Kove 800X exclusive first UK ride on and off-road | True power and weight revealed! | MCN Review

[@motorcyclenewsdotcom]

What should we group test this bike against?

[@PaulJackson-w6m]

Tenure 700?

[@jimperry4420]

Suzuki vstrom 800

[@jonasbaine3538]

790 adventure standard. Closest price and similar Chinese roots.

[@Plakism]

Against IZH or Ural, or any other manufacturer from authoritarian regime.

[@michal_z]

Tenere, Tuareg & Vstrom. But on knobby tyres and off-road conditions 😊

[@fozzy1717]

Ive had a kove 450 rally for 11 months snd its been abused and its not missed a beat , no rust , all the bolts are still like new

[@nikosdanelakis3613]

👍👍👍👍 My friend travel with this bike from Crete island to Norway Nordkapp and back to Crete 14.000 kilometers with no problems at all,i think is a great bike and lightweight too..

[@david_atsoc]

Wait a few more KMS and years and update tour comment!

[@rud_01]

hy,the ligths ,are acceptable?

[@avothfis]

Impressive mate

[@ride4adventure]

Best review of this bike so far. Appreciate the effort to weigh and dyno the bike relative to its competitor.

[@avothfis]

Yep. Cleared up those.

[@PatchedBandit]

That weight figure with 20L of fuel AND crashbars AND grab handles in the rear is highly impressive!

[@TAR_MEDIA_AUS]

That's a good point. I wonder how much weight could be easily shed from here. Lighter exhaust, no passenger pegs, lithium battery ect.

[@SkintSNIPER262]

@@TAR_MEDIA_AUS It already comes with lithium battery

[@petecasberg8655]

@@TAR_MEDIA_AUSthe lightweight rally version with one gallon of gas was 385 lbs

[@michal_z]

Respect for the way you rode off-road on those tyres!👏

[@risingphoenix1187]

A comprehensive, methodical, excellent and completely unbiased review with constructive criticism. It seems these are becoming hard to come by. Great job, and keep up the good work. 👍🏿

[@zacwondertube]

Interesting, for me it felt like someone is trying to sold me sth reeeeeeally hard :)

[@zacwondertube]

Maybe it's just a generally positive attitude the host has towards motorcycles, haven't seen a lot of his reviews.

[@zacwondertube]

I've test driven it, it felt great, and it frankly looks like there's no competition with this package at this price point. BUT let's not get too hyped - this is an unproven brand basically and the full truth we will know after 2-3 yrs. How did they save the weight? What did they sacrifice? How many (thousands of) hours did they spend making sure it lasts? What's the service quality and parts availability? The genie is still in the bottle ;)

[@motomax_99]

​@@zacwondertube what do you mean by unproven? Is completing the Dakar Rally not enough proof that they build bikes that can take a really hard beating? Granted that was the 450 but still the same manufacturer, so they've definitely proven reliability in the toughest conditions.

[@MERMBRAMA]

MCN crew, your measurment of weight differs to all other measurments around the world...everyone measured it betwen 191 and 192kg exactly. Fully fueled, the rest on it completly stock. We even put ours on the scale after your review, and the result was 191,7kg. 5kg of weight difference is a lot. I wonder, what caused the difference....

[@jpslaym0936]

Mud. Or scale calibration issue most likely

[@paulpage-pr8lp]

A very good honest road test like all MCN tests, keep up the high standard , Thank you.

[@arrow0872]

I hope this bike jolts the established players to up their game (though I expected the weight to be less, again not terrible I guess) Nice video MCN!

[@MERMBRAMA]

It is more than 15kg lighter than tenere..in this class,i believe it is quite an achievement..plus much lower COG

[@DennisMerwood-xk8wp]

@@MERMBRAMA that's 33lbs !!!!!!

[@constantinosschinas4503]

Greek magazine Motomag weighted the same bike, full of fuel, at 191.5Kg. Also, don't forget the bike has a lot of extras on as standard (rack, bars).

[@PieroZanetti]

Steering damper too

[@keyboarddancers7751]

Even with all those extras, it's still less weight than a T7.

