Gutless, Harsh & Unreliable? A balanced view of the Kove 450 Rally.
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- Опубликовано: 19 июн 2024
- If you don't understand the Dakar Rally, you don't understand Kove. Where does Kove sit on the ADV to Enduro spectrum? Is Kove a faceless global corporation or a man with a dream?
00:00 Introduction
00:15 A "Chinese Motorcycle"
00:31 You need to understand the Dakar Rally
01:30 Where did The Kove come from?
03:41 Three Kove bikes reveal issues
04:11 RUclips reacts
04:20 Harsh suspension
04:56 Disappointing power
09:21 The Dirt Bike Spectrum
11:00 How does the Kove feel?
12:41 Who's the Kove for?
15:00 Enduro vs. ADV
15:47 Forget everything I've said
16:31 List of problems
17:42 And another thing...
Either you get it, or you don't.
Join the eRag crew of Reprobates for some real-world dirt bike stupidity and foolishness. Come along with us for a ride - we specialize in unique, bucketlist off-road motorcycle trips in remote British Columbia.
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Our in-depth one hour Kove 450 Rally discussion: all your questions answered!
ruclips.net/video/pFyaI9X0fcM/видео.html
You review title is a little off putting .. good report though .. you DIDN'T defence the exceptional VALUE they're stacking up to be.. will have get an 800 before the Co's quality measures drop with the founding CEO's resignation.. I'd expect being Chinese they'll head down the Chinese cheap cheap crap path very quickly because China can't seem to help it's self break from cheap crap.. I grew up in the jap crap era & now look
I have 5,000km on my Kove 450 Rally, riding off and on road across Europe. Its a great light weight long distance off road adventure bike. Has been 100% reliable, zero issues so far. There are better road adv bikes, and better pure off road enduro bikes, but the Kove does both better than any other bike I've ridden.
kove has 800x adv bike for long trip 😁
KTM 690 is approx the same weight and way more power like the dude says. Other than fuel and wind protection. So for me its not the bike I thought it might be.
@@rotor676well, the 690 cost many $1000s more, so the Kove has better value if you are ok with its power. Personally I have the 690 and love it. With an under seat tank and rally screen it’s a pretty good weapon. But if I didn’t have the money I sure would consider this Kove.
@@timbrandt7211 that's true, especially if you add the expense and weight of a rally Tower an extra fuel capacity to the KTM you could almost by two coves
I would never consider 5000km the standard for durability and reliability as that is ridiculously low threshold to project long-term reliabilty. Manufacturing or major design defects appear early in life as failures then later based on quality of design and materials due to mechanical wear, fatigue, and environmental factors. Report back when you have 20,000km or more. Until then it is still unproven build quality motorcycle.
I have this bike in my garage. It has exceeded my expectations. After the initial break in rides it is currently in pieces getting electronics installed, lights, heated grips, racks, protection and other crap I can think of. This will be my "BDR" hard rides and the tiger 800xc will for the easy ones like WA and ID BDR's.
Are there pannier racks you can buy for this thing? Would you load it up with luggage and go traveling with it?
If there aren't, I'm sure Kriega OS luggage/base would fit
Best video I’ve seen breaking down this motorcycle. I’m so intrigued by the Kove. I’ve had experience on all walks of motorcycles. Im always chasing a good ‘big bike’ that can really be ridden hard off-road. Like many folks, I just can’t understand how the big manufacturers are lacking in this segment. The world wants a bike like this, but they also (I also…) want a big manufacturer to make this bike… at a price point that Kove is in….
That will be hard to achieve. Development from scratch, putting good components on, regarding material prices and labour. They can buil such a bike no doubt. But the price would double the Kove.
I agree 100%.
I could be wrong, but I feel like if Honda said "right, let's make a 450-500cc single cylinder with KTM level suspension, hard points for luggage, big fuel tank (low, like KTM? not like they have a patent on that) AND below 330 pounds" and planned to sell it for $25,000USD, it would fly out of the showrooms. What I mean is that looking at another industry like camping, tents for example used to be $150ish 20 years ago, now they're $300-400, with high end ones going for $700+! Same with other camping gear. I think the big 3 JP brands underestimate how much people will pay for a unicorn bike. Honda needs to throw tech and materials at this problem...magnesium like Ducati, carbon fiber for tanks, covers etc, maybe even titanium exhausts stock. The American middle class is gone or going, sadly . We are left with a small group of high earners/ house rich, and the 90% of the rest. Those high income people are now buying 15K Africa Twins, KTMs, GS1200s,etc, and spending 1000s more to upgrade and and add bits and bobs, but you just can't take 100 pounds out of a big bike.
