The small ADV game is exploding right now and a huge chunk of that action is coming straight out of China. CFMoto, Zontes, Kove, QJ Motor, Benelli, and now Morbidelli are all fighting for the same slice of the adventure pie. Riders want lighter bikes they can actually handle on real trails, and the segment’s gotten so packed that every new model feels like someone squeezing into a photo where everyone’s already shoulder to shoulder.
Morbidelli coming in is interesting because the name sounds super Italian, but the story is… let’s just say layered. The original Morbidelli was a real Italian race outfit. This modern Morbidelli is what used to be MBP, which stood for Moto Bologna Passione, which was already a QJ Motor creation trying really hard to sound Italian. Then QJ rebranded MBP into Morbidelli and suddenly the whole thing had vintage racing vibes again. Except it’s still QJ Motor underneath. The same group that owns Benelli and Keeway and pumps out a massive portion of China’s middleweight bikes.
So yeah, the heritage exists, but mostly because someone bought the naming rights. Whether that matters is totally up to the buyer.
Brand shenanigans aside, the T352X is genuinely doing something different. It’s entering a class dominated by bikes like the Royal Enfield Himalayan, CFMoto Ibex 450, and the coming-soon BMW F 450 GS. Everyone calls these “small ADVs” but let’s be real. They’re creeping up in size and weight every year. Pretty soon the category’s going to need a new name because “small” is getting harder to justify.
Morbidelli decided to flip the script. Instead of going bigger, the T352X goes smaller and lighter. It feels like they wanted an actual trail bike that just happens to be road friendly instead of a road bike pretending it’s ready for Dakar. That focus on agility gives it a personality that’s getting rarer in this segment.
Power comes from a 349cc parallel-twin making 41 horsepower at 10,500 rpm and 31.5 pound feet at 8,500 rpm. It’s smooth, approachable, and not trying to pick a fight. Morbidelli claims around 54.7 miles per gallon and the 18 liter tank gets you about 400 kilometers (around 250 miles) between stops. Curb weight is roughly 397 pounds which is heavy for a dirtbike but light for an ADV.
Suspension’s handled by a 41 millimeter upside down fork with 160 millimeters of travel and a linkage rear shock with 56 millimeters of travel. Wheel sizes are your usual road-oriented ADV numbers with a 19 inch front and 17 inch rear on Pirelli tubeless rubber. Seat height is 820 millimeters so most riders should get along with it, and it’s easy to stand on the pegs without feeling awkward.
Braking comes from a 300 millimeter front disc and a 240 millimeter rear disc with Bosch ABS. There’s an off road mode that kills rear ABS so you can slide the back around when the terrain loosens up. Electronics are surprisingly loaded. You get a vertical seven inch TFT, three riding modes, and Morbidelli Connect which packs navigation, an SOS function, anti theft features, and remote shutdown.
Lighting’s full LED with a distinct X shaped face and you can kit it out with aluminum cases or soft luggage. Nothing feels oversized which fits the whole small but serious idea the T352X is going for.
In the end it’s your call whether a Chinese built ADV with an Italian name is something you’re into. What’s undeniable is that China’s pumping out more bikes every year and they’re not slowing down. Morbidelli or MBP or whatever name they go with next is just another player in a wave that’s only getting bigger. And that wave isn’t going anywhere.
Source: Morbidelli
