Kove 450R Rally as a lightweight adventure bike? pros and cons︱Cross Training Adventure
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- čas přidán 8. 03. 2024
- crosstrainingenduro.com A Kove 450R Rally adventure bike or dual sport bike? Would it work? Our Canadian crew recently reviewed the Kove 450R Rally. A lot of viewers have asked would it be good as a lightweight adventure motorbike? Potentially yes. But maybe no. Keen on adventure riding in Australia? Check out our vids. The problem? It's been designed for rally racing so their are aspects of the motorbike that can suit adventure riding. Others don't. Let's start with the potential advantages. Massive fuel range with the . Around 36 litres or 8 gallons in three fuel tanks. If you like dual sport riding in Australia then you might like our adventure riding vids. The Dakar race model can carry even more. The two lower fuel tanks keep the weight low as well. You already have a fairing to protect you from the elements to some extent. Check out our reviews of various adventure bikes and dual sport bikes. I assume it wouldn't be hard to fit a taller windscreen if needed so not bad for a Kove 450R Rally adventure bike. If you like having a lot of electronic doodads the top model features a rally tower to accommodate your GPS, tablet, phone, coffee maker and maybe a TV set. The existing digital dash on the Kove 450R Rally dual sport is pretty good too. Handling. The Kove 450 is set up for speed, so it actually handles quite well on fast dirt roads or the highway. If anyone has ever tried using a 450 or 500 enduro motorbike for adventure riding you will know how they can feel a bit sketchy on the highway. The Kove is also a fair bit heavier than an enduro model which adds to on-road stability. LED means pretty good lighting standard. Our objective review of the Kove 450R Rally with three test riders on three bikes for three days! And easy to upgrade. Potential issues with the Kove 450R Rally as an adventure bike? Kove 450R Engine longevity. It is a highly tuned engine putting horsepower similar to any 450 enduro motorbike. So obviously you will be looking at maintenance and engine rebuilds more than, say, a DRZ400. Kove 450ROil capacity. 1.8 litres is actually more than most 450 enduro motorbikes which is great! But you will still be doing oil changes way more often than a dual sport motorbike. Some riders don't mind doing an oil change on a multi-day ride, others do. Overall reliability with the Kove? We simply won't know until a lot of Kove owners have done thousands of miles and report about known issues. Or hopefully the lack thereof. Some Kove enthusiasts point to these motorbikes finishing in their first Dakar event. But remember none of them finished the second one. Long-term owner reports will be our best indication. Weight. The Kove 450 Rally is reasonably light. Tall seat but compressed cockpit. Skid plate causes problems for big feet. Triple clamps only have only one hole so you can’t move the bars closer or further away from hips. Does it vibrate? Not enough to notice. The Kove 450R Rally has been created by a Chinese business man who says he always dreamed of riding in the Dakar race. We simply won't know until there are lots of independent long-term reports from owners. Instead, he decided to create a rally motorbike and send a Chinese team. All three Kove 450s finished the race. Our next test rider, Dallas Shannon, assessed the Kove from a dual-sport and adventure riding perspective. Interested in the Kove 450 as a dual sport or lightweight adventure motorbike? See Dallas' full Kove Rally review. A few things contribute to the Kove's potential in this respect. The massive 31 litres or 8 gallons fuel capacity. A healthy 1.6L oil capacity for less oil changes. The detuned engine should theoretically last longer. And features such as large radiators, twin radiator fans and an oil cooler should help too. A lot of Chinese manufacturers are copying the designs of other brands without permission. But it's good to see the Kove 450 Rally appears to be an original design. This is just a rebadged Chinese copy that a pile of manufacturers are rebranding as their own... without permission from Honda to copy the engine. Back to the Kove 450R Rally. Many are hoping it is just a high performance enduro motorbike with a rally fairing and big fuel tank. These guys will be disappointed with the weight and lack of power. The wet weight is actually more than a Suzuki DR650. Admittedly the huge fuel capacity of 31 litres is partly responsible. But the Kove still weighs about 145kg without fuel... heavier than a DRZ400. Our test rider, Chuck Harder, assessed the Kove 450R Rally purely from an enduro perspective. If you are a dirt rider we highly recommend watching Chuck's full Kove 450R Rally review. However, that's not the full story. A quick look at the Kove 450R Rally engine. It is not Kove's design, they are using the NC450 engine from another Chinese manufacturer but in a higher state of tune.
#kove450rally #adventureriding #adventurebikes #dualsportriding
#dualsportbikes - Sport
This is the condensed version. See the full 12 minute video here: czcams.com/video/zR3cT-Xt8pM/video.htmlsi=Y1ur7bubf2Zy7C7Y
HOW TO PRONOUNCE KOVE? I have some viewers saying that 'kov-veh' is the wrong way to say it. That is how the Kove CEO, factory riders, and marketing team say it. If you think it should rhyme with 'stove' then argue with them lol.
