Zhang Xue has never been interested in building polite, conservative motorcycles. The man who dragged Kove to the Dakar Rally finish line and into WorldSSP300 has formally launched his new enterprise, ZXMOTO, at EICMA 2026 in Milan. Spearheading the charge directly into the heart of the European off-road establishment is the ZXMOTO MX300—a dedicated 300cc two-stroke enduro weapon built to challenge the KTM 300 EXC and Beta RR 300 on their home turf.

Following the recent reveals of the Sherco 2027 Enduro and XTREM range and the Beta RR 250 F Enduro prototype, the arrival of a fuel-injected Chinese two-stroke engineered specifically for technical woods riding confirms that the European monopoly on hard enduro machinery is facing its most serious disruption yet.

Featherweight 24.5 kg EFI Two-Stroke Powerplant

At the core of the ZXMOTO MX300 sits an in-house designed 300cc liquid-cooled single-cylinder two-stroke engine. Built on a classic square bore and stroke architecture of 72.0 mm by 72.0 mm, the engine utilizes electronic fuel injection (EFI) managed through a throttle body and integrated electronic power valve system, ditching finicky carburettor jetting changes when climbing alpine passes.

The bare engine tips the scales at an astonishingly low 24.5 kg. Despite its compact footprint, the mill produces a claimed 43 hp (31.6 kW) at 8,500 rpm and 42 Nm of peak torque at 7,000 rpm. Power is transferred through a six-speed close-ratio gearbox and a multi-plate wet clutch with hydraulic actuation, providing the feather-light lever pull essential for creeping through wet limestone boulder fields.

An electric starter is tucked neatly beneath the engine cases rather than hanging as an external vulnerability, powered by a lightweight lithium-ion battery. The exhaust header sweeps tightly against the frame cradle before venting through an aluminium silencer tuned to comply with strict European sound regulations.

Competition-Grade Chassis and 300 mm Linkage Suspension

Surrounding the featherweight thumper is a perimeter frame welded from high-tensile steel tubing, balancing vertical rigidity for high-speed cross-country whoops with lateral compliance for off-camber root webs. Total claimed dry weight is pegged at 116 kg—putting it within striking distance of Austrian and French competitors once filled with fuel and transmission oil.

Suspension duties are handled by fully adjustable 48mm upside-down front forks delivering 300 mm of wheel travel, featuring separate compression and rebound damping circuits. Out back, an aluminium swingarm operates through a progressive rising-rate linkage system to control a piggyback monoshock, also offering 300 mm of travel and high/low-speed compression adjustment.

The rolling chassis runs standard hard enduro dimensions: a 21-inch front wheel and an 18-inch rear wheel laced with heavy-duty stainless steel spokes to CNC-machined hubs. Braking hardware comprises a 260 mm front wave rotor squeezed by a dual-piston hydraulic calliper and a 240 mm rear disc, paired with braided steel lines for zero lever fade during steep descents.

“To win in extreme enduro, you cannot simply copy a ten-year-old European design. You must achieve parity on engine weight, provide seamless low-rpm fueling off the bottom, and build a chassis that flexes predictably on off-camber rock faces without snapping under impact.”

The Rider’s Trade-Off: Factory Linkage vs Simplicity and Dealer Network

The MX300’s primary engineering trade-off lies between linkage suspension performance and backcountry trail maintenance. Where KTM’s signature PDS (Progressive Damping System) linkless shock offers immense ground clearance and zero linkage bearings to grease after river crossings, ZXMOTO’s progressive linkage provides superior high-speed traction over square-edged rocks at the expense of an exposed lower knuckle that can hang up on extreme log hops.

The deeper hurdle for European riders is dealer support and parts supply. While Mattighofen and Beta have decades of established dealership presence across Europe with shelf-stocked pistons, reeds, and subframes, ZXMOTO must establish its spare-parts logistics chain from scratch. At a projected European retail price hovering around €7,800, however, the financial savings over an €11,500 Austrian machine provide ample budget for spare parts and aftermarket guards.

Technical Comparison: ZXMOTO MX300 vs KTM 300 EXC & Beta RR 300

Metric ZXMOTO MX300 KTM 300 EXC (2026) Beta RR 300 2T (2026)
Engine Type 293cc 2-stroke single, EFI 293.2cc 2-stroke single, TBI 292.6cc 2-stroke single, EFI
Bore x Stroke 72.0 mm x 72.0 mm 72.0 mm x 72.0 mm 73.0 mm x 69.9 mm
Power Output 43 hp @ 8,500 rpm ~49 hp @ 8,500 rpm ~47 hp @ 8,200 rpm
Torque Output 42 Nm @ 7,000 rpm 43.5 Nm @ 6,800 rpm 41 Nm @ 6,750 rpm
Bare Engine Weight 24.5 kg 23.9 kg 25.1 kg
Suspension (F / R) 48mm USD (300mm) / Linkage (300mm) 48mm WP XACT (300mm) / PDS (310mm) 48mm ZF Open (300mm) / Linkage (290mm)
Dry Weight 116 kg 104.6 kg 103.5 kg
Fuel Capacity 7.5 litres 9.0 litres 9.5 litres
Estimated EU Price €7,890 (est.) €11,690 €10,290

European homologation and distribution are slated to begin through regional distributors in France, Italy, and the Benelux countries in spring 2027, with wildcard entries planned for the 2027 FIM Hard Enduro World Championship.

Media citation: Editorial outlets and forums may quote excerpts with attribution and a link to Throttle Times.

Official source: https://www.eicma.it/en/exhibitors/zxmoto/

Reporting via: vbmmotoren.nl