CFMoto Papio XO-2

Admin · April 12, 2023

Another variation of the Papio has appeared, with the retro-styled bike called the XO-2. (CFMoto/)

Earlier this year, CFMoto unveiled the Papio XO-1, a 126cc single-cylinder minibike to compete with the likes of Honda’s Grom and Kawasaki’s Z125 Pro but with a retro look based on old endurance roadracers. Now a second version has appeared in type-approval filings with styling that adds a dash of scrambler to the mix.

Honda’s Grom. (Jeff Allen/)

CFMoto currently only offers its original Papio in the US market, a $2,999 alternative to the slightly more expensive Japanese offerings in the small-wheeled fun-bike market. However, with the same powertrain—a 9.4 hp, 126cc air-cooled single coupled to a six-speed gearbox—the retro-style XO models stand a strong chance of reaching these shores in the future.

CFMoto’s standard Papio. (CFMOTO/)

The new Papio XO-2 manages to share the same family look as the XO-1 while adopting a completely different stance and style. Where the XO-1 has a fixed fairing, a stepped seat, and a small bellypan, all contributing to a caricatured sportbike look reminiscent of the old Suzuki RB50, Honda NSR80, and Yamaha YSR50/YSR80 “playbikes” of the 1980s, the XO-2 is more like a miniature 1980s Dakar racer. A high-mounted front fender emphasizes the travel of the upside-down fork, and while the tank is shared with the XO-1, the XO-2′s seat is a one-piece design, with a pillion grab rail behind it, instead of the two-piece, stepped design of the XO-1.

CFMoto’s Papio XO-1. (CFMoto/)

The twin headlights are like those on the XO-1 (look closely and one has an “X” shape hidden inside it, the other an “O”), reflecting the bike’s designation, and the same theme is carried across to the mirrors, with an X molded into their rear faces. As suits the new model’s off-road style, the bars are much taller and wider than the XO-1′s low clip-ons, and the footpegs are lower and farther forward, contributing to a more upright stance.

More deeply treaded tires are fitted to the same three-spoke alloy wheels used on the XO-1, and the bellypan is removed to add more ground clearance even though the fork and rear suspension appear to be unchanged. The bike’s dimensions reflect both its similarities and changes compared to the XO-1, with an identical 47.8-inch wheelbase and 68.9-inch length, as well as the same 251-pound wet weight, while the 29.1-inch width is 2.5 inches wider thanks to the longer handlebar, and the height, at 40.2 inches, is just under 2 inches taller.

Honda’s Monkey. (Honda/)

CFMoto’s dedication to the Papio range (the name means baboon, a clear play on Honda’s Monkey, Gorilla, and Ape models) means it’s expanding fast. The company revealed an electric version, the Papio Nova, last year, which is now available in China and expected to reach export markets later in 2023. The Papio XO-1 joined the lineup last month in two forms, with or without ABS, and the Papio XO-2 looks set to follow, with an official announcement likely to come this summer. Export plans for the retro XO models have yet to be announced, but they may well appear at international shows later this year and reach markets outside China in 2024.

Kawasaki jumped into the mini market with its Z125 Pro in 2017. (Kawasaki/)