KOVE CEO RESIGNS! WHY? No reasons given apart from differences with management. Lets hope he wasn't protesting about proposed cost-cutting measures or patent infringements by copying other manufacturers etc. motorcyclesports.net/kove-zhang-xue-steps-down-as-ceo/
1 hour live chat! Replies to your Kove questions: czcams.com/video/pFyaI9X0fcM/video.html
Viewers will know I usually refer to the potential implications of buying Chinese motorbikes as some riders prefer not to indirectly support a communist government. I've left it out of this vid but you can see this previous video: czcams.com/video/-QtdWRN5VjI/video.html
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THE OLD ANTI-CHINESE DEBATE! Some viewers are saying why be against indirectly supporting the CCP by buying Chinese bikes when countries like the USA are just as bad, or even worse. That's a really good question for anyone interested in geopolitics, ethics and consumer choices. I'm no fan of US politics and there have been plenty of horrendous situations with their foreign affairs. And of course positive interventions too. I know anyone who leans to the left will tend to downplay China's bad behaviour and say the USA is just as bad, or even worse... a gross over-simplification in my opinion. And of course anyone leaning toward the right will see any socialist/communist country as inherently evil and the USA as the world's righteous policeman. This is also downplaying the fact that the CCP has done a lot of good such as dramatically decreasing poverty for the Chinese people.
Everyone will have different opinions. Me? I think it depends on why the sanctions are applied. A lot of sanctions are applied due to human rights abuses and state-sponsored terrorism (I know all the old arguments about one man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter). Generally I have no issues with those. But other sanctions are applied due to what the USA sees as unfair trade practices and this is where it can be a can of worms. At times it might be justified. At other times it can be used to simply punish a country for not acting in the USA's interest.
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After all these years it’s hard to believe the other manufacturers haven’t gone after this segment
Even though all of us here are into adv dirt riding the majority of riders almost never see dirt nor want to see dirt. The profit margin to design, test and sell these types of bikes are so low. Manufacturers make much more money off of selling road oriented bikes.(Aside from dedicated dirt bikes)
It's even more surprising that KTM made and sold the rally replica off road only bike but doesn't make a street legal version
We begged for a lightweight off road capable ADV bike with enough power for comfortable highway cruising for decades and were ignored by the Big Motorcycle cartel because they wanted to protect the sales of their heavy and very expensive mid size and full size ADV bikes. The Chinese (Kove and CF Moto) are finally busting the cartel.
Who cares about the others ?
I wonder if there simply aren't enough of us asking for the lightweight dual sport or adventure bike. The CCM 450 flopped. The AJP PR7 has never sold well...
Feedback from a private owner. Now 5,000km on/off road adventure riding, travelling from UK to Romania on route to Georgia. Self supported camping with 15kg luggage. Zero issues, great maintenance access for filter and oil changes. Good on road up to 140km/h max 150km/h. Fuel capacity is actually 31L. Fuel consumption now steady at 4.3L/100km mixed riding. Not a GS, nor a 2T hard enduro bike, but can almost span those extremes. Very good functional quality. Doesn't need modification. Suspension good. Could use a GS throttle tamer maybe.
Great to hear. Potentially 700+km with that fuel economy. Was that a fair bit of off-road riding? I get roughly the same with the DR650 with mixed riding but it definitely gets thirstier if it's all off-road and some rougher tracks.
@@crosstrainingadventure about 50/50 back roads/off tarmac, I now have the Pro Ti Exhaust and ECU and the fuel consumption oddly seems very stable at 4.3L/100km. With the std ECU and exhaust the consumption varied much more, from 3.8 to 4.8l/100km. Usually get 600km between fill-ups, obviously deep mud & sand will cut that. Look forward to hearing your thoughts when you get to ride one!
Thanks man. These are exactly the realworld reflections we all want to see. Happy travels!
Thanks for the info! Have you done a valve check yet? I've only got about 1,000 Mi on mine. Love it! Thanks
Hi 👋 what’s the service intervals on it ?🙏
I daily ride an adventurised 2015 Husqvarna FE501.
Seat concepts seat, road legal knobbies, giant loop coyote
, baja designs xl80 headlight and a bunch of other mods for protection, weight reduction and safety
For me, its perfect for shorter, harder enduro style adventure. After regearing it has loads of legs on the highway. I never shy away from a mystery track because its no heavier than 150 fully loaded.
I do not see the point in being "comfortable" . If that was the goal we'd all drive. I also don't see the point of giant heavy engines and heavily loaded bikes when we live in a country where speeds over 110kmh will only end badly for you, and where all the easy camping spots have bob, marge and a caravan in them.
The major reason I chose the bike is weight. Can you pick up your GS, Tiger or Africa Twin alone, in the rain, and the dark when its handlebar down on a muddy slope? Can you do this 20 times in an hour because you have to to get out of a bad situation? No? So ride it to coffee shops like everyone else. Why risk it.
Ill take some wind and vibration on the highway for the peace of mind that I can go where others cant and get myself out of a bad situation. It also does just fine in melbourne city traffic😊
I don’t think he was saying they’re as light as a dirt bike, in fact he mentioned the 450 dirt bikes were much lighter. I believe his question is can it be a good lightweight adventure bike, which it is indeed much lighter than the GS, Triumph and African Twin you mentioned. But alas there are many other parts to the equation.
Yep. And there's definitely no 'one size fits all' bike. Each rider has their own idea about the 'ideal lightweight adv bike' that is so different to others.
With you on everything you said but why would you not want to be comfortable on a long trip!!? I know I would as I ride 7,000miles across the US on my exc500
I managed to find the ideal alternative - a very clean, low kilometre KTM690 with all the long range enduro kit as part of the deal. Works for me. I love it and I fear that I’d miss the 690’s power if I rode the Kove.
