Official: Kove Factory to enter MXGP paddock - Starting with EMX250 in 2027

philG
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4/21/2026 2:08pm
I have a BYD and it is an absolutely fantastic car at even better price.The Chinese are at the sharp end of world supersport as well...

I have a BYD and it is an absolutely fantastic car at even better price.

The Chinese are at the sharp end of world supersport as well which is no easy feat as that class is a full on axe murderer festival every time the lights go out.

I have zero doubt they will end up competitive, just like the Japanese.

Supersport is a BOP class, the best bikes are strangled , so everyone can play. 

4/21/2026 2:09pm

We should welcome another manufacturer, irrespective of nationality.

They will get their asses kicked, learn, go away, lick their wounds, redevelop, return stronger. Same as every new manufacturer. Success depends partly on how many cycles they have patience and budget for, but they'll cycle quicker than, say, Beta or TM can. 

Only Triumph has impressed as a new entrant in the last couple of years. Jury is still out on Ducati.

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DeStouwer
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4/21/2026 2:42pm
Finally someone will follow the heritage of the Shineray team in FIM MX paddock. 💪Was that team running Nick Triest in MX2 and KTMs with only...

Finally someone will follow the heritage of the Shineray team in FIM MX paddock. 💪

Was that team running Nick Triest in MX2 and KTMs with only decals showing Shineray or did they also run Hondas with Shannon Terreblanche before or is my mind making up stuff again?

Feel free to clarify this piece of history... i wanna say from 2007ish.

Marvin Van Daele raced a Shineray Honda 450 in 2005. 

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soggy
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4/21/2026 2:47pm
Tiki wrote:
Just like the Japanese wave in the ’60s, it started with rough builds and evolved into refinement.On that note, CFMoto has been producing bikes and components...

Just like the Japanese wave in the ’60s, it started with rough builds and evolved into refinement.

On that note, CFMoto has been producing bikes and components for brands many people already respect, more than most realize.

And then there’s the story behind Kove. The founder could have been one of us. He was a kid with a dream of racing the Dakar Rally. He didn't have a bike, so he built one. Politics aside, that’s something I can respect.

JMCR250 wrote:
Fair point, but the Japanese always had excellent engineering.  I've not seen much in the automotive/motorcycling realm from China that I would classify as "excellence" in...

Fair point, but the Japanese always had excellent engineering.  I've not seen much in the automotive/motorcycling realm from China that I would classify as "excellence" in either engineering or metallurgy.  A friend who owned a small motorcycle shop essentially made his living for years swapping out laughably bad wheel bearings on Chinese-made Honda knock-offs with decent Japanese or American made bearings.  Maybe they'll figure it out.

Look up BYD 

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The Shop

C.Worthy
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4/21/2026 2:56pm
Tiki wrote:
Just like the Japanese wave in the ’60s, it started with rough builds and evolved into refinement.On that note, CFMoto has been producing bikes and components...

Just like the Japanese wave in the ’60s, it started with rough builds and evolved into refinement.

On that note, CFMoto has been producing bikes and components for brands many people already respect, more than most realize.

And then there’s the story behind Kove. The founder could have been one of us. He was a kid with a dream of racing the Dakar Rally. He didn't have a bike, so he built one. Politics aside, that’s something I can respect.

JMCR250 wrote:
Fair point, but the Japanese always had excellent engineering.  I've not seen much in the automotive/motorcycling realm from China that I would classify as "excellence" in...

Fair point, but the Japanese always had excellent engineering.  I've not seen much in the automotive/motorcycling realm from China that I would classify as "excellence" in either engineering or metallurgy.  A friend who owned a small motorcycle shop essentially made his living for years swapping out laughably bad wheel bearings on Chinese-made Honda knock-offs with decent Japanese or American made bearings.  Maybe they'll figure it out.

soggy wrote:

Look up BYD 

I've been in a BYD in Mexico in an uber. It was extremely nice and comfortable. I was impressed.

philG
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4/21/2026 3:02pm
C.Worthy wrote:

I've been in a BYD in Mexico in an uber. It was extremely nice and comfortable. I was impressed.

