Has China Arrived | KOVE 450 RALLY
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- Опубликовано: 7 июл 2024
- #chroniclesofsolid #kove450rally #advnews
I have been getting heaps of questions asking my thoughts on the Kove 450 Rally out of China. In this video I go through the bikes potential and some of the potential problems that the rally bike could have.
Chapter Times
00:00 Intro
00:50 Who Is Kove
01:21 Specs
03:58 Taking The Chance
05:32 Who the bike is for
06:41 Has China Arrived
07:06 New Japan
09:08 My Concerns
10:40 Unicorn?
Thanks for watching,
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Really impressive in the Dakar. Great looking bike as well.
Just makes me wish Honda made a 450 rally with long service intervals.
This needs to happen. . . but won't.
@@niceguyrides I think the closest well get is a NX500 using the CB500 engine
I just wish Honda would start building period this damn emmisions shit on lawnmowers and weedeaters is stupid it is only one step above putting diapers on cattle euro this euro that this is why Americans drink coffee
Honda has crf300l rally. Also crf450l not rally. Just make the 450l a rally version but keep it a budget bike. The kove will cost around 9000€
@@vasiliskaraboitis9689 the complaint with the 450l is it still has oil change intervals every 600 mi and valves at 1800. That’s like every other day of riding if you’re going cross country here in the states.
Hehehe watching this I was like, "Something is familiar here...." That spreadsheet you have listing (KYB?") is from me, NOT from GPX/Kove :). I made it last fall because the specs were being listed in a horribly messy way to me and at the time we thought they would be KYB. The forks are instead "Yu-An" which looks to be very similar to Showa forks.
I'm cautiously optimistic on this one. Seems a legit effort. If anything, this may be the springboard for Honda and KTM to tackle this segment, finally.
Yeah if it’s a hit, maybe we could see a 450Rally
Agreed, I would be maybe a late adopter but if the success of this bike pushed any of the big four to make a long service interval rally style bike with similar specs that was actually available in dealerships (still haven't seen a single T7 or CRF300 Rally available in a dealership for example) I would be all over those first, simply for the reputation of reliability that comes with them.
The only flaw ive seen with it so far is its rather underpowered comparatively, but considering the price and that most people couldn't use all of a ktm 450 rally's power anyways thats okay
They did , factory rally replica ...... but it's too expensive.
Concerning the reliability it can’t be worse than the 890 AdvR I used to have. Great content mate!
my 890R has over 70,000km's and still going strong.
@@MrKdr500 I had 10 issues and I even made a video about it.
@@MrKdr500 yeah seems really hit and miss with ktm. Its the KTM lottery, either you get a good one, or you get constant problems. Its an expensive gamble
Had my 790r since launch 2019 no issues and it's been hammered
Thank you innovators and early adopters. Your contributions are appreciated.
Get a KTM690. Mine fully fueled with a small tool bag weights 358 lbs on my scale.
That's exactly what I was thinking, it's been around for more than 12 years, I have a 2019 model and it's been such a reliable bike, probably because all the issues have already been solved in the past.
@@ferkuzuel I have 2019 and it was not reliable at all. Also with a navtower and other bits and pieces to become close to a rally bike or a light adventure bike is heavier than Kove with less fuel capacity (but that is not a concern), with more power that in offroad is to much. So I would like to try one.
Reliability of KTM is total nightmare....
@@ERUtheWINDRIDER Reviewers are saying that Kove has much better suspension than Husqvarna 701 ....
Great analysis! Thanks. I, for one, am keeping an eye on this one. I'm an early majority!
The engine is a twin cam version of the Fantic engine, and that is based on the 450 Yamaha engine. The fact all 3 bikes finished the Dakar, speaks volumes for reliability.
They are up for sale in the UK for £8500, will be here in May.
Absolutely not based on Yammy engine, ZS NC450 is it's own beasty.
Finishing Dakar with 3 bikes means very little , when you have trucks of spare parts and bus full of mechanics....
@@istra70 No, When reliability is poor you do not end the end the race with a decent ranking like the Chinese guys. And if you break one engine by day you'll be nowhere no matter of the spare parts and mecanicians. The KTM engines are rebuilt every day in the Dakar, so they do not break during the race.
@@pabloricardodetarragon2649 Of course, of course. I know for KTM in Dakar - mechanics are changing everything and the bikes are usually finishing.
But I also know private people having lots of troubles with KTMs and Husqvarnas.
