Motorcycle specifications Phelon & Moore700 Capetown 7X 2025 Geotechnical orientation

England has seen the birth of hundreds of motorcycle brands. Then, as in every country in the world, they declined more or less quickly until they disappeared.
Or fall asleep for some. But a few names are coming back to life, thanks to enthusiasts or investors. Triumph is the best example of a successful revival; Norton is less fortunate; Levis or Matchless tried their luck. From time to time, a forgotten name emerges by chance from a commercial operation or an attempt at resurrection.

This is the case here, with Phelon & Moore, whose ambitions are calibrated for the trail market. With caution and conviction. There's no question of going for top-premium products to get noticed and lock in the exclusivity - the brand is playing it safe by entering the crossover market. There are plenty of them, and everyone wants them.

The first step is to stand out from the crowd. The Capetown 7X attempts to do just that, with a silhouette that intimidates, a space-ship-like headlamp and an engaging road profile. It also features a single-arm design, usually reserved for larger machines.

The Capetown is available in two versions, built on the same frame and engine structure, but with different investigative terrains. The X is fitted with spoked wheels (tubeless), while the S prefers sticks. Its tires are a little more mixed-typed, but still very much on-road. It gains handguards, is 9 kilos heavier (249 kg fully loaded), and its ABS is disconnectable. However, all other electronics are identical.

A half-English, half-Asian crossover

The Phelon & Moore Capetown 7 comes as standard with a large 7-inch screen with Smartphone Mirroring function, Bluetooth, several Driving Modes, traction control, tire pressure monitoring, full LED lighting, backlit controls, adjustable windscreen, package holder, engine block and a more modest engine than its size would suggest.

In fact, although its height and weight would lead us to expect a 900 or 1000, this "English girl" is more likely to tease the Tracer7, TRK 700, 650 Versys or V-Strom. The engine is a 693 cm3 developing 74 hp and a maximum torque of 7 mkg. It's right up there with the urban, multi-purpose crossover market, with that little underlying desire to go out on the weekend. The twin-cylinder engine comes from CFMoto, who have taken the block design of the old ER6 and brought it up to date.

It is housed in a tubular steel trellis frame. All around it, the peripherals installed show that they mean business, with an inverted fork and shock absorber with multiple settings, a bolt-on rear frame, 4-piston radial brake calipers and 300 mm discs.

Phelon and Moore belongs to the (growing) category of brands resurrected to penetrate the old continent with a quality name and models from a very different terroir. Glory belonged to it at the beginning of the 20th century with the Panther; for the 20th century, it will be the Capetown that will clear the way.

M.B - Manufacturer's photos