Some might remember the Morbidelli nameplate from the late 1990s when the Italian brand unveiled an 850cc V8-powered sport-touring prototype with a price tag of $45,000. It was an impressive thing, with Brembo brakes, a fuel-injected, 32-valve V-8 engine that could rev to 11,000 rpm, and a claimed dry weight of just 440 lbs.
And while that prototype never made it to showroom floors, the Morbidelli name itself lives on. Sort of.
Along with Benelli, another Italian brand with a storied and somewhat checkered past, Morbidelli is now owned by the QJMotor group, or Qianjiang Motorcycle Co., Ltd., a Chinese manufacturer that was founded in 1985 and is owned by Geely.
Morbidelli first re-emerged in 2022 under the name MBP, a subsidiary of Keeway, part of QJMotor. The brand unveiled the C1002V, a 997cc V-twin cruiser, at EICMA that year, and announced the T1002V Adventure Bike shortly thereafter. The company rebranded as Morbidelli in 2024, and as of last year, the T1002V, along with a wire-wheeled iteration, the T1002VX, were available at hundreds of dealerships across Europe.
Although Morbidelli is owned by Keeway, the C1002 and T1002 motorcycles are actually manufactured by Gaokin, yet another Chinese brand that is responsible for the Brixton line of retro-modern motorcycles (not currently sold in the US), as well as a handful of other nameplates.
Confusing, sure. But it feels a lot like American auto manufacturing circa the 1950s, with General Motors being responsible for a plethora of brands such as Chevrolet, Pontiac, Oldsmobile, Buick, and Cadillac.
According to a report from our friends at Cycle World, it seems like Morbidelli might be adding the United States to the list of places where the Italian brand will be sold. Apparently, QJ North America Inc. acquired EPA certification to sell the T1002V and T1002VX, listed as 2026 model year machines that carry the same specifications as the models currently sold in Europe.
Both the T1002V and T1002VX are powered by a 997cc, DOHC, liquid-cooled V-twin engine good for 88.5 hp and 65.6 lb.-ft. of torque. Horsepower is shipped to the rear wheel via a slipper clutch and a conventional six-speed transmission, followed by a chain final drive. Both models are outfitted with 19-inch front and 17-inch rear wheels; the VX is equipped with more off-road-focused wire wheels and tubed tires. Both bikes share a 32.3-in seat height and 584-lb curb weight, along with KYB suspension featuring adjustable 43mm forks and a matching rear mono shock. There’s a 7-in TFT display, heated seat and grips, LED lighting, cornering ABS and traction control, among other things. All the tech you’d expect from a current market adventure motorcycle made in China.
Affordability seems to be the prime objective of Morbidelli, who has been selling both the T1002V and T1002VX at a price more closely associated with the 650cc ADV motorcycles on the market, as opposed to the high-dollar 1000cc adventure machines available in Europe at the moment.
So, how much will they cost when they reach the shores of the United States? Well, we can’t say for certain. Tariffs and import taxes will certainly have an effect on the pricing of these machines, and although the EPA approval means they’re now able to be sold in the US, there’s no information regarding Morbidelli’s plan for the US market, and no mention of pricing, either.
I suppose we’ll have to wait and see whether these Italian-born, Chinese-built, tech-laden adventure machines come in at a competitive enough price to take the average ADV rider's eyes off of the 2026 Ténéré 700 World Raid…