The 690 is really a unique bike and I think my next bike. My drz is great until you hit 60 mph then it’s lacking
The Kove has enough power, but it's not a 690.
Much less vibes on pavement with the Kove.
East coast Canadian chippin in here.
After spending more grand chunks of real lifetime hours into researching the snot out of yet another type of motorcycle to move on to, for a dual sport, it was down to the DR-Z, the crf450L or the Kove450R. Each of the new 300s seemed too small, and lacked suspension for my 6’1/210 61 year old hide. My twenty six years riding has been naked, sport-touring and ADVlight motorcycles. Mainly distance. After three spectacular I-should-be-dead-each-time roadriding crashes with two cars and a Coyote on three different motos, I am going off road only. So, I priced a Kove450 delivered to my door from Calgary (super nice contact), for $15,350 (take heart Eastern lads, there is a dealer for Moncton in the works). Or, a ‘21 DR-Z all ready done up with the important mods, plus a seat and racks with soft luggage for $7K. To me the DR-Z already made into a light adv-ds for half the cost of the Kove450 makes more sense. Power is similar, reliability is already legend plus I can do all maintenance myself. Will it win the Dakar? No, but neither would I if I was on a Kove450… I have looked into the Kove450 and if its longevity is proven, it is obviously the better bike. But at it’s KTM price, not possible for most of us blokes. Pick up the DR-Z Friday. The above is IMHO only, cheers all.
…a 2006 KTM 640 with aluminum cases was also on my final list. But went with DR-Z better smooth and reliability.
Ouch, yeah CAD15350 is a lot for a Chinese bike that is still yet to have a solid long term reputation. I'm sure a DRZ will be great for newfieland or nearby provinces!
@@crosstrainingadventure Mate, even to the Western side of glorious Newfoundland (Cornerbrook) from New Brunswick, is a 5 hour flight across the Gulf of St Lawrence.😉
Yep, the DR-Z will rock perfectly (for me).
Recently had my starter clutch replaced due to sprag slippage on the clutch flange. Apparently third one encountered so far; was likely a bad batch of hardening. I'm still very happy with my 450R, a true melding b/w my 500 and 990A.
Also might be mentioned or covered that Zhang Xue recently stepped down as CEO. Have experienced this in the past and it doesn't bode well when a technically (CTO'ish) leader steps down the firm loses the driver and "face" that makes the company great to the end user.
This could be bad. Having worked for a company where the CEO didn't understand the technical aspects of the product, it made every discussion about improving the product a challenge.
Yes, we added the CEO leaving in our pinned first comment.
KOVE CEO RESIGNS! WHY? No reasons given, lets hope he wasn't protesting about cost-cutting measures or patent infringements by copying other manufacturers. motorcyclesports.net/kove-zhang-xue-steps-down-as-ceo/
I'm a Chinese guy, and Zhang Xue from Kove was always posting vids on our social media about why he quit. What he said was, he wanted to put all the dough back into making better bikes, you know? The board, though, they were all about cashing in big time right now. But Zhang Xue figured, with how cutthroat the Chinese motorbike scene is these days, if they didn't keep innovating and boosting the quality of their rides, Kove would be toast pretty soon. So, he packed his bags and left.
Now, he's got his own gig where he's the boss, and man, it's got loads of backing! People can't wait to throw their money at him, and his new biz is already worth more than the old Kove. It hasn't really broken into the big leagues yet since it's still fresh off the ground, but give it time. When his new line of bikes finally hits the streets, he reckons they're gonna blow everyone away.@@crosstrainingadventure
@@bboymxl Thank you for that information! I trust and respect Zhang Xue.Therefore i decided to skip my Kove order and wait. May be a Voge in between.
They're bringing this bike (Kove 450R) to Brazil, currently in the process of beign homologated and everything.
The problem? It costs about R$60k. Which is basically double the price of a brand new Royal Enfield 650, Almost twice of a Honda CB500X, almost 20k over a used F800GS... I don't know, man. It would be my dream bike if not for the ridiculous price that it's going to arrive here.
I just might end up getting a Honda Tornado (XR250) and tuning its engine for power, adding a small oil cooler and better suspensions, and go with that.
Yeah the tornado is just too good in our markets even if it's old and outdated, the price and aftermarket is unmatched. Makes alternatives not tempting enough. Greetings neighbour 🇦🇷!
Usually you buy Chinese because its more cheap. If its not, stick to Japanese. You have the CRL300 good for E100?
Have been following this bike since it was little more than a rumor. Sadly the recent events with the leader and driving force behind Kove having to leave the company will produce changes that remain to be seen.
What happened?
Yeah, what happened?
So they are firing their Steve Jobs? Then we know what will happen next…
As per pinned first comment. KOVE CEO RESIGNS! WHY? No reasons given apart from differences with management. Lets hope he wasn't protesting about proposed cost-cutting measures or patent infringements by copying other manufacturers etc. motorcyclesports.net/kove-zhang-xue-steps-down-as-ceo/
Ditto
I've wanted a lightweight adventure bike since the mid 1970s, before we even had adventure bikes. The big motorcycle companies all colluded to keep us from having a lightweight off road ADV bike with enough power to comfortably cruise on highways because they all wanted to protect their mid and full size ADV bike sales. We're finally getting close with the CF Moto 450 Ibex and the Kove 450 which needs a comfortable seat and a large rear rack. Kudos for the large fuel tank. An ADV bike should carry at least 5 gallons of fuel.
