In a surprising development in the Chinese motorcycle industry, Zhang Xue, former founder and CEO of Kove Moto, has unveiled his new company, Zhang Xue Motorcycles, at the Chongqing Motorcycle Show.
Xue’s departure from Kove in February of this year had caused industry-wide speculation, particularly given his prominent role not only as chief executive but also as the brand’s primary media figurehead. At the time, Kove’s only explanation came in the form of a brief statement indicating that Xue “decided to temporarily step away from the management team while remaining a shareholder.”
The situation becomes even more puzzling considering Xue’s active role in the company’s social media presence. He was frequently seen celebrating the brand’s Dakar successes and was the first to apologize when setbacks occurred during the race. His sudden disappearance without any detailed explanation, followed by a quick reemergence with a new company just months later, raises questions within the industry.
Xue’s return to the motorcycle market materializes with the introduction of the ZXJC ZX-500RR, a 500cc sportbike that showcases design influences from various established brands. The model, presented in distinctive lime green, shows similarities with designs from Ducati, BMW, Suzuki, and notably Kawasaki, including the “ZX” lettering placement reminiscent of the Ninja line.
This, in fact, is a model that we already talked about previously, in September, as you can remember here.
