Kove Moto (formerly called Colove) is a Chinese motorcycle brand with sights on the European market. The company made an appearance at this year’s EICMA, and it fired warning shots at the market leaders with its on-display motorcycles. The protagonist was the Kove 400RR sportbike which, with its inline-four heart, is easily the most powerful 400cc motorcycle out there. Not to mention, it takes us back to the pre-emission norm days when small, race-derived four-cylinder motorcycles - like the 1989 Honda CBR250 RR - were all the riot.

The key talking point is Kove’s impressive engine. It is a 399cc, four-cylinder unit with an extraordinary 13:1 compression ratio – which is even higher than the Suzuki Hayabusa’s engine. As a result, the 400RR churns out 68 horsepower, more than the Kawasaki Ninja 650, let alone the Ninja 400. What makes matters even more impressive is the claimed 152kg (335 pounds) weight, and the stonking claimed top speed of 220kmph (136mph).

Unlike the engine, the underpinnings aren’t game-changing, but still likable. The 400RR boasts upside-down forks and twin discs up top, followed by a monoshock and a single disc outback. All this pairs up with 17-inch alloy wheels and an asymmetric gull-wing swingarm. Concurrently, the seat height and fuel tank capacity measure 795mm and 15 liters.

The Kove 400RR looks distinctive, especially for a 400cc offering. It has an aggressive fascia with four projectors flanked by aerodynamic winglets and edgy bodywork. The rear end, meanwhile, looks inspired by the Ducati Panigale V4, but it’s not a blatant copy, at least. It’ll be interesting to see how good this looks in the flesh, as pictures usually don’t tell the full story. Design aside, in typical Chinese fashion, the 400RR is loaded with features. We’re talking a sizable TFT instrument cluster, smartphone connectivity, USB type-C port, and electronic rider aids, all available as standard.

The Kove 400RR is expected to debut in the European market next year, as a 2024 model. What will be interesting, though, is how Kove tackles the stringent Euro-5 norms and how different the European variant will be. If Kove finds a way to keep most of it unchanged, we believe the 400RR will be a no-brainer for enthusiasts, especially thanks to its baffling engine. Sadly, the chances of Kove setting foot in America are slim, because Chinese products rarely do well here.

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