Kove Moto’s FSE 450R Is the Cheapest Rally Bike You Can Buy

New for 2023 is Chinese motorcycle manufacturer Kove Moto’s FSE 450R Rally ($8,999). As its model name implies, the 450R is a purpose-built 450cc rally bike that’s engineered for real adventure. Part adventure motorcycle, part dual sport, this new motorcycle will be arriving to US shores beginning May, 2023, says Kove Moto’s US distributor GPX Motorcycles out of Utah.

We take a spin on Kove Moto’s Chinese-built $8,999 450cc Rally bike

We take a spin on Kove Moto’s Chinese-built $8,999 450cc Rally bike (Jeff Allen/)

In current configuration, this motorcycle is a non-street-legal example, however Kove Moto says it is currently working with the EPA in an effort for it to be street-legal in the future. It competed during the 2023 Dakar Rally (view the 2023 Dakar Rally in Pictures article) that took place earlier in the year. This motorcycle is so neat because it is the first bike that you can buy off a dealership floor—in theory, because it hasn’t actually arrived at dealerships yet—that is a turn-key 450cc rally bike. Sure, Austrian motorcycle brand KTM says it offers a limited-edition rally bike for purchase, but good luck getting one.

China’s Kove Moto and Utah’s GPX Moto team up to offer this $8,999 450cc rally bike for US consumption.

China’s Kove Moto and Utah’s GPX Moto team up to offer this $8,999 450cc rally bike for US consumption. (Jeff Allen/)

This Kove FSE 450R Rally is built and engineered in China. The tires, rims, suspension, engine, and every other component is made by Chinese suppliers. As we know, with our iPhones and other gadgets that we rely on everyday, the People’s Republic of China has progressed considerably in the last few years. And the motorcycles it manufactures are becoming more real. We say that because if you recall, back in the early 2000s, when the minibike craze was going bananas in Southern California and in the other 49 US states, there was a flood of cheap and questionably-made Chinese bikes.

The 2023 Kove Moto FSE 450R Rally is adorned with a functional and attractive color TFT display.

The 2023 Kove Moto FSE 450R Rally is adorned with a functional and attractive color TFT display. (Jeff Allen/)

Bikes like the FSE 450R can’t be considered below average. Reasonably priced and well engineered, this bike is powered by a 450cc water-cooled single. Although it employs dual overhead camshafts, it sounds lumpy like a single overhead cam design reminiscent of Honda’s CRF450R. This motorcycle features electric start with switch gear that resembles what Piaggio group was using a few years ago.

The 449cc DOHC liquid-cooled single pumps out a pleasing spread of power with sharp throttle response.

The 449cc DOHC liquid-cooled single pumps out a pleasing spread of power with sharp throttle response. (Jeff Allen/)

It rides on inverted suspension that is made by Yuan. It has air bleeds atop each fork leg so you can purge pressure just like an off-road or motocross bike. Braking duties are handled by a Nissin double-piston caliper and single-piston rear brakes. A 21-inch spoked front wheel is shod with CST rubber, another Chinese supplier. At the rear is an 18-inch wheel with a hybrid aluminum and steel rear sprocket. The inner alloy portion keeps it light while steel teeth help mitigate wear. The linkage-enabled shock includes compression and rebound adjustment.

The front suspension/tire/brake combo performed well over soft terrain. We were surprised by how effective the front brake performed in deep sand.

The front suspension/tire/brake combo performed well over soft terrain. We were surprised by how effective the front brake performed in deep sand. (Jeff Allen/)

The rider’s footpegs are huge and more beefy than other production motorcycles we have ridden recently. This bike includes three different fuel tanks: two up front on either side and one in the rear. All told, this vehicle carries 8 gallons of fuel. Approximately 2.5 gallons in each forward container and 3 gallons in the rear. Full LED lighting and sleek body panels and a clean swept exhaust make for an aesthetically pleasing ride. A clever button allows you to remove the seat. This provides access to the battery and the foam air filter.

The FSE 450R Rally carries a whopping 8 gallons of fuel split among three fuel tanks (two forward, one aft).

The FSE 450R Rally carries a whopping 8 gallons of fuel split among three fuel tanks (two forward, one aft). (Jeff Allen/)

Getting the engine fired is as simple as turning the ignition key on and thumbing the starter button. Aside from ABS, there are no electronics on this motorcycle.

Kove Moto’s FSE 450R Rally is one-of-a-kind in the powersport segment. It’s especially attractive with its reasonable $8,999 MSRP.

Kove Moto’s FSE 450R Rally is one-of-a-kind in the powersport segment. It’s especially attractive with its reasonable $8,999 MSRP. (Jeff Allen/)

Seated at the controls it feels narrow and the saddle height in typical dirt bike form is tall, but it certainly isn’t overly so. When you’re riding off-road, you want a motorcycle that has a nice, flat surface above the footpegs where your legs go so you can squeeze the motorcycle. The harder you squeeze, the more control you have of the vehicle. And the more you will be able to stay safe when the motorcycle does funky things.

You’d be surprised at how nimble this 368-pound rally bike is. It offers neutral handling and is easy to get up to speed quickly.

You’d be surprised at how nimble this 368-pound rally bike is. It offers neutral handling and is easy to get up to speed quickly. (Jeff Allen/)

Twisting the throttle reveals a punchy engine that barks. With a full 8 gallons of fuel, this motorcycle weighs 368 pounds. It’s not the lightest dirt bike, but when riding, it feels pretty svelte. We’re impressed with its compactness and low center of gravity. The handlebar is tall, but a tad narrow. We wouldn’t say it’s too narrow, but it’s a little shorter than other motorcycles we’ve ridden recently. It’s also neat that you can adjust the handlebar forward or back by just rolling it with by loosening the double-duty Torx/metric fasteners. These fasteners are a nice touch as you can use either a Torx tool or a traditional metric socket to make adjustments.

