Motorcycle specifications Phelon & Moore700 Capetown 7S 2025 New starting point

The new motorcycle kingdoms have (once again) resurrected a famous but forgotten brand from the past. This time, it's the English company Phelon & Moore. Recovering a name and its history has become the easiest way to forge a place for yourself on the old continent. For the average biker, it's the promise of new machines. For enthusiasts, it's deleterious appropriation. From this renaissance comes the Capetown 7 S.

Unsurprisingly, it's a trail bike. Today, a manufacturer no longer shows off its know-how with a sporty machine, but presents its will with an SUV. So P&M does the same, with an entry-level urban crossover, enhanced by some rather pleasant technical solutions.

English? My eye!

The 700 Capetown doesn't really exude the spirit or glamour of an English machine. The pencil sketch smacks of Asia, but with almost generous forms and dominance in the eyes and on the sides. If it had said 1000 on its fairing, we'd have believed it.

But it's with a more modest powertrain that the Capetown wants to ride. Like many other machines, it uses a block derived from the ER-6 twin. Certain engines, such as the Kawa or the Honda 500 copy, are highly appreciated by the Chinese industry.

Revised to 693 cm3, the Phelon & Moore delivers 75 bhp at 8,500 rpm and 7 mkg of torque. This puts it right up there with the 650 Versys, Tracer 7 and V-Strom 650. An ideal category in which to make your mark as a dynamic, versatile and comfortable city machine. The brand has clearly understood the challenges of this displacement by offering A2 clamping.

A fine line-up for an entry-level crossover

But it's not easy to make a place for yourself. The competition has locked up the market for 10 or even 20 years. The Capetown 7S has a few trump cards up its sleeve, such as its aluminum swingarm, exceptional at this price level. It also boasts a 7-inch TFT instrument cluster with mirroring function and stylish graphics, 2-stage traction control, a fully adjustable 43 mm upside-down fork, branded 4-piston radial brake calipers, engine mount, package holder, height-adjustable windscreen, full LED lighting and tire pressure monitoring.

As is often the case, weight is not the strong point of the factory bikes. At 240 kilos fully loaded, it weighs almost as much as a 1000. This won't be too penalizing if Phelon & Moore have managed to compose a nice balance. To be discovered, to be checked.

The Capetown 7S is a clear indication of its desire to hit the road. To the South African capital of the same name? Why not? two English adventurers, Theresa Wallach and Florence Blenkiron, did it in 1934 with a Panther M100.

But you'll need a lot of fuel, as the tank can hold 21 liters. The wheels are in the segment's canon, with 19" front wheels 120 mm wide, and 17" rear wheels with 170 mm of rubber on a tarmac surface. The tires clearly show that they have no desire to see the slightest bit of off-road.

To support all this, the machine is fitted with a steel trellis frame, to which the rear frame is bolted. The suspension has 170 mm of travel, promising superior roadster comfort.

This Phelon & Moore 700 Capetown 7S presents itself with aplomb but a forged ID. Will it succeed in forging a more interesting destiny for itself than the myriad of rebadged productions? The offer is overabundant, and there's no shortage of clichés.

M.B - Manufacturer's photos