Steve Herbert-mattick, art editor
Chinese bikes are fast catching up with big-brand machines. But what’s on offer?
I’ve owned a couple of OK Chinese bikes in the past but the next-gen offerings seriously up the game.
THE STORY OF Japan’s rise to motorcycle dominance and the hubris of British brands that led to their simultaneous decline has become motorcycle folklore — but are riders who dismiss Chinese bikes today making the same mistake?
It’s looking possible, with a growing army of increasingly convincing, large-capacity bikes emerging from China, all with worldwide sales success in their sights.
CFMOTO
CFMOTO has been selling bikes, including its 650cc twins in the UK for years, and its next generation of machines look like another step forward. This year we’ll be getting the 700CL-X retro twin, featuring a 692cc, 74bhp derivative of the company’s existing twin. But that’s just the start, as the company has also forged a close partnership with KTM that is giving CFMOTO access to the Austrian firm’s engineering know-how.
CFMOTO already produces KTM engines and entire KTM bikes for the Chinese market, up to and including the 790 Duke and Adventure, and has now launched its own 800MT adventure bike using the same 799cc, 94hp parallel twin engine. Wrapped in distinctive styling from Kiska design, with KYB suspension, Nissin brakes and Bosch electronics including GPS, keyless ignition, cornering ABS and traction control, it’s a machine that loses nothing on paper to any European or Japanese rival. CFMOTO has also developed an even larger bike, the 1250TR-G tourer, based on a dedicated 1279cc, 140hp version of KTM’S LC8 V-twin engine.
As an indicator of the improving quality, CFMOTO has just introduced a fouryear warranty on UK bikes.
Zongshen
Another Chinese firm with an eye on European success is Zongshen, which has just launched its biggest-ever bike — the RX6 — under its ‘Cyclone’ sub-brand. It’s the first fruit of a deal signed in 2017 that gives Zongshen rights to manufacture and use Norton’s 650cc paralleltwin engine. In the RX6, that engine — designed in the UK by engineering firm Ricardo — is in 70bhp, emissionscompliant form and it has KYB suspension, Nissin brakes, keyless go, traction control and Bosch ABS.
Benelli/qianjiang
Benelli has been owned by Qianjiang, part of the Geely group that also encompasses Volvo and Lotus, for 15 years. Benelli is making big strides in Europe, becoming a best-seller in Italy last year with bikes like the Leoncino and TRK 500. It has a growing range of bigger, 750cc machines including the 752S, Leoncino 800 and the imminent TRK 800.
Revamped versions of the
firm’s 600cc four-cylinder TNT600 and Tornado 300R have also just been launched in China, and over the last year Qianjiang has created an entirely new high-end brand, Qjmotor. Benelli’s big-bike developments also include a 1200cc three-cylinder tourer, with 134hp, called the 1200GT. Its technology includes electrically-folding mirrors and built-in front and rear camera systems, as well as an electric reverse gear.
Benda
Benda has just set up its first European operation with a dealer network in Spain and currently offers a range of 125cc-400cc cruiser twins, with the Fox 300 bobber the most modern and appealing. Later in 2021 the company promises to have a spectacular-looking 680cc inline four-cylinder in production, the LFS-700, based on the LF-01 concept it showed last year. More intriguingly, the company has promised a turbocharged sports bike, the VTR-300 Turbo, in the future.
Voge
Voge is a high-end model range from long-standing firm Loncin (already China’s biggest bike exporter), offering a selection of 500cc twins and 300cc singles and with plans for UK sales through Lexmoto dealers. Loncin already manufactures engines for BMW (F850GS and C400 scooters) and Voge uses reputable parts – KYB, Nissin and Bosch ABS.
Brixton
Brixton’s bikes are something of a crossbreed, designed in Austria but manufactured in China. While the current range is topped by the Crossfire 500 twin, it showed a larger, Bonneville-style, 1960s-inspired 1200cc parallel-twin concept bike in 2019 and confirmed last year that it will go into production in the not-too-distant future.
So should I buy one?
From a well-known brand, with good servicing and parts back-up, there are good reasons to. But it may be a while before they’re as strong on the used market.