Kove 450 Rally – rally model with 42 hp and 155 kg

The major players in the rally segment, such as KTM, Husqvarna, Gas Gas, Honda, and Sherco, compete year after year in the Saudi Arabian desert for victory in the toughest rally in the world, the Dakar. Hundreds of thousands of spectators watch the show and many of us, motorcyclists, dream of riding the sand dunes one day. At least, it is possible to buy the right bike to do it. As long as you have a lot of money. Because the KTM 450 Rally Replica 2024 is only available 80 times and costs just under €36,000. The Gas Gas RX 450F Replica is no different and there are no mass-produced rally bikes for sale from other brands. But if we look at the entry list of the last Dakar, a new name and a new face emerge among the familiar names. Among Adrien van Beveren, Ross Branch, and Kevin Benavides, all rally legends, the 1.70-meter tall Chinese Sunier Sunier seems serious. The Kove logo, the first Chinese brand in the world of two-wheel rallies, is proudly displayed on his chest. And Kove does everything differently from the major players. It offers off-road enthusiasts, like you and me, the opportunity to combine the power of a 450 cc cylinder with the ability to cover long distances, with road approval and at an affordable price. Source: https://www.1000ps.at

The Kove has only been truly present in the European market since the last EICMA, in November. In addition to a two-cylinder touring enduro, the Kove 800X 2024, the 450 Rally was also presented. A look at the technical specifications shows that Kove cannot keep up with the other rally bikes. However, single-cylinder enduro bikes have long had to deal with strict emission standards and approval regulations, which is why many can only ride with 20 hp on public roads. This is even the case with rally replicas, which are much more expensive. However, the Kove 450 Rally can legally use 42 hp at 8,500 rpm and 35 Nm at 6,500 rpm from its liquid-cooled 449 cc single-cylinder. In open race configuration, the Chinese single-cylinder can even reach 52 hp. With a ready-to-ride weight of 155 kg, this is not a bad power-to-weight ratio. The transmission is completed by a 6-speed gearbox, a cable-operated multi-disc clutch, and chain drive.

If you want to take the Kove 450 Rally seriously, you can gradually equip it with accessories or opt directly for the Factory Edition. In this case, you also get a carbon rally navigation tower, rally accessories, steering damper, titanium exhaust system, tri-nitride fork coatings, and mousse in the tires.

Combined with the increased power of 52 hp, the Factory Edition is already very close to the three Kove rally bikes that finished the Dakar this year. Naturally, the price also approaches that of professional bikes.