THE END FOR KOVE? The Truth Behind Zhang Xue Resignation

The Charismatic figurehead of the company, CEO Zhang Xue has resigned his position as CEO. Here i look at the facts and the reality for the future of KOVE MOTO
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[@michaelbdoherty]

As i have commented on several online posts about Kove, being open and honest with customers is the key to gaining trust and loyalty. The announcement of his resignation is another step in the right direction. It may have been a personal health reason or family situation. Its is really none of our business. But the fact Kove was open with its customers shows that they are more personal and dedicated then most other manufacturers have been. KTM was once on the brink of bankruptcy and needed a government bail out. Suzuki and Kawasaki had to join into a joint venture in order to survive. Endless Italian motorcycle manufacturers have come and gone. Having been in the motorcycle indusrty for fifty years i dont recall ever having received puplic statements from any of them requarding internal company termoil. Quite the opposite in a few cases. Chinese manufactures are just like any other company these days. They have the same struggles and challenges. Time will tell if they have what it takes to rise up above the rest. So far Kove has already shown they are not the same as the rest. I will be watching with fond interest.

[@barebonesmc]

A good point well put mate 🙂Cheers for the comment. Ride Free 🙂

[@jeanclaudebelliard9454]

Hello ! Let's be patient and confident in Kove . Paris was not built in a day . And let's keep our dreams intact ! 8:35

[@barebonesmc]

@@jeanclaudebelliard9454 time will tell 🙂

[@DatBikerDude]

There's a lot more not told, let's see what the future brings. Still rooting for Kove , what Zhang started

[@barebonesmc]

I am very sure there is :-) and if you hear anything let me know mate. I can see Zhang Xue popping up in the future too. I hope this isn't the last we see of him, and yes, I too wish Kove all the luck in the world. The industry needed them, and I would argue still does. Have a great week my friend

[@darkiee69]

Sometimes the person who started a company isn't the best one to make it grow and expand.

[@barebonesmc]

true words, but never an easy time

[@garytong3395]

Thanks for the info BareBones. What a shame! Yes, his personality, enthusiasm and passion will be surely missed. Let's hope that, as you say, someone worthy, with the same goals steps up. I for one really want them to succeed in whatever 2 wheeled sport they compete in. Competition strengthens the sport, whatever it is. Thanks again for the news, info and videos. Really appreciated. Keep it sunny side up and roll on the day I can my bike off the mountain 😂

[@barebonesmc]

as always thanks to you too mate, have a great week, we shall see what the future holds

[@briangc1972]

I see Zhang Xue as the Chinese equivalent of Enzo Ferrari. Racing was his passion, manufacturing and selling cars was the means to finance his passion. Xue has the same passion and vision, but the astronomical costs of a new start up and racing requires deeper pockets today and he needed investors. He spread himself too thin by racing in multiple venues and investors are typically not as passionate about the sport as they are about profits and returns on investment. Hopefully they will see that they have already made huge strides to bringing the product to market. Apparently they are having issues meeting emission requirements and that is hurting them severely. Let's see if the investors are wise enough to see how close they are to success.

[@barebonesmc]

wise words :-) Word is the first 800X are finally on the boat for Europe (and the UK) so i assume the emmissions testing was finally passed, time as always will tell a fuller story, enjoy the ride mate

[@jacquesnel8384]

I really hope it’s not the end of this project.

[@barebonesmc]

I have been assured its not, but they are big shoes, and leaving them empty i dont think will work, someone needs to step up

[@willwalker8669]

Putting in my order now before the bean counters own Kove

[@barebonesmc]

that may be a good decision, we shall have to wait and see what happens in time

[@istra70]

I am so afraid that when business starts doing well - politicians and politics get involved and usually they destroy everything previously achieved. I have seen that kind of story repeating itself throughout history, over and over again..... Now new CO will become economist or accountant ( hopefully not politician ) , and try to chase profit - which would mean less quality parts , cutting corners and increased prices..... I really can't wait to see how the story will develop, and for sure wish them good luck in the future.

[@barebonesmc]

well put mate 🙂Cheers for the comment. Ride Free 🙂

[@peternaur]

I don't mean to be controversial here, but I think this is extremely bad news for Kove and Kove fans (which would include myself). Their communication about this case is severely lacking and I must say I see this as an example of the problem Kove as a Chinese company entering a western market is facing. I don't see the statement as an example of openness and transparency. They need to be much more transparent and detailed in their statements. I think many will consider this a warning sign that maybe something goes on behind the scenes that we are not told. Off course, this is true for many companies, but in this case I feel that many will suspect that the limited information has to do with the company's Chinese roots and hence connection to a very questionable regime. Kove need to prove that they are company comparable to what honda was 50 years ago, and this sudden change of ceo with very little public explanation has the potential to scare away western buyers. Maybe I am being too dramatic, but if Kove wants to establish themselves as on par with Japanese companies they need stability at all costs, and they have to account for, if not address, western markets wariness of Chinese companies.