[@constantinosschinas4503]

@@keyboarddancers7751 Less weight and much more power. Better suspension too? Let us hope the changes in the motor's head mean it will not eat cams like the 790/890s do.

[@stevesteve1965.]

Quite frankly, these Kove/CFmoto type bikes are superb value for money and are no less of a proposition than the main brands in their group, they look fine and seem to be quite well appointed. I'd certainly have one but very much depending on dealer network/parts/service availability.

[@rogersliu1200]

parts are super cheap if you know where to look at LOL

[@anxiousappliance]

Super coherent and detailed review. Thanks!

[@phillipchandler8862]

Top quality video as usual from you Michael. Group test has to include Tenere and would suggest KTM 790. They really do need to sort a decent dealer network if they want to challenge the establishment. Cheers

[@pw3591]

Having a KTM engine is not a selling point for me. I'll stick with my super reliable T7 for the moment, but I think they are definitely getting there. It's the only bike that really jumped out at me at the ABR fest this year. The Japanese had better keep an eye out for this company, they are not far behind now.

[@Dazza-u4c]

I have had zero issues with my 2003 640 Adv and 2015 1190 Adv, but they have Austrian built engines not Chinese engines like the P twins.

[@Jonathan-L]

Yamaha's dealership network is part of the reliability of their brand, so I'd pick the T7 also.

[@mat314159mat]

@@Jonathan-Lthat’s precisely why Japanese brands took years to exclude scamers and incompetent dealers from their networks . Most of them are selling 4 wheels, quads, or even mopeds, they are the one joining new asian motorcycle brads unfortunately.

[@Jonathan-L]

@@mat314159mat That's an interesting point. There's a dealership not far from me that sells Suzuki, Yamaha, KTM, GasGas, Can-Am, Zero and Stark. Years ago, it was one dealer for each brand. Obviously, the national distributors don't seem to mind. Seeing a showroom full of Suzuki & Yamaha under the one roof is something I'd never thought would happen. Times have changed.

[@benjy288]

@@Dazza-u4c Apparently the 790 engine has cam issues, but he did say this bike has a reworked top end

[@axeami1354]

picking between one of these, the cf moto 800mt/450mt and the Benelli 702x and the vogue 900x. heavily leaning towards the 450mt.

[@PaulJackson-w6m]

Thanks Michael, i like the looks.great review

[@creedm3040]

Awesome video! Very well presented. Best!

[@MaxUtley]

What a great review - professional. This and Cf Moto will be a competitor to Aprilia Tuareg for me when I do America next year - currently on 450 CF Moto in China - awesome

[@americandirtrider7662]

That is the comparison I'd really like to see. I know the KOVE weighs less, but the Tuareg carries fuel lower. The extra power of the KOVE would be nice, but the Aprilia has a really nice electronics package right out of the box. Dealer networks sucks for both, and long term reliability is a question mark for both.

[@twowheelpilot]

KTM 890R china too. I own a 2023. It has J Juan brakes, CFMOTO frame and the same parts as the 790. What isn't Chinese about the 890R? The Bosch ABS?

[@constantinosschinas4503]

I thought only up to 790 were made in China, hence the okish price.

[@zacwondertube]

How about over 70 years of know-how about what works and what not when you design and build a motorcycle? To copy something doesn't mean you understand it.

[@bearcatracing007]

​@zacwondertube how about those companies over 70 years old still getting it wrong 😂

[@twowheelpilot]

@@zacwondertube It's not a copy. KTM licenced product. I'm not sure that you are referring too.

[@scannorse]

@@zacwondertube Why did they implement cylinders breaking, TPI and no Enduro GP wins since, swing arm breaking, engines breaking, lousy WP suspension.....why when they have 70 years (they do not, as it is a different company, own by somebody else/capital fund)

[@kurvaonwheels]

It makes sense that the TC has a timer. I assume it's for short stops during a ride that you won't have to reactivate every stop, and after a long stop so you won't forget it off.

[@Tim9999999991]

Does this have the same cam melting issue as the other 790/890 motors?