They lose money for fun, like all the cheap EV's. 

Nobody buys, they are just cheap subsidised leases. 

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Press516
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4/21/2026 3:02pm Edited Date/Time 4/21/2026 3:05pm
Press516 wrote:
Just starting with a 250 might prove to be the biggest challenge.  The existing race 250's are absolute monsters compared to stock bikes and Kove is...

Just starting with a 250 might prove to be the biggest challenge.  The existing race 250's are absolute monsters compared to stock bikes and Kove is already in the hole to a stock bike.  I don't think this is going to go all that well...  They should do it, but have some seriously tempered expectations.

Beagle wrote:
That's right their current bike is down on power (42 hp for 2026 "gen 2", up by about 4 hp from "gen 1") but that's not...

That's right their current bike is down on power (42 hp for 2026 "gen 2", up by about 4 hp from "gen 1") but that's not the bike they're going to race next year. Things are moving fast, they could become reasonably competitive faster than most people think.

From the link posted by OP

Steensels: "The plan is that for 2026 we will do testing with the new KOVE 250R and in 2027 we will race the EMX250 series. It’s very exciting to be a part of this new project with a new manufacturer. Everything is new for everybody so it’s different than what I’m used to, but that makes it a nice adventure for me. The plan for 2027 is to have two riders racing the EMX250 series and if all goes good in 2028 we will enter the MX2 World Championship. We will do the first test of the bike this weekend and we will build up from there. The dyno tests are really promising so we are looking forward to it."

Even at 42, they are in excess of 20% down on HP to a factory race bike.  That does get them closer to a production bike though...  They are still going to need to find a fair amount more.  

I'm curious what they plan to do on suspension...  Will they put on some Showa or KYB?  Or is it going to be the Yu'An stuff?  Yu'An cone valves anyone??  The pictures of the bike show WPS decals...  I thought they were a tuning company, but what are they tuning?

Zacka 161
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4/21/2026 5:40pm
C.Worthy wrote:

I've been in a BYD in Mexico in an uber. It was extremely nice and comfortable. I was impressed.

philG wrote:

They lose money for fun, like all the cheap EV's. 

Nobody buys, they are just cheap subsidised leases. 

what are you talking about?

Who loses money?

Who leases what?

Who subsidises said leases?

 

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kage173
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4/21/2026 5:46pm
Tiki wrote:
Just like the Japanese wave in the ’60s, it started with rough builds and evolved into refinement.On that note, CFMoto has been producing bikes and components...

Just like the Japanese wave in the ’60s, it started with rough builds and evolved into refinement.

On that note, CFMoto has been producing bikes and components for brands many people already respect, more than most realize.

And then there’s the story behind Kove. The founder could have been one of us. He was a kid with a dream of racing the Dakar Rally. He didn't have a bike, so he built one. Politics aside, that’s something I can respect.

JMCR250 wrote:
Fair point, but the Japanese always had excellent engineering.  I've not seen much in the automotive/motorcycling realm from China that I would classify as "excellence" in...

Fair point, but the Japanese always had excellent engineering.  I've not seen much in the automotive/motorcycling realm from China that I would classify as "excellence" in either engineering or metallurgy.  A friend who owned a small motorcycle shop essentially made his living for years swapping out laughably bad wheel bearings on Chinese-made Honda knock-offs with decent Japanese or American made bearings.  Maybe they'll figure it out.

Apparently you've never met anyone who owned a Kawasaki dealership in the late 70s.

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4/21/2026 10:47pm
philG wrote:

Supersport is a BOP class, the best bikes are strangled , so everyone can play. 

Unfortunately without bop you wouldn’t be able to run a supersport class in 2026 as 600s official died with the r6 being discontinued. It would just end up with everyone running v2s. 

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Vet57
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4/22/2026 12:49am
HackMan162 wrote:

The rider has been announced. Sum Ting Wong from ShengShin China.

I heard it was Long Duk Dong.