I've adventurized my excf 500... No comparison to any other weight wize, also weight/power ratio. Totally bearable on the road with seat concept and rade garage tower.. just came back from a multi day desert trip and almoat 500k on pavement.. not a big deal.
The mighty 500 is the swiss army knife of motorcycle riding! Master of none but conqueror of all.
Do those little towers make much of a difference for wind?
I've been considering this but I'd want to start with a new bike and they are so expensive here in Australia. Almost AUD20,000. 😢
@@crosstrainingadventuresame here in Costa Rica, $19,000. No way. I’ll keep my used 690 until I see what the Kove does.
Main issue with Kove 450 Rally is that it is not designed to carry a passenger and it clearly notes in the manual that it can be very dangerous if you try to do so. With 145kg dry, the subframe should have been sturdier.
Honestly its hard not to just pick up a Used DRZ 400 if you're after a lightweight ADV. Huge aftermarket and parts availability, a bit lighter, known reliability, etc.
Would love too but not sold in the uk
Carb, no sixth gear, heavy, low power, weak suspension.
@@SlowGoat54
What do you ride that is so perfect?
@@SlowGoat54sounds like my klr650! There will always be compromises, especially on the cheaper end of the market. For some reliability is all they need. I’d take a drz if their prices weren’t so insane where I live.
The Kove is a lot like an updated DRZ400, better suspension, bit more power, huge fuel, everything already on. Personally I still love Carb bikes though...
I think one issue that could be a potential problem with lightweight adventure bikes is the charging system for the battery, can the stator handle the extra load ?
Once you add a gps and a couple of usb chargers for phones or other electronics, maybe heated grips or extra lighting, has the stator enough wattage to handle it or will it burn out ?
The DR for example has a 200 watt stator and that runs on the edge, LED lights help cut the power draw but a 250 watt stator gives a bit more leeway, I have heard the DRZ 400 stator does burn out and my original DR 650 stators burned out so we’re replaced with higher output stators.
I am guessing a 450 enduro has a rather small output stator fitted so could potentially be a weak spot, not to mention regulator/ rectifier issues.
A flat battery is not the best thing in the world when there is no longer a kick starter fitted as standard.
Do you know how much power a dakar-setup uses ? So seems a no problem….
No issue on mine with all the added electrics. So far ....
Good point! I did have this on a long list of things to discuss but trimmed it out to keep the vid shorter.
"Where are the 450cc dual sport and adventure bikes?" - a question that haunts my dreams.
You'd be surprised how decent the 2022/2023 Honda CB500X is, once you upgrade the rear shock to replace the pogostick stock shock. Ground clearance can be an issue, but the Rally Raid skidplate can take a lot of abuse.
@@alozborne I've actually owned a rally raided level 3 cb500x. It was actually quite amazing offroad but 450lbs is still 450lbs. No doubt a great bike but I'm more into single cylinder for the light weight aspect offroad. I've come to the conclusion the ideal setup is a 2 bikes, one more road oriented and the other more offroad oriented. I think if I had to have one bike that can do both it would be a husky701 or dr650. I find I miss my dr650 alot.
@@alozborne no spoked wheels is a waiting disaster offroad
@joshdoddadbod In a perfect world, but I can neither afford two bikes nor store two bikes in my garage. I make my 2022 CB500X work for everything - it's far from perfect off-pavement but it's seldom a limiting factor, I just need to slow down on technical parts. The front stock front suspension is a little soft but not really that bad, the stock rear shock still sucks on 2022/2023 models
@kovrcek Disagree, you can't really go that fast on a CB500X on technical sections anyways, due to the limited ground clearance, so breaking the cast wheels is really unlikely. I hang out on the CB500X forums all the time - I have yet to hear of anyone breaking the stock wheels.
My seat Concepts seat was only $280 at GPX Moto in Utah.
How does it compare to an AJP7? I understand that the displacement is different. But there is any noticeable advantages for the Kove apart from fuel range and weight?
None of us has ridden the PR7 so we couldn't really comment other than looking at the specs. More grunt from the bigger engine would be good. I figure the AJP would be in a lower state of tune so hopefully longer maintenance intervals?
Would an adventure version of a Fantic Caballero 700 twin do the trick for light weight on track & stable on road..?
I'm currently (99% finished) turning a 2012 KTM 350 into an adventure machine, and I love it. My biggest complaint is highway stability however. It's not any fun doing 70+ MPH.
I had the same thing with adventurising my FE570 years ago. One thing that might be worth considering is a 'fatty' front tyre with the higher profile which provides a bit more inline stability.
@@crosstrainingadventure I have a second set of wheels for the bike too. 17 inch super moto rims that I run ADV style tires on, and that helps a lot. Still not perfect though. Been tossing around the idea of getting a steering stabilizer, but I'm unsure if the effects would be worth the price
I want to hear on your two cents on scramblers (retro styled, more asphalt biased with *some* dirt/gravel road use), a bit ago chroniclesofsolid did a video talking about their pros and cons and I want to see your perspective on the matter. It’s something I have been thinking about recently.