At the same time, I think all of Honda's super low price bikes (scooters, XL150 etc) also fill an important (and until now underserved) low end, low cost market. Which, again, reflects America's new economic demographics.
@@michaelberlinger8138Um, i'm faaaaaaaar from a high earner but i've bought a new Africa Twin (3X) because it fit my needs- commuting and touring, perfectly. yes, I bought a new one 3X. (The 2016 was written off in a crash, I wasn't there. The 2017 i was rear ended on, almost 5 years ago. Still riding the 2018.) Because I liked it so much.
Here's your unicorn.
* Buy CRF300L.
* Remove engine and transmission.
* Install engine and transmission from CB500
* Upgrade suspension as nec (Or start with CRF450L and skip this step.)
* Enjoy.
Step 3 requires cutting, welding, soldering and other fabrication.
In reality, these are niche bikes, "the whole world" doesnt really want a rally bike.
Some might think they do, until the wallet needs to come out.
@@michaelberlinger8138 A real, professional marketing person would most likely disagree pretty strongly. A 450 or 500 Rally bike, is for rallies.
99% of us dont ride Rally. But the bikes look cool. A hot 450 engine doesnt last that long. A 690 is the size for a fast single.
Great vid Dallas, I see you have come to understand and appreciate the 450cc rally barrier. I think your overall opinion is pretty right on. Ho many Km you got on each bike (just average) I am just over 500km on mine and have not exper8enced any of the little ticks you and others have mentioned but I deleted the charcoal canister system and tanks vent direct. Also moded the rad cap. I have put the bike down a few times in low speed single no issues and one highspeed 50 foot slid with the only damage being a broken signal. I did have an aftermarket slid plate fitted that did obviously protect the tank a bit more in that slid.
Look forward to more vids on the Kove!
Excellent unbiased opinion and breakdown on this bike. The best I’ve seen yet. Thank you. You’ve convinced me, I’m thinking I’ll pick up the next model year. Let them work out the few minor imperfections. Would love to see a video addressing the suspension and ideas you have for different riding styles. Cheers!
Still getting to know my Kove 450. It's been poor weather so I'm working on it (heated grips, adjusting the throttle and suspension) more than riding it but I'm really enjoying how nimble it is on the few rides I've been able to do. I'm coming from a Honda 450L and a Yamaha WR250R. It should be a great BDR bike.
Firstly, love the dog and the plane!! Made the video. ;-)
I've been following the birth of this bike for almost a couple years now and I continue to be fascinated by the conversations it's creating. With the evolution of ADV over the past decade this type of bike is further affecting the trajectory of what we are defining as ADV riding. I think this bike has some serious potential to distrupt people's expectations of what sort of adventures they can do on a motorcycle...without having to spend their kid's college fund doing so. Next video please!!
I think you nailed it with the word "disrupt". If they can get their parts and service sorted, this bike will win significant market share. And... "I YAM YAM YAM YAM SO SO SO SO" 😂 Cheers brother.
@@dallas_shannon I am definitely the king of my sofa while watching your videos!!! 😂
😎@@djzadventures
Appreciate your straight forward and honest review. I’m glad someone has produced an affordable 450 with large full capacity.
OMG. This is easily the best, most comprehensive and thorough review. Thankyou for taking the time to explain indepth. Love it.
Great job on this video Dallas. I learned a lot. We are becoming the Southern Ontario dealer for Kove and I am interested in all the reviews. Your review so far has been the best explained. I enjoy how you bring up a point, good or bad..then explain with an accurate description of how and why you came to the conclusion. Bravo Dallas.
Defenitely one of the best reviews I've seen... Keep on going the good work 👍🏻
Remember when the Honda VTR 1000 SP1 came out back then a lot of those who tested it went on and on about the poor stiff suspension and cooling problems, those problems disappered when you went a 100 mph or above, its a race bike and it was meant to be driven fast and hard, thats when it flows and does its job 👍
Bingo. Nailed it.
