Road-focused Kove 800X GT revealed

Kove, the Chinese brand that off-road and ADV enthusiasts seem to take the most seriously, has rolled out a more road-focused take on its 800X platform.

Using the same 799cc liquid-cooled parallel twin found in the 800X Rally and 800X Pro, the GT claims peak power outputs of 92.7 bhp at 9000 rpm. Whereas those other two bikes roll on 21-inch front and 18-inch rear tyres, the new GT has a more tarmac-friendly 19-inch front and 17-inch rear.

It is also – as you would expect from a modern China-made motorcycle – loaded with rider aids and tech, including heated grips, cruise control, slipper clutch, bidirectional quickshifter, four riding modes (Eco, Sport, Rain, Offroad), and cornering ABS and traction control.

Claimed kerb weight is 215 kg, which isn’t bad. Compare that against the 223kg weight that Suzuki claims for its (woefully underappreciated) V-Strom 800RE.

In addition to the aforementioned Suzuki, the 800X GT will find itself facing competition from… well, pretty much everyone who makes motorcycles these days. The midsize ADV market is a very crowded place.

Kove is a relative newcomer to the motorcycling game, having been founded in 2017 by off-road enthusiast rider Zhang Xue. The brand has grown to become the No. 4 brand in China for motorcycles over 300 cc and it produces motorcycles for both Jawa and Spanish brand Macbor. 

Zhang abruptly and without explanation left the company early last year and popped up a few months later as head of Zhang Xue Motorcycles, aka ZXMoto, which had its official European launch at this year’s EICMA.

Meanwhile, the company he left behind has not yet given a release date for the 800X GT, nor offered any info about pricing.

2026 Kove 800X GT specs