Motorcycle specifications Kove450 R 2025 La bombinette !

Small displacement often means low power... but not here! This 450 roadster is made exciting by its 65 hp and the promise of its light weight (164 kg). On paper, these figures point to a truly exceptional machine.

Breaking codes

To make you want to ride a small motorcycle, it has to look good. In the past, certain manufacturers had the right recipe, such as Suzuki with the 400 Bandit (very similar in numbers to this Kove), Aprilia with the 250 RS or Honda with the 500 CB, but since then, it has to be said that this spirit has been somewhat lost ... in favor of small bikes dedicated to a utilitarian role. The evolution of motorcycle licensing has put the spotlight back on small machines, and since then, manufacturers have considered them as machines in their own right, or even better, as tools for conquest.

Starting with its sporty 450RR, manufacturer Kove had to rack its brains (a little) to create a roadster front end that would blend in perfectly with the minimalist seat shell. The result is a streetfighter design in keeping with the contemporary spirit of the latest roadsters on the market. The front end is reminiscent of Kawa's Z, KTM's Duke and Honda's latest roadsters. The wide scoops around the fuel tank (17 L) are more original, in keeping with the bike's sporty spirit. Seen in real life at the Lyon Motor Show, this 450R impresses with both its presence and the sense of quality it exudes.

Chassis components also contribute to the style. The banana swingarm and trellis frame make a real impact. The integration of the exhaust under the engine is well thought-out, and the engine cowl completes the line. The small fork head houses a color TFT display that provides all the information you need while riding.

KYB suspensions feature an inverted front fork with 115 mm of travel. The rear shock is preload-adjustable and offers 45 mm of travel. Ground clearance is rated at 130 mm. TAISKO's braking system features a double disc at the front, bitten by 2-piston calipers. These are not radially mounted, but float. The rear uses a single-piston caliper. These are values we're almost unaccustomed to, but a dynamic test will tell us whether they're sufficient, given the grasshopper's light weight.

4 cylinders, 442.9 cm3 and 65 bhp at 12,000 rpm!

This is a healthy engine, even if Kawasaki's ZX-4R (80 hp) is even better in the gas-plant department. In fact, this engine's return to favor smacks of the 90s, with the ZXR 400 and VFR 400. These explosive little mills came to us from their local market, Japan, where these little sportbikes shone and were perfectly adapted. They are just as well adapted today. In today's world, to make a 4-cylinder 1000 cm3 scream on the road is to be sent to prison. Here, with these cylinders, you can weld big and strong without risking your license. I love the spirit.

The Kove 450R develops 48 kW at 12,000 rpm, and its maximum torque of 40 Nm arrives a little earlier at 9,000 rpm. Top speed is given as 205 km/h, and if you don't ride hard every day, you could even get an average fuel consumption of 4.5 L / 100 km. The bike features two riding modes: Sport or Eco, an anti-dribble clutch and a bi-directional shifter. Mechanical features that confirm the roadster's sporting DNA.

Sweeping aside the competition

When you think of segment benchmarks such as the Kawasaki Z500 or the KTM 390 Duke, you'd think Kove was shaking up the class! With at least 20 hp more, the 450R is sure to be a crowd-pleaser. It could even take on the Yamaha MT-07, which offers 73 hp but is heavier! Price will be a determining factor, but a career would be well underway with a price tag of between 6,000 and 6,500 euros ... To convince you of this, I invite you to watch the rather crazy "Ken Block"-style presentation video produced by the Chinese, where you can see the bike twisted in all directions and looking particularly sharp: https: //www.youtube.com/watch?v=931Un12VEss

Vincent Beaucousin - Manufacturer's photos