Great video and very honest in my opinion. Thanks, looking forward for the next ones 👍
Great explanation of the Kove 450 Dallas! Nice to see an honest evaluation.
Cheers!
Really appreciated the way you approached the review. Thoughtful, and with a good bit of historical context. Thank you.
Thank you for taking the time to comment.
Good honest and balanced insight, I am not on the market for a Kove but appreciate the way you did this review. TY
That is such a great explanation of what this bike is. And a nice production of the video too.
Excellent video. Good mix of riding shots and Dallas’s face 😂
Good video. I agree with your view. Looking forward to other videos on the Kove.
Dont understand why you are talking about the power of a KTM 690 or 701 and then saying the 450 Kove doesn't meet those expectations
Probably since the ktm 450 rally have the same power as a 690 and in the adventure/dualsport world a Kove and a 690 could be something that ppl are choosing between.
@@Rdissssthe ktm is also 28k not $9999.00
Yes, but not the 690 which is the real competitor to the Kove for a "normal" user.@@Dobba1984
Because of the chuck harder comparison between the 701 and kove
Both bikes weigh ~145kg dry and the 701 has 74hp..... the Kove has about 20hp less. Price is an obvious consideration but not a barrier for many buying in this category and low slung tanks/rally form for a 701/690 is easly doable on the aftermarket. And while no price on the Kove where I live, the KTM/Husky is 18k AUD not 28 lol, and I'd be surpised if the Kove was under 12-13k if we eventually get an Australian price - so it's far tighter for us in that respect too.
I love your review. Thanks. One thing, yes, in the Dakar, there is the Malle Moto class where the riders work on their own bikes, but the Koves competed in the regular class where they had a large team of mechanics and parts to work on the bikes each evening.
Thanks for the info!
I definitely find the Kove platform interesting. It is a motorcycle that first and foremost puts the prospect of actually completing a Dakar race in the self supported class within the grasp of many more riders. You can actually buy this bike and not blow 45k USD for it. That leaves a lot of money on the table for parts and entry fees, travel etc.
The other is that it is a significant shift in the approach of the Chinese motorcycle market, this in my opinion not only put them on the map as producing a competitive bike in the Dakar (Any manufacturer that starts with 3 entries and finishes all 3 in Dakar is a competitor ) It also transforms them to a very real competitor in comparison to the Euro and Japanese market bikes.
The big hurdle for this is now just distribution and parts for the wider markets.
I would seriously consider this with my next bike purchase coming from someone that rides a 690 everywhere on or off road including some pretty challenging single track.
Great video and I look forward to seeing more on the bike as you develop your thought.
You an excellent reviewer. Most people don't look at the big picture and you do! I'm subscribed now!
Your assessment of the Kove has given me a different but clear impression of it as a bike I’d be interested in considering for my next bike than anyone else who has reviewed it. Well done Dallas! As a devout Kato owner (I currently own a 450exc, 500exc, 690 Enduro R and a 990 Adventure R) that I have ridden and raced in Africa, Europe, Baja, South West US and at home in the Upper 1. I never buy the first generation of any vehicle and would never consider buying a Chinese built vehicle, but this bike is different and worth considering. Quick side note:
I’m that guy who put a 5 gallon tank on my 450exc for Africa and immediately regretted doing it! I struggled getting the front wheel up, quick maneuvering wasn’t quick and high speed through desert terrain was puckering! So I only put 2 gallons in at a time.
I've ridden the 450exc with the 5G tank and it was a handful. Thank you for your kind words.
i have a 525exc and havent needed the big tank thats sitting in a garage.the standard lasts at least 5 hours unless you are nailing it
Thanks for the pov you offered with this video.
👍
The fuel leaking out is due to the venting. I had an issue on mine when I was riding the demo for a week. I'm sure they'll fix it, but I just had to be careful not to pinch the vent lines. Fair review!
Stock or vented it does it at low speed riding, its extremly concerning when it happens and fuel shoots out of the vent for 10 minute dripping down the side of the bike. Someones bike is going to go up in flames
Could be a dodgy non-return valve between tanks, had an issue like that myself.
@@ktmtravels3727 it was the rubber hoses that come off the top of the caps, they twist easily
@@LCARSADV We had it happen with vented caps nothing pinched and stock. We also cut the rubber in the caps to flow more and the issue has still persisted. A vented rear cap is coming and hopefully it resolves the issue. Its a sick bike otherwise!
