EPA documents show low-cost V-twin adventure bikes are ready to be sold in the US.

By Ben Purvis | cycleworld.com

Morbidelli may be headed to the US market. The Morbidelli name will be familiar to students of motorcycle racing history and to those who recall the stillborn 850cc V-8-engined sport-tourer that attempted to revive the brand three decades ago, but its latest iteration is far from its Italian roots, instead stemming from China as an offshoot—along with Benelli, another storied Italian marque—of the huge QJMotor (Qianjiang) group.

Morbidelli in its current form first emerged back in 2022, initially under the name “MBP” as a subsidiary of Keeway, part of Qianjiang. It launched a 997cc V-twin cruiser, the C1002V, at EICMA that year, and announced the T1002V adventure bike shortly afterwards with the same powertrain. In 2024, the company rebranded as Morbidelli, and this year the T1002V and a wire-wheeled version, the T1002VX, hit hundreds of dealers across Europe—the primary market it’s targeting—as well as some South American and Asian markets. While Morbidelli is owned by Keeway, the C1002 and T1002 models are manufactured by another Chinese company, Gaokin, which is also responsible for making models for other companies for the European market (including Brixton, which makes retro-styled motorcycles not currently sold in the US.

Now it looks like we’ll soon be able to add the USA to the list of markets where Morbidellis are sold after QJ North America Inc. gained certification from the EPA to sell the T1002V and T1002VX.

The EPA certification confirms the bikes are 2026 model year machines, and all indications are that the specifications will be the same as the versions sold in Europe. Both the V and VX use the same 997cc, DOHC, liquid-cooled V-twin, putting out a claimed 88.5 hp at 7750 rpm and 65.6 lb.-ft. of torque at 5250 rpm. That goes through a slipper clutch to a conventional six-speed transmission and a chain final drive. The engine features an unusual 80-degree V-angle.

Both bikes feature 19-inch front wheels and 17-inch rears, but the VX uses more off-road-style wire wheels and tubed tires, while the V opts for cast alloys and tubeless rubber. The difference is more cosmetic than anything else, with both models sharing the same 32.3-inch seat height and 584-pound curb weight. The brakes are the same on both models, too, each using J.Juan four-pot radial front calipers on dual 320mm rotors. The suspension comes from KYB, with adjustable 43mm USD forks and a matching rear monoshock, also adjustable, on a rising rate linkage.

As we’ve come to expect from the latest crop of motorcycles from China, the bikes are loaded with equipment. A big, 7-inch TFT dash includes phone connectivity, the bar controls are illuminated, the seat and grips are heated and the windshield is adjustable. There’s automatic lighting, by LED of course, plus tire pressure monitoring and switchable, cornering ABS and traction control.

Looking at European reviews of the bikes, which reached dealers on that side of the Atlantic a few months ago, the emphasis is on affordability: where the T1002V and T1002VX are sold, they’re priced akin to 650cc rivals rather than liter bikes. It’s worth bearing in mind, however, that peak performance is a bit lower than you might expect from a liter-class motorcycle. Like other made-in-China motorcycles on the market, the kit levels impress while some of the materials disappoint. Several reviews note that the 3,000-mile service intervals fall short of modern expectations.

Inevitably, tariffs will have a huge impact on the bikes’ pricing and appeal, and while the EPA approval shows they’re legal to be sold in the States in 2026, at the moment there’s no official word on Morbidelli’s plan for this market.