturer is further expanding its range of large multi-cylinder bikes.

Zontes is following a trend that many Chinese brands are currently pushing. Instead of small singles, large-displacement motorcycles with several cylinders are moving into focus. These models are meant to take on established machines from Japan. The 703 range was the first step, the ZT903-R would be the next.

What is the displacement of the new Zontes triple?

There is no official displacement yet. Rumours in China point to around 900 cc, which is where the ZT903-R designation comes from.

What is certain, however, is that the engine is a new design. Castings, mounting points and even the arrangement of the bolts on the engine covers differ from the 699 cc triple of the 703 range. No carried-over parts can be seen in the images, and the new powerplant is visibly larger.

Whether it will ultimately stay at 900 cc remains open. As early as 2021, when Zontes made its three-cylinder plans public, the company boss also wrote on social media about a 1000 cc version. Figures for the ZT903-R’s power and torque are still completely missing.

What technology do the ZT903-R design images show?

The images show a new cast aluminium frame, a single-sided swingarm and a sensor for a quickshifter. Zontes is sticking with the construction of its previous models, but stepping up on the chassis.

At the rear, a single-sided swingarm locates the wheel. This solution is not entirely new for the brand. Some of the earlier 310 singles already had one, and a 2020 design sketch for a three-cylinder naked bike also showed a single-sided swingarm. Up front is an upside-down fork, i.e. an inverted telescopic fork. Two brake discs act on the front wheel, and the cast wheels have multiple spokes.

A load sensor of the kind a quickshifter needs sits in the gear linkage. A quickshifter allows gear changes without using the clutch. The footpegs appear to be adjustable. There is no official spec sheet confirming these details yet.

Zontes ZT903-R design with winglets and high-mounted silencers

Visually, Zontes relies on sharp edges and a distinctive face. The LED headlights are stacked on top of each other, and the mirrors sit on the bar ends. Side panels extend forward from the tank, carrying large winglets, i.e. small aerodynamic wing profiles.

The tail is very short. There is no bodywork beneath the seat pads; underneath sit two high-mounted silencers. The cockpit features a large rectangular TFT display, as is usual for Zontes.

Is the Zontes ZT903-R ready for production?

The design shown is said to already correspond to the finished production version rather than being a mere concept. Several components point to this that would be superfluous on a design study.

These include round reflectors on the fork legs, a licence plate holder and a large silencer with catalytic converter beneath the engine. A motorcycle needs such parts to be homologated for road use. This fits with the fact that prototypes are already being ridden on public roads in China.

How did the Zontes triple come about?

Zontes made its plans for its own three-cylinder engine public in 2021. Until then, the brand was mainly known for singles with 125 and 310 cc.

According to Zontes, the trigger was criticism in China because the brand did not have a twin in its line-up. Instead of a twin, Zontes wanted to build a triple straight away and thereby overtake the competition. In a video, the manufacturer showed the engine along with the crankshaft, camshafts and cylinders at the time. Initially there was talk of around 800 cc and a high compression ratio of 13.5:1. As with most triples, the crankpins are offset by 120 degrees.

In its layout, the engine was reminiscent of the Yamaha MT-09 triple. In an early design sketch, Zontes had even drawn in the Yamaha engine as a placeholder.

What eventually went into production was a 699 cc triple. According to the manufacturer, it produces 95 hp (70 kW) at 11,500 rpm and 74.4 Nm (54.9 lb-ft) at 8,500 rpm, with a compression ratio of 13:1. The engine powers the 703R naked bike, the 703T sport tourer, the 703RR supersport and the 703F adventure tourer.

When is the Zontes ZT903-R coming and how much will it cost?

Zontes has not yet announced the price, market launch or sales countries of the ZT903-R. Key technical data such as power and weight are also missing.

The only point of reference is the smaller 703R. In Spain, the naked bike costs 6,488 euros (approx. 7,260 US dollars) in the new ETC version. There is no official price for the 703R in Germany yet.

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