Upsetting the applecart, that is, the applecart with the Adventure motorcycles in it
Back when it was clean
Oops it’s after happening (again). A previously, almost, unknown motorcycle company called Kove have launched a new adventure bike called the Kove Adventure 800. It’s remarkably good and has the potential to cause quite a bit of upset in the market.
Roads to put any bike to the test!
Kove are a Chinese company who were founded in 2017 and while starting out making themselves a name in the world of rally raids with an impressive 450, they now have a full range with retro styled machines, off road bikes, naked, sport and adventure categories. The Rally, and the Rally 450 EX in particular, make me wish that I could really ride a bike.
When it finally stopped raining
The Kove 800 Adventure is powered by a parallel twin that puts out 95bhps all of which are are backed up by a tasty 80Nm of torque. Why am I being so enthusiastic? Simple because as some sort of Motorcycle brand snob the companies 800 has given me reason to look anew at pricing from the big names in the business and how very much that we can get for quite a few quid less!
A TFT screen styled to look like a roadbook
That engine is liquid cooled and has duel overhead cams. It sits on big brand suspension, tyres and has a TFT screen. So the spec is standard for a Yamaha but a tad better than a V Strom. Not a bad achievement for a bike we’d never heard of before last months EICMA show in Milan.
Details. It's all about the details
The ergonomics are the first thing that I noticed. Sitting up on the Pro version of the Kove 800 Adventure it felt quite low for a bike in it’s class. Then again I am a graceful 6ft tall offering and I’d just got off my new Tenere. What was interesting was how wide the seat is and how very comfortable it is, once again I’d just got off my Tenere…
Wonderfully uncomplicated
The buttons are refreshingly simple with an ignition and a kill switch on the right. There is a menu button on the left side and this is to facilitate smartphone mirroring with the TFT screen. When the bike is switched on the screen comes to life and presents the rider with a picture of an Alpine scene, not particularly life affirming when riding out of Tallaght in the rain. It then moves on to the pertinent information, speed, gear and RPM which is all laid out clearly.
Lovin' the loose stuff!
Having had a good look at the bike before riding away, I was impressed to see that it’s shod on Pirelli rubber and the suspension is by real peoples alternative to Öhlins, KYB. It’s adjustable on both ends and adds a whole level of assurance to the package.
A low deep and wide comfort seat
There’s a bash plate, a set of bars that protect the sides of the bike and the radiator in particular. The wheels are a pair of cross spoked units with gold rims. And who doesn’t like gold rims? The standard Euro 5 compliant exhaust is rounded out with a brushed titanium end can that can be easily detached and replaced with something that looks cooler and sounds better.
Ready for riding off the beaten track
The styling on the front end isn’t unique, but is newer looking than most of the class. Those head lights look the part and LED indos are well hidden until they’re in use. A rear carrier suggests that purchasing a top box would be the thing to do while mounting points on the sides for panniers offer me the dream of riding over to those Alpine peaks. That and the 20 litre tank…
On the floor at Eicma
Meanwhile taking to the wet streets with my trusty photographer, Wes, as a pillion we headed to the hills. Thanks to him weighing 89.9 kilos plus a bit of VAT and my own 85 the bike has its work cut out in the handling stakes. The road is technical, wet and a heap of fun to ride the new bike on. Everything is predictable and the bike goes where I want it to, stops when I want it to and accelerates briskly. Once I get rid of my pillion it shows itself to be a perfect middleweight machine. On the trail roads and even the wet grass it performs just as excellently. This has a lot to do with it only weighing in at 183 kilos and that’s a wet weight!
Excellent build quality and attention to detail
Back on the motorway, Dublins M50, which is surely a portal to motorcycling hell the Kove is easy to slice through traffic on. There is, indeed, an awful lot to be said for it.
Not a motorcycles natural habitat.
The bike is available exclusively from CCM Racing in Tallaght and will run you a modest €10,795. To put that in context a Tenere costs €13,250, a Transalp is €11,949 and an Aprilia Tuareg is €13,149. If it were me I’d add the Kove to the bikes I’d test before I made any decisions. Talk to any of the lads on 014526170 and prove me wrong…
A massive thanks to Wes Grainger photography. Wes is available for Weddings, confirmations /communions and childrens birthday parties. You'll find him on https://www.facebook.com/wesi.fume