We’ve covered Kove’s machines here at ADVrider, but we’ve mostly focused on the 450 rally-raid machines, especially after their surprisingly strong showing at the Dakar Rally last January. It turns out the company is interested in a lot more than just that small-bore specialty machine. Kove had several other machines on display at EICMA, including a middleweight adventure bike, a small-bore sportbike and a motocrosser.

Kove 800X

This is Kove’s middleweight adventure bike, which first appeared at EICMA in 2022; it was supposed to be on the market mid-2023. I don’t know if it’s available overseas, but I know I’ve never seen one sold in North America yet (none listed on Kove’s Canadian website or the GPX Moto website at this point, although it seems to be expected on our shows next year).

The Kove 800X. If the spec sheet is accurate, this bike will have a power-to-weight ratio competitive with any other OEM in this segment. Photo: Kove

It looks like nothing has changed since its initial launch in 2022. Kove is still claiming the parallel twin engine (which looks a lot like it might be a KTM clone, built by CFMoto) makes 95 hp and 60 lb-ft of torque. Curb weight is a claimed 407 lb.

When we first covered this bike, commenters noted they’d actually sat on the bike at the ’22 EICMA show and that it was incredibly light, and others were quite interested by the spec sheet claims. If this bike actually appears in the US or Canada in 2024 with the power and weight that Kove claims, expect it to gain a cult following… if the reliability and pricing are also on-point.

Note that this bike is supposed to be built in three variants, including the standard 800X, along with a Super Adventure and a Pro model. The difference is mostly suspension, with the Super Adventure and Pro model getting more travel and presumably superior tuning.

Kove MX250

The Kove MX250 has been popping up at various overseas moto shows through 2023. It’s a quarter-liter motocrosser with around 37 hp on-tap and 237 lb dry weight.

It might not be in AMA Supercross next year, but Kove’s MX250 will probably tempt some riders who aren’t competing for awards but are looking to save their dollars. Photo: Kove

While there’s not much info floating around the Interwebz, what we’ve managed to find shows Kove plans to build this around a lightweight high-revving DOHC engine that makes 38 hp. Kove’s website says the bike has an aluminum frame, but earlier reports said the machine had a steel frame with aluminum sub-frame; maybe we’ll have to wait for it to arrive on our shores to know either way. Curb weight is a claimed 108 kg, although we wouldn’t be surprised if that ended up actually being a dry weight.

While a lot of recent Chinese machines have integrated Euro brake and suspension components, that doesn’t seem to be the case with the MX250. If you or someone you know has actually gotten a chance to ride this thing, please leave us a note in the comment section below, as we’d love to hear how the end result turned out.

Kove also reportedly showed off a 450 motocrosser and an electric dirt bike as well, but we’ve seen little info on those EICMA teasers.

Kove 450RR

This machine may not be particularly interesting to many ADVers as it is a four-cylinder sportbike, not a travel- or dirt-friendly machine. However, it is notable to see a Chinese manufacturer step up to challenge the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-4 before any of the other Japanese OEMs take the challenge, or the Euros.

The Kove 450RR Pro: Supposedly on-par with Kawasaki’s ZX-4 mini-supersport. Photo: Kove

This machine is supposed to be competitive with Kawi’s four-cyl screamer. Kove claims it makes 71 hp at 13,000 rpm, and 29 lb-ft of torque at 10,500 rpm. The engine comes with slipper clutch and quickshifter as standard. Claimed wet weight is 364 lb, and the bike comes with fully-adjustable KYB fork and shock. Radial-mount calipers are standard, with 300 mm brake discs up front. There’s a 5-inch TFT screen, and an electronics package that includes ABS, traction control and even launch control for starting line heroics.

It almost sounds too good to be true, like some of Kove’s other machines. If this bike really does have the specs listed, how did Kove do it? Do they have an R&D team that outstrips their competitors in China or Japan? Did they copy Kawasaki’s homework? When/if this bike actually hits the market, we’ll know more, as we’ll get a much better look at it.