This Chinese 250cc Street Fighter Has European Aspirations

A leaked type-approval document from China suggests that Italy based manufacturer Malaguti is aspiring to soon launch the Drakon 250 in Europe. Well, while Malaguti is owned by Austria’s KSR group, the Chinese connection here suggests that Malaguti will be using Chinese manufacturing to keep costs low and ensure that the Drakon 250 can be priced competitively in Europe.

This particularly is good news, as Malaguti has partnered with Chinese manufacturer Zongshen to produce the Drakon 250. Zongshen is one of China’s oldest two-wheeler manufacturers, and is also one half of the joint venture with Piaggio, to manufacture Aprilia bikes in China. 

It’s no surprise then, that the Drakon 250 will feature a lot of Aprilia parts. The engine is understood to be the same 249cc single-cylinder mill that’s used on the Chinese models of the Aprilia GPR250 and GPR250S, which churns out 27.9 PS and 21.5 Nm. This brings it into direct competition with the KTM 250 Duke. 

Parallels between the Drakon 250 and 250 Duke continue aesthetically, as the Drakon showcases a slightly similar silhouette to the Austrian Naked bike at first glance. The tank extensions, for one, bear an uncanny resemblance to the 250 Duke. However, the fascia of the Drakon features a radical futuristic headlight cluster coupled to a sharp, minimalistic bodywork that extends all the way to the rear section. The underbelly exhaust further provides a futuristic aesthetic to the bike.

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According to the leaked type-approval document, the Drakon 250 has a wet weight of 150 kg, and had dimensions similar to its smaller sibling, the Drakon 125. Underpinnings feature an upside down fork at the front and a monoshock at the rear. The bike is anchored by disc brakes at both ends, and sits on 17-inch alloys wrapped with 110/70-17 front and 140/70-17 rear tyres. Expect full LED illumination and ABS to be part of the package too.

The Drakon 250 is surely aimed at the KTM 250 Duke, however what remains to be seen now is whether the Drakon can match its Austrian counterpart in the real world. While the Drakon 250 will not make it to our shores, you can check out the Suzuki Gixxer 250, Yamaha FZ-25, Bajaj Pulsar N250 and Bajaj Dominar 250 if you’re looking for a quarter litre naked bike.