The 2023 Kove Moto FSE 450R Rally is an attractive bike. Full LED lighting helps it stand out during night rides.

The 2023 Kove Moto FSE 450R Rally is an attractive bike. Full LED lighting helps it stand out during night rides. (Jeff Allen/)

Throttle response from the 450 single is nice and crisp. There is noticeable engine vibration, especially at higher rpm, but it’s not necessarily bad. You have to remember these big singles are notorious for putting off a lot of engine vibration. Rubber dampers inside the handlebar help mitigate some of the bad vibes.

The 2023 Kove Moto FSE 450R Rally is powered by a liquid-cooled 449cc DOHC fuel-injected single.

The 2023 Kove Moto FSE 450R Rally is powered by a liquid-cooled 449cc DOHC fuel-injected single. (Jeff Allen/)

It’s worth noting, if you’ve never ridden in the sand dunes, the sand requires a unique type of riding style. When it’s windy, sand blows and can make for hazardous terrain, including “witch’s eyes.” These obstacles swallow bike and rider. Be aware of your surroundings and keep your eyes up because you never know what’s ahead. The engine is mated to a six-speed transmission with a cable-actuated clutch. The clutch mechanism is bathed in engine oil just like a traditional Japanese or European spec bike while a chain final drive delivers power to the 18-inch rear wheel, with a left-hand-side chain final drive. We haven’t ridden a motorcycle that’s this much fun in the last couple months.

Motorcyclists seeking a true rally bike at an affordable price will appreciate the $8,999 2023 Kove Moto FSE 450R Rally.

Motorcyclists seeking a true rally bike at an affordable price will appreciate the $8,999 2023 Kove Moto FSE 450R Rally. (Jeff Allen/)

When upshifting into fifth gear, you can definitely feel the engine laboring. The gearing is a tad tall, but it all depends on the kind of terrain you’re riding. If you’re going to be riding a lot of fast terrain, obviously you’re going to need to have taller gearing just so you don’t have that engine spinning out of control. But for all intents and purposes, in the desert, I think the gearing could be a little taller. To be fair, this is the first time we’ve ever operated a vehicle like this on relatively unfamiliar terrain for us, because we haven’t ridden in the sand in many, many years. So maybe we’ll look into it. I do like the shift procession of the transmission. It definitely goes through cogs well. Nice, solid shift. There is no electronic quickshifter, so shifts are made the old-fashioned way, with throttle and clutch.

In terms of maintenance and durability, this engine holds 1.8 liters of engine oil and has a service interval of 5,000 miles, says Kove Moto. Kove also makes a racing-specification vehicle for a $5,000 up-charge that includes a Scotts steering damper, titanium exhaust, carbon fiber tower to mount a roll chart for navigation purposes, and mousse-style tire bibs to mitigate flat tires. Those parts are all for the discerning rally rider and racer. It also offers a short-seat-height-equipped version that uses 2-inch-lower suspension.

After a short hour’s ride, this Chinese-engineered and -manufactured 450cc Dakar rally bike is a hoot to ride. The ergonomics are awesome making it feel like a real dirt bike. The brakes work well and it handles nicely out of the crate. It feels a lot more nimble and compact than you would think despite its 368-pound curb weight.

While it isn’t the fastest 450, it isn’t the slowest either and has enough pep in soft terrain. Despite a low-voltage battery on one bike, and another being retired early because of a transmission problem, the FSE has potential. It’s worth noting that for US customers, Kove Moto stands behind its machine with a six-month warranty. Of course there’s not going to be a lot of dealers around, but Kove says it’s willing to work with its customers, so you can bring your motorcycle to your favorite shop and it will get it handled.

Would we spend our $9,000 on it? Not yet, but soon enough Kove Moto will iron out the teething problems of this motorcycle, and then it will be yet another bike needed in the garage.

Gear Box

Helmet: Arai VX-Pro4

Goggle: 100% Racecraft 2

Jersey: Alpinestars Racer Semi

Gloves: Alpinestars Radar

Pant: Alpinestars Racer Graphite

Boots: Alpinestars Tech 10 Supervented

2023 Kove Moto FSE 450R Rally Technical Specifications and Price

PRICE $8,999
ENGINE 449cc, DOHC, liquid-cooled single; 4-valve
BORE x STROKE 94.5 x 64.0mm
COMPRESSION RATIO TBD
FUEL DELIVERY Digital Bosch fuel injection
CLUTCH Wet, multiplate; cable actuation
TRANSMISSION 6-speed
FINAL DRIVE Chain
FRAME Steel
FRONT SUSPENSION Yuan 49mm inverted fork; fully adjustable; 12.0 in. travel
REAR SUSPENSION Yuan linkage-equipped shock; fully adjustable; 12.0 in. travel
FRONT BRAKE 2-piston caliper; TBD brake disc
REAR BRAKES 1-piston caliper, TBD brake disc
WHEELS, FRONT/REAR 21 in./18 in.
TIRES, FRONT/REAR CST; 90/90-21; 140/80-18
GROUND CLEARANCE 12.0 in.
WHEELBASE 58.0 in.
SEAT HEIGHT 38.0 in.
FUEL CAPACITY 8.0 gal.
CLAIMED CURB WEIGHT 368 lb.
WARRANTY 6 months
AVAILABLE May 2023
CONTACT gpxmoto.com

Source: MotorCyclistOnline.com

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *