KOVE at EICMA 2026 delivers lightweight bikes

First I actually have to go looking for the KOVE stand at EICMA 2026 in Milan. When I finally find it, I'm greeted right at the edge by a wall full of engines, and that alone tells half the story. A twin with 625, a four-cylinder with 645, plus the competition single with 450 cc: this young brand now has six different engine concepts in its range. But what occupies me most at this stand isn't the variety, it's the weight. Across the board, from supersports to rally enduro, these bikes are light. That's exactly what we riders have been demanding from the established manufacturers for years.

KOVE earned its spurs in racing, in the Supersport 300 World Championship with a bike based on the 450RR. For 2027, according to its own announcement, the brand is planning the next step in the World Championship with the 650RR. What we can actually buy of all this is standing right next to it. The 450RR is a small supersports with a 443 cc inline four that makes 67 hp at 13,250 rpm. I sit on it, and it's a good place to be. According to KOVE, it weighs 165 kg wet weight, and the seat height is 785 mm. Anyone who thinks of a well-behaved single when they hear 450 will be proven wrong here: a four-cylinder that revs past 13,000 rpm is a minor sensation in this class. Further down the line, KOVE is announcing an in-house developed electronic clutch called KEC, slated for the first half of 2028 according to the roadmap.

One category up stands the 650RR. According to KOVE, the 645 cc inline four makes 109 hp at 13,000 rpm and 60 Nm. On top of that come a six-axis IMU, cornering ABS and a bidirectional quickshifter. At the stand I read about keyless ride, a large TFT display, cruise control and launch control, in other words every electronic rider aid you could wish for in a supersports. It even has blind-spot and lane-change assist on board, reportedly radar-based. According to the roadmap, KOVE plans the market launch for the second half of 2027, though the manufacturer doesn't name a market. Anyone looking for a revvy four-cylinder with the full electronics package should definitely have the 650RR on their list.

When it comes to adventure bikes, many already know KOVE's 800, and I know a few satisfied customers myself. For me, it's currently the lightest genuinely adventure-capable adventure bike on the market and the best compromise between riding comfort and off-road performance. On my Coast-to-Coast trip, I met a fellow rider who had raced rallies on one and was thoroughly happy with it. What's new to me is the 625 universe. I sit on the 625X: a cracking display, a full-size adjustable windscreen, wide handlebars. The seating position is relatively low and integrated, you can see it straight away in the knee angle, and I have very confident footing. The 581 cc parallel twin makes 63 hp and 56.5 Nm, and there's also an A2 version with 35 kW. The Pro Max gets an electronic shock that automatically lowers the seat height at low speeds, reportedly below 30 km/h.

Things get more radical with the competition bikes. The 450 Rally with the competition single is light, but no longer offers the riding comfort of a 600 or 800. The real sensation of the day is something else: the 350 RALLY, painted red and turquoise and fitted with a rally windscreen. Its 349.9 cc single makes 30 kW, i.e. 41 hp, along with 33.7 Nm. It weighs just 143 kg dry, rolls on a 21-inch front and 18-inch rear, the suspension is adjustable, and according to KOVE the tank holds 21 litres. This is going to be a real banger, I'm sure of it. Below it sits the 125 Rally at 122 kg dry for A1 licence holders. According to KOVE's roadmap, both are scheduled for the second half of 2027. Anyone who wants to go light and far off-road gets a genuine offer here.

As much as the line-up excites me, I take one worry away from the stand. I hope the distribution structures and dealers can actually handle this whole range. In the past, brands like this were fringe players; a dealer would simply put one model in the showroom. But a range like this needs space, and for that, something else has to go. I'm curious which manufacturers will suffer from the new players. Because one thing has to be said: KOVE scores above all with lightweight construction, whether naked bike, supersports or enduro. For 20 years we've been demanding lighter bikes from the Japanese and the Europeans. KOVE delivers them. That's what this brand stands for in my view, and that's really good news for us riders.

My complete tour of EICMA 2026 runs as a four-hour video on the 1000PS YouTube channel. The KOVE stand starts just under two and a half hours in, this link jumps straight to KOVE. You'll see the engine wall with all of the brand's concepts, the 450RR and 650RR up close, the 800 adventure bike and me sitting on the 625X with the windscreen raised. Then come the 450 Rally, the new 350 RALLY, the 125 Rally and my thoughts on what this brand means for dealers. Keep watching and you get more than 40 further stands, from Honda through KTM to BENDA, with seat tests, stand chats and clear verdicts. Four hours of EICMA to catch up on, without the crowds and without the trip to Milan.

• 450RR: 443 cc inline four, 67 hp at 13,250 rpm, 165 kg wet weight, seat height 785 mm, 15 l tank, KEC electronic clutch in the first half of 2028 according to the roadmap
• 650RR: 645 cc inline four, 109 hp (80 kW) at 13,000 rpm, 60 Nm at 11,000 rpm, six-axis IMU, cornering ABS, quickshifter, seat height 810 mm, 17 l tank, market launch in the second half of 2027 according to the roadmap
• 625X Pro: 581 cc parallel twin, 63 hp (46 kW) at 8,500 rpm, 56.5 Nm, A2 version with 35 kW, KYB suspension, seat height 820/850 mm
• 625X Pro Max: same technical basis as 625X Pro, 221 kg wet weight, 21 l tank, seat height 795 to 850 mm (electronically lowerable)
• 350 RALLY: 349.9 cc single, 41 hp (30 kW) at 9,000 rpm, 33.7 Nm, 143 kg dry, 21 l tank, 21/18 inch, market launch in the second half of 2027 according to the roadmap
• 125 Rally: 122 kg dry, 21/18 inch, market launch in the second half of 2027 according to the roadmap