[@barebonesmc]

i would agree with most of that, but as someone said earlier, they have already been more open than many. State and business connections are overblown IMO, the Chinese state has bigger things to think about that a small motorbike company from Tibet. I do think the remaining "entrepreneurs" who began the project now need to open themselves up to more scrutiny though, or it will be very easy to loose the trust they have gained

[@BraapTales]

Thanks Mr. Zhang for my Gen 1 Kove 450. I love the bike!

[@barebonesmc]

Enjoy it mate

[@scottwhite2757]

Excellent work covering Kove.. Ride Free..

[@barebonesmc]

glad you enjoyed it mate 🙂 i do my best. Ride Free 🙂

[@Pompomgrenade]

😮 That's a big loss because it shows the company needing to go corporate with sales. Whereas, the man leaving was the writer, the builder, the team developer..Kove as known. I truly hope he was able to walk away with enough in pocket to pursue his personal passion... Without any hindrance. 👍🏾 Thanks for bringing us the news, it's good to be a subscriber🍺

[@barebonesmc]

cheers for the support mate, id agree, a BIG loss, fingers crossed things will work out long term, i think the shake up Kove were giving the industry was a good thing for everyone, and i hope it continues

[@RichardS-qh8mi]

Whilst this is a blow to all following Kove’s progress people should not lose heart - I’m not surprised the pressure got to the poor chap, burn out is a terrible thing in business life especially with the responsibility of looking after and guiding thousands of staff. Just hope someone who can be a fraction more detached and perhaps concentrate on the production side can step up and forge ahead with the Kove project. It would be such a waste to lose momentum now after so much hard work, though I don’t think that will happen. There’s too much at stake for the company not to succeed and with the right person at the helm there’s no need to even contemplate such a scenario.

[@barebonesmc]

A good point well put mate 🙂Cheers for the comment. Ride Free 🙂

[@upsidedowndog1256]

All ships need a captain.

[@barebonesmc]

yep, but some captains play a more back seat role and leave the job to their underlings :-)

[@JagLite]

Thanks for the update.The fact that he wasn't the one to share the news tells us what really happened. As the share holders removed Steve Jobs from the head of Apple, the other investors feel they can do a better job. And as the Apple investors learned the hard way, they are fools to think they know better. Zhang Xue IS Kove to those of us in the western countries. Next the Kove owners will decide to make more money by building cheaper bikes with lower quality components. They will kill all the momentum Mr. Xue built up in the brand and as they see profits falling the investors will cut the budget to the race teams. Zhang Xue had the vision but his fellow investors stabbed him in the back. It happens all the time unfortunately, great men with visions and ability get funding from those who know nothing about the business and what drives sales.

[@barebonesmc]

i woudnt disagree, there was a post from Zhang Xue on Chinese social media though, he had a flower in his hair and looked very somber, im still trying to get a full copy to do translation but had no luck so far, it doesnt look good though

[@IM-nt6ql]

@@barebonesmc do let us know when you do. As someone very interested in purchasing the Kove 450 Rally, I'm following this closely

[@barebonesmc]

@@IM-nt6ql I will, but i haven't managed it yet. Im concentrating on trying to find out more about who is running the company now, and im not doing very well at that either to be honest. but i will keep trying

[@IM-nt6ql]

@@barebonesmc Thanks I appreciate the effort regardless

[@barebonesmc]

@@IM-nt6ql i think someone needs to step up from the remaining board, or they will loose the momentum Zhang Xue gave them

[@mrsilbo6499]

Boardroom coup, health reasons, "creative differences", falling foul of the authorities for some reason - the list of possibilities is endless. Just hope their EU roll-out isn't detailed.

[@barebonesmc]

Let's hope it all works out in the end. I am told the UK bikes are on the boat and I imagine it will be a split container that includes most of the european distributers, but i dont know that for sure, it would just make financial sense

[@floydblandston108]

Chinese economy is in freefall and bigwigs are dropping like flies. It's a typical overleveredge situation, and an aggressive motorcycle company usually fits into that category..