[@axxamit]

No, they rebuilt the top, put in heavier shafts, and improved oiling [so I was told]

[@CptSlow89]

iS IT FIXED ON 890ADV 2023?

[@AntaresSQ01]

"Cam melting issue" lol... affects less than 0.5% of bikes...

[@MotoGuzziMoto]

@@AntaresSQ01 I thought it was a design and manufacturing issue with lubrication of the cam relying on a squirter that didn't get enough pressure on startup, and soft cam material. I guess only 0.5% of owners have found they have an issue...

[@mojoriden]

They being ktm not kove

[@motopasky]

Imo, for ADV bikes like this Kove and the T7, the power to weight ratio is indicative for overall feel in balance & performance. Also, the Kove comes with rear rack, bash plate and engine guards standard + 4l of extra fuel. If we go off the real figures shown in the video, the Kove has a hp to weight ratio of 0.41 (hp/kg) and the T7 has a ratio of 0.34 (hp/kg) - (20% less). Adding the rear rack, bash plate & engine guards would bring the weight of the T7 to approx 220 kg and ratio to 0.31 (hp/kg) - (32% less). A significant difference?

[@Blockbuster2033]

On motorcycles you always have to include the rider weight in power to weight calculations. That brings them much closer together. With a 80kg rider that would result in 0.24hp/kg for the Tenere and 0.29hp/kg for the 800X, that's a 17% difference. However, as seen on the dyno curves in the video, up to 8000rpm, they are practically identical in power, only above that the Kove pulls away. So in the real world you are not going to notice the extra power very often. The weight however, 10kg less than the Tenere with 4l extra fuel is huge.

[@morthskarampouzouklis8561]

@@Blockbuster2033 Basicaly a much cheaper tenere on steroids and tubeless rims for much less money.Even if its not reliable as the tenere the difference in price will pay itself to rebuild the engine or any problems that MIGHT occur

[@Blockbuster2033]

@@morthskarampouzouklis8561 I half agree, however, when doing a large trip, maybe far away from civilization, I don't want my bike to explode itself. I honestly don't expect this to happen with the 800X, it's not that hard to build reliable bikes these days, but it still isn't proven. Personally I couldn't care less about tubeless tires, but as an owner of a T7 Extreme, the slightly larger tank at similar fuel consumption at lower weight sounds great. I ain't gonna switch because I'm happy with the T7 and I did a lot to make it my own. That includes shaving a lot of weight off it. But I like working on my bikes because I want to, not because I have to (when the motor blows up or whatever).

[@janstibor5952]

@@Blockbuster2033 Hi can you please share how did you shave off the weight on Tenere?

[@Blockbuster2033]

@@janstibor5952 I removed the charcoal canister, did a single disc conversion for the front brake system, a fender delete for the rear, removed passenger footpegs, and a lighter battery.

[@MotoGoato]

"A copy of the KTM engine with a slightly reworked top end" = hopefully it wont eat it's own cams for breakfast 😉

[@anxiousappliance]

Be interesting to see how that plays out. KTM can say it's a race bike dude, Kove and CFMoto can't get away with that. They need this engine to be like a rock.

[@Angry-Lynx]

It does there's already first photo on Facebook, but it's not nearly as bad as usually in ktm

[@channelchangedname]

Importers says that this engine is built completely different 😅

[@mat314159mat]

@@channelchangednameyup it’s more like chinesium alloy

[@aqeeqansari]

​@@channelchangednameit actually is much different than a 790. Many upgrades

[@Mikolaj_u]

My favourite mcn tester 🎉

[@In-Marty-We-Trust]

I wanna see Neevsy run that track on a Gixxer 750 😂😂

[@marcutrillogibert9154]

I bought one, weighed it with the full tank, and it is exactly 190 kg. I have to say that Kove advertises 19 liters, but it only holds about 17.5 liters." Definitely I prefer the kove that my old tenere 700.

[@charliequach6399]

This seems much better than the CFmoto 800MT cause it's 230kg or so. Excellent review. I can't wait for Kove bikes to come here in Australia, especially this model.

