Kove’s little sports car adds 50 cc to its engine capacity and appears ready for its debut
June 5, 2023
The Kove brand is in great turmoil and we are sure that it is one of the most awaited for its commercial debut in Italy, after its appearance at EICMA 2022 and the subsequent agreement with Pelpi International for the exclusive distribution for Italy of the motorcycles of the Tibetan manufacturer.
In our interview with Cesare Galli CEO of Pelpi International we had tried to understand the arrival sequence of the Kove motorcycles in Italy and, in particular, for the sporty 400 RR there was talk of spring 2024. It is a small 4-cylinder whose salient data we had already shown but which now on the Chinese site of Kove it appears definitive and with an interesting displacement upgrade which is now 450 cc (effective 443 cc). As a result, the name it becomes changes as well 450RR.
The new data show a sports car that could really revive the glories of motorcycles with clip-on handlebars, bringing users closer – let’s imagine at competitive prices – to a segment that in recent years hasn’t found great acclaim for the well-known reasons of costs, superpowers, limits homologation certificates and anything else that has made the management of a modern 1000/1100 cc sports motorbike demanding (or prohibitive), given the progressive disappearance from our roads of the 600 cc, decimated (also) by anti-pollution regulations.
If Kawasaki with its next Ninja ZX-4R has thrown the stone in the pond and launched an aggressive sports car from 188 kg e 80 horsepower with pressurized air box, the Kove 450RR unleashes a power of 70.71 horsepower at 13,000 rpm with 39 Nm of torque at 10,500 rpm from its liquid-cooled double overhead camshaft four-cylinder engine, equipped with slipper clutch and traction control, for a declared top speed of 220 km/h.
Saddle height is stated on three different heights (we assume that three different saddles will therefore be available or that the saddle is adjustable): 780mm, 785mm or 795mm, the tank capacity is equal to 14 liters and the curb weight is declared in 165 kg. The chassis is based on an aluminum frame, with a USD fork at the front and a single shock absorber at the rear.
The braking system equipped with ABS is also sporty: two 300 mm discs at the front, while at the rear we find a single 220mm disc bitten by a single piston caliper. Obviously 17 inch wheels with 120/70 front and 160/60 rear tyres.
As reported by Cycleworld, the Performance version of the 450RR will have Kayaba suspension and the front calipers will be radially mounted with 4 pistons.
