This New Street Moto Is So Insanely Light, It Puts All Others on Notice

The spirited Italian roadster is approachable enough even without one borderline unbelievable superlative.

Black and yellow Fantic motorcycle with front wheel lifted, ridden by a person in black leather gear.

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By Steve Mazzucchi

Published January 30, 2026

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Updated January 31, 2026

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Based in Treviso, Italy, Fantic has been producing a range of characterful two-wheeled contraptions for nearly 60 years.

Though better known for off-road motos, trials bikes and scramblers, the brand has been making a name in the entry-level street game with its Stealth nameplate.

Black and neon yellow Fantic 500 motorcycle with gold front forks on a rear stand. — The lean, exoskeleton-like silhouette of the Stealth 500 helps keep the weight low.

While the Stealth 125 launched a couple of years ago is as approachable as they come, the big boy follow-up, the Stealth 500, is even more newsworthy.

How can it not be with a curb weight that almost undoubtedly makes it the lightest 500-class naked bike on the market?

Light cycle

That’s a claim the brand itself makes with this motorcycle, which tips the scales at just 324 pounds (dry) and an estimated 344 pounds with a full tank.

I haven’t looked up every single other 500-class street bike out there, but for context, Honda’s CB500, widely regarded as a top-notch entry-level option, posts a curb weight of 414 pounds.

Black motorcycle frame with gold front forks and black wheels without body panels. — The bike’s uncommon steel and aluminum frame accounts for a big chunk of the weight savings.

As motorcyclists know, heavier bikes can be hard to handle, especially when you are just starting out, so saddling up something that’s, say, 17 percent lighter could have a bigger impact on staying upright than an alphabet soup of rider-friendly tech.

How did the Stealth 500 get so lean? According to the brand: “The motorcycle is engineered with weight reduction in mind in every component, from the frame to the last bolt.”

Beyond an incredibly streamlined silhouette, the key is a unique mixed frame that combines a steel trellis structure with a forged aluminum plate, for a balance of stability and lightness.

White and red Fantic Stealth 500 motorcycle with orange front forks parked on a paved surface. — Racing White is one of three paint schemes, alongside Acid Green and the peculiarly named Red/Yellow.

The entirely aluminum swingarm, meanwhile, boasts a reinforcing truss that maxes out structural rigidity with minimal impact on overall weight.

Weight-saving efforts extend throughout the componentry of the bike, from the brakes to the suspension to the exhaust system, a compact silencer neatly tucked up near the seat, which happens to be a noob-friendly 32 inches from the ground.

Street shark

Weight aside, the Stealth 500 offers a pretty compelling feature set for new and even veteran riders, highlighted by a 463cc motor making 44 hp at 8,000 rpm, and maximum torque of 31.0 lb-ft at 7,000 rpm, numbers quite close to the CB500’s.

The six-speed manual transmission offers a slip-and-assist clutch, while a ride-by-wire system enables four ride modes — Street, Rain, Track, and Custom — plus traction control and cornering ABS.

Close-up of a red and black Fantic Stealth motorcycle engine and front wheel with gold front forks. — The Stealth 500’s beating heart, a 463cc single cylinder, makes competitive horsepower and torque.

These features are complemented by a 5-inch TFT color display with Bluetooth connectivity and full LED lighting.

Suspension comes in the form of a 41 mm inverted fork and a rear monoshock with adjustable preload.

Person in black gear performing a wheelie on a black and yellow Fantic 300 motorcycle indoors. — I would not try this at home, but if I did, it would be a lot easier on a sub-350-pound bike like this one.

Meanwhile, braking is handled by a 320 mm disc and radially mounted four-piston caliper up front and a 230 mm disc out back.

Rounding things out, so to speak, are Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV tires on 17-inch aluminum rims, which should come in handy when you’re not literally flying over the road.

Availability and pricing

While no US release is expected, the Fantic Stealth 500 is scheduled to roll out to the European market this quarter for an estimated €7,000 (roughly $8,300 USD).

Red and black sport motorcycle with gold front forks and exposed engine components on a white background.

Fantic Stealth 500

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About the Author:

Now managing editor, Steve has served in a variety of roles with GP since 2019. Having previously written and edited for such publications as Men’s Health, Men’s Journal, Esquire and ESPN, he enjoys covering a range of topics — but mostly those pertaining to cycling, snow sports, pocket knives and motos — and dreams of a utopian world in which everyone’s bike seat is at the proper height.

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