Weird Flex: Yet-to-be-launched TVS Zeppelin Cruiser Has A Chinese Clone Already!

The Xianglong JSX500i is a 471cc parallel-twin modern cruiser, eerily reminiscent of the TVS Zeppelin Concept

The production version of the TVS Zeppelin Concept is yet to be launched, even though the concept was unveiled back at Auto Expo 2018. Expect the Hosur-based brand to launch the cruiser by the end of this year. Meanwhile, Chinese manufacturer Xiangshuai Heavy Machinery seems to have gone a step ahead and already copied the concept. Enter the Xianglong JSX500i.

The hexagonal headlamp, meaty inverted front fork, and the aluminium bracing on the front fender of the Xianglong JSX500i look identical to the ones on the TVS Zeppelin. Instead of the tech-savvy HD cam on the headlamp nacelle, the Chinese cruiser gets a small LED DRL up top. Even the sleek fuel tank has similarly angled creases and an offset fuel tank cap. 

The radiator guard, engine cowl, and side panels (particularly the brushed metal portion) appear to have been shamelessly copied from the real deal. That said, the handlebar is much taller than the one on the Zeppelin and should offer a more relaxed and upright riding stance. The Chinese brand didn’t even spare the rear. The wide and contoured 760mm seat, the tail panel, and the rear license plate holder all appear to be carried over. 

The Chinese motorcycle gets a chain drive, instead of the belt unit on the Zeppelin. The motorcycle is powered by a 471cc liquid-cooled parallel-twin motor, churning out 44.8PS at 8500rpm and 41Nm at 6500rpm. While there’s no fancy mild-hybrid tech like the Zeppelin, the JSX500i makes up with its brute performance. For perspective, the Zeppelin’s 220cc air-cooled engine makes 20PS and 18.5Nm. The top speed in the JSX500i is limited to 150kmph, which should be good enough for Indian roads. It also features a generous 16-litre fuel tank, making it an ideal touring machine.

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The bike is a tad over-equipped when it comes to the underpinnings. The front inverted fork gets preload adjustment whereas the rear uses a monoshock. It also uses a proper dual-disc setup with radial calipers up front and a disc at the rear with dual-channel ABS as standard. The 17-inch alloy wheels are wrapped with a meaty 120-section front and a 150-section rear to complete the beefy look. 

While the instrument cluster is a modern full-digital unit, its info layout is somewhat odd. The tachometer is split into two, which may need some getting used to. Other info such as the speed, odometer reading, clock, and tell-tale lights are displayed in the lower half of the console. 

Overall, while the mechanicals are properly competent, we just wish the brand had been creative enough to come up with a unique design language, instead of imitating others. Let us know what you think in the comments below.