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The front headlight reminds me of the early 90s Suzuki GSX-Rs, ever present on garage posters for a reason. The red and white paint scheme is inspired and tasteful, as are the markings along the tank. Even the jutted-out lateral engine covers look refined and harmonious with the rest of the design. The entire thing exudes 90s Japanese car and bike manufacturing, a period that barely goes a year without being imitated and applauded. Even the titular XO headlights are pretty, drawing comparison to the bigboy BMW asymmetric headlights to which I’ ve always been partial. Unlike the Honda Grom, which seems to embrace some of the inherent ridiculousness within a 125cc road bike frame, the Papio says‘ to hell with that’ and comes with a handsome sports design that could just as easily belong on a 1000cc superbike. Bravo, I say.
LITTLE THINGS If there’ s a downside to the Papio, it’ s the same as its upside: it’ s small. If you plan to stick a passenger on the back, please warn them in advance that the pillion perch is more a tentative suggestion than an actual seat. Long distance runs? Sure, if your idea of an adventure
is a firm breeze and frequent honking at a heady 80km / h. But that’ s missing the point entirely. The point is that this bike is for riders who want something that looks good, costs less than some people’ s annual coffee budget, and reminds you that riding doesn’ t have to be about ego, engine capacity, or blistering speed. It’ s for weaving through city traffic like you’ re in a game of Subway Surfers. It’ s for popping out to grab milk and coming home an hour later because you took the long way. It’ s for grinning like an idiot under your helmet every single time you spot a twisty offshoot, or a tiny gap between cars.
THE SKINNY All-in-all, the CFMOTO XO Papio Racer is exactly what it claims to be: small, simple fun. If you’ re already smitten with the way it looks, that retro-mini styling that’ s part 90s superbike, part pocket-sized charmer, then you’ re halfway there. The rest is just taking it for a spin, letting that dinky single thrum away beneath you, and remembering that sometimes, two wheels and a silly grin are all you really need.
30 KIWI RIDER