China is known to copy other manufacturers design. They have copied Rolls Royce, Bentleys, Toyota, Mercedes-Benz and even the Maruti 800. They are also known to copy motorcycles on which we have already made a list. Recently, they also copied the Royal Enfield Himalayan which we covered here. Well, the Chinese automobile market has not stopped copying and now they have replicated something Italian and more exotic. This time we have found a copied version of the 2016 Ducati Panigale 959.
The copied attempt has been done by a Chinese manufacturer known as Moxiao Motor. They have introduced the Maxiao 500RR which resembles a lot to the Panigale 959. If you are standing far away, it is possible that you won’t be able to tell which motorcycle you are looking at. The Chinese manufacturer even copied Ducati’s iconic red paint and white badging.
However, there is a catch and quite a big one. The Maxiao 500RR is powered by a 471 cc, twin-cylinder engine that is liquid-cooled. The engine produces 47.5 PS at 8,500 rpm and 43 Nm at 7,000 rpm. The motorcycle can hit a top speed of 165 kmph and can hit a ton in 6.1 seconds. The figures are quite impressive.
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In fact, the Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 that we get in India is more powerful than this wannabe superbike. When compared, the Interceptor 650 is powered by a 648 cc, parallel-twin that is air-oil cooled. It produces 47.65 PS of max power @ 7,150 rpm and a peak torque output of 52 Nm @ 5,250 rpm. The engine comes mated to a 6-speed gearbox with slip and assists clutch.
Having said that, for a motorcycle with less than 500 cc and less than 50 bhp, the Maxiao 500RR has a bit of overkill equipment. For instance, it comes with dual 320 mm discs at the front that too with radial calipers. There is a 260 mm disc at the rear. It is offered with a dual-channel Anti-lock braking system at both ends. It also comes with a 120-section front tyre and a 190-section rear tyre which are a lot similar to the ones found on the original Panigale. In fact, Panigale also comes with twin 320 mm discs in the front.
Maxiao is offering a huge 22-litre fuel tank with 500RR. So, the motorcycle can also tour comfortably as it returns a claimed fuel efficiency of 22.2 kmpl. Other bits and pieces like the golden upside-down forks and rear mono-shock has been copied. Then there is the design, which is just straight-up copied. The front sleek yet angry-looking LED headlight, the fairing and the rear tail lamp are too similar to the original Ducati.
Having said that, the sheer performance of the Ducati Panigale is just something else. Ducati’s 955, L-twin, liquid-cooled engine is a gem. It is known for its powerful and angry nature. The engine is capable of producing a massive 157 hp @ 10,500 rpm and a peak torque output of 104.7 Nm @ 9,000 rpm. These power outputs in a 200 kg wet weight motorcycle make the Ducati Panigale a rocket. When compared the Maxiao’s 500RR engine comes nowhere near as close to the Ducati’s. In fact, as said earlier, it is even less powerful than the Royal Enfield Interceptor 650
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