South Africa is getting a new brand – it’s called QJMotor, one of China’s largest motorcycle makers, producing more than 1.2 million units a year and selling them in more than 130 countries.
The company is owned by car giant Geely, whose ownership portfolio also includes such names as Volvo, Lotus and part of Mercedes-Benz. You might’ve seen the name QJMotor on the side of Moto2 GP machines and their 800 superbike in the World Supersport Championship.
The brand is being imported by KMSA, a company that last year celebrated 50 years of running. It has a bunch of experience in motorcycles, having imported such brands as Kawasaki, Sym and Lifan, plus accessories like Arai, Pirelli and Motul.
For now, South Africa will receive seven models ranging from 450cc to 900cc, with four superbikes, two adventure models and one cruiser. Each motorcycle makes use of Marzocchi suspension and Brembo braking systems. They feature most of the electronic gadgetry available, including connectivity to Apple CarPlay and the equivalent Android system.
There were six models to test at the launch – sadly, the SRK800 superbike was not available on the day – and about a hundred press and dealers wanting to ride them. So everyone got exactly one lap on each bike around Formula K. That’s not exactly in-depth road testing but rather a quick sample. We will get machines for more long-term tests, but for now, here’s a quick-fire road test on each model.
SRT700 SX adventure – R129,995
You didn’t read that price wrong. It really does cost that much, and the good news continues for the rest of the models – keep reading.
The SX version of the SRT adventure bikes uses spoked wheels, which is good, although they are only available with 19-inch front wheels. While us hardcore South Africans might exclaim from the hills that we need 21-inch fronts, we all secretly know that 19-inch will work just fine. After all, keep that price in mind.
The 700 makes use of a 698cc parallel-twin that pushes 70 hp and a nice round 70 Nm of torque. It also weighs in at 243 kg.
Around the go-kart track, it was smooth and easy to ride, with the motor jumping for joy with every throttle turn. It’s as comfortable as any adventure machine, with a TFT dash and button array to match the best in the business.
More so, it has panniers and a top box as standard, plus heated grips and seat, all included in that R129,995 price.
SRT900 SX – R169,995
The SRT900 is the bigger brother of the adventure range, with a 904cc parallel-twin motor putting out 93 hp and 90 Nm of torque while weighing 257 kg. More so, it should have very little trouble munching the miles with its 24-litre tank.
It was a handful around Formula K; however, it is equipped with rider modes, and in the quick lap we did, I have no idea which mode it was in.
It is rather comfortable, with a sofa-like seat, a classy button array and the same TFT dash as the 700. It, too, has panniers, a top box and heated everything included in that price
SRV600 V – R119,995
The cruiser of the group certainly has a badass look about it, made even more badass by the vee motor. Everyone likes a vee motor – it’s what everyone uses in MotoGP and some of the most badass motorcycles in the world have the famous vee.
This one, though, is a V-four. It has double the number of vee cylinders as the usual cruiser.
The 561cc V-four motor pushes 70 hp through six gears and a belt drive.
It may be a cruiser, yet it somehow feels small and completely lacks that sluggish feel cruisers normally have when trying to navigate, for example, the corners on a go-kart track. This one feels small and agile. We don’t know how they managed that.
The V-four motor doesn’t boot-kick mounds of torque at the bottom end, but gets better and better as the revs rise. Eventually, at around 7,000 rpm, it’s screaming your arms out of their sockets.
SRK450 RR – R104,995
We already have sports bikes in this capacity range – joining QJMotor in the KMSA stable is the Kawasaki Ninja 500, and it is a glorious machine, utilising a parallel-twin that pushes 44 hp and costs R124,995. Comparatively, the SRK450 has an inline four-cylinder motor pushing 77 hp and costing R20,000 less.
Bloody hell!
As you can imagine, a 421cc four-cylinder screams. It screams loudly. It waves its hand in the air in a joyful show of flamboyance. It looks brilliant, it runs brilliantly and the price is within range of new earners.
I really hope this bike takes off.
SRK600 RC – R129,995
We once again have a new, road-legal 600cc four-cylinder on the market, like we had in the old days before modern times happened.
It produces 80 hp which is not chart-topping – far from it, in fact – but it does also cost R129,995, which is the price of some 300s. That’s incredible.
Around Formula K, it feels like an old-school four-cylinder 600, screaming mightily and lending the rider a joyous mix of fear and thrill.
SU 9 – R189,995
You might recognise the look – it is a copy of the MV Agusta Superveloce. Well, “copy” is a strong word – the Chinese have a history of making shameless replicas of well-known goods; however, this one is more benign. QJMotor and MV Agusta entered into a technical partnership a few years ago, and this motorcycle is apparently built with the blessing of the Italians. And it looks damn fine.
The motor is a 921cc four-cylinder pushing 127 hp, which is jolly good fun considering it is half the price of motorcycles with similar performance.
SRK800 RR – R139,995
Although we didn’t get to ride the SRK800 RR, the bike was there. The SRK 800 RR features a 778cc, four-cylinder, 16-valve DOHC, liquid-cooled engine delivering 75.0 Nm of torque and 75.0 kW of power. Brembo brakes are fitted to both wheels. Kerb weight is 211 kg, paired with a 16-litre fuel tank.
Overall, these machines are well built, thoughtfully specified and poised to make a strong impact on South Africa’s motorcycle scene. But don’t just take our word for it, we highly recommend visiting your nearest QJMOTOR dealer and booking a test ride to experience them for yourself. We will bring you a more in depth look on each model soon.
The launch also featured a preview of KMSA’s new BRC range, although we’ll be covering that separately on Dirt & Trail.
