Ex-Kove boss brings new ZXMOTO brand to Australia
A new high-performance motorcycle brand run by Kove founder Zhang Xue is headed for AustraliaHigh-performance Chinese marque ZXMOTO is set to arrive in Australia in 2026, with Melbourne-based distributor Urban Moto Imports (UMI) securing local rights.
UMI – which also represents Royal Enfield, Segway and Benelli – will leverage its existing dealer network and industry experience to establish the brand across Australia.
“This is a significant signing for Urban Moto Imports and an exciting development for riders across Australia and New Zealand,” UMI CEO Joseph Elasmar said. “Seeing the ZXMOTO operation first-hand gave us real confidence in the brand. The factory facilities and team all point to a manufacturer with serious capability.”
ZXMOTO was founded in 2024 by former Kove boss Zhang Xue and has made an immediate impact in international racing. The brand already has three wins in the FIM World Supersport Championship with rider Valentin Debise, including a 1–1 finish at Portimão.
The company also plans to contest the Shanghai round of the MXGP World Championship in September, as well as the Dakar Rally in early 2027.
Xue, a former off-road racer, founded Kove in 2017 before abruptly departing the company in 2024 to establish ZXMOTO.
The ZXMOTO lineup spans sportsbike, naked, adventure, rally and motocross categories. Its flagship model, the three-cylinder 820RR-R sportsbike, features KYB suspension, Brembo brakes, Bosch electronics and Pirelli tyres, and produces 107kW and 83Nm.
The first ZXMOTO models are expected to arrive in Australia and New Zealand from September 2026 onward.
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