[@bitterlifes]

If i have to choose between this Kove or T7, definitely would be the Kove! Generally speaking Kove have more advantages over T7. All in all this is a excellent looking midweight off road oriented adv bike! Well done KOVE 👍

[@shadowred1980]

Any chance of getting your hands on the Kove Dakar bike to test ?

[@MotoGuzziMoto]

What a novel idea actually weighing and dyno testing the bike. I so wish this was the first thing every reviewer did to stop the bullshit lies from manufacturers. KTM will be shaking in their boots right now. Also, it is of no value to review the suspension at the setting provided from the dealer. That is a bit like reviewing a car and leaving the seat in the original position. You should review it based on the best configuration available to you in the time you have it. Thanks for a truly valuable review.

[@kkhalifah1019]

Totally agree! So far everybody takes the manufacturer's word for how much a bike weighs. Actual kerb weight testing should keep them honest!

[@eoghanhennessy15]

Kerb/wet weight is usually 1/2 tank of fuel = the average amount of fuel it will have at a given time. With a 20L tank and assuming 1kg per L of fuel (I know it’s not exact) that’s where the extra 10kg is…

[@andrewbozhozr]

My thoughts exactly

[@tobymcnicol922]

What torque figures did you get out of it? Thoughtful, comprehensive 1st ride review 👍

[@3dler923]

Hello, first of all you did a great review, there are actually no questions left unanswered. Unfortunately, the KTM 790 as well as the 890 and 990 are no longer good, they have oil leaks in various places and even complete engine damage. I'm curious to see how the "Kove-Ktm" engine holds up after being revised. Sorry Google Translate, greetings from Germany

[@thorstentrapp274]

A bit of a pity the rear frame isn't bolted on...seems like they changed that. However, taking off the crash bars you're below 190kg and that's exceptional for a 800cc bike with a 20l tank and 48mm fork.

[@Adventure_blac]

True those are very stout forks and weight.

[@Adventure_blac]

Pretty sure I’m in a FB group and it’s getting tested In The US. A Quickshifter is an option or standard

[@benjy288]

They would be some damn heavy crash bars

[@richardsimpson3792]

Thanks for such a detailed and factual review. The low-speed fuelling issue indicates the engine has been set up with a 'dry idle': in over-run with the throttle closed the fuel is shut off altogether. This has fuel consumption and emissions control advantage. You would probably get used to it: if not just working the clutch a bit will damp out the worst of it.

[@Blockbuster2033]

All modern engines must have a "dry idle" or overrun fuel cutoff. Some manufacturers however get the transition from no injection to injection sorted smoother than others. It is a tricky thing to do, but is definitely possible with enough development and care.

[@jesses1589]

Give it a bit of time and Mr Wang's shop or the like will come up with an "Off-road only" Tune to deal with those fueling issues. The aftermarket is much more effective at skirting the EPA red tape.

[@thorstentrapp274]

Great review...thanks.

[@snupermoto723]

Good review, time will tell regarding the bike

[@noze02]

Excellent review, professional, honest and very comprehensive. We just need to wait too see how reliable it is. Being the owner of a Tenere for the last 4 years, the only reason I did not bought a 790R is my previous experiences with KTMs, they are great bikes but problematic. This feels similar at this point but I would be very happy if they prove me wrong, then it will become my next bike and I will be happy to forget the hight CG, crap exhaust hanger, cheap suspension and horrible ABS of my Yamaha💪💪

[@mrt4755]

got to see 1 of these in person here in the US and im very intrested to learn more it almost seems to good to be true being so light as a 800 and at such a low price

[@generaldistrust]

IMH(umble)O, a whole world is anxious for even just a preview of the *800X RALLY!*

[@KillPit78]

Is this motorcycle taller from the CF 450 mt? Thank you for your nice review

[@Jonathan-L]

Lack of dealerships is a big factor to consider. In my part of the world, no existing bike dealer will take on another brand. Nobody will start a dealership with just a few models. Where I live, if the local CFMoto dealer didn't offer quad bikes & SSV for farmers, they'd sell nothing & wouldn't survive. I can't see dealers here taking on Kove as a brand, not even the existing KTM dealers. The cheap price is soon forgotten when the bike is parked up or stranded in a remote location. If nothing goes wrong with a bike or you don't drop it & break stuff, then you can just keep riding it forever. But, it's not a case of if, but when you'll need to get parts or find a dealer who will agree to work on a model that they have little experience with. Sometimes I wish Toyota offered motorcycles, but if that was going to happen, it would have been done a long time ago.

