QJMotor shows off EQVVS 600 Cafe Racer

There’s an increasingly outdated cliche about Chinese motorcycle manufacturers, which says that they imitate rather than innovate. There were a number of models at this year’s EICMA that disproved that claim, not least of which being this: the EQVVS 600 Café Racer.

“The name EQVVS draws inspiration from the imagery of freedom and primal power, serving as a tribute to the pure spirit of speed and machinery,” says QJMotor, the company behind the bike. “[It is] a symbol of mankind’s most soulful creation in the mechanical age.”

That’s a lot to get out of a nonsense word. We think, though, that the word QJMotor is trying for here is ‘equus,’ which is Latin for ‘horse.’ Although, at the company’s presentation in Milan earlier this week, the folks behind the project kept saying ‘equis,’ which is Latin for ‘horses’ – of which this bike claims to have the power of almost six dozen.

Semantics aside, the EQVVS – like the Rhino 900 adventure-touring bike that we mentioned recently – is another fascinating QJMotor project that’s lacking in terms of details. Chief among the unknowns are when this bike will go into production, whether it will be available in the UK, and – if it is coming here – how much it will cost.

Here’s what we do know. The EQVVS is powered by a 561cc V4 engine – a 16-valve, DOHC, liquid-cooled unit that QJ says will pump out 69.3 bhp at 10500 rpm, and 39 lb-ft of torque at 8000 rpm.

Built around a structural bridge frame, the bike has a 1465mm wheelbase, and runs on 17-inch tyres front and back – 120/70 front and 180/55 rear.

And that’s about it in terms of solid facts. After that, the only information available about the EQVVS is hyperbole. Like this blurb: “Visually, the dual-layer side fairings act like a sculpted frame around the engine, freezing its rhythm in motion – turning mechanical energy into art.”

And this: “The EQVVS 600 is more than a high-performance motorcycle – it is kinetic art rendered in metal and air, redefining the modern café racer as a fusion of elegance, precision, and unrestrained aggression.”

Uhm, we’re not sure we’re willing to go that far but we’re definitely intrigued. This particular correspondent saw the bike in person and, aesthetically, at least, it was one of the stand-out machines of the show.

Whether the riding experience matches the look remains to be seen, but you have to admire a big swing effort. Especially one like this, which seems to show that QJ is keen to be more than just a provider of affordable bikes.

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