My kids had Chinese dirt bike, when they were 6 year old.
Materials ( Aluminium ) was very soft, plastics were OK. Some have too hard and brittle plastics prone to cracking.
To be honest they could be a hit , but me coming from Europe - I would prefer AJP PR 7 coming from Portugal, proven reliable engine and parts are everywhere.
Very well put together video 👍
Excellent video. Well thought out and well delivered.
Cheers 👍
This channel rocks in dual sport & adventure bikes! Congrats! I've been watching Kove bikes for a while, special this 450 Rally...
My passion for ownering an Rally RAID bike like KTM was always huge but my wallet is small 😁
This bike after Dakar performance was interesting... I might consider buying one here in EU, but maintainance & parts issues is very concerning...
Loncin: BMW F800R and Husky TR650 ( The weak point unreliability was the Magnetti Mirelli ECU made in Italy). Quite capable of making reliable motor. Owned both. VERY good motorcycles
Great stuff Solid.
I'm all in on the Kove!
Me too ...I am all for the underdog , wishing them good luck , and considering to buy one. Sick and tired of big famous brands robing us for decades and never listening for consumer demands ....
Excellent vid, mate. The bike looks like my unicorn but I got bitten by AJP. Sound little bikes but parts were a nightmare. I think I'll be a late early adopter!
That's what I am putting on scales. AJP PR7 has similar weight and power ( HP ) to Kove , good suspension like Kove , but AJP is build of quality parts ( like Brembo etc. ) , engine is old design 600 - but proven reliability and it has more torque than Kove, and AJP is 1000 or more euro dearer .
Both are great on / off road unicorns , but which one is better ?
Great video. Thanks. I got to ride one about a month ago. Ergonomics we’re excellent, but initial thought was it felt a bit down in power for sure.
interesting, down on power? compared to what? any comment about components or overall quality.
@@bikenavbm1229 Once it got going it felt fine. But it felt weaker than my uncorked Fe350. Components looked pretty good. Love the large fuel tanks
Reliability unknown you say. Whereas, the questionable reliability of KTM for example is known, and from what I read people still buy them. So, it's no bigger a leap of faith, for a lot less money. And no-one else makes a 450 Rally, which is what people want. That's about as good as it gets at present.
Excellent review Solid
Only time will tell!
The looks and the price you can’t go wrong I will order one as soon as there available.
I have owned two Chinese motorcycles and have been impressed by the quality. The build quality gets better and better and the price is well, a big win.
My Benelli TRK 502 is Japanese Quality. Superb bike.
I am very stoked to see this coming to market. The two things I'd like to see that I don't is a Fisher style seat (or comfort XL) and a set of passenger pegs for very rare passenger rides. The passenger pegs will be the issue because just like the other
Looks great but I need confidence in the dealerships. Good to have you back. I hope you’re enjoying fatherhood.
I’ve ordered one. Might be one of the first dozen owners in the UK. Yours for the day to make a video with. As long as you come over here for that ride…
The "target" of this bike is clear and spot on. Unless the price is too high or the build quality too shit it will be a success for being alone in the market. The Voge300 is already a success in spain because the crf300 rally is not sold here. The only similar option in the market right now is the KTM690 lineup and it is too over the top for most people that don't need this power and don't want to add the mods for better mileage etc.
I've got an adventure modded 701 and totally agree. I took it out today on wet clay mix chalk soil with half worn Motoz Rallz. I was sliding around and the power was too much. In fairness, I am deliberately riding it on the wrong tyres in the wrong terrain to sharpen myself up, but that bike is a proper handful. On dry, rocky terrain with decent traction it is a decent off road bike but snotty single track is hard work. And its tall. I'm 183 cm tall and it's on the cusp of too tall for me. Fierce on the road though with a Rade airbox and a remap. Blips up to 90 mph pretty easily.
Solid, It is exactly the type of bike I would be interested in.
Problems: Little heavy (370+ lbs), little tall at 38 inches (36.6 L), service and parts are BIG questions. No mention of electronics (not wanted or needed on a 450 IMO) and of course the whole China thing.
Price is unknown but if it was $7 - 8 thousand USD that would be about right, IMO.
9000 USD
This could be the sweet spot... if one can put bags on the back and adventure tour on it. I've really wanted a dakar-esque bike for adv touring.
Rear racks already available
it also comes with bag mounting points already fitted stock
all good points mate, i'm in the chasm.
