Anybody tempted to pull the pin £8500 plus reg fee
fozzy17
I wouldn't be so fast, there is a good reason they are cheap.
Given the cost of labour used to be the reason for cheap Far East stuff, now most bikes benefit from that.
So you are left with the reason its cheap being the parts are cheap.
Do they have a dealer network that's been in place years ?
Are there specialists with years of experience fixing them ?
Can you buy parts fast and easy from many suppliers ?
Id like to see a long term review - on a second hand one a year or two old. Im sure most things fresh out of the box are OK. What mattes is when its not fresh and has had a years worth of use on it. Or when a problem appears and you need it fixing.
Given the cost of labour used to be the reason for cheap Far East stuff, now most bikes benefit from that.
So you are left with the reason its cheap being the parts are cheap.
Do they have a dealer network that's been in place years ?
Are there specialists with years of experience fixing them ?
Can you buy parts fast and easy from many suppliers ?
Id like to see a long term review - on a second hand one a year or two old. Im sure most things fresh out of the box are OK. What mattes is when its not fresh and has had a years worth of use on it. Or when a problem appears and you need it fixing.
They’ll be a lot more expensive once they are more mainstream I’ll bet.
A mate is seriously considering one and has been following them closely. Post Dakar they have already made some tweaks/improvements apparently, and are very open to owner input.
A mate is seriously considering one and has been following them closely. Post Dakar they have already made some tweaks/improvements apparently, and are very open to owner input.
I'm at work, so pretending to be busy but cant watch the vid yet. I will check it out later.
However, Im still skeptical when it comes to Chinese businesses. It will be interesting to see where they go and will they last.
However, Im still skeptical when it comes to Chinese businesses. It will be interesting to see where they go and will they last.
I'm at the point where I would trust Chinese manufacturing over Indian/Indonesian - which is where KTMs are largely made.
Plus, I can't help but look at the spec and the reviews of the Kove and figure they are loss-leaders in order to impress the world and grab part of a $$$ market. I think they are priced cheaply to get that market share/reputation.
Plus, I can't help but look at the spec and the reviews of the Kove and figure they are loss-leaders in order to impress the world and grab part of a $$$ market. I think they are priced cheaply to get that market share/reputation.
Been in the throne this morning looking at Kove dealers
Just sold my rs250 and I have a big bore drz in the garage I can spunk out
But also have my 790 build that owes me Nigh on 19k but I guess I can warrant the two, might wait until I see one in the flesh , looks like in UK in two months
Just sold my rs250 and I have a big bore drz in the garage I can spunk out
But also have my 790 build that owes me Nigh on 19k but I guess I can warrant the two, might wait until I see one in the flesh , looks like in UK in two months
Looks like freestyle are going to be a dealer
will pop along and have a look once they are in stock
will pop along and have a look once they are in stock
I'd have one. The main reason they're cheap(ish) is because the Chinese don't apply a WOKE tax to their products.
They don't need to pass on the cost of diversity training, or 'green' energy that needs to be shipped across the Atlantic. Or the cost of elaborately bearded and man-bunned egomaniac marketing incompetents and design consultants who charge a small fortune for a 'look' that tends to make you look like a wanker when you sit on it (see Husqvarna). Or the fat, greasy dealers who spend endless days twiddling their thumbs in deserted showrooms.
It seems the East has been watching the West and seeing where we've been going wrong - not difficult when we have them make all of our stuff. They've seen that we increasingly focus on the frills and nonsense rather than the core. Until now they just copied, making cheap knock offs/replicas of our over-elaborate shit. It seems they've realised that coming up with their own stuff that flips those priorities might be a better way. It seems they may have decided to take the lead rather than follow. Interesting times ahead.
They don't need to pass on the cost of diversity training, or 'green' energy that needs to be shipped across the Atlantic. Or the cost of elaborately bearded and man-bunned egomaniac marketing incompetents and design consultants who charge a small fortune for a 'look' that tends to make you look like a wanker when you sit on it (see Husqvarna). Or the fat, greasy dealers who spend endless days twiddling their thumbs in deserted showrooms.
