Let’s start with the… misleading name. V5? Absolutely not! Instead, both these bikes are rather small V-twins. As the YY400-9 and YY250-9 designations indicate, there is a 400cc and a 250cc version available. It’s not clear what the 9 stands for, but as we’ve already mentioned, it’s not a V-5 either. It seems that not everything necessarily has an obvious meaning.
What kind of power do these little V-twins produce? If Jonway’s specifications are accurate, the VV400-9 generates around 38.2 hp at 9,000 revolutions per minute, plus 27.94 Nm of torque at 7,000 RPM.
If you choose the VV250-9, it supposedly produces around 24.8 hp of power at 8,500 RPM and 27.94 Nm of torque slightly further down the rev range, at 6,500 RPM.
Like many new models in 2024, these latest proposals from Jonway include retro elements and modern conveniences. The lighting is entirely LED, for example. There are front and rear disc brakes, as well as ABS. It is powered by fuel injection. It comes with a pair of 16-inch wheels, an 18-liter fuel capacity, a six-speed gearbox and Gates belt final drive. Both are also water-cooled, rather than air-cooled.
The declared top speed is 140 km/h. The curb weight is 209 kg.
This bike has clearly been inspired, as usual, by the styles of Harley and Indian. It is clearly aimed at a more “grand American touring” style, with rigid side cases, a top case with backrest and a large front fairing to offer some wind protection for both rider and passenger.
The front fairing is slightly reminiscent of an Indian Chieftain, if you close your eyes. Interestingly, the round black and brushed aluminum mirrors at the ends of the handlebars seem to have been taken straight from the Triumph catalog, rather than the mirrors normally found on Harley or Indian bikes. We have to keep everyone guessing, right?
It’s also worth mentioning that both the rider and passenger on the two V-5 bikes have normal stirrups, not platforms.
We can’t judge the build quality, as we haven’t had the chance to try one out. Jonway sells motorcycles in China and several European markets. In the US, it’s worth mentioning that there was a US Environmental Protection Agency judgment against Jonway’s US distributor and manufacturers in China in 2014. Jonway vehicles (both motorcycles and ATVs) imported into the US were found to violate the Clean Air Act, and more than 11,000 of these vehicles had been imported and sold before the trial.
