The Modenas X-Cite was launched on 12 September 2006 as the largest kapcai the company had ever manufactured. It was aimed squarely at the water-cooled Yamaha Y135LC, and its specification included a front fuel filler under the handlebars, a tachometer and a constant-velocity Keihin carburettor.
Modenas X-Cite at a glance
| Maker | Modenas, Gurun, Kedah, Malaysia |
|---|---|
| Launched | 12 September 2006 |
| Class | kapcai (underbone motorcycle) |
| Position | the largest kapcai Modenas had built at the time |
| Rival | water-cooled Yamaha Y135LC |
| Fuel tank | at the front, below the handlebars, opened with the ignition key |
| Storage | large underseat compartment |
| Instruments | tachometer |
| Carburettor | Keihin constant-velocity, with throttle position sensor |
| Piston | molybdenum-coated |
| Security | cover for the ignition slot |
| Chassis legacy | basis of the GT128 of 2009 |
There is no separate Wikipedia article on the X-Cite; it is described in a section of the English Wikipedia article on Modenas, which is the only source used here. Based on one source.
History of the Modenas X-Cite
A bigger cub
By 2006 Modenas had built its reputation on small four-stroke underbones such as the Kriss, and the X-Cite was a move up in size and specification. Launched on 12 September 2006, it was the largest kapcai the company had made and was designed to compete with the water-cooled Yamaha Y135LC, the benchmark of the class in Malaysia at the time.
Equipment
The X-Cite was specified with features that were unusual in a Malaysian kapcai. The fuel tank sat at the front, just below the handlebars, and could be opened with the ignition key, so the rider did not have to lift the seat to refuel. Under the seat there was a large storage compartment, and the instrument panel included a tachometer. A Keihin constant-velocity carburettor with a throttle position sensor fed the engine, whose piston was molybdenum-coated. The ignition slot had a cover to make theft more difficult.
The basis of the GT128
The X-Cite provided the starting point for the company’s next flagship. The GT128, launched in March 2009, used a redesigned chassis based on the X-Cite 130, which indicates that the X-Cite range eventually included a 130 cc version. In this way the model of 2006 shaped the machine that became one of Malaysia’s best-selling mopeds in 2009.
Design and features
- Largest kapcai: the biggest underbone Modenas had built when it appeared in 2006.
- Front fuel filler: the tank below the handlebars opens with the ignition key, without lifting the seat.
- Full instrumentation: a tachometer in a class where many rivals had none.
- Detailed engine: Keihin constant-velocity carburettor with throttle position sensor and a molybdenum-coated piston.
Modenas X-Cite versions
- X-Cite (2006): the model as launched, with the equipment described above.
- X-Cite 130: the larger version whose chassis was the basis of the GT128.
The X-Cite chassis led to the GT128, and the company’s smaller underbones were the Kriss and the CT series. More machines are in the Modenas collection.
Video: dokimi modenas xcite apo xontropano
Video by MrMixalhs1992 on YouTube.
Sources
- Modenas, English Wikipedia: launch, features, GT128 basis
