2023 Kove FSE 450R Rally First Ride

[Hugh Janus]

Kove’s FSE 450R Rally has an MSRP of just $8,999; should you be heading to the bank for a cashier’s check? (Jeff Allen/)

There are more than a couple of new motorcycles on sale today that have the word “rally” in their name. Thing is, only one is like those used in the Dakar Rally. KTM 890 Adventure R Rally? A highly capable ADV without question, but not even close to a real rally racer. Even my $28,000 rally-inspired project 790 Adventure R racer wasn’t close. Honda’s CRF300L Rally? Nah, just a sheep in wolfish clothing. What about those KTM rally racers used in Dakar? Even if you have three bands of Benjamin Franklins ($30,000 for those of you older than 40), you’ll get the cold shoulder from Mr. Pierer’s crew unless you are a professional racer. So where to turn for a real rally bike? Turns out, it’s China.

Buying a motorcycle built in China definitely raises questions of performance, reliability, and quality. But after spending time with the Kove FSE 450R Rally and the US importer of Kove Motorcycles in the California desert, painting all Chinese-made motorcycles with the same brush will exclude you from enjoying a well-made rally racer.

Utah-based USA Motortoys is importing the Kove FSE 450R Rally and has presold the first batch due to hit the docks June 2023. With a $8,999 price tag, interest on the internet has led to numerous (soon to be) owners’ groups and forums—each user on pins and needles waiting for their machine. But what’s the reason for the hype? Well, beyond the astonishingly low price, you get a liquid-cooled DOHC 449cc single that belts out a claimed 52 hp, suspension with 12 inches of travel, an 8.0-gallon fuel capacity, TFT dash, and ABS. It all sounds great, but what happens when you put the thing to the test on a warm desert day in the dunes?

Kove nailed the Dakar Rally racer look with the FSE 450R Rally. (Jeff Allen/)

Would our test in and around California’s Dumont Dunes on a preproduction unit be a complete waste of time? Or could this FSE 450R Rally be the real deal? A hopeful indication was the three Kove factory racers that finished the Dakar Rally on the first attempt. Three entered, three finished. We were told those race finishers ran stock engines, but were the $13,999 up-spec Rally 450 Pro variant that features a titanium exhaust system, Scotts Performance steering stabilizer, slightly more horsepower, and bib mousse inserts fitted in the tires. The Pro also comes complete with a carbon fiber rally tower, powered roadbook, and water storage tucked behind a carbon fiber skid plate.

Since its inception in 2017, Kove has grown quickly, thanks to a former Chinese motocross rider and founder Zhang Xue. He says he wants to create a brand of motorcycles that will give young racers in China the competitive machine he never had as a kid. But first, there are lofty goals for Kove’s rally efforts. It’s shooting for a top-20 finish next year, top 10 the next, a podium in 2026, and a win in 2027. Can it be done? That will remain to be seen, but what is seen is the passion translated into the performance of the FSE 450R Rally..

Twin LED headlights have high and low beams. Kove says it plans to make the FSE 450R Rally street-legal. (Jeff Allen/)

Kove’s FSE 450R Rally certainly looks the part of a rally bike, thanks to its tall windscreen, twin LED headlights, low-slung fuel tanks, and rear fuel tank integrated into the subframe. The rider is greeted by a slim seat and tank area, a tall handlebar, and large, wide rally footpegs. Nothing feels cheaply made, and pulls on the Nissin front brake and cable clutch feel solid. The view to the full-color TFT dash is clear. A glance behind the handlebar mounts reveals provisions for fitting a steering damper.

A full-color TFT dash conveys all the info and is used to change ABS modes. Some of the wording needs refinement before production. (Jeff Allen/)

Suspension is by Yu-an, but the 49mm cartridge fork legs look very similar to Showa units. The fork and linkage-equipped shock feature compression and rebound damping adjustments, and the rear suspension adds a knob for easy spring preload changes. Seat height is listed at 38.0 inches but thanks to the bike’s narrow cross section, reach to the ground with a 30-inch inseam is easy. It all feels right. Time to ride.

A Yu-an 49mm cartridge fork has compression and rebound damping adjustment. (Jeff Allen/)

On firing up the FSE 450R, the DOHC engine comes to life quickly and sounds good. Cracking the throttle produces a grunty rasp not only from the exhaust but from the large air intake nestled between the steel perimeter frame spars and under the left and right 2.5-gallon saddle tanks. In the open desert and grabbing gears, it’s clear this engine (based on a Zongshen 450 SOHC unit with a new head, cams, intake, and mapping) prefers to be revved rather than lugged. It doesn’t have the same hit as other 450cc cross-country racers; it feels more like a strong-running 350—plenty fast to be fun when wringing it out for the maximum, but smooth and easy to control in slower technical sections. In sixth gear, Kove claims the 450R Rally will hit 105 mph. An even 100 mph (indicated) was briefly seen during testing.