I wouldn't mind getting to try a few to see what they are like. Personally I doubt I would like them for our sort of riding. A lot of adventure bikes are just road models with some modifications, and the scrambler models typically seem to have even less mods. They almost always seem to have the 19 inch front wheel instead of a 21 inch, which always mean they are biased more toward road riding. Often there's no more suspension travel than the road version. Most are twin cylinders so the weight is up. Nothing wrong with all of this of course, if you plan on road riding and just some smooth dirt roads...
@@crosstrainingadventure I figured as much. I thought about for a more road orientated bike, a scrambler would do fine with the added leeway (not bonus) for mild dirt road stuff, then again I think a regular old naked bike would do just fine. Thanks for your input as always!
@@leeroykelly781 Any naked bike with wide handlebars and Rally STR tyres is these days a scrambler. You would be fine in any simple dirt road and even harder obstacles will be "passable", and performance in tarmac will be great too.
@@constantinosschinas4503 I was considering one of the MT series of bikes Yamaha makes as a dedicated street bike. Was also thinking of Honda’s SCL500 too (afaik, it’s just a Honda Rebel but a standard/naked rather than a cruiser).
When I think of "adventure bike", I think of the BDR's and they are rarely less than maintained two-track. Yes, some tracks get more technical but those tend to be "expert" sections. No single tracks. I realize it's long in the tooth, but I chose the KTM 640 Adventure for just those BDR tracks with the occasional highway drag. Weight is the number 1 nemesis of any off-road journey so keeping weight as manageable as possible is king in my book. Time will tell if the KOVE is reliable enough to satisfy the needs of those who prefer lighter weight travel off the beaten path.
100% agree. Weight will always be important for those of us who like to get into some rougher tracks on adv rides. Someone asked me what changes I'd like to see in the Kove...
I'd like to see a variant with less weight. I figure if they ditched things like the two extra tanks and exchange the rally fairing for a small light windscreen they could get that 145kg (without fuel) down closer to 120kg perhaps? And then give owners the option of buying those bits later if needed?
@@crosstrainingadventure I've put my Kove on a diet. It's lost 5kg, so now 140kg, without major changes. I see 135kg possible still maintaining the bike as a Adv/ Rally bike. After that best start with an Enduro bike. Honestly it's light enough for all but Hard Enduro. Maybe I could also drop from 10kg...😜.
The 640 paint shaker! We loved those and grieved the loss.
@TractioneRag Yes, it's a bit ... unrefined ... in the thumper category but manageable unless you're covering many miles of tarmac. Off road you don't notice it because the road surface is bumpy, lumpy and irregular (unlike me!). Quirky? Yes, but still a worthy mount.
Here in NZ, the used market for bikes is always a winner. You can pick up honda rallys, ktm 390s, drz400 and 650s, yamaha wr250s, normally always heavily blinged up by previous owner for less than $8knz . Sometimes bikes almost brand new with under 3000ks on clock. People get bored and flick bikes all the time. Grab a bargain for real lightweight, light expense fun. Why buy new??
So true. A lot of riders say it's a really expensive sport but it can be cheap as chips if you get most of your gear (and the bike) secondhand.
For me the only option on the market if you want to have a capable STOCK lightweight adventure bike after HUSQVARNA withdraw the 701LR, but still not enough to replace my trusted but modded 2014 690R…
Great bike the LR
I'm watching the Kove with great interest. Until then, the mighty DR remains in the shed.
Still not yet available in Australia, all the great press surrounding the Kove in the Dakar wasted.
Husky TE630 some parts are to find but overall good dually .
Has anyone looked at the CFMoto 450?
Thoughts...
Very different category to this. CFMoto are claiming 175kg dry weight so by the time it's fuelled up it's getting close to 200kg. Similar to existing twin adv bikes like the Honda CB500X.
For those of us without a lot of money a Kawi KLX 350 or 400 would be sweet (assuming it only adds a bit on the price)
Do you have any insight into the reasons that somany big names are pulling out from Kove in Canada and USA after the CEO at Kove charge.
Is it Kove or Kovid ?
NOt sure what you mean, Duncan. CEO at Kove 'charge'? Do you mean he left?
And when you say 'big names pulling out from Kove', do you mean dealers were going to stock Kove models then changed their minds?
The CEO at Kove just stepped down and everyone is freaking out (understandably). Some are saying the CEO story was just a narrative to dupe buyers into believing Kove was a passion project. @@crosstrainingadventure
Well I guess one good thing is how dirt cheap a whole new engine is, $1800. Now does it last as long as its Japanese counterparts that's the question.
That is the single overhead cam engine with much less power. But yeah, it should slot in?
@@crosstrainingadventure The Zongshen is perfectly reliable when used as cross engine carbureted 43 hp at 9500 RPM one radiator on the BHR bike. The injection version is also reliable on road in when fitted with a good ECU. It has been made by thousands with one radiator. The Fantic Caballero 500 40 HP 7500 RPM (on the dyno 37 hp @ 6000 RPM that's even better 145 kmh on dyno) uses it since years, a besides a problem of cooling on some bikes 3 or 4 years ago because of a bad tuning of the ECU, the engine with just one small radiator proves to be reliable and easy to maintain.