It seems the East has been watching the West and seeing where we've been going wrong - not difficult when we have them make all of our stuff. They've seen that we increasingly focus on the frills and nonsense rather than the core. Until now they just copied, making cheap knock offs/replicas of our over-elaborate shit. It seems they've realised that coming up with their own stuff that flips those priorities might be a better way. It seems they may have decided to take the lead rather than follow. Interesting times ahead.
My mate was on about he wouldn't buy a Chinese bike , so I looked into his T7 95% of it is made in china just built in France , he said showa forks are japan, I looked into that , the offices are in Japan they are built in china
I like the look of it and I want it to be a success. If so it'd be a massive warning shot across the bows of the established brands.
If I had £10k to burn, and was interested in that kind of touring, then I'd buy one. Not right now as I'm not an early adopter but I do get the feeling that if it is successful, and thus establishes Kove as a trusted brand then the price will climb. So maybe now is a good time to buy, if that is what you're into.
If I had £10k to burn, and was interested in that kind of touring, then I'd buy one. Not right now as I'm not an early adopter but I do get the feeling that if it is successful, and thus establishes Kove as a trusted brand then the price will climb. So maybe now is a good time to buy, if that is what you're into.
All sounds good and we can all come up with "theories" as to why its cheap (no Woke tax), but its still a lot of money for something that has no history or resell value or back up yet. Id wait for a few years to see how they build a reputation and if that reputation is then worth spending your own money on.
Actually they probably do benefit from cheap labour costs because they don't have to worry about heath and safety, holiday pay, sick pay, minimum wage, minimum age, redundancy, working hours, working conditions etc. They also don't have to bother about copyright infringement, buying stolen technology, import bans etc.
We can enjoy the cheap prices and close our eyes to the fact we are contributing money to one of the worst dictatorships currently in power. Its a free market (for some of us) so buy where you like, but just remember who you are paying when you start moaning about the shite things China gets up to.
We can enjoy the cheap prices and close our eyes to the fact we are contributing money to one of the worst dictatorships currently in power. Its a free market (for some of us) so buy where you like, but just remember who you are paying when you start moaning about the shite things China gets up to.
It isn’t just bikes they use cheap labour for
do you own a phone or laptop or just about anything within 3 foot from you is prob made in shite conditions etc etc
also to add after the last 3 years I don’t give 3 fucks anymore
do you own a phone or laptop or just about anything within 3 foot from you is prob made in shite conditions etc etc
also to add after the last 3 years I don’t give 3 fucks anymore
Everything you own or buy there is a good chance it's from china , so I don't get the I wouldn't buy it because it Chinese
Prices in that video are rally ktm v adventure kove the kove rally bike is £13.500 Kove 450 rally raid sand raider desert race enduro lightweight adventure bike | eBay
"Rally standard price will be £8500. The full spec Rally Race model will be £13,500 inc VAT and all shipping, custom clearance costs." Ok they call the adventure bike the standard rally bike.
"Order now with a deposit of £2550. Currently a waiting time of around 2 months. With an additional payment of the remaining £5950 to pay when the bike leaves the factory." Yeh right
no feedback No business premises no thanks.
I want to see the V twin version
"Rally standard price will be £8500. The full spec Rally Race model will be £13,500 inc VAT and all shipping, custom clearance costs." Ok they call the adventure bike the standard rally bike.
"Order now with a deposit of £2550. Currently a waiting time of around 2 months. With an additional payment of the remaining £5950 to pay when the bike leaves the factory." Yeh right
no feedback No business premises no thanks.I want to see the V twin version
Yep 3 kove dealers in UK so far , and online shop for all parts with shipping around a week apparently, but you would like to think most dealers would keep at least service parts and levers ect
Britain v Japan - 1960/70's
Everyone bar China v China - now.
KTMhuskygas etc become complacent, quality drops, prices rise, enter Kove ....... history repeats itself.
Everyone bar China v China - now.
KTMhuskygas etc become complacent, quality drops, prices rise, enter Kove ....... history repeats itself.
