The Fantic Caballero Supermoto Is Pure Two-Wheeled Obsession
Riders who prefer off-roaders with old-school designs either buy a new scrambler or turn a retro roadster into one, as was done back in the day. But what happens when someone looking for a frantic supermoto also prefers an old-school design? You get a scrambler turned into a supermoto. Italian manufacturer Fantic Motor has done just that, offering supermoto fun in an accessible, retro package.
The Fantic Caballero 500 Supermoto Is Built For Pavement Fun
Fantic’s Caballero is a wide range of retro-styled lightweight motorcycles, from humble A1-license-compliant 125cc models to 700cc middleweights, with the 500 range in the middle. Usually, the company designs these bikes as rally-inspired soft-roaders and scramblers, but for 2027, Fantic has chosen an all-road package with the new Caballero 500 Supermoto. Essentially, it’s a Caballero 500 Scrambler with street tires.
45-Horsepower Single-Cylinder Engine
A Motori Minarelli MM460 463cc single-cylinder engine with dual overhead cams, lightweight forged pistons, and liquid cooling powers the 500 Supermoto. The Italian powerplant delivers 45 horsepower. The output complies with A2 licensing norms, and as a single-cylinder engine known for strong mid-range and torque, it should work well for this supermoto.
The engine is complemented by a slipper clutch, which should come in handy during aggressive downshifts. The 500 Scrambler sibling also runs an Arrow 1-into-2 exhaust, which seems to carry over here as well. Fantic Motor has not revealed other details about the powerplant, but we don’t expect many changes compared with the rest of the lineup.
Fully-Adjustable Racing Suspension
The bike uses a steel single-beam frame paired with the company’s new FRS racing suspension setup, which is fully adjustable and offers 7.87 inches of travel on both ends. The front is a 43mm USD fork, while the rear is a monoshock unit. The wheels are 19/17-inch spoke wheels covered in road-focused Metzeler Tourange Next 2 touring tires, which should offer adequate grip on the road. Braking comes from a 320mm front disc and a 230mm rear disc. And the bike tips the scales at 330.69 pounds with a 33.85-inch seat height.
Retro Design Hides Nifty Tech
The Caballero 500 Supermoto is a fresh take on a segment usually packed with dirt bikes turned supermotos, and it does look like Fantic modified a Scrambler into a supermoto. As a result, the bike retains its old-school character with minimal body panels, a high front fender, high-set exhaust, and spoked wheels. The short headlight cover and handguards add a nice touch, and the bike gets a white, red, and blue colorway inspired by the company’s factory race bikes.
Underneath the retro design, however, this is a modern bike with modern tech features. A six-axis inertial measuring unit (IMU) enables lean-sensitive traction control and switchable ABS. Meanwhile, ride-by-wire throttle enables engine maps, though Fantic hasn’t shared details on them yet.
The Fantic Caballero 500 Supermoto Likely Won’t Come To The US
While the 500 Supermoto is slated to hit the European market in spring, it’s unlikely to arrive Stateside. Fantic Motor does have a few dealerships here, but it only sells four dirt bikes right now and none of the Caballero retros. However, bikes like the KTM 390 SMC R and DR-Z4SM show that there’s a market for sub-500cc supermotos, with a gap for something that looks retro without losing large-capacity fun.
Source: Fantic
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