On the Kove there are are 2 radiators with fans and a big oil cooler, the street version in Europe within the stringent requirements of the Euro 5 rule, going from the air filter to the catalysts and legal muffler gives 42 HP (I guess around 40 hp on the dyno, top speed close to 150 kmh in comparison the 400 DRZ has 32 hp on the dyno.).
Very important point, it's a fully legal bike that you can register it, have your plates, insure it and go anywhere in the world like any production bike. Most enduro bikes in Europe are not fully legal so you can't cross any frontier. This version will last as I think the max power RPM is around 7000 to 7500 RPM. With the short stroke of 64 mm we are far of the admitted limit of the speed piston of 21.5 m/s.
Staying within a decent level of noise, taking out the catalysts, and putting the original air filter you'll be around the 50 hp, probably it's the version everybody will use. Dirt riders know the problem: the rare 450Honda CRFL when street legal in Europe makes just 26 (yes 26) hp and you have to spend a few 100€ banknotes to get illegally the original power.
What would you change (if anything) on this design Barry?
I think it will suit a lot of riders as is. But me personally? I'd like to see a variant with less weight. I figure if they ditched things like the two extra tanks and exchange the rally fairing for a small light windscreen they could get that 145kg (without fuel) down closer to 120kg perhaps? And then give owners the option of buying those bits later if needed?
Parts and service? Mainly parts. Japanese bikes only for me. You can also add a Dakar style front fairing to a WR or another Japanese made bike.
…..and where are your japanese bike and its components build ?
I struggled to get parts for my KRL in Mexico..the Kove would have been better supported. The dealers in UK, Europe and USA are fantastic,
@@OverlandTheSlowWay Ya no parts for KLR sure buddy
@@scannorse Japanese bikes are tired and tested over decades.
Japan is still tending to make their 'premium' models in Japan. But yes, cheaper models are made elsewhere. E.g. A lot of Hondas are made in Thailand now, and no doubt some components come from China.
I bought a low mile used 300L for $4000 and tossed another $4000 at it. It does everything, including short, freeway runs and still $4000+ less than a stock 350 or 500 EXC.
Nice! What a deal.
I got to ride the 250 Rally with some good suspension mods. Loved it. We are all waiting for Honda to bring out the 450 Rally, but hopefully not at the steep price of the CRF450L...
What's Suzuki needs to do is just bite the bullet and put inverted forks on the DRZ along with fuel injection and a sixth gear and they would have all of us standing in line...
'it's the second comparison that you've ignored the 690 KTM-701 Husky. I don't own any of them but wonder why.
Direct quote from the vid: "Where are all the 400 to 500cc single cylinder adventure motorbikes that many of us want to see?" If it was '400 to 700' then it would include the Austrian bikes. What was the first comparison?
@@crosstrainingadventure I don't remember which one exactly, but I think it deals in lightweight adventures. IMHO, the engine displacement is less relevant as H.P and torque and the Kove 450 is in the same segment as the DR650 - from below and the 690 701 above it. that's why I wonder.
No, the 690 is in that vid too. czcams.com/video/lsorI76PBYc/video.html
BARRY !!! - Great video and review. As a PROUD owner of THE MIGHTY SUZUKI DR 650 - I agree with you - they have a "long road to hoe"... Time will tell. I can tell you, I wouldn't touch that with a 10 foot pole. Just from the maintenance aspect (or potential).....
BTW - I hate the term "Adventure Bike".... You may be too young, but..... remember "Then Came Bronson" ???? - Any time you are on a Motorcycle - It's an "adventure" !!! I don't care if it's a Honda Grom LOL !!!!
Cheers - and no disrespect meant !!!!
what is the issue with the maintenance?
We did a tongue-in-cheek vid about the 'true' definition of adventure riding as so many guys get hung up on this. 😂 I'm keen to see how my Canadian cousins go with their three Koves, their mechanic is keeping a very close eye on the quality as they clock up some serious mileage...
But will it make it to Australia
Rumour is a distributor is on the way...
What about BETA’S ALP4?
As a lightweight adv bike? No reviews yet but it doesn't look good on paper. 140kg dry weight is a fair bit heavier than even a DRZ400. Only 11L fuel tank. A 350cc Chinese engine by Tayo.
I did adv ride a 500 exc for 3 years in Portugal clocking 30,000km/690 h. At the end of the day a 450/500 engine on the road is not good (brutal) for ADV riding. And the Kove has the weight of a 690 enduro R so.... Unless you do rally/navigation training i don't see the point.
Years ago I did a lot of adv riding on my FE570 and tried to get off the highway as soon as possible lol. Even with tall gearing and a cush drive hub it just wasn't fun on the road.
so many bikes I would love to ride.. unfortunately I don't have the place.. and I don't have the money .. and I am traveling and don't have a home xD
Regular 87 octane fuel is a must in an adventure bike, for me. Hunting for premium is an unneeded hassle on a trip.
How it can compete the dr 650 ? Low end torque,same kg
Same weight but that's because it's carrying so much fuel. 31L in the Kove, only 13L in the DR650. Which in effect means the Kove is 14kg lighter.
@@crosstrainingadventurefull kove it weight 185 kg i think,,, so it is the same
3:24 1.1 litre of oil in the Wr
Was that an earlier model? It has changed a bit over the years. A 2023 modeli is currently 800ml.
