Chinese Firm Loncin Unveils 300 cc Sportbike

Chinese motorcycle manufacturer Loncin has unveiled what is a brand new full-faired 300 cc sportbike. In terms of styling and specifications, it would appear to compete with several motorcycles currently on sale in India, like the TVS Apache RR 310, KTM RC 390 and even the Benelli 302R. The Loncin GP300 is powered by a four-stroke, liquid-cooled, 292.4 cc, DOHC single-cylinder engine which makes 29 bhp at 8500 rpm and 25 Nm of peak torque at 7,000 rpm. The engine is mounted on a steel trellis frame and mated to a six-speed transmission, and the bike features a full fairing with sporty decals and twin LED headlights.

Upside down front forks, disc brakes at both ends (although ABS doesn't seem to be on offer) and a sharp tail end certainly make the GP300 look the part of a stylish, entry-level supersport. The bike tips the scales at 153 kg (dry) and features a swingarm which looks like aluminium, but in reality it's just made of pressed steel. Fit and finish and build quality seem quite good, and while it's still not clear where the GP300 will be eventually offered on sale outside of China, this is one Chinese-made motorcycle which promises to be quite capable.

The Loncin brand is part of the Longxin Motorcycle Industry Co. Ltd, which produces motorcycles, motorcycle engines and ATVs under the brand name Loncin. The company has manufacturing, distribution and marketing facilities in Chongqing, Zhejiang and Guangdong in China. With an annual production capacity of over 25 lakh motorcycles, Loncin is by no means a small player. And in the past, Loncin was also contracted by BMW Motorrad to manufacture engines for the BMW G650GS model, so engineering and quality undoubtedly will be of world-class standards.

And that's another thing similar between Loncin and TVS Motor Company. Currently, TVS manufactures the entry-level BMW models, the BMW G 310 R and BMW G 310 GS in India, and Loncin seems to have some history with BMW Motorrad as well, manufacturing more than 35,000 engines for BMW Motorrad.