It wasn’t until early 2020 that the first spy shots of well-engineered, Western-designed mid-capacity motorcycles began to emerge from China.
At the time, these were supposed to be new Benelli models, but they turned out to be for QJ Motor, a completely new brand launched by China’s Qianjiang Group in May of that year.
Benelli originally shared engines and chassis components, just two years later the line now boasts a staggering 37 models including singles, twos, quads, e-bikes and more.
QJMotor has confirmed that the first motorcycles will hit the European market before the end of 2022 with engines from 50cc mopeds.
Several models have just received European type approval, which means they meet safety and emission regulations, and the first dealers are registered in Germany. With the type approval barrier overcome, selling bikes in the UK should be a relatively easy task.
The first three bikes to arrive in Europe are the naked parallel twins SRK700 and SRK400, as well as the retro-styled SRV550, which uses the same chassis as Benelli’s Leoncino 500. It gets a larger 554cc engine. See which MV Agusta will be using in his Qianjiang Lucky Explorer 5.5 build.
The SRK700 is the most intriguing model of the three as it has no Benelli counterpart and is powered by a 698cc parallel twin-cylinder engine. See, very similar to the unit installed in the CFMoto 700CL-X. Peak power of 72 hp Euro5 certified engine. closely matches the power of the Yamaha MT-07 with a claimed 49.4 lb-ft of torque, though QJMotor claims both peaks are reached at lower rpm than the Yamaha can handle.
A fully loaded SRK700 with 15 liters of fuel weighs 196kg and has a German RRP equivalent of £5,900 – £1,300 less than the MT-07 and £700 less than the CFMoto 700CL-X Heritage.
Upgrade to the SRK400 and you have a clear competitor to the Yamaha MT-03. Powered by a 400cc parallel twin engine, it makes 41 hp, about half the horsepower of the MT-03, but delivers 5.5 lb-ft more torque than the 37.3 pound-feet Yamaha, and it doesn’t need that much speed. It is 18 kg heavier than the Japanese bike, and its total weight is 186 kg.
Finally, there is the SRV550. A 47-horsepower A2-licensed car that looks a lot like the Benelli Leoncino 500 and gets an extra 54cc. cm, but no more power due to A2 license restrictions. With a wet weight of 206 kg, it was the heaviest of the original trio. This is equivalent to £5,350 in Germany before travel, which is less than £50 off the Leoncino 500 MSRP.
The company then promises to bring cruisers, streamlined sport bikes and scooters to Europe in 2023, as well as adventure bikes and electric vehicles.
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Post time: Mar-23-2023
