- Urban Moto Imports has been announced as the official NZ distributor for ZXMOTO motorcycles
- The Chinese brand has already scored race wins in the World Supersport Championship
- Adventure, LAMS and middleweight performance bikes are expected to lead the charge in New Zealand
Another Chinese motorcycle brand is heading to New Zealand — but this one arrives with serious racing credentials already attached.
Urban Moto Imports (UMI), the distributor behind brands including Royal Enfield, Benelli, Rieju and Segway Powersports, has confirmed it will become the official distributor for ZXMOTO motorcycles across Australia and New Zealand. The first models are expected to land locally from Spring 2026.
While the ZXMOTO name may still be unfamiliar to many Kiwi riders, the company has rapidly gained attention internationally after making an immediate impact in the FIM World Supersport Championship. Incredibly, the ZXMOTO Factory Evan Bros Racing team has already scored three race wins during its debut WorldSSP season, with riders Federico Caricasulo and Valentin Debise putting the Chinese-built 820RR triple-cylinder machine on the top step against long-established European and Japanese manufacturers.
That level of success has quickly elevated ZXMOTO from “another emerging Chinese brand” into something the wider motorcycle industry is beginning to take very seriously.
Founded by a familiar name
ZXMOTO was founded by Zhang Xue — a hugely influential figure in China’s rapidly growing motorcycle industry and previously linked with the rise of Kove Motorcycles before launching his own brand.
Like Kove, ZXMOTO appears determined to use international racing as a fast-track route to global credibility, with the company also confirming plans to compete in the Dakar Rally and MXGP.
According to Urban Moto Imports CEO Joseph Elasmar, seeing the operation firsthand gave UMI confidence the brand was capable of becoming a major player internationally.
“ZXMOTO is a brand with serious momentum, a clear focus on performance and passion, and a product range that we believe will genuinely surprise people,” Elasmar said.
“Seeing the ZXMOTO operation first-hand gave us real confidence in the brand. The factory, facilities and team all point to a manufacturer with serious capability and a strong future ahead.”
A huge model range
Unlike some newer brands that launch with just one or two models, ZXMOTO appears to be attacking almost every segment at once. While we don’t know yet the exact models that will be making their way to NZ for the launch in Spring, the company has already unveiled:
- 820RR triple-cylinder supersport
- 500RR four-cylinder sports bike
- MX250 and MX450 motocross bikes
- ZX300 two-stroke enduro model
- Rally and adventure models
- LAMS-approved motorcycles for Western markets
For New Zealand, the biggest potential success stories are likely to sit in the middleweight adventure and LAMS categories — two areas currently booming locally. After years dominated by large-capacity adventure bikes, the market has shifted sharply toward lighter, more affordable middleweight machines. Brands such as CFMOTO, Kove and Voge have already proven Kiwi riders are increasingly willing to consider Chinese-built motorcycles if the specification, pricing and dealer support stack up.
ZXMOTO looks determined to position itself at the premium end of that growing segment.
Could the 500RR become a hit?
One model likely to generate attention in New Zealand is the 500RR four-cylinder sports bike.
Small-capacity four-cylinder motorcycles are currently enjoying a resurgence globally, particularly in Europe and Asia, where riders are embracing high-revving middleweight sports bikes with aggressive styling and more accessible pricing than traditional supersport machinery.
If priced competitively, the 500RR could appeal strongly to younger riders wanting something different from the parallel-twin norm now dominating the LAMS category.
Meanwhile, the race-developed 820RR triple-cylinder machine could also attract interest from riders wanting a more exotic alternative to established middleweight sports bikes.
Racing success helping build credibility
ZXMOTO’s rapid rise in World Supersport competition is arguably the biggest factor separating it from many other new manufacturers entering Western markets.
The Evan Bros Racing squad currently sits third in the WorldSSP Championship standings in its debut season, with race wins already secured at Portimão and Balaton Park.
That kind of international success is becoming increasingly important for newer Chinese brands trying to win over Western riders, traditionally cautious about emerging manufacturers.
And it’s not just racing that helps the brand’s credibility.
According to ZXMOTO, its bikes use major global suppliers including Bosch electronics, Brembo braking systems, KYB suspension and TAISKO components — all names already familiar to riders buying European and Japanese motorcycles.
Strong dealer backing for NZ launch
The partnership with Urban Moto Imports could also prove critical to the brand’s success locally.
UMI has more than 100 dealers across Australia and New Zealand, alongside established logistics, parts and warranty infrastructure — traditionally one of the biggest hurdles for new brands entering the NZ market.
They are currently in talks with the existing support network, along with other dealers, to see who is keen on this new brand, while the backing of such an established distribution team should help give buyers more confidence than many smaller import operations have managed historically.
Pricing and exact NZ model availability are yet to be confirmed, but if ZXMOTO can combine strong specification, aggressive pricing and genuine dealer support, it could quickly become another serious player in New Zealand’s rapidly evolving motorcycle market.
For further details head to: https://zxmoto.nz/