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4/22/2026 4:04am

Do some of you guys think that being pro-China is virtuous, somehow? Seems that way. That place has a rich history of stealing intellectual property internationally that is second to none. If you buy a Kove over an RMZ250, you honestly deserve everything that happens to you along the way. 

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420Racing
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4/22/2026 4:18am

Didn't Ping try this once?

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Not hillbilly
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4/22/2026 9:48am
Do some of you guys think that being pro-China is virtuous, somehow? Seems that way. That place has a rich history of stealing intellectual property internationally...

Do some of you guys think that being pro-China is virtuous, somehow? Seems that way. That place has a rich history of stealing intellectual property internationally that is second to none. If you buy a Kove over an RMZ250, you honestly deserve everything that happens to you along the way. 

C’mon man, simply recognizing that China has the ability to manufacture well-engineered products doesn’t make one “Pro Chinese.” There are a lot of reasons to cast a jaundiced eye towards the PRC, and IP theft is among the least of them.

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4/22/2026 10:49am
420Racing wrote:

Didn't Ping try this once?

I think that was the "Tornado" or something. One of the funniest articles ever; I'd pay to see that thing rock up at a GP 😄

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GrapeApe
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4/22/2026 10:50am

Assuming it finishes the race, could Jett win an EMX250 race on a Kove?

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soggy
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4/22/2026 11:04am
Do some of you guys think that being pro-China is virtuous, somehow? Seems that way. That place has a rich history of stealing intellectual property internationally...

Do some of you guys think that being pro-China is virtuous, somehow? Seems that way. That place has a rich history of stealing intellectual property internationally that is second to none. If you buy a Kove over an RMZ250, you honestly deserve everything that happens to you along the way. 

the world is too small and connected to be anti (most) any country or people without being hypocritical.

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Pop Shmoke
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4/22/2026 11:13am Edited Date/Time 4/22/2026 11:14am
Do some of you guys think that being pro-China is virtuous, somehow? Seems that way. That place has a rich history of stealing intellectual property internationally...

Do some of you guys think that being pro-China is virtuous, somehow? Seems that way. That place has a rich history of stealing intellectual property internationally that is second to none. If you buy a Kove over an RMZ250, you honestly deserve everything that happens to you along the way. 

Its crazy how melted peoples brains are these days. Everybody is just discussing the merits of the bike and how far theyve come on manufacturing while still having a ways to go in certain areas and somehow that makes someone pro-china and in his brain pro ccp, pro communism, pro whatever else. Everything is so black and white you even slightly praise the bike and youre a full blown communist. Lay off the pipe. 

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BoxcarWilly
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4/22/2026 11:14am

The bike has proven reliable. Jubal has hundreds of hours on his Gen 1. It's catching up in performance that's going to be tough. 

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4/22/2026 11:44am
420Racing wrote:

Didn't Ping try this once?

I think that was the "Tornado" or something. One of the funniest articles ever; I'd pay to see that thing rock up at a GP 😄

Chinese Takeout. The best thing RacerX ever produced. 

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vet323
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4/22/2026 11:46am
Press516 wrote:
Even at 42, they are in excess of 20% down on HP to a factory race bike.  That does get them closer to a production bike...

Even at 42, they are in excess of 20% down on HP to a factory race bike.  That does get them closer to a production bike though...  They are still going to need to find a fair amount more.  

I'm curious what they plan to do on suspension...  Will they put on some Showa or KYB?  Or is it going to be the Yu'An stuff?  Yu'An cone valves anyone??  The pictures of the bike show WPS decals...  I thought they were a tuning company, but what are they tuning?

Don't they come with KYB from the factory? 

philG
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4/22/2026 2:01pm
philG wrote:

Supersport is a BOP class, the best bikes are strangled , so everyone can play. 

Unfortunately without bop you wouldn’t be able to run a supersport class in 2026 as 600s official died with the r6 being discontinued. It would just...

Unfortunately without bop you wouldn’t be able to run a supersport class in 2026 as 600s official died with the r6 being discontinued. It would just end up with everyone running v2s. 

