Coming soon to Malaysia is the 2025 Zontes 386G adventure scooter, possibly by the first quarter of next year. The 368G with the currently popular adventure-tourer design popular in the scooter world, will likely be priced around the RM30,000 mark.
Competition for the 368G in the Malaysian scooter market includes the Honda ADV360 and QJMotor Fort 350, and to a lesser extent, the BMW Motorrad C400X. To that end, paultan.org was invited to the Zontes factory I Guangzhou, China, to take a first look at the 386G and find out what this sub-500cc scooter has to offer.
With the local scooter market seeing an uptick in sales, the introduction of the 368G makes sense from the value for money perspective. This is because, compared to its competition, the 386G comes loaded with the latest technology for two-wheelers.
As a mid-sized scooter, the 368G gets keyless start for a start, at the top of a long specifications list. Also included is a 8-inch TFT-LCD powered by Zontes’ Intelligent app with Bluetooth connectivity, that gives the rider a myriad of information including navigation, service updates, over-the-air firmware updates, smartphone key system and trip recording.
Standard equipment is front and rear DVR recording, in 1080p high definition video. The camera gets 128 GB of storage and is equipped with a 140 degree angle of view and starlight light vision sensor.
Similarly the headlights feature an auto-dimming function, with LED projector elements. Heated handlebar grips are also standard, and if you are wondering why anyone would need heated grips riding in Malaysia, trying riding in a rainstorm.
All the usual Euro-spec stuff is there, including two-channel ABS and traction control. Riding conveniences include, aside from the aforementioned keyless start, automatic fuel cap and remote seat opening, three type-C USB charging ports, fog lights, electrically adjustable windshield and engine skid plate.
The undersea storage compartment, measuring 52-litres in volume, is large enough to fit two full-face helmets, or one adventure/rally type helmet. With off-roading pretensions, the 368G also comes with mid-mounted folding footpegs, for that stand-up position while off-roading.
As for the engine, the single-cylinder, liquid-cooled mill displaces 368 cc and produces 38 horsepower and 40 Nm of torque. With a CVT gearbox and belt final drive, the 368G rolls on a 17-inch spoked tubeless wheel in front and 15-inch spoked rear.
Unique to this scooter segment is the 368G’s adjustable suspension, with rebound and compression adjustment for the upside-down front fork and preload and rebound for the rear shock absorber. Braking is done with single-hydraulic discs front and rear, with the front using a J Juan four-piston calliper.
The 368G comes with a huge for its class 17.5-litre fuel tank, which Zontes says allows a travel range of approximately 500 kilometres, making this scooter suitable for those cross border jaunts. Numbers for seat height were given but we understand there will be two versions of the 368G brought into Malaysia, with a normal and low seat height.
As for the riding dynamics of the 368G, it was unfortunate we got very little seat time with the new scooter. What we can tell you is while the 368G feels a little heavy being lifted off the stand, it disguises its weight well on the move.
Going into corners it felt a little tail heavy, but shifting the rider’s weight forward a little helped the fore-and-aft balance. As for speed, the 368G will clock something above 165 km/h with ease, with the engine feeling most comfortable around 130 to 140 km/h.
With two ride modes – Sports and Eco – the 368G is suitably well behaved at low speeds while retaining enough grit for those highway journeys. We proved this by having a pillion on-board and wandering around the shooting site at the reservoir in Jiangmen, with the 368G remaining composed despite being fully-loaded.
From the first impression, there was a lot to like about the 368G, which we think will be be suited as an all-rounder and daily commuter suitable for long journeys on the highway. A full review follows shortly where a 368G has been allocated to paultan.org for a long term review.