They put 3 in Dakar and all 3 finished, that says enough for me to be optimistic to watch the retail availability.
With 3 fuel tanks - it's ideal bike for Oz land - it's just not there on sale yet. The new models will have improved mapping and a bit more low down power.
Nice concept, KTM should have done this years ago. I do think I would prefer to buy the Fantic rally for a bit more.
“A bit more”……way more !
Big and famous brands don't listen to customers for decades ....while overcharging us constantly
I am all for underdogs in this game , and wish Kove all the best and good luck ...
Potential buyer ...
G'day Solid. First time commenter. Based on UK prices including delivery and UK import and on-road taxes, I figure the race bike, dripping with titanium and magnesium, is AUD$24K and the road bike is AUD$15K. Dunno what our local taxes would do to that number but it looks like it's going to be competitive. The CEO you mentioned seems to have the full Soichiro Honda spirit which I like to see. This bike really interests me and I could nearly be an early adopter here. The suspension I've heard is made by Yuan who are Chinese but make very good kit and that the shock is a collab with KYB. No idea how true this is though. Thanks for the episode 👍
That’s where my napkin math led me as well.
Except that the USA Price is US$9000, which suggests that it may even be under $15000 in Aus?
Great content thick with relevant information. I'm a possible early majorityite! That may change as dealership support is huge for me. Currently on a '21 Himalayan which is amazing with Motoz Trac. tyres, and engine crash bars as the most important add ons to that bike. It's a tank! But dealer support is shite! And obviously the time we all have to learn from the feedback of early buyers.
I am very interested and hope it does good and like you said it would fill the hole where no other manufacturer has gone yet if it proves it the real del I would buy one thanks for the info and opinion 👍🤟
From a communications standpoint I can add some feedback.
I'm very interested in this motorcycle, but, like you mentioned, some of the info out there is a bit "confusing". Me, a nobody, decided to mail the address found on their website about my concerns. Being a Chinese company I did not really expect an answer, but lo and behold, they got back to me within a day and answered most of my concerns. Only ones they couldn't answer was to do with distribution rights in my country, which is understandable.
This has already bolstered my confidence in the company, as some of the bigger players in the market will usually not even give you the time of the day.
I think this bike can be the "unicorn", but that will all depend on the reliability.
I'll get one in a heartbeat
Kove is the first Chinese brand to excite me. In the past, I've held the "cheap crap" view, but CFMoto has demonstrated it can do decent quality at a fair price, and now Kove promises high quality and lower weights in the adv market. I'm well over bloated beasts being marketed as middleweights.
Take a look at the new Benelli's hippy. Japanese quality for three-quarters of the price!
Thanks
Appreciate it Andrew!
Glad you mention Dakar, that is a real effort! he motor, LOCIN made motors for BMW I could expand on this, but they are a quality ,manufacturer. I would ask is their a cush drive? ADV needs this. Lastly check out the Kone 800X, there is a bike that should be followed up on.
More excited for the competion it may bring and more on the adv(wanna 2up sometimes) than rally itself...the big companies dont take the light adv seriously (in their defense is really hard to price ) either are underpowered ( crf, hymalian, 310gs), or repurposed parts with no real R&D (390 adv)...I really like the caballero and actually think its a nice extreamly good looking bike (almost/kinda adv worthy)but its about 1000euros too expensive (at least in my country)
All in, expecting arrival in June here in the UK. Will be stripping the bike down to investigate the construction and see if there’s anything to worry about.
Same here where about in UK are you?
I would definitely get it if it comes to my country.
This is not the kinda bike I am looking for BUT I have made the jump to the Chinese and bought a brand new MG car. 2 years later no issues whatsoever. Based on that and other friends who bought CFMOTO bikes with 0 issues I would say they HAVE arrived and quality is good enough on at least some of the brands.
If I buy another bike it will most likely be from China as you just can't beat the value.
I’d buy one tomorrow.
I’m all in
Brakes from Tesco??!
Looks like a proper bit of kit. Too many questions about build quality , reliability and dealer backup at this point. Competition results would help it to establish itself.
This bikes looks, performance and setup are all spot on. If it had a Honda sticker on it I'd sell my first born child to buy it.
I’d try it!!
there are to many people stuck in the past” gurus” thinking they know better.
I sell bikes for a living and had said for years about the british market vs Japan being the same as china come into the market.
