The Italian moto and e-bike manufacturer Fantic is showing off its two newest machines in the form of the Fantic XEF Rally and XEF Rally Factory. And if a Dakar race-ready look is the formula to success, the new Fantic machines could be on the podium.

The Fantic XEF Rally. Photo: Fantic

Fantic says that the XEF Rally is:

Dakar ready, but also a production bike, E5 approved and ready to offer the purest rally feeling. Perfect to challenge the chronometer or yourself, to discover your limits and push them even further at every ride.

Saying any production bike is “Dakar ready” is a pretty tall claim. As such, Fantic equips the XEF with components that might help prop up their claims.

XEF Rally Engine

Powering the machine is an electric start, single cylinder, 4 stroke, liquid-cooled, 4 valve, dual overhead cam engine displacing 450 ccs. The lump is fuel injected with TCI and uses a wet sump. Power is transmitted to the rear wheel via a five-speed transmission using a wet, multiple disc clutch. Protecting the bottom of the engine and the lower part of the fuel tank is a 5 mm thick carbon-kevlar bash plate.

A 450 cc engine resides in both XEF Rally models. You can see the carbon kevlar bash plate covering the bottom of the engine and fuel tank. Photo: Fantic

Exhaust gasses are routed away from the engine via an Arrow exhaust system. Emissions meet or exceed Euro5 standards.

XEF Rally Chassis

Both the XEF Rally and XEF Rally Factory sport an aluminum perimeter frame with a steel subframe. Suspension components are from Kayaba. Up front, you will find a 48 mm KYB fork which is fully adjustable and offers 310 mm (12.2 inches) of travel. At the rear, you will find a fully adjustable KYB shock connected to an aluminum swingarm with a progressive link which provides 300 mm (11.8 inches) of travel. The wheelset consists of a 21-inch front and an 18-inch rear. To slow things down, MotoMaster calipers grasp 300 mm and 245 mm discs, respectively.

The XEF Rally features a 300 mm front disc with a MotoMaster caliper. Photo: Fantic

Since the bike is supposed to be “Dakar ready,” you’ll find it comes with a rather lofty 955 mm (37.6 inches) seat height. Unfortunately, Fantic did not disclose the bike’s ground clearance.

Weight

Fantic claims a kerb weight of less than 140 kg (~308 pounds). Kerb weight is a term that should include full fuel and other liquids. If that is the case, you can consider the machine’s dry weight is somewhere around 250 pounds.

XEF Rally fuel tank

To cover long distances, Fantic has fit a 30 liter (nearly 8 gallons) fuel tank. To hold that significant amount of fuel, it looks like they are using a fuel tank design similar to the one that KTM/Husqvarna use on their 890 Adventure and Norden 901 models. The goal is to keep the fuel lower and thus lower the bike’s center of gravity.

The Fantic XEF Rally uses a two-piece fuel tank with a total capacity of 30 liters. Photo: Fantic

The fuel tank is divided into two parts. The first tank is in a forward saddlebag arrangement, while the second is located in the bike’s center and travels under the rider’s seat.

Fantic puts the design this way:

“Great raids require great fuel capacity. This is why we fitted the XEF RALLY with a 30-litre tank, divided in two parts. The first one, positioned laterally, provides aerodynamic and shock protection. The second, in the center, is under the seat and offers slim ergonomics and the perfect weight distribution.”

The other interesting part of their statement seems to indicate that the tanks protect the rest of the bike. Obviously, Fantic believes its fuel tank design is quite sturdy. And it may be, as the KTM/Husky fuel tanks have been seen as relatively bomb-proof.

Instrumentation

Data is provided by what Fantic calls a “Next-Gen Instrument Panel.” It features a 7-inch “RallyScreen” that Fantic says makes it easy to “…check GPX tracks, digital roadbooks and use any of the navigation apps on the market, either via the touchscreen or the two controls on the handlebar.” Interestingly, the RallyScreen also has an internal battery which will allow you to remove it from the bike and plan routes, etc., away from the bike.

The XEF’s 7-inch removable instrumentation panel. Photo: Fantic

The panel utilizes the Android operating system. As such, Fantic claims that “…you manage all apps like on your smartphone, but it’s completely shockproof, dustproof, and waterproof (IP67 certificate).”

XEF Rally Factory Upgrades

Fantics XEF Rally Factory machine is more closely related to the company’s factory race bikes. Only 50 separately numbered bikes will be produced.

Each machine will come with some racing-focused upgrades. For example, cooling competition machines can be an issue, especially when ridden in desert environments. To deal with these challenging conditions, Fantic moved the bike’s radiator forward to provide greater airflow and increased the oil filter’s size.

Fantic moved the XEF Rally Factory’s radiator to the clean air in the front of the bike. Photo: Fantic

The bike’s suspension components get upgrades as well. The machine’s clamps and hubs come from a CNC machined billet. The Arrow exhaust is titanium and offers a 1.5 kg weight reduction.

Since the XEF Factory is more race-oriented, it comes with a steel and aluminum tower designed to support a professional roadbook and trip master for use in competition.

The rally tower found on the XEF Rally Factory. Photo: Fantic

As a final prize, the XEF Rally Factor comes complete with a 144-liter toolbox.

Pricing and availability

Fantic did not disclose either of the bike’s MSRPs. However, one outlet says that the XEF Rally (not the XEF Rally Factory) will carry a price tag of €24,240 (~$24,206). The first machines will be available in European dealerships at the end of November.