A couple of years ago, we saw rare sightings of the Fantic Caballero 500 on local roads. The scrambler had striking retro looks and modern amenities like ABS, inverted forks, digital gauges, and more. With no official dealer announcements, price, or availability date, everyone was frantic to know more information.
This year, Access Plus posted a few Fantic models on its Instagram feed over the course of several months. This built up more anticipation for the Italian bike manufacturer’s debut in the Philippine market.
The 2025 Caballero 500 is now available in Rally trim with 21-inch front wheels and 17-inch rear wheels. In the Sabbia (sand) colorway, it’s priced at P490,000. In Verde or green, it’s at P480,000. The Deluxe trim has shorter suspension travel and smaller 19-inch front wheels, and comes in a shade of orange intimately associated with an Austrian bike brand.
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The Fantic XE300 2T is a two-stroke enduro that could compete in the International Six Days Enduro. Its powerful Minarelli-built engine is clad in red and white livery typical of their more off-road-capable bikes. Asking price is P690,000.
Motocross racers have a couple of four-stroke models to choose from: The Fantic XXF 450 and the Fantic XXF 250—priced at P760,000 and P685,000, respectively.
Serious adventure riders are finally getting a bike they can race in a proper rally. With just a few more mods, the Fantic XEF 450 Rally could race in the Dakar Rally. It is a Euro-5-compliant adventure/rally bike with 12-inch front and 10-inch rear suspension travel. From the factory, it already comes with a 5mm skid plate and weighs just a shade over 136kg. That’s with oil, fluids, and 30 liters of gas.
There was no formal unveiling under spotlights at the Vermosa Off-road Track. All these bikes were available to test ride in their natural habitat: a muddy motocross track and on a flat track with log crossings and log jumps.
As these are legitimate race bikes, champion motocross rider Glenn Aguilar and brothers TJ and Troy Alberto tossed the bikes through the motocross track jumps and whoops. Even the Caballero 500 Rally was ridden by Aguilar, proving its capabilities on the motocross track, not just on the flat track.