[@barebonesmc]

a question? is the Kayaba suspension a split system like the Tuareg? ie one leg compression damping one leg for rebound

[@kejtk6527]

Hey. Any word on when the 800X Touring will be available in Europe?

[@964tractorboy]

A great review as usual Michael, thanks. A good-looking bike for sure.

[@michaelguy593]

Thank you, I really enjoyed the test 👍🏻

[@angelracing]

this bike shows great potencial!...

[@TheLiddleBigChannel]

Excellent review, very comprehensive! Which model is it? On Kove website they have a Standard model 245mm clearance, a Pro model 275mm clearance and then there is also the Rally model 293mm clearance and a super low weight of 165kg.

[@dentman67]

Outstanding review. Well done.

[@juliusjacob1416]

I would've liked it if you compared it more to its rivals. Yes, you mentioned the T7 a lot of times, but that's just one bike. Where does it sit in terms of performance between the T7, 890(R)/, Touareg 660, Vstrom 800, DesertX?

[@DennisMerwood-xk8wp]

Benelli TRK702?

[@Potatoman7]

What a brilliant review..

[@aqeeqansari]

Nice vid. The 196 wet is with a full tank of gas I take it. With an empty tank and a dry battery (which the 800x pro comes with) its 185 kg, with fuel it's 192

[@agile-j4d]

Fantastic review, thanks!

[@Qbasz007]

Thanks for the measurements!

[@落花生-o2z]

could u please tell me how to transfer it to UK and how much the insurance cost? I also would like to buy a Chinese bike in UK, but my colleague told me that it would be toooooo difficult

[@MrMickjbriggs]

AJP PR7, you dismissed it on the Sweetlamb test as you couldn't get a new model but I'd love to see a full review.

[@Rossi593]

Great review and covers most of my areas of interest. The Chinese are highly capable of building excellent quality. I’ve seen this in industrial fields. The issue of cam wear is something KTM should have been on top of and makes me worry about design. As others have rightly said this is the 790 engine not a copy. Whilst it has the T7 in its sights the lack of quick shifter is odd considering how good the rest of the spec is. Lower weigh (total and CoG) are the most significant things for me. The T7 is top heavy and too tall for me at 5’”8. I’m still working on my 701 Enduro to make it the light, skinny go anywhere bike but could be tempered by this for its road manners.

[@xenoaltrax485]

196kg wet for an 800cc, damn! Kove needs to update their 500X which currently weighs around the same wet (even the new CFMoto 450MT weighs around the same wet), I bet Kove could get an updated 500X down to 180kg, crazy how these Chinese manufs are upping the game.

[@ktm690endurorally]

Possibly the kerb weight not fully fueled weight? Kerb weight has always been a bit of a grey zone of wording. Also, is it 185 with a little *…. With the * possibly meaning without the crash bars?

[@benjy288]

Maybe 3/4 full with no crash bars and no battery?

[@davidkallstrom4349]

Great video. Do you have the real weight on the t7

[@ogasi1798]

brilliant bike that will shake the market up proper, my only concern that is holding me back is the cams.... have Kove fixed the cam because we know this history of the engine

[@ads_rides]

Isn't the claimed weight of this bike stated with half a tank of fuel or did i dream that up?that would add up if so

[@chrishart8548]

Half a tank is only worth 7kg and wouldn't notice that in a big way.

[@ads_rides]

@chrishart8548 its a 20l tank so half of that would be 10kg and hit the claimed weight kove state i think id notice an extra 10kg picking it up maybe not riding it so much tho although he does say it holds it's weight better thab a t7 so would probably feel alot lighter than one of them

[@chrishart8548]

@@ads_rides the T7 feels really top heavy. Doesn't help the front of the bike being around 12" higher than the seat. Aprilia 660 feels just as bad. The front of the bike really is high up.