Yep Tubby - those cheap Honda's were never going to be as reliable as our BSA's and Harley Davidsons. LOL
Not a big hurdle to jump to be as reliable as a KTM.
If it gets dealership support, that should put it on par with KTM but at a much lower price.
I’d like to see them give bikes to “brand ambassadors” in Oz to see if they can break them.
I actually don’t mind the teal accented one. Kinda cool..!
I'm in the UK and have one on order , I have a 790r that's tricked up wp pro ect but fancied this along side the ktm
Hi Solid, was there any information on the carrying capabilities of the frame for luggage on the new 450?
Just got me a CRF300 Rally and tricked it up with performance & function “extras”. That will do me as a unicorn 🦄 for now 😎
Such great bikes 😎
@@chroniclesofsolid it is so light after riding an ADV bike for the last 6 months. How’s your new addition (bub) going?
Curious to know if those service intervals are valid. I suspect a lot of guys with change the oil twice as often.
For 20k I’d want to know it’s reliable and have parts available for the long haul, not just the first year or two
Makes you think how the European or Japanese manufacturers are just straight up refusing to build a bike like this. Off road capable, around 500cc with decent power and a big tank. If it needs a Chinese manufacturer to show them that this is what the people want then I guess a Chinese manufacturer it will be.
Sad how complacent these established companies have become. Every year you get a new big bore adventurer for rich middle aged men but if you want an affordable and fun small or midsize bike you´re screwed, especially in Europe where Grandfather clauses dont exist, so you cant even get a new DR650.
I´m actually glad that Royal Enfield and the Chinese are shaking up the market. It´s frustrating seeing all these traditional manufacturers bikes and with every single one of them there is a compromise, either price or power or off road capability.
Fantic is making a rally 450, AJP is making a PR7 so euro brands are making them
Middle aged rich men for the most worked their asses off to become rich middle aged men. Just sayin’.
@@SupermotoCentral The PR7 and Fantic rally are both north of 10k€.
@@Zerotys_ADV I know. Nothing bad about being well off. But you cant deny that the market today is completely different than the one in the 90s when you could easily get a no bs and capable adventure bike for cheap like when all the Japanese manufacturers put out their 650cc singles. Nowadays, most young people are just straight up priced out of that.
I have a 2018 KTM 690 Enduro dressed up with 31l of fuel looking like a 2016-2018 KTM 450 RFR but making just shy of 95BHP @ 180kg. That bike all said and done was about the same price as a used 2019 KTM 450 RFR but far far easier to obtain in the USA. I have about as much faith in that 690 as I would in the Kove 450 rally, fueled weight is about the same, but I've had a MAP servo die in my 690 in less than 15hrs on the engine... and thats the last thing I want to have happen 200Km into the desert, which is why I tend to ride my so far reliable EXC-F 500 (120hrs in 5mo with no issues) far more. I would absolutely love to have 31-36L of fuel on that 500, I'd be able to get from my garage to the grand canyon and back and I'd spend a whopping total of 20Km on tarmac....
as far as performance, super impressed it finished Dakar, less impressed that they are having tower failures on demo bikes, and less impressed that Suni (who is a great rider) was only able to get 42nd, the bike needs atleast another 10hp to be competitive at that weight.
I'm super interested in the new generation of KTM 450 rally based on the SX frame, that looks like a winner of a hybrid bike, and I'd also love it if Hero would follow suit of Kove and release their speedbrain bike....
Speaking about reliability: Kove did arrive at the finish in Dakar at 100 % succes rate. In the contrary, only approx 50% of the european/japanese bikes arrived at the finish……
KTM is the worst considering reliability. No surprise they need whole fleet of lorries full of spare parts and bus load of mechanics.
They don't need dealerships, they should sell each bike with a promise of any parts needed delivered in two weeks or less at your door step, from our official website. The engine is quite good and parts are available already. Let's see how it goes
Totally agree. A good working homepage is all that is needed. Would be nice if they sold the shop manual too.
Recently is more and more obvoius, that major brands simply don't want to deliver such model to not kill sales of their middle and big advs, where they made majoritiy of their profits. Unless new man will came to town and with such model take away all their profits.
I keep finer crossed Kove be a such lad. For sure there is nobody in Europe or Japan who has such resources and will to change rules of the game. So seems Chinese have to do it. Asume, sad but true.
Time will tell. Exciting though. How's the baby?