This is a well put together video. It seems the people who complain about the power arent even tapping into it. I have yet see a video of someone riding this bike close tl wide open throttle and then say its gutless. It would take a hell of a rider to do so. As you said its the power characteristics that are different and take getting used to
In the real world I have witnessed only a handful of people who can use the full capability.
Great review, Dallas, appreciate you guys compiling your research in a very honest way for the rest of us! I've no interest in changing bikes anytime soon, but if Yamaha had come out with a WR 450 R like I had hoped, I probably would have gone with that rather than the Tenere that I am enjoying now. Your review makes me think that this bike would be a great compromise between the two! Ride safe!
Nailed it - the Kove is somewhere in the middle.
Love your perspective on the bike. Certainly a different view than what I have seen to date. Cheers from OZ
Glad you enjoyed it
great vid .. l am finding these bikes very interesting and keen to test one back home in Aust
Great honest review, there's been a lot of talk about this bike over the western world. It looks like a complete bargain here in the UK and I've seen some of the other models in the Kove range being shown at the EICMA show and they all look pretty exciting prospects. I think it's going to be interesting to see how this company develops
Sure is. An exciting offering.
This is exactly the kind of review I've been waiting for. I'm very very interested in this bike, but I'm taking my time considering all my options before I pull the trigger. I will stay tuned for your upcoming videos on the Kove. Thank you!
Glad I could help!
Great review. Your spectrum of riders was very insightful. Coming from a 500 EXC you pegged me as one of the guys who found the power underwhelming. That said I never had long enough with it to try it in the high revs where I heard it wakes up. I’ve always dreamt of taking my 500 around the world but I must be honest that the Kove seems like a much more suited to the task.
Certainly less fuels stops with the Kove!
@@TractioneRagis it picky about octane?
Many thanks for explaining the bikes background and true purpose. Hopefully they come to Australia. Cheers
That may very well be the BEST motorcycle review I have ever watched. Great job, looking forward to more.
Humbled. 🙏🏻
Dakar has two "divisions." the originals by Motul was formally known as Malle Moto. this is where the rider can't accept any help but for the other competitors. The other division is like any other racing. Your pit crew and spares are only limited by your (or your team's) budget.
Apart from the Marathon Stage where riders do their own mechanical work.
Cheers, I was gurning trying to remember the name of the solo riders class, Malle Moto. It's heart brakingly tough!
The racers are in the same human group as the TT racers.
@@billyhong5071 They have almost no tools and limited knowledge and limited to 30mins so yes pros don't work on their bikes. Most of them admitted they don't even know.
@@mototrailz Of course they do if they have a problem. No mechanics and just riders in the bivouac means they either fix their own issues or their race is over.
@@billyhong5071 and if problem usually the race is over that is why they are anxious about the marathon stage. Even Toby said once he could not do the Malle moto category and those guys are real heroes of the Dakar.
Great video nothing misleading about your intro at all. I believe the rawness of this bike gives it a great advantage for any rider that wishes to customize the ride for their versatile uses. I believe this bike is underestimated by competitors and it will go a long way in the industry. Having been a former SWM dealer with heaps of disappointment I'm looking hard with much better hopes at KOVE MOTO... Right on Zhang and the boys!
We have always been curious about SWM but never crossed paths with them.
I can tell this is a very balanced assessment of the bike. Looking forward to the details. Could very well be a bike in my future, but 100% dependent on it getting street legal status.
There are already you tubers with these bikes as personal rides that they daily. They are street legal
Great review and wise words, most of the times and for the average rider power is not synonymous of performance, very few can take full advantage of even a 250 4 strokes!
Cheers
Great video Dallas, I'm looking forward to updates on this bike. I'm not a fan of heavy bikes with loads of power, so the 450 appeals a lot. I am not sure what Kove's plans are for the Aussie release though...
Yep, I’m watching that Aus release too. Allegedly one or two importers are looking at ADR compliance in an effort to plate them here
Barry just put out a video, not sure if it addresses AUS release or not.
Nope. No news yet. Other than a viewer said there will be a distributor soon but gave no details.
@@dallas_shannon
Any one know a ball park figure ??
