Bashan is not a manufacturer usually considered a player in the world of custom cruisers—if it is considered at all. Bashan is one of those Chinese motorcycle brands that has been around for decades but is virtually unknown to Western motorcyclists.
Even so, it has a small presence in export markets, including Europe, where it has sold several affordable 250cc air-cooled dual-purpose models over the years. Its latest creation is a significant departure: a 1200cc hardtail bobber built around Shineray's Harley-Davidson Sportster clone engine.
Shineray is also not a household name outside of China. Based in Chongqing, Shineray owns the Italian brand SWM and has been manufacturing a replica of the 1200 Evolution Sportster V-twin engine since 2022, achieving Euro5+ emissions certification even though Harley-Davidson removed it from its lineup precisely because it could not meet that requirement.
The official version is that the engine was designed in Italy, but its 88.9mm bore and 96.8mm stroke are suspiciously identical to the Evo's, resulting in the same 1202cc displacement and very similar performance: 60 hp at 5500 rpm and 91 Nm of torque at 4000 rpm.
The engine is currently used in the SWM Stormbreaker V1200, a model with styling very similar to the Harley-Davidson Forty-Eight sold in Europe. Bashan's new model, which has received type approval initially in China, uses the same Shineray-made engine integrated into a much more vintage-styled frame.
With a hardtail rear and a springer-style girder fork, suspension is minimal, beyond the springs supporting the tractor-style saddle. Anyone daring to use the pillion seat over the rear fender will have nothing more than the seat foam and the tire sidewall flex to cushion road bumps.
Weighing 245 kg, it is lighter than the Stormbreaker's 262 kg, but it is longer and lower, with a wheelbase of 160 cm: longer than the Stormbreaker's 150 cm and the old Harley Forty-Eight's 149.6 cm. The overall length is 231.9 cm, compared to the Stormbreaker's 217.9 cm.
Despite its classic look, Bashan's design must comply with legal requirements for technology. Therefore, it incorporates fuel injection and front and rear ABS brakes. The braking system essentially uses the same discs and calipers at both ends. Unusually, there is also no difference between wheel and tire sizes: both front and rear mount the same 5.00-16 retro tire.
The model's type approval comes after the public unveiling of the prototype in China in October 2025. That original prototype had a more striking appearance, with chrome forks and engine covers, while the matte black version appeared more recently at the 2026 Canton Fair in Guangzhou, China.
Will the new hardtail be offered in export markets? It's too early to tell, but the use of a Euro5+ certified engine means that obstacle to export has already been overcome.
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