While the engine is good, it’s the chassis that is the star of the show. Simply put, it feels like a rally bike should: stable but not sluggish. Performance from the Yu-an fork and shock were harsh in our initial ride, but there was plenty of adjustment to get the bike to work well. We weren’t the first to test this preproduction bike, and USA Motortoys’ boss, Gary Goodwin, said that others had fiddled with the suspension. A few clicks less of compression in the fork, a couple of clicks more compression in the rear with a faster rebound setting, and the Kove was eating desert like a hungry gambler at a Vegas buffet.

Kove built its DOHC FSE 450R powerplant on a Zongshen bottom end for more power. (Jeff Allen/)

While the Kove’s suspension soaked up every whoop, G-out, and jump we pointed it at, it always did have a slight issue of being less refined and smooth than that of KYB, Showa, or WP. Think Seiko versus Rolex. On one occasion when racing through some deep sand ruts the bike exhibited head shake while shifting to fourth gear at near full throttle. Full throttle sorted it out after two or three chassis oscillations. Good thing mounting a steering damper will be as easy as sliding your credit card.

Despite being filled with 6 gallons of fuel, the FSE 450R Rally turns and changes direction much easier than its test weight of 356 pounds (368 full of fuel) would suggest. It responds predictably when thrown into corners and the front tire is planted. When standing and on the gas, steering with the throttle and footpeg pressure will have you dodging pucker bushes and holes with ease.

It weighs 368 pounds when full of fuel, but the Kove FSE 450R Rally can turn like a 250-pound MXer. (Jeff Allen/)

Powerful Nissan brakes have excellent modulation, and because this model will eventually be homologated for street use, there are three ABS settings. A few quick button presses on the left-side switch gear changes the setting from Open, Rear Closed, and All Closed. This means: on, rear off, and both off. As mentioned, there are some translations that need some work in the menu system. The low fuel warning on the dash stated: “Oil level low, please fill it up.” Goodwin said these quirks will be fixed before delivery.

Nissin brakes provide strong stopping performance while the switchable Bosch ABS adds a feature not found on hardcore dual sports. (Jeff Allen/)

Our bike shifted gears easily up or down and not a change was missed all day, but there was an issue with the Dirt Rider FSE 450R being tested alongside: The third-gear shift fork got bent. As we weren’t riding it at the time, it’s unknown how it happened. The CW unit’s transmission performed flawlessly, but the failure must be noted.

Suspension action is not as refined as that found on Japanese and European dirt bikes. (Jeff Allen/)

Although there was an issue with the DR testbike, Kove claims the FSE 450R Rally is prime for usage as a small and aggressive dual sport. Oil capacity is 1.8 liters, double that of most 450 dirt singles on the market. Service intervals are 5,000 miles. It’s easy to imagine yourself making a weekend blast to Baja on the Rally.

As the sun began to set on the California desert, the question was posed: Does it matter that the Kove FSE 450R Rally is manufactured in China? According to our test day the answer is no. This isn’t some knockoff pitbike sold cheaply to fly-by-night powersports dealers. It’s a quality motorcycle with the performance to back up its rally positioning. The FSE 450R Rally rips through the desert with stability and comfort, has better than adequate power, and looks great with commendable fit and finish—all for a buck less than $9,000. It’s a phenomenal value in a segment where dual sport MSRPs are blowing past $13,000 regularly. There’s plenty of early adopters who feel the same way and have voted with their wallets—an initial sign Xue just might be on the way to reaching his goal with Kove.

If the FSE 450R Rally is any indication, Kove could be the manufacturer to buck the stigma of Chinese-made motorcycles. (Jeff Allen/)