Love the way you talk about power delivery .I had my bike for 4 years driving around Asia. It's got power. just need to know how to get it delivered 😮 if right person drive this in Dakar it will be number one😊
WOW WHAT AN EXCELLENT TEST REVIEW, LOVED THE INFORMATIVE CONTENT,NOT ONLY ON THE BIKE BUT THE OWNERS BACKGROUND. IM A MECHANIC/RACER THAT HAS AVOIDED CHINESE BIKES LIKE THE BLACK DEATH (PLAGUE) PERHAPS THIS BIKE WILL BE DIFFERENT. KUDOS TO YOU FOR THIS VIDEO ❤😊
that's such a good point, there's a big interplay between power and reliability
Best review on the Kove 👍
Malle Moto category (Motul original) riders work on their bike. The rest (pros or junior pros or even privateer with a team) they all have mechanics. That is why the Motul/Malle moto category is the most prestigious categories to me and many others. Even pros admitted they could not race on that category as they don't know how to work on the bike.
Thank you!
I have a CFmoto 450ss and every time I see a video on a Chinese bike it’s almost all the same. It exceeds expectations or comes close. Everyone is skeptical but the Chinese saw a market and they can fill the need. I’m blown away by my 450ss and it’s an awesome bike. I actually sold my zh2 because I was never reaching for the keys to ride it. It ticks a lot of boxes and the only issue people seem to have is reliability. However at least CFmoto offers a 3 year warranty on everything so that’s pretty respectable. Now they’re about to release the 450 adventure and they are also dropping a 675 triple. These Chinese bikes aren’t the bikes you get off Amazon. These are dealer sold and you can bring them to the dealers to get work done. I personally am interested in what they are making because of the price. When there’s competition between manufacturers the consumer always wins🤙🏼
Some KTM engines are producing in CF Moto
What does the 690/701 have to do with this bike.
What about service options/dealer network? Any options?
Awesome video thank you!
As a rider that came from 20 years of dirt before getting on the street, this bike seems a dream. I've had a few dual sports and my issue with them has always been that I usually end up trailering them to where I ride. My local spot is just far enough from a gas station that riding there isnt practical on a normal 2-3 gallon tank and larger adv bikes are too big and heavy for my aggressive riding. This bike really seems to be what I want. Something I can go exploring on and be aggressive while doing it.
This bike was built for you. It is a dirtbikers dual sport bike.
Well that was a nice talk about the bike, thank you. As for the “problems” look at the KTM 790 first year release list of problems. Oh and it seems as if the KTM TFT screen fogging never really gets fixed… I’m no “made in China” fan but isn’t everything made there now (or close to it)? This bike reads like they were listening to the community that said we want a 450cc, 325 pound, 250 mile fuel range, fuel injected, adjustable suspension all arounder. This checks lots of boxes. Enjoyed the video.
Nice review.
I haven't ridden a 450 rally bike, however I have plenty of experience of enduro bikes and have raced rally on an XR650R.
I have 3 thoughts on the engine / power output.
This is the first release of the bike so Kove were probably conservative on power output to ensure reliability.
Especially full of fuel, it's carrying a fair bit more weight than an enduro bike so it will feel a bit less responsive.
What is the gearing on the bike? If you take any 450 enduro / mx bike and gear it for 100mph it will feel a bit flat compared to one that is geared for 60-70 mph. It's worth confirming the gearing before reading too much into reports of being down on power.
Good points, similarly is it sprung for a bit of kit loaded and at least a proportion of max fuel making it feel a bit harsh half tanked.
Excellent comment. 👍🏻
I think beyond the characteristics of the ride from suspension to engine and chassis what people are interested in is reliability and the access to parts from routine maintenance to top end rebuilds. It can be a unicorn but if finding filters, brake pads, fork seals and pistons for the things that wear and need replacement then it won't be a viable option. TM has run smack into this wall in the US and boutique bikes, special they may be, are problematic when it comes to parts and repair. Knowing if Kove has considered and planned for this would be really helpful in attracting buyers.
That should all be revealed with a bit of time. This issue will be the TSN turning point for this motorcycle in North America.
9:35 BMW GS13000. Wow! Must be some bike.
Excellent, knowledgeable video. The Kove looks really good, too. Shame about the minor problems.
Great, informative video. Thanks for your efforts. I'm a big GS adventure bike, big kilometers guy, looking for something for the trails.......this could be it?