I’ve got a wr250r and it’s good enough for a wobbler like me
A real shame Yamaha stopped making them. Any idea why they stopped?
@@crosstrainingadventure “global production efficiency” whatever that means. But yes it’s too bad, there’s a lot to like, buttery engine,big stator, good clearance but they are pretty heavy. As usual, if they did a nice mild 500 with a modern frame it would be a take my money situation.
The lightweight adventure bike is already here and all the kinks have been worked out over the years......690 Enduro R/701 Enduro. Almost infinite aftermarket and OE support thus you can kit it out in whatever flavor floats your boat -> adventure, rally, enduro etc. etc. It is the unicorn lightweight adventure bike but an expensive one. I guess if you build the unicorn, you can charge the $$.
I agree, nothing comes close, I'm going to get one once I'm sick of my crf450L
You are kidden us ? Clumsy, lack of suspension, accessability to normal places to work is bad, cont…cont…
@@scannorse Its currently GOAT in the lightweight ADV category.
3:02 - it's not this engine, Kove in 450 Rally uses NC450S@ZS-194MQ-2 engine.
Yep, we annotated that part of the vid with 'It's based on this engine' but other mods for more power.
Nice looking bike, but I dont want to down grade from my 2003 KTM 640 Adventure.
Great bike! It's a shame they didn't just iron out the vibrations more and continue making it...
I loved the 640 Adventure, except for the terrible vibration and reliability. The Kove is very similar , but no vibration and modern and refined. Try one, you may surprised.
Kove 450 rally not a dirt bike? I can't wait for you to ride one! You will imediatly change your statement😉
All of our four test riders have agreed it's not a dirt bike, primarily because of the weight. At around 145kg without fuel it's about 40kg heavier than your typical enduro model. It would be less of an issue on fast more open track of course. It is designed for Dakar racing after all.
@@crosstrainingadventure me, as an owner, i would place it between ktm 690 and exc500. Dry weight on paper is not.the whole picture. The COG is essential. 450 rally is lighter than ajp pr7, drz 400, te630..all mentioned bikes were in my posession, so i know what i am saying. You will be surprised when you try one. But yes, it is not a 2t hard enduro bike.
I think a DRZ400E is only about 138kg wet. But even at that weight it usually won't be classified a 'dirt bike' by most riders. Generally enduro models are only around 103 to 115kg. I know I'll probably enjoy riding a Kove. But I know at 145kg dry it's going to feel heavy, no matter how low the COG is. All our test riders said the same thing.
The bush pig is 147kg dry - you can easily shave 10 Kg off that - where did all the lard come from? Is Chinesium really that much denser than lead?
Only $1k less than a CRF300, no dealer network, no aftermarket, oil changes every 5 minutes, less durable than a DRZ????
There isn't a single issue raised here that doesn't make me think yeah - nah. Time will tell.
I'm gong to watch some more of that guy adventure riding a Goldwing - it makes more sense.
I was a bit surprised at the weight too. But the rally fairing and two extra fuel tanks would weight a fair bit. I figure the rest is stuff that's hard to see... e.g. apparently it has huge radiators to keep it cool when racing in Dakar.
All this time and I still love the DRZ and don't even think about those other bikes.
The Yammy T7 is the only other bike I could want now..
bring back the IT465 mate
😍
I think you missing XR400
The Kove 🤡 bike might have a purpose for the Western US or Australian Outback. But for East Coast US woods riding, a full fairing desert bike would get shredded to pieces. At least with the CF Moto MT/Ibex 450, I would have 2 dealers 20 mins from my house, and so far, looks to be a far better equipped ADV platform.
JOHN !!!!!!
@pilotdane1 what's up my DR650 brother.
I'm sure some riders will salivate over all that rally styling but then realise it doesn't suit their style of riding lol. I'm surprised Kove doesn't have a cheaper model without the fairing and extra fuel tanks. It would be a lot lighter too...
Great video and talking points. It may be heavier on paper, but it feels like 701 when you ride it off road-probably because of the low fuel storage center of gravity, but it rides super light. Ive had storage similar to what you are getting with all my camping gear with no issues. I did have a subframe bolt vibrate loose but that was because we didn't do proper maintenance before the ride as it was beat that crap out of for a couple months before I rode it lol. All in all I hope this spurs competition and lower prices for consumers. Bikes are just too expensive now and prohibits people from getting into the hobby.
I want a CRF400 Rally...
Why do anyone want just another iron-bike ?
The CB500X/NX500 from Honda really just needs to gain a little more ground clearance and a better rear shock. Honda could easily do those improvements, not sure why they are uninterested in doing that. If they could also shed a few pounds, that would be helpful.
Despite its 200 kg weight, it's a very nimble and easy to ride ADV and powerful enough to get the job done. It's not exciting, but it is very versatile and comfortable for touring as well (although more cramped for 6' + riders like myself).
It's a real shame the Japanese brands rarely make the kind of mods we'd like to see. Riders are spending thousands on those Rally Raid mods to improve the CB500X...