I think this bike fills a massive gap in the market , ATM I have the 790r and drz440 this wouldn't replace my 790 but the drz just because of fuel range better wind protection, the only option is the ajp or getting a 10k 690 and throw money at it , I would be willing to chance 8500 on one , I probably will get one , whether I wait or pull the pin now not sure
This had had thousands of miles put in it and has been in development for years, it's not just been built and put up forsale that's why I think this is why I think this is different
Things like suspension doesn't bother me I would fit something off another bike in the future, same with rear shock , my 790 was the same , everything got chucked and replaced
This had had thousands of miles put in it and has been in development for years, it's not just been built and put up forsale that's why I think this is why I think this is different
Things like suspension doesn't bother me I would fit something off another bike in the future, same with rear shock , my 790 was the same , everything got chucked and replaced
Well...….I watched the video and basically it appears that the bike is good, very good.
If it wasn't a Chinese bike I would have considered one or even bought one. No doubting its ability, spec and price.
But why am I still thinking, "well its a Chinese bike, there must be a catch, it must be made of cheese, it must be crap".
So then you start to make up completely unfounded theories about lack of dealers, no spares, import duties, etc.
But if you take off your tinfoil hate you realise how much your purchasing decision is affected by perception rather than reality. I found myself looking for evidence to convince myself that the video was sponsored, the tester paid by China, the bike a one off to tempt you to buy, the conditions not suited for testing the bike and on and on I went. Until I just realised its prejudice, pure and simple.
After all, there must be bikers in China who love bikes, just like us, there must be businesses in China who just want a successful business, just like us.
So the more plausible theory is just that. A good bike made by bikers who work for a business that just want to be successful.
On reflection I actually hope it is a success, that way it provides bloody good competition that may wake up the European and Japanese manufactures.
Some of whom are all too happy to think they no longer need to listen to customers, or do the testing themselves, or not bother fixing issues customers are complaining about.
One thing is for sure, with the imminent banning of bikes powered by dinosaur juice, few new players will enter the market. Its just too small and too short for anyone to make a profit. Perhaps the lower cost base in China is the only way a business could join the market.
If it wasn't a Chinese bike I would have considered one or even bought one. No doubting its ability, spec and price.
But why am I still thinking, "well its a Chinese bike, there must be a catch, it must be made of cheese, it must be crap".
So then you start to make up completely unfounded theories about lack of dealers, no spares, import duties, etc.
But if you take off your tinfoil hate you realise how much your purchasing decision is affected by perception rather than reality. I found myself looking for evidence to convince myself that the video was sponsored, the tester paid by China, the bike a one off to tempt you to buy, the conditions not suited for testing the bike and on and on I went. Until I just realised its prejudice, pure and simple.
After all, there must be bikers in China who love bikes, just like us, there must be businesses in China who just want a successful business, just like us.
So the more plausible theory is just that. A good bike made by bikers who work for a business that just want to be successful.
On reflection I actually hope it is a success, that way it provides bloody good competition that may wake up the European and Japanese manufactures.
Some of whom are all too happy to think they no longer need to listen to customers, or do the testing themselves, or not bother fixing issues customers are complaining about.
One thing is for sure, with the imminent banning of bikes powered by dinosaur juice, few new players will enter the market. Its just too small and too short for anyone to make a profit. Perhaps the lower cost base in China is the only way a business could join the market.
Kove Rally 450 (North America) | Quick walk around standard vs Pro Rally 450
Good comparison between the two
Good comparison between the two
Think there is more than that 450RALLY REGULAR EDITION(LOW SEAT)_RALLY_MODEL_KOVE MOTO
one thing is the standard has 15 litres of fuel the factory has 31 but both look to have 3 tanks
one thing is the standard has 15 litres of fuel the factory has 31 but both look to have 3 tanks
Looks like I am pulling the pin on a kove , had a long chat today with importer which put my mind at rest, waiting for a email to stick down a deposit, he reckons they will sell out and probably be next year before more stock, also said he's sold a few in Wales , and the UK has outsold USA on kove 450 orders
You're gonna be inundated with questions and requests lol
The risk of being an early adopter does make it cool though
The risk of being an early adopter does make it cool though
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