Great review , as usual for TractioneRag 🏍️🇨🇦
Thanks! 👍
Great video. Love it. Your question/comment that you have to look after and service your own bike in the Dakar. That is only accurate/true for a certain class, the Malle Moto class. In Malle Moto you have to service your own machine and are not allowed outside assistance of any kind. Other Malle Moto competitors may assist/help you. You also only get one "trunk" for spares, and you can only use the spares you have packed. It is the "original" way of doing the Dakar, and by far the toughest. In Dakar 2023, the American Rally Originals, 5 American rally riders, all tried to be the first to finish the Dakar in the Malle Moto category. Only 1 finished the race, and succeeded in being the first American to complete the race in malle moto, Mo Hart. #unpackingrally
Interesting bike for sure,one of the things that puts me off here in the UK is dealer network and after sales or should I say lack of them,even Aprillia Husqvarna etc are poor compared to Japanese but at the moment I’d say the Kove is in a class of its own.
Very good take on the Kove Dallas. With an 8 gallon gas capacity, it should be a touring bike.
Excellent balanced discussion, so much better than the over-the-top 'reviews' from influencers!
Do you think we’ll ever see the light of these in Australia?
There seems to be a Kove owners FBk page so they must be available but I can’t find any info about where to buy them🤨
Great review!!
Excellent review! This confirmed I'm not the target buyer because I'm very much a relaxed, slow off-roader & adventure tourer. It also makes me laugh when people say they won't buy this unreliable Chinese motorcycle and they buy KTM instead, because KTM has their own problems with reliability or QA.
Well said!
Great review!! 🤎🤎🤎🤎🤎
Good chat about the bike, it may take a couple of years for them to iron the bugs out of it. 👍👍
I have a 690 Rally conversion and it's my unicorn bike. The Kove is interesting because of price tag and the fact that's build for long distance racing. I am interested about the reliability of that machine. The power is secondary and sometimes it can bring fatigue if someone is not use to it. Nice opinion about Kove, I personally have no issues about a Chinese build bike, when Quality and Reliability are on point.
Fair and good review, cheers! For a first bike it has already quite a high degree of accomplishment. Mr. Xue certainly has made his homework, knows his stuff and is, at least for me, an authentic guy. Apparently, he loves what he’s doing and he certainly will be improving his bikes step by step. And, besides, it’s good to see that in spite of politics, there’s something good from China for us normal people.
Got that right!👍 It's the politics that's the problem, not the people 👍 Cheers beers and to fast gears, from British Columbia 🇨🇦👍 Cheers to the, big bore bike world 👍 Be safe out there everyone!!
Excellent comment. Thank you for being thoughtful.
Great video!
Interesting perspective. I’m a moto enduro guy so I don’t feel I want an adventure style bike. But what you say makes sense.
Man... Would love to get one now
I wish it comes to my country soon enough
With China manufacturers stepping up their quality, im really considering the CFMoto 450MT this next year. As i have a dealer right down the road from me. Actually a KTM/CFMoto dealer. So far im impressed with most of the reviews of this this Kove. I agree with what you say about not giving it max power. That in fact it does reduce reliability. Like my DRZ400. Not the fastest bike out there. But with mods it does a good job. And i have 53,000 miles of almost zero issues. And still runs better now than when i bought it new in 2012...well had 1200 miles on it, so it was slightly used. Not many high maintenance bikes out there can claim that kind of reliability record.
Im thinking of buying the CF MOTO 450 road bike. Looks good and it should be more reliable than the opposition.
Great review! Think you hit the target.
I was searchimg for the unicorn ADV bike. I ended up with an AJP PR7. It was difficult to get one in the US. It beats the Kove in every category except fuel range. The only upgrade it needed from the factory was a pair of bar risers and a rear rack. However, I see so much potential with the Kove 450 Rally. It can be mass produced at a reasonable price. That is something that is not possible with my PR7. The Kove will fill a void in motorcycling that no other manufacturer has been willing or able to fill.
Great informative view on this new motorcycle! So far on almost every Kove review, almost everyone argues whether it is for adv riders or motocross/enduro riders but noone really mentions if that machine is appropriate for beginners or someone who wants to ride off road with 0 experience in that department. Would the Kove be a somewhat right choice or would it be intimidating for such a person?
