This Zongshen Cyclone Power Cruiser Concept Gives Off V-Rod Vibes

China’s big-bike market is growing leaps and bounds, with the Cyclone RA9 power cruiser concept being among the many exciting motorcycles showcased at the 2021 CIMAMotor Show. Zongshen, Cyclone’s parent company, has been working on a couple of big projects, including the Norton 650cc engine-based adventure bike. For the RA9, Zongshen has partnered with Piaggio (more specifically Aprilia) for more understanding of a large liquid-cooled V-twin motor.

Zongshen and Piaggio have been partners for a few years, building Aprilia-badged machines for the Chinese market (like the GPR250). The RA9 is a big and bold step for the two marques, producing one of the largest engines to come out of this joint venture.

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It is a heavily reworked version of the engine available on the Dorsoduro 1200, which was also based on the smaller 896cc V-twin from the Dorsoduro 900 and Shiver 900. On the RA9, it displaces 987cc and makes 113.55PS and 97.62Nm, decent figures for a bike of its intention. The concept bike tips the scales at 215kg (kerb).

You can also spot the Italian bikes-inspired hardware on the RA9. The chassis (tubular steel front frame and cast alloy mid-section) is believed to have been directly lifted from the smaller Dorsoduro, while the single-sided swingarm could only be present on the concept. The production version will likely get the same one as the supermoto.

There are a lot of radical design elements on the RA9, which looks like a taller and evolved Harley-Davidson V-Rod. However, these styling cues may not make it to the final product. Things like the neatly integrated undertail exhaust, the Lamborghini-esque rear wheel, and even the cantilever seating area might make way for more affordable options. That said, the fully adjustable suspension and J Juan braking components might just be more or less confirmed.

While the Zongshen RA9 is unlikely to ever make it to India, the motor just might. At the motor show, Aprilia, too, showed off a couple of Gilera-branded bikes, one of them with this new engine. Hopefully, this new engine will find its way into the next-gen Dorsoduro and Shiver, the former being one of the nicest and easy-handling supermotos we have ever ridden.

Images: Cycle World