I agree, but you shouldnt be saying 'this bike is great ' based on it relative performance to others that are being restricted to give it a chance. 

It seems that new Sportbike and Supersport regs are bring in manufacturers which is only a good thing, but not so much when the one you buy wont pull a greasy stick out of a dogs arse. 

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DeStouwer
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4/22/2026 2:10pm Edited Date/Time 4/23/2026 5:03am
FB IMG 1776892157399.jpg?VersionId=e4i25 rIIqI.3X
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themrtoad
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4/22/2026 2:38pm
DeStouwer wrote:
FB IMG 1776892157399.jpg?VersionId=e4i25 rIIqI.3X

Any video? Who are the riders?

Zacka 161
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4/22/2026 10:58pm
philG wrote:

Supersport is a BOP class, the best bikes are strangled , so everyone can play. 

Unfortunately without bop you wouldn’t be able to run a supersport class in 2026 as 600s official died with the r6 being discontinued. It would just...

Unfortunately without bop you wouldn’t be able to run a supersport class in 2026 as 600s official died with the r6 being discontinued. It would just end up with everyone running v2s. 

philG wrote:
I agree, but you shouldnt be saying 'this bike is great ' based on it relative performance to others that are being restricted to give it...

I agree, but you shouldnt be saying 'this bike is great ' based on it relative performance to others that are being restricted to give it a chance. 

It seems that new Sportbike and Supersport regs are bring in manufacturers which is only a good thing, but not so much when the one you buy wont pull a greasy stick out of a dogs arse. 

They are all being restricted including KOVE. What is clear is that, given a set of performance and mechanical parameters they are on par with larger manufacturers in a racing series. Including engine, chasis, suspension etc etc

 

4/22/2026 11:07pm
philG wrote:
I agree, but you shouldnt be saying 'this bike is great ' based on it relative performance to others that are being restricted to give it...

I agree, but you shouldnt be saying 'this bike is great ' based on it relative performance to others that are being restricted to give it a chance. 

It seems that new Sportbike and Supersport regs are bring in manufacturers which is only a good thing, but not so much when the one you buy wont pull a greasy stick out of a dogs arse. 

I know that there are lads eyeing up zxmotos for club racing when they available so we will see. 

Sc2
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4/23/2026 12:12am
I have a BYD and it is an absolutely fantastic car at even better price.The Chinese are at the sharp end of world supersport as well...

I have a BYD and it is an absolutely fantastic car at even better price.

The Chinese are at the sharp end of world supersport as well which is no easy feat as that class is a full on axe murderer festival every time the lights go out.

I have zero doubt they will end up competitive, just like the Japanese.

When I was in Asia, Chinese electric cars was everywhere, the style and tech on them things made Audi/vw and the like look like something out of the 80s 

The West have a bit of chip on their shoulders when it comes to bikes and cars 

They are coming, Good luck to them, hope they do well 

 

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ohh_454
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4/23/2026 12:26am
DeStouwer wrote:
FB IMG 1776892157399.jpg?VersionId=e4i25 rIIqI.3X

The bikes actually look pretty good

1
4/23/2026 12:53am
Do some of you guys think that being pro-China is virtuous, somehow? Seems that way. That place has a rich history of stealing intellectual property internationally...

Do some of you guys think that being pro-China is virtuous, somehow? Seems that way. That place has a rich history of stealing intellectual property internationally that is second to none. If you buy a Kove over an RMZ250, you honestly deserve everything that happens to you along the way. 

Do you think there is manurfacturing in any country that has not stolen intellectual property?

Beagle
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4/23/2026 1:35am Edited Date/Time 4/23/2026 1:35am

Do you think there is manurfacturing in any country that has not stolen intellectual property?

By the way, I don't think anybody is mad anymore about Suzuki stealing Easter Germany MZ secrets to 2 strokes competitiveness but if you're interested in the sport history, Stealing Speed by Mat Oxley is a must read (both the book and graphic novel).

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