For the same money, I can buy a Beta 390 or 500 with an aftermarket tower and tank. Proven supoort from domestic dealers, and no guilt from supporting the CCP. Except for the price, the Beta 390 is pretty close to unicorn for me, and the 500 has enough power for anyone not racing for money.
Hope fatherhood is being good to ya, and get some sleep!
Wouldnt mind some sleep 😴
$9,000 in the US before dealer charges, with only a couple dealers and requiring a non-refundable $1,000 deposit. Wouldn't roll the dice on that myself. Parts? Service?
Kove sounds Great
PS: as mentioned in the video, Kove is not even able to present a fully functional web page. On my Mac the bikes dimensions are distorted. So what does that tell us about the brand?
Distorted? Only the specs page.
I dont think it will replace my KTM 640 Adventure.
If I’m not mistaken, the service interval chart in the video shows oil changes every 1000km/600 miles similar to most other 450’s.
The 1000km/600 miles is to check the level. Next line down has change which is every 5000km.
it says to change the oil and filter the first time at 600 miles, then 2400 miles later at 3000, and then every 3000 miles.
Hay Solid, I've been waiting for more information on this bike with great anticipation. The L version could be a game changer in the light weight adventure market. It is sorta the same engine as the Fantic which so far has proven a reliable engine. My big question would be how far up the HP ladder they've pushed it & if that will change the equation?.
I think Kove has a long road ahead to establishing a dealer and spares network so I won't be jumping anytime soon but one to keep a watchful eye on.
It's a similar engine based on the Zongchen one but with a different DOHC head, and tighter tolerances.
KTM done a rally spec bike last year in the UK, think it was an 890, was limited to 250 but was £37,000 ish, so very expensive. I could of had one but the price was excessive. Very interested in this KOVO. Been in contact with the UK dealer and they're only garanteed for 3 months as it's for racing. Not that that puts me off but would like more details before I commit (service intervals etc).
It 6 months warranty 3000 mile service
Great cool vids of the bike being ridden. Great looking bike. Prob a decent overall ride for its price point until it actually breaks down then come the headaches. No stable dealers. No tech support. No local parts supply anywhere and goodluck ordering overseas. No aftermarket parts available for it as No one knows what it is. So more or less a super cool disposable ride
I was indeed on the keyboard typing "they had 3/3 finishers in dakar" 🙃
not gonna lie, I swore off anything not japanese since owning the electrical disaster of a bike that was a Hyosung Comet, but since then I've owned a BMW and rode several harleys too (not my own), so I'll be honest: If I had a spare 10k, I would buy this bike. It just looks like a breath of fresh air and I love the enthusiasm of the ceo. If only I HAD the 10k. :D
Beast, but I still want more. Less but more!
I didn't buy an SWM for the same reason I wouldn't buy the Kove; lack of dealerships and parts availability.
Other than that, it does look the part and the spec seems ok.
This is great. I won’t buy a Chinese bike but if they sell well, Honda may jump in to get some sales.
Long way to go to be viable option for anything in a lot of countries, 3 Dakar prepped bikes is one thing, long term reliable and available with support in mass production on road in lots of countries is a other
Kove are saying a 5,000km oil change interval but what is the oil capacity, I can’t seam to find that anywhere.
Maybe something to consider if priced around $7000 AUD. Is it a rally entry level bike, with craftsmanship, or simply a rally type bike. The former would be a special price, else you expect cheap.
It won't be that cheap. It's US$9000 in the USA so expect around $14000-$15000 if it gets to OZ.
Looking at the manual they have for the bike on the Kove web page, it says oil change very 2000km! Not 5000km as in the screenshot for the Fantic caballero you show! On top of that there is a valve clearance check every 2000km mentioned in the manual. Ok, for a competition bike, not ok if I want to travel with that bike. But I guess that's not what it is intended for.
I think it's a cool bike. I really like the styling and it looks like it works really well. I like KTM and Husqvarna and everyone likes Yamaha but I can't got and buy a KTM like that. I probably wouldn't use the fuel capacity but it's ther. I really do like the style of that bike. It's a cool bike
I own a DRZ400 which is probably one of the most reliable vehicles on earth. But I like the Kove so much because it is exactly what a lot of us want.
The problem is no one knows yet how reliable it will be which is supremely important for rally riding,/racing. For another channel who tested it, the transmission failed. Not good. But maybe they can solve the problem before production. Also there wer issues with the fuel and oil indicators. And the starter. But some of these problems have already been addressed and fixed.
