Europe’s A2 license class exists because not everyone wants or needs a 150 horsepower missile to get into motorcycling. More importantly, it exists to keep new and younger riders from yeeting themselves into oblivion on a liter bike before they’ve built the skills to handle it. Power is capped, insurance stays sane, and riders are pushed to start small and actually learn how to ride.
The side effect is a massive and healthy middle ground. Europe is packed with lightweight nakeds, small sportbikes, and brappy dual-sports tuned right to that limit. And for a lot of riders, this level of power and performance ends up being enough. Even after they graduate to a full license and could technically hop on a fire-breathing superbike, many don’t bother. The bikes are fast, light, and usable in the real world, which is exactly why the A2 segment keeps thriving.
In the US, there's no such thing. A 17-year-old with a one-day-old motorcycle endorsement can legally jump straight onto a Kawasaki Ninja H2 with more than 200 horsepower. For the longest time, there existed a gap where smart, lightweight street machines should be. Luckily, however, bikes like the Kawasaki Z500, Honda CB500F, and even new players like the CFMoto 450NK are starting to shed that beginner-focused stigma. It's in this space where bikes like the new Fantic Stealth 500 roadster start to make sense, even if they aren’t built with the good old US of A as the primary target.
Fantic isn’t exactly new to street bikes, but it hasn’t exactly been known for them either. The Italian brand built its modern reputation around off-road machines, trials bikes, and more recently, scramblers and flat track-inspired models like the Caballero range. Even when Fantic dipped into road use, the designs usually carried some dirt DNA with them.
The Stealth name itself isn’t new. Fantic introduced the Stealth 125 a couple of years ago as a lightweight, modern roadster aimed at younger and newer riders. What’s new here is scale. The Stealth 500 is the first time that concept has been pushed into a proper mid-displacement package, and that changes the conversation entirely.
Power comes from the familiar 463cc Motori Minarelli single-cylinder engine used across Fantic’s 500 lineup. It makes 44 horsepower at 8,000 rpm and about 31 pound-feet of torque at 7,000 rpm, landing squarely at the A2 ceiling. It’s Euro 5+ compliant and uses ride-by-wire, which unlocks four riding modes including Street, Rain, Track, and Custom. An IMU ties into traction control and cornering ABS, bringing genuinely modern electronics into a class that often skips that step.
Where the Stealth 500 really earns its name is weight. At 147 kilograms dry, or roughly 324 pounds, it’s extremely light for a modern naked bike. Even with its 3.17 gallon fuel tank filled, it comes in at around 344 pounds. That’s the kind of number that matters more than peak output, especially for riders who value agility and confidence over straight-line speed.
The chassis setup reinforces that focus. A tubular steel trellis frame is paired with aluminum side plates and an aluminum swingarm. Suspension duties are handled by Fantic’s in-house FRS components, including a 41mm inverted fork up front and a preload-adjustable rear shock. Braking comes from Bybre, with a 320mm front disc and a radial-mounted caliper, supported by cornering ABS. Tires are Pirelli Diablo Rosso IVs, which leaves no doubt about the bike’s street intentions.
Ergonomics stay realistic. Seat height is 810mm, the wheelbase is compact, and the overall footprint is intentionally small without drifting into beginner-bike territory. It’s built for cities, back roads, and real-world speeds.
For Europe, the Stealth 500 slots neatly into a crowded A2 segment. For other parts of the world, it highlights what we definitely could use more of. Lightweight street bikes that prioritize balance and approachability rather than sheer power and displacement. More importantly, it shows Fantic testing the waters beyond its comfort zone. The Stealth 500 doesn’t abandon the brand’s identity, but it does stretch it. And if this is where Fantic is headed next, its future might look a lot more street-focused than we expected.
Sources: Fantic Motor, Le Repaire Des Motards