2023 Kove FSE 450R Rally Specs

MSRP:	$8,999
Engine:	DOHC, liquid-cooled single; 4 valves
Displacement:	448.9cc
Bore x Stroke:	94.5 x 64.0mm
Compression Ratio:	TBA
Transmission/Final Drive:	6-speed/chain
Claimed Horsepower:	52 hp @ 9,500 rpm
Claimed Torque:	31 lb.-ft. @ 7,000 rpm
Fuel System:	Bosch EFI
Clutch:	Wet, multiplate; cable actuated
Frame:	Steel
Front Suspension:	Yu-an 49mm, compression and rebound adjustable; 12.0 in. travel
Rear Suspension:	Yu-an monoshock w/ linkage, fully adjustable; 12.0 in. travel
Front Brake:	Nissin 2-piston caliper, disc w/ switchable ABS
Rear Brake:	Nissin 2-piston caliper, disc w/ switchable ABS
Wheels, Front/Rear:	Spoked aluminum; 21 in./18 in.
Tires, Front/Rear:	CST; 90/90-21 / 140/80-18
Rake/Trail:	28.0°/NA
Wheelbase:	58.0 in.
Ground Clearance:	12.0 in.
Seat Height:	38.0 in.
Fuel Capacity:	8.0 gal.
Claimed Wet Weight:	368 lb.
Contact:	gpxmoto.com

Three fuel tanks hold a total of 8 gallons. (Jeff Allen/)
Rally dreams come to life on the Kove FSE 450R Rally. (Jeff Allen/)

Gear Box

Helmet: Alpinestars M8 Radium 2 

Jacket: Alpinestars Venture-R 

Jersey: Alpinestars Racer Found 

Pants: Alpinestars Racer Found 

Gloves: Alpinestars Full Bore 

Boots: Alpinestars Tech 10 

Goggles: 100% Armega

A carbon fiber skid plate houses a small tool kit. (Jeff Allen/)
An easy-to-access air filter sits above the engine. (Jeff Allen/)
Mounting points for a steering stabilizer are included on the top triple clamp and frame. (Jeff Allen/)
Big rally-style footpegs are comfortable and allow you to really use your feet to make direction changes. (Jeff Allen/)

Source

[Buckster]

Take my money now!

[boboneleg]

A mate of mine has ordered his and it's on it's way , he has the ship on a tracker.

[XTreme]

2 hours ago, Buckster said:

Take my money now!

You want a Chinese bike?

[Buckster]

36 minutes ago, XTreme said:

You want a Chinese bike?

[Catteeclan]

That wiring looks like a total after thought.

[boboneleg]

It'll be interesting to see how these bikes stand up to shitty UK green lanes , who knows we could all be riding Kove's in five years time.

[Sir Fallsalot]

47 minutes ago, boboneleg said:

It'll be interesting to see how these bikes stand up to shitty UK green lanes , who knows we could all be riding Kove's in five years time.

we need a Guinee pig to buy one and give us a quality report  in a year's time, so @Buckster when are you getting one

[XTreme]

19 minutes ago, Sir Fallsalot said:

we need a Guinee pig to buy one and give us a quality report  in a year's time,

@Slowlycatchymonkey is the obvious one given her track record of buying any old Third World shit!

[Pedro]

42 minutes ago, XTreme said:

@Slowlycatchymonkey is the obvious one given her track record of buying any old Third World shit!

Yes, but Fred would like some reports on it

[XTreme]

24 minutes ago, Pedro said:

Yes, but Fred would like some reports on it

But she could report on how well it sits in the garage, and how long it takes for the battery to go dead!

[Catteeclan]

Getting bitchy in here.

[Pedro]

36 minutes ago, XTreme said:

But she could report on how well it sits in the garage, and how long it takes for the battery to go dead!

China makes good batteries though

[XTreme]

10 minutes ago, Pedro said:

China makes good batteries though

Not when the bike stands idle for years!

[Slowlycatchymonkey]

On 30/04/2023 at 16:08, XTreme said:

Not when the bike stands idle for years!

 

and there I was thinking fondly of this witches coven.

I'd put my yearly moto milage up against at least half of the crumblies on here. 

[XTreme]

3 minutes ago, Slowlycatchymonkey said:

I'd put my yearly moto milage up against at least half of the crumblies on here. 

[Slowlycatchymonkey]

1 minute ago, XTreme said:

Tis true the evidence is not available to a bunch of grumpy old biatches on an internet forum

The MOT mileage note is evidence enough. 

Been too busy having a feckin good time for recording shite.. remember that?  

Nope?

[Buckster]

3 minutes ago, Slowlycatchymonkey said:

Tis true the evidence is not available to a bunch of grumpy old biatches on an internet forum

The MOT mileage note is evidence enough. 

Been too busy having a feckin good time for recording shite.. remember that?  

Nope?

Even I posted a video. I think you have been in rehab.

[XTreme]

1 minute ago, Buckster said:

Even I posted a video. I think you have been in rehab.

[Slowlycatchymonkey]

1 hour ago, Buckster said:

Even I posted a video. I think you have been in rehab.

More projection by the resident nutjob