Glad it was helpful. We run an off-road tour company and I would not put an inexperienced rider on the Kove. I would put them on a 300L Rally to get them off on the right foot.
@@TractioneRagyes, but in comparison with a typical 450 enduro bike, Kove is much more gentle in low revs. Very user friendly.
Jet showed respect, let’s hope that the rest of us will too. Excellent article 👍🏽
The best review on the 450 Rally so far, give the idea that it is a very good bargain for people who want to ride fast and far on trails.
thanks a lot, say hi to Gary
Glad you liked it!
Love my gutless Honda NC700 and that truly is that...just happens to be a great motorcycle. Can't speak to this machine but the pursuit of "unicorn bikes" for this type of riding has left a lot of really great parts in the parts bin apparently. Soooo not into the prices of current machines but can't deny the improvements over previous machines.
I'm 57 and the weight of most adventure bikes turns me off. If I can't pick it up on my own, in the bush its a long feckin walk home. 🤣
I swapped out my CFMoto 800MT for an older MuZ660 and have no regrets.
I'd love to see one of these take on the Australian outback, I reckon we'd break it. 🍺
Nice work, Dallas! You have shared a very thoughtful discussion of this important new entry into the off road market. Many of your comments remind me of my 1997 KTM 620 Adventure. I’m sure the Kove vibrates less and has a much lower center of gravity due to the fuel tanks location. I really appreciate the background information about the Kove founder and CEO. His journey is remarkable. Many dream, but he has persevered and brought the machine to production. I wish Kove success in both racing and in the market. Riders have been crying for this “unicorn” type of bike for some time.
Hey Garth, you have the precursor to my 640 Adventure (2003 and 2007). Yes, the 640 vibrates but not as bad as I was led to believe. It's not going to enter the Dakar Rally but ought to tackle a BDR as well as any other DS rig and better than many. I'm intrigued by the Kove, too, and think it's sparking a realization for the other majors to sharpen their pencils and fire up their 3D printers.
Great breakdown, I can't wait till they are available in California ✌️
Well communicated it’s clear what Kove motorcycles are about & the segment it’s aimed at Kove have recently improved its full rally version at a much higher cost I’m sure future standard models will benefit from the higher spec models
Kove have produced an affordable reliable machine I for one will consider purchasing one of these machines before the price goes up…!!!
...nice comment. The price will be going up once they beat the Chinese stereotype.
I liked the video. Good review, balanced take. We need more of those on the interwebs. But there's something wonky going on with the framerate and shutter speed of your camera. It looks like the shutter speed is too fast for the video framerate. If you're recording on a phone, maybe it's time to get a compact camera that will let you lock off the shutter speed for video and add a neutral density filter over the lens to balance the exposure for less juddery footage?
Again, minor gripe, loved the video.
Good point. I am definitely not a tech savvy but I appreciate the input.
@@TractioneRag Thanks for not taking it as a jab. Many people aren't tech savvy. No need to apologise for it. If you do get a camera, look up the 180° shutter rule for video. There are a bunch of camera sites that explain it way better than I can haha.
Thank you for the great review, seems like a good bike for what it is. Just looks like there's some little kinks to work out. It's interesting that they brought out a bike like this that won't have a huge customer base. Or at least I don't think it will? "Modernized DRZ" would certainly sell better as would be more accessible to more people of all skill levels and heights. But with kova and Royal Enfield getting closer to that, maybe a large manufacturer will finally make it? I honestly don't ride my DRZ $400 all that much off-road, but if it was more capable on the freeway I know how we get out there much more.
Me suspects this bike may surprise people with how much market share it gets... providing the parts and service portion are solid.