Checking the manual for its maintenance intervals indicates thats a no… this is a dakar race bike with only moderate service intervals
Like most manufacturers they'll provid service intervals based on race conditions. E.g. check the recommended oil changes for any 450 enduro bike. But you can go much longer if cruising around for dual sport or adv riding. Lots of online discussions about this. Guys getting an oil analysis at different mileage to see how long they can safely go before oil changes. I went through all of that when I adventurised my Husaberg FE570 and settled on 2000km oil changes.
@@crosstrainingadventure unfortunately in this case kove actually provides intervals for road riding and says to cut that in half for race conditions. The road riding/non-race oil change and valve check intervals at 2k km. And race intervals at 1000km.
Interesting! My Canadian counterparts have three Koves and the mechanic is keen to get inside and have a look as the mileage goes up. Hopefully those recommendations are just being very conservative? I know when the Honda CRF450L came out many were up in arms about Honda's really short 1000km oil change schedule. But owners were pay for oil analyses at different mileage and some have doubled or tripled that (for better or worse).
@@crosstrainingadventure yeah ive heard the enduro guys say u can run an 300exc or 450rl for a few thousand miles on the road betweeen oil changes and valve checks and that oil analyses have been done, but if the manufacturer explicitly states what the intervals should be in light-use conditions (presumably based on their own testing), its really hard for most people to get sold on it... If the enduro manufacturers could simply change a few words in the service manual to get significantly more sales and interest they do it. Must be a decent reason not to do it… i would have swapped my dr650 for an exc500 or crf450rl long ago
Guys, just wr250r
For an actual rally bike and not strictly an off road dirt bike for my money: BMW Dakar with a fork swap, yeah its 380lbs but so what adventure motorcycling isn't for fatties or weaklings.
140 kph all day long and decent range, 400-420 kms range @100kph/62.5 mph
The pre 07 rotax is reliable as the day is long and has a frame and swingarm that isn't made of New age chinesium white powdered metal. See the f800 swingarm breakages to understand what I mean.
Single track is fine with some common sense and momentum. Doesn't overheat, decent stator output and factory heated grips.
I'm absolutely disappointed with this segment of motorcycles, there is no one size fits all motorcycle but for a reliable Rally all around..er with decent service intervals 01-07 dakar/f650gs
I've got 91 thousand kms on my 2001 and the valves haven't needed adjustment in 43k and I'm not mechanically empathetic towards it, it's not fast but will give me WFO wide full open operation everytime.
You can switch between 87 and 91 tunes and can check what version your bike has with a gs-911 diagnostic tool.
Ridden with guys at work with KTM exc's and CRF rallys but nobody that wants to put some actual distance on their machines and to be honest when we ride single track I go the same places they do unless it's deep sand.
I still eye xr650r's and the Odd KLR Tengai when I see them
Nothing really new or revolutionary on the market in this segment IMO
That's my 2c
What did you say at 1m20s? The c19!
C19?
@@crosstrainingadventure k0vid
This is NOT adventure bike. "Adventure" is long distance ride. This means little bit of comfort, your bagage with you. This bike is typical offroad bike.
As per the title, LIGHTWEIGHT adventure bike. There are many definitions of adventure riding and a bit like religion or political views each rider thinks they have the right one. 😁
Ask KTM 790 owners about their Chinese built engines, lots of fans of Chinese manufacturing there. And from a completely different industry, ask Cummins about their fore’ into Chinese engine manufacturing. No doubt, they are getting better, how else will they take over world manufacturing and then hold the rest of the world to ransom.
We have a long track record of decent Chinese quality where the western owner is imposing western standards of quality control. But I think a good dose of healthy scepticism is needed with a Chinese brand given the long track record of patent theft, poor quality and cost cutting at every chance in the past. Certainly brands like Kove appear to be leaving this behind. But plenty of us want to see heaps of evidence with positive reports from most owners after thousands of miles.
Pass on the kovid 450 :).
Go buy a lightweight adventure bike and fit metal panniers - really …😅
The metal panniers in the preview pic? Yeah that was tongue-in-cheek lol. Look at the size of them!
Single cylinder? I’m out
CCP bike? No way.
I don’t care what marque it’s sold under.
I think a lot of potential DRZ400 buyers will turn into Kove 450R buyers instead.
depends on the maintenance schedule, i wonder how bad it is for the kove. can't find anything online about them. i'd buy a brand new drz in a heartbeat of it was an option here in the EU, alas, second hand only and they're becoming increasingly rare in to find in good shape
I disagree. People by the DRZ for low maintenance, legendary reliability, and a huge aftermarket to turn it into whatever you want. Same for the DR650. You order Kove in a crate with no dealer support and very little aftermarket support. Not to mention the life blood of Kove just left the company, so what will the new CEO have in mind? To many ifs to spend my $9k US, and for $1k more you can get a CRF450RL.
@@jonwoodworker100% I'd rather give up a little offroad performance and have a bike where I can get parts essentially anywhere. And the bullet proof reliability helps a ton too.
I was one - and buying a ‘21 DR-Z instead, that has the important mods done, plus racks, soft luggage and a custom seat for half the price of a Kove450… and reliability and easy self-maintenance is already known. But I will continue to watch all I can on the Kove450’s story…
For the love of God, when can I buy one in Australia 🇦🇺 🙏?
An Aussie price has been declared which suggests some mob is in the process of becoming the distributor here... 🤔
@@crosstrainingadventure now I want to know the price?