[@ads_rides]

@chrishart8548 the Aprilia feels nothing like the t7 trust me it carries it's weight alot better and lower top of the tank on the Aprilia is all airbox 👍

[@motopasky]

Correct, curb weight does not require the tank to be full, only to be 'ready to ride'. Manufacturers generally quote weight with the tank 1/2 or 2/3 filled with fuel.

[@PieroZanetti]

Your scale must be off, everyone around the world measured between 191 and 192 kg with full tank...apart from that, that's a great review, great job!

[@Weltbummler23]

Right but u avoided the main question: which one is going in in the garage, t7 or 800x? 800x or 890 advR?

[@keyboarddancers7751]

Kove created a highly competent, successful and phenomenally affordable Dakar bike (450 Rally). If the same approach to pricing and robust quality has been applied to the 800, then other mid weight ADV manufacturers will need to don their thinking caps.

[@jakubpetricek5012]

Did they made the cams in KOVE engine from better material than the KTM's peanut butter-like material cams?

[@TubbyTrialTeam]

Looks bloody great to me.

[@paulsmith-y3e]

Excellent road test and shows Chinese bikes are coming and are serious bikes.

[@kkhalifah1019]

196kg actual wet weight isn't a surprising departure from the claimed 185kg, given there is no fixed methodology for measuring wet weight. Suzuki for example is known to provide wet weight figures based on a half-full fuel tank, if I'm not mistaken. So take away 10 litres of petrol from the 20-litre tank, we're looking at 188kg thereabouts. Not too far off, then. Sub-200kg wet weight still makes this bike something of a game-changer. The only fly in the ointment is that KTM had just officially admitted camshaft issues on the 790 engine used in this bike, offering free camshaft replacement as a remedy. Wonder where Kove (and CFmoto too) stands on the matter?

[@ianlaing2411]

At 5:06, look how wide the car exits the corner into camera view, the car heading away from camera is lucky to not be a little further up the road.

[@shane4090]

Seems to me the Aprilia tuareg is a closer comparison, infact you are pretty much describing the tuareg here but for more money, I would be willing to say the Kove looks better but It would be nice to see a comparison.

[@dianedownie5951]

Do the Dyno on the bike and let us know if the fueling improves.

[@fozzy1717]

Dont forget kove are doing a pro race version thst will be more off road focus fir those wanting a more off road bias

[@johnborg6301]

it's easy on the eye imho. still struggle with the china thing but the are improving and coming , like it or not.

[@BroadwayT660]

The bike is basically a KTM, I'm sure the KTM dealer network can support the parts request for engine related needs.

[@murraytrimmer228]

It is a very good, informative video. Quality? Time will tell.

[@קוביריש]

Thank you for this video (it would be great to have some "translation subtitels" to km/cm/liters for the rest of the world). How was the seat height for shorter riders?

[@briancummings4912]

Slightly disappointed with the claimed weight? Well the Kove holds more fuel and crash bars. What is the weight of the Tenere with bars and extra fuel?

[@MickH60]

Exactly...

[@soulrebelno1]

I had a Yamaha Ténéré 700, and it was unbelievably top-heavy (20:23)! You felt you were fighting to keep the bike upright all the time, and the very soft front suspension didn't help, either. You soon learnt to scan the road ahead when coming to a stop for things like potholes or very steep cambers. It's also a very tall bike and I had a few hairy moments on it, and I'm 6' 2"! I had for a year and then went back to a sports bike, I'm much happier, and I feel a lot safer on the road. If I was buying another adventure bike, I'd go for something like a nice tidy, second-hand low mileage GS, or more likely, a sports crossover like the Suzuki GSX-S1000GX, because the only off-roading most of these types of bikes ever see is when they're on a campsite! 😁

[@lucascaccini8406]

if it's tall at 6ft2, imagine at 5ft8......