Not a fan, but I can see the potential as a travel bike, where huge power is not required but reliability is. If the Dakar was the goal then it makes sense to have it end up remarkably similar to most of the field😉
I have never ridden a Kove, but have watched quite a few things on it. My closest comparison to the style of riding that you talk about (from a design perspective) is the Honda XR650R, a bike designed to ride at race pace in the desert for hours and hours and hours while being unwaveringly reliable, like the Kove. In my mind the setup of that bike is perfection for this role, sans the rally fairing and fuel. It seems like the Kove isn't fitting what I hoped it would. Saying it's harsh on the suspension but lackluster in power seems like a mismatch. We know how to make power these days reliably. It makes me concerned that maybe the bike just wasn't setup with the engine and chassis melded together as well as they should be. I wonder if it's like the '98 CR250 now where it should be like a '04 CR250 with the harshness. The reliability issues also would concern me, and this isn't the first place I've heard of issues. If one of those problems came up it could be a manufacturer defect, but multiple potentially major issues is a bit concerning. In the video too it shows single-use clamps that aren't serviceable with trail tools, which would scare me. This all may not be even relevant, but just what I noticed. What I will say, I have never heard issues with simple systems like this on new (at the time) XR650Rs. I don't know, maybe I'm judging it too hard but it seems like a 85% finished bike. What do I know though, I'm just someone on the internet.
I ride an XRR that's been dead reliable for 22 years and im not easy on bikes. When cove can show that type of long term reliability then we can talk!!!
Excellent and smart review. Thanks
Glad it was helpful!
Thanks, speaking of fuel position, and about what is the most important factor in any bike: gravity center. Look at 2s and 4s Enduro bikes. Can lift easily a 2s , pain in ass to lift a 4s ( of same weight, yes, there are some) top engine height of 4s has its importance too with all mass and gyroscopic effects ... First thing I do on any bike is to side lean it and check to how much angle I can go, still keeping it with handlebars...
This feels much lighter than it weights. I rode it first and my jaw dropped when I heard the wet weight. They did a good job masking it.
great @@TractioneRag
Phenomenal review.
Well presented.
👍This is what the drz should be now! Hopefully Suzuki will actually change it now? It’s funny how a Chinese company out of nowhere is producing a rally bike like this, but no other company is…. Without spending at least another $5 - 10k. Be quite interesting to see what the reliability is going to be like over the next 12 months. Plus if it’s going to be a one off bike or is it going to stay in production.
What a great video and so well produced and presented 👏
+1 sub.
🙏🏻
In the team class you have mechanics working on you stuff when you get back to the bevi, it’s the mollie moto class that has no team and has to work on the bike on there own so he also can get help from other riders in that class but your pretty much on you own
Man this was an awesome video! Thank you!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Great to hear some logical comments re this new bike. Re those glitches he mentioned, they sound like easily fixable things in a first edition. Hats off for the visionary owner to do something that Japan has never, and will never do, namely cater for a market demanding a lightweight single hard core dirt bike. The only thing i doubt we will see is a Kove winning Dakar with a Chinese rider. If you don't have one of the top 15 hard core rally riders you can't win Dakar.
Now they have Mason Klein... and a new bike too. We will see!!!
I'm curious, does it have a lot more power than a Honda CRF300L ? Very well done review BTW.
Thank you and yes, much more power than the 300 but not as much power as a 450L.
Excellent!
Reading the comments people are thinking of this bike in the same way as myself. It’s the unicorn 🦄 light ADV bike that we all want. Personally I would rather less suspension travel to get the seat a few inches lower. The rear tank is for people like me, for water 💦. She is perfect for me with a few mods.
nice one, very true thinking, by the way the BMW is thirteen hundred or thirteen thousand? 😀 ( joke) thanks for the good point which I share a 100%, hopefully we get Kove in Europe soon
9:15 ... haha! the funniest things are those that come out of left field. that was great! I was all absorbed in your review of the bike and then the dog gets into the act. funny!
GREAT review! Really great perspectives. Comparing the power of a 450 to something that has 50% more displacement is unfair. What I'm stuck on is the fact that the Kove weighs as much as that 690! It should be down below 250 lb like other 450s. It weighs too much. That is what is disappointing to me.
It really doesn't feel heavy when riding. I know that sounds nuts but we all felt that way.
Coming from a klr perspective here , the complaints on the kove are still way better then what a klr offers, kive has more power,better suspension, reliability probably similar ,can exceed 100 mph with trying to kill itself and is under 430lbs.still love my klr tho
The best moto review I've come across.
Humbled. Tks Mike.
Excellent. Mild mannered bike review 👌 My CR 125 is awesome off-road with 2 gallons... My GS 1200 is awesome. Everywhere with 8 gallons😂 My Dyna was a monster everywhere, torture off pavement. I want a trial machine, as immature and see the Kove 😑as wisdom and tolerance mating isolationism racing down the highway to hell 🏁