Virtually everything on the Kove 250 is sourced in China, which allows the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) to come in at $5999. First and foremost, the Kove is an intriguing bike. It stands out as, to my knowledge, the first genuine motocross bike originating from China.
While most other bikes from mainland Asia tend to be replicas, the Kove presents itself as a unique entity. Collaborating with nearby Zongshen, Kove has developed a DOHC six-speed motor.
The top end, clutch, and numerous components are crafted by Kove itself. The suspension comes from a Chinese company named Yu An, and the brakes are manufactured by Taisko.
What’s particularly impressive about the Kove is its familiarity. Everything feels just right; the seat, handlebars, and riding position are all contemporary and comfortable.
This comes as a surprise because bikes from mainland Asia often have unconventional layouts. Simply sitting on it, one could easily mistake it for a Honda. Starting it up is effortless, and its sound mirrors that of any other 250cc motocross bike.
In terms of performance, the Kove realistically falls slightly behind most other 250 race bikes of today, a fact freely admitted by its importers in Utah.
It weighs around 5 percent more than many others (237 pounds without fuel compared to 227 for a Husky FC250) and produces approximately 17 percent less horsepower (37.5 versus 44.4 for the Husky).
However, when riding the bike, these statistics don’t dominate your thoughts. It revs like any modern 250, with most of its power concentrated in higher RPMs. To navigate the track, you push it to its limits, just like any other 250. It handles jumps and hills with ease, feeling just as it should.
Even the suspension behaves surprisingly normally. With adjustable clickers on the Yu An shock, once properly adjusted, it feels entirely mainstream. Initially, our bike’s clickers were set too far in, giving the impression of being overdamped.
Adjusting around 10 clicks out of both compression and rebound on the shock, and about 5 on the fork, brought it into the desired range.
The primary concern with most products from mainland Asia revolves around reliability. On a muddy test day at Glen Helen, Pete Murray had to push the clutch to its limits just to navigate the track.
Mud filled the radiators, causing overheating issues for other bikes across the circuit. Surprisingly, the Kove remained unaffected. On the subsequent ride, it felt as if it were still brand new. This durability is impressive.
However, one cannot ignore the horsepower deficit in today’s competitive 250 class. While the Kove serves excellently as a practice bike, a thrilling playbike, or a reliable trail bike, it still lacks the firepower to compete head-to-head with more established brands on the track. That day may well come, but for now, the allure of its low price is undeniable.