[@soulrebelno1]

@@lucascaccini8406 The new BMW R1300GS comes with a new EVO Telelever and EVO Paralever, and a new dynamic suspension adjustment (DSA) system, which also includes adaptive vehicle height control (AVHC), But, it'll cost you a small fortune, and, by all accounts, most owners of the new BMW R1300GS don't know how to set it up properly, yet. Personally, I'd just throw some soft bags over a nice sports bike, because like most GS's, it's never going to go off-road! 😁

[@lucascaccini8406]

I had a 1090 adventure s, which it’s a little lower (850 mm) but still a big bike. I just learnt how to manage it… rode a 1290 r and an 890 r too, doable, but I wouldn’t want such a tall bike for my everyday. What I found out is that the width of the saddle it’s more important than the height itself. in the end I wouldn’t bore with too fancy electronic systems for this purpose, just ride a bike that makes you comfortable (and maybe that is not 250 kgs 😂)

[@soulrebelno1]

@@lucascaccini8406 I agree, the Yamaha Ténéré 700 had a narrow seat, but I found that the position of the pegs tended to splay your legs. To replace my Ténéré, I got bought a Suzuki SV650, because I got offered a cracking deal on a pre-reg 2021 model. I planned to sell it after a year, but it's so enjoyable to ride, it's now approaching three years. I did enjoy myself on the Yamaha Ténéré 700, and I loved things like the commanding road presence, and they're great over pothole roads and speed humps. But, they're hard to move about because of their sheer size and weight, especially with knobbly tyres, and due to their design they have a high centre of gravity, which is a pain. Adventure bikes do have their place, but personally, I don't think they make the best road bikes. If you're not going off-road, and let's face it, most people don't, then buy a bike designed for the job. I'll probably look at changing my bike early next year, and I would love an Aprilia Tuono 1100 V4 Factory, but the new Yamaha MT-09 SP probably makes more sense! 👍

[@soulrebelno1]

@@lucascaccini8406 I agree, the Yamaha Ténéré 700 had a narrow seat, but I found that the position of the pegs tended to splay your legs. Adventure bikes do have their place, but personally, I don't think they make the best road bikes. If you're not going off-road, and let's face it, most people don't, then buy a bike designed for the job. I got bought a Suzuki SV650, because I got offered a cracking deal on a pre-reg 2021. I planned to sell it after a year, but it's such a good bike that it's now approaching three years!

[@whatstrue1481]

I have CF Moto 800 MT Touring and it also has the KTM 790 motor in it and it suffers from the exact same on / off throttle snatch.

[@markstrawbridge9133]

think it'll come down to reliability and dealer network and yamaha have both covered

[@wudntulike2no32]

If Kove can make a more reliable and lighter 790, it will be the first brand new bike I buy. I have seen too many broken KTMs to buy one.

[@CheradenineZakalwe]

Can you weight T7 on same scales? When you are doing side by side comparisons.. please always weight them in same scale

[@michaelguy593]

It was 205kg on the same scales fully fueled. Thanks Michael

[@CheradenineZakalwe]

@@michaelguy593 Thank you for the clarification, love your reviews!

[@carpe_via]

Your test screen says 69 not 65 bhp for the Tenere?

[@volvogt21]

It's no Tuareg but looks good and the weight is impressive

[@mechanic3d]

Shape is amazing and heart touching

[@marcoruozzi8556]

Would you switch your ktm 690 for one of these? (With a fuel map 😂) By the way great review!

[@michaelguy593]

Good question! But it’s a no. The Kove or any middleweight adventure would be better than my 690 on the street, but off road, which is the fun bit, my 690 is on another level 😊

[@mysterybiker1717]

Any link to the ktm is the kiss of death from a reliability perspective, electronics and cams. Steer well clear.

[@Jonathan-L]

That, plus lack of dealerships. In my part of the world, no existing bike dealer will take on another brand. Nobody will start a dealership with just a few models. Where I live, if the local CFMoto dealer didn't offer quad bikes & SSV for farmers, they'd sell nothing & wouldn't survive. I can't see dealer here taking on Kove as a brand, not even the existing KTM dealers. Yamaha has the strength in dealership network coverage.