Interesting bike!!! Are you planning to do a review on the new Suzuki v-strom 250 sx? I’d like to hear your opinion.
Hi, I’m actually in contact with KOVE. I’d like to become one of the first owners in Germany. KOVE plans to sell the bike for less than 10k Euro, what translates to less than 16k Australian dollars.
And they are thinking about a little bit choked version for the European A2 driving license.
I wanna see a CRF400Rally... :S
*450
@@LONDON501 Even KTM makes a 390cc. Under 400cc because of laws in certain countries...
How many of the lower cost version of this bike can you buy for the price of one KTM 890? I don't know what the cost would be in Can'tada but I bet you could buy one and buy another entire bike for parts! Or just to have two.
During dakar race only piston can be replaced once. Other replacements are time penalized. Regular maintenance can be made by any regular joe with some moto love installed.
Keen to swap my DRZ out for a CRF300 Rally but this thing throw a curve ball. I'm kinda interested but I'd be wondering in the back of my mind when riding outback OZ with it's reliability. Not too mention spare parts and dealership issues.
I see a lot of worries as for a dealership or parts being available. Feel lucky: I live in a country where there is no motorcycle dealership of any brand, we have to import all the parts ourselves, heck there isn't even a decent motorcycle repair shop. Even with all these setbacks that you may not be able to imagine we ride, we love to ride and we keep on riding. And oh yeah, our government decided a new thing: import ban on all bikes older then three years. That is also a reality. So feel lucky 😁 when I have the money I would surely buy a Kove and give it a try in beautiful Suriname ❤
I might buy one of these Kove 450 if I can find any dealership to test the bike
On point video Solid. Chinese quality is on the up, following Western investment and Quality Control. An awful lot of our consumer products are Chinese manufactured that we accept without question. Success will depend on Kove investment in their overseas markets but I believe the will to succeed is there, it just depends on whether we want to concentrate on product rather than politics as a buying public.
btw are you getting much sleep at the moment?
Check out EveRide's review - he's wrapt in this bike and he's someone to rely on. I think I've just seen my next bike, the unicorn at last, if they come to Oz. Had high hopes for the AJP PR7, but Kove look like they can actually supply bikes and parts, always a plus when you're selling bikes. I wonder if the Japanese makers have woken up yet...
Great potential but this is not my unicorn. Seat looks like a solid plank from the seesaw from my distant childhood and with the seemingly narrow frame a wider one doesn’t look like an option. It’s actually got too much travel, I only want 200mm in order to get a lower seat height, I’m 5’10”. And solid. Apparently the L version has less fuel capacity as there’s a tank under the seat on the higher spec models
Is it really "heavy for a 450 Dakar"? A fully loaded Dakar has rear tanks as well and weighs about as much as a mid ADV??
Interchangeable consumables for suspension components would be nice.
I'm looking for Chinese rock, but still hard to get to.
I bought a AJP PR7 and regretted it. It was Unreliable with poor back up in the uk. It was a shame. The bike was great apart from the fuelling and electrics.
I wonder how Kove will fare with spare parts and support?
53 bhp for a 450 is a lot. I wonder how reliable it will be?
I wouldn't swap my modified Crf300l because i do big mileage even though id appreciate the power and the long range tanks.
Looking forward to see how Kove get on against the European and Japanese manufacturers.
Thanks for posting.
China arrived on the motorcycle market long ago. Major brands are having engines, whole bikes etc. built there. IF, and it's a big IF, you demand and pay for a certain quality level China can deliver. It's getting people willing to pay for that quality level.
Have you heard anything about this coming to Australia and who will sell it?
We just all need to buy this bike so Honda will make the bike we actually want and sell this one XD
3 entered, 3 finished, not many can say that.
I contacted Kove via their webpage and received a response within 2 days. I asked if the bike will be sold in Australia. Kove said at this time they a seeking a distributor which they can not find. So in this point in time bikes are not coming to Australia anytime soon. Reliability being an issue. Come on. Well established brands, lets say orange bikes, to this day have on going issues with their bikes - I own one and nothing but issues. Point is all brands have issues. Yes dealers and parts is a concern if the bike gets here because most likely the distributor will not be a large player on the motorcycle sector here.
This is what i worry about. Even if someone in Australia takes up the distributorship, that will have a small market over a very large country and dealers will be sparse. Probably better to have a single importer/dealer with a very good delivery logistics plan.
The Fantic has the SOHC Zonger in it, the Kove is running DOHC.