Five top Chinese motorcycle brands to watch

Like it or not, China is a now major player in the motorcycle industry.

The motorcycle world was once dominated by Americans and Brits, then the Japanese, and now the Europeans, but China is shaping up as the next big motorcycle superpower.

Historically, many westerners have looked unfavorably on products made in China. But times are changing.

Many manufacturers around the world are turning to China for help. Famous brands like KTM, BMW, and Harley-Davidson have all partnered with Chinese manufacturers in some form. And now we’re starting to see more Chinese brands break into the western market.

The fact is that China is now totally capable of building quality, capable, and affordable products to match its western rivals.

Just take a look at the four-wheel industry. Big Chinese automakers like Great Wall/Haval, BYD, and MG (yes, MG is Chinese now) are starting to make a serious splash on our shores.

And there are a number of motorcycle brands heading in the same direction.

This is by no means an exhaustive list, but here are five Chinese motorcycle brands you need to have a look at.

A partnership with KTM has given CFMOTO plenty of attention in recent years but this brand is not the new kid on the block. Formed in 1989, CFMOTO made a name for itself in the ATV and UTV space, but it is quickly becoming a two-wheel powerhouse. The 800MT adventure tourer, 450SR sportsbike, and 700CL-X range are just some of the quality machines rolling off the CFMOTO production line. The brand also has a Moto3 team and is quietly expanding its off-road and electric offerings too.  

If Benelli is lacking anything, it makes up for it with heritage. The Italian-born company was founded 113 years ago and is now owned by Qianjiang (aka QJMotor), one of the largest motorcycle manufacturers in China. Models like the Leoncino 800 show Benelli’s desire to maintain its heritage, while incoming models like the TRK 702 adventure tourer shouldn’t be dismissed. And there is plenty in the pipeline to get excited about.

This electric dirt bike company has created a bit of a buzz in recent years, with something of an online global cult following. With the torque of a dirt bike and agility of a mountain bike, the Sur-Ron Light Bee and Ultra Bee machines are fun and capable and won’t break your budget. The brand has found a new Australian distributor in Mojo Motorcycles – the same company in charge of CFMOTO in Australia.

Great Wall Motor’s first motorcycle is no joke. Marketed under the brand name SOUO, this eight-cylinder tourer is jam-packed with technology and has many similarities to the Honda Goldwing. Of course, we don’t know pricing yet, and build quality will be the big question, but if Great Wall’s success in Australia is anything to go by, then expect the SOUO tourer to make waves.

Mason Klein raised a few eyebrows when he finished third in the opening stage of the 2024 Dakar Rally aboard a new Kove 450 Rally EX. Sadly, the American didn’t finish the rally, but he brought attention to a brand that is growing quickly. Kove was born in 2017, but its parent, the Tibet New Summit Motor Co. began in 1994. Kove has models across a wide array of genres including adventure, dirt, sports, naked, and retro. It also has growing presence in racing, both road and dirt. Kove hasn't made its way to Australia yet, but we wouldn’t be surprised if it did soon.