[@jesses1589]

I'm not scared of that aspect. It's been out for some time in China. The 450s have been great bikes that are not totally problem free but not bad at all considering where they came from and first production runs. Most issues result from EPA fueling requirements to meet emission targets. The aftermarket has already addressed those issues. Those that are afraid of a spanner probably won't be one that rides in excess pushing this bike to limits anyway.

[@p305-mrworldwide9]

So you better off getting this over the translap

[@blinking137]

great vid, thx for making, its was probably weighed by them with half a tank as some tanks sizes vary and they would get the best match at 10l) and a 20l tank being halved, is10kg saved which brings it in at the 185 ? just a thought

[@chrishart8548]

1L of petrol does weight 1kg it's 720g. So that 10L is more like 7.02kg

[@blinking137]

@@chrishart8548 makes sense , the SG is less. Do you know if the tenere was weighed brimmed ? without adding fuel to the mix ~(terrible pun I know) but if we could separate out how much fuel the bikes were weighed with by the manufacturer or MCN then we would have a accurate weight difference understanding on the design and components.

[@michaelguy593]

@@blinking137 Hi there both bikes were full of fuel when weighed so 16l for the Tenere and 20l for the Kove. Cheers Michael

[@blinking137]

@@michaelguy593 Thx ! so that 2.9 kg diff 4x720g was part of the overall weight difference then ?

[@axxamit]

The aggressive engine braking is spot-on. I almost flew through the bars when I was riding it for three first time 😂

[@lgrw660factory]

Still not sure why I should consider buying a Chinese bike. Is it better? Is it cheaper? Does it look nicer than other bikes? Some Chinese bikes might be one or even two of those but I can’t think of any that are all three.

[@anxiousappliance]

In some cases yes.

[@lgrw660factory]

@@anxiousappliance name them

[@axxamit]

@@lgrw660factorywell, this one. It’s better than the 790 [improved top of the engine, improved oiling, heavier camshafts], it definitely looks better, and it’s cheaper. It also weighs less and has a few more horses.

[@lgrw660factory]

@@axxamit no way does this bike look better than a T7 and you have absolutely no assurances that it’s even remotely as reliable as a T7. I prefer to give my ££££ to democracies wherever possible, so there’s also that. What other Chinese bikes were you referring to?

[@Blockbuster2033]

​@@lgrw660factoryI totally agree. Buying from china (or rather not buying from there) is less about the quality of the product and more about the politics of the country itself.

[@davidangus7559]

Looking at the dyno curve the Kove only produces more power right at the top of the rev range. I would suggest for 90% of riding it would feel identical to the Tenere.

[@Jonathan-L]

Yes, peak figures aren't relevant to normal riding.

[@richardsimpson3792]

Pretty much what was said in the video.

[@scannorse]

Nonsense….it feels quicker in all rew ranges. Speaking off on real world experience, not from a desk. And the kove shifts gear without a klonk and the clutch is light and cosy, further the suspension is way ahead of T7

[@Alexanderpaal67]

Airfilter location ? Airtemprature & milage to empty indicator ?

[@matthewallison6823]

Air filter access is between the fuel tank and the headstock.

[@Alexanderpaal67]

@@matthewallison6823 What is a headstock ?

[@matthewallison6823]

Where the forks fit into the frame. I would call it a head tube on a mountain bike.

[@andybatchelor6665]

What is the price?

[@outdoorkreations7051]

Hope it had different valve train and cams than the ktm lc8

[@vplph]

There's a lot getting 'lost in translation' and it is NOT always bad faith from Chinese / asian manufacturers. After 5 years living in Asia I noted that there are still misunderstandings of 'kerb weight' , euro 5 rating, etc... how surreal it may appear in internet age.

[@williamrae9954]

The Transalp Honda, should have built!

[@mrjay4000]

If only one bike, this is closest in power and weight to a Tuareg and that would be a great match up.

[@chrishart8548]

Does make you wonder how this is as light as it is. Where is the extra weight on the yamaha living

[@scannorse]

The yam is made of iron and using a road engine

[@christianbernilmx]

Nice to see bikes being tested for their claimed horse power and weight. That's rarely done.