[@barebonesmc]

@@floydblandston108 from what i see the Chinese economy is in much better shape than most of the western economies. they dont go wasting their money on wars either 🙂

[@floydblandston108]

@@barebonesmc- you sound more like a bot with every post. Remember, trade is just the continuation of war by different means.

[@barebonesmc]

@@floydblandston108 lol, does the bot comment relate to the comment or the actual video? if its the video, if you mean i make less mistakes in the reading now, i would hope so after reading and writing so many scripts over the last year 🙂 we will have to disagree re trade and war. ill stick with trade any day

[@SCakey]

Definitely pushed me away from the brand for a bit, the only reason most of us know of Kove is due to Zhang Xue. There are multiple other/bigger Chinese motorcycle manufacturers that exist but most in the west don't even know them. Zhang Xue in just a few years looked like he was heading Kove in a direction to beat those other manufacturers by expanding worldwide. Now though...we'll have to see, I have a feeling most the excitement for Kove will fizzle as cost-cutting and sales become priority.

[@barebonesmc]

A good point well put mate. I am hoping it isnt the last we will see of him, that kind of passion doesnt come along too often 🙂Cheers for the comment. Ride Free 🙂

[@aristidis9145]

Honestly I was shocked hearing about Zhang Xue... He was what was giving soul Kove bikes. Worse of all, rumors I've heard say that he even sold his shares!!! What a shame 😕 Same time my 800x is on the boat and will arrive in 20 days

[@barebonesmc]

where did you hear he sold his shares? official statement states clearly he is still a shareholder, where are you? ive been told UK bikes are on the boat, but GPX UK arent taking pre orders. and yes, it is a shock when someone so obviously passionate pulls away from a project like this

[@aristidis9145]

@@barebonesmc Ship should arrive end of this month in Greece, there was a pre-order until December. About Zhang, the info is from a yt channel, so it's not officiall, they said they are sure. I don't know what is really going on over there, for sure Chinese are not alike western companies. Before this I would invest in this company, today I'm not sure if I'll find spares in 5 years

[@barebonesmc]

@@aristidis9145 i understand and relate to your feelings my friend. do you know which youtube channel it was on?

[@aristidis9145]

@@barebonesmc it was a live of a Greek channel "kokkina fegaria", I asked the guy who runs it, but he just couldn't remember where he got the intel🤔... So not a reliable source 😔

[@barebonesmc]

@@aristidis9145 that is often the problem with these rumours. people say things without knowing the facts, so the facts get distorted. If he has that would be significant, but i have seen nothing substantial to say it is true at all. some people have their own agenda too, I do try to stick to confirmed facts

[@Free_Ranger_CT110]

Disappointing, I was sure Kove was on the cusp of greatness. I've a feeling there's more to this than we're being told, I hope I'm wrong & Kove goes from strength to strength.

[@barebonesmc]

I think they could be still, but i think this situation needs a better statement, and now more information to reassure people. cheers for the comment

[@RupertU]

Zhang Xue is pronounced jang shua - you’re welcome (欧奕礼）

[@barebonesmc]

Xia Xia, i will try and get it right in future, the letter sounds are never easy with Portonghua

[@BraapTales]

Not "Shua", it's pronounced "Shway"

[@Pompomgrenade]

Ride Free 🪄

[@barebonesmc]

always 🙂Cheers for watching and for the comment mate. Ride Free 🙂

[@jeanclaudebelliard9454]

Bonjour . Ça , c'est une très mauvaise nouvelle ! Acquérir et piloter la 800x , l'espoir et la garantie d'emporter avec soi et en soi un peu de l'engagement, de la passion et du sourire de Mr Zang . Dommage ! Je garderai ma CRF 300 L .

[@barebonesmc]

Bonjoiur, Je suis d'accord, ce n'est pas une bonne nouvelle. Le temps nous dira si l'entreprise respectera ses engagements et continuera à construire une gamme différente de motos chinoises.

[@user-jc7jb3bu5s]

Our enemy out of work..

[@barebonesmc]

why your enemy?

[@user-jc7jb3bu5s]

Communis chinese government is my enemy. are they friends of yours?

[@jamesbramblett3346]

Gonna be very interesting times. Wonder if Mason will be back with them 🤔

[@barebonesmc]

Theres an interview with him i am editing right now so you will know more next week, I only did the interview a few days ago (the day before this broke) but there will be more of him on the channel in future too. I am looking at doing a family focus video with the whole clan :-)

[@jonwoodworker]

Mason is already with Honda. Kove gave him garbage.

[@barebonesmc]

@@jonwoodworker maybe wait to listen to what he has to say on that. im not giving anything away until the video goes out