ABOUT KOVE
Founded in 2017, KOVE MOTO integrates motorcycle R&D, design, manufacturing, production and sales, with the brand proposition of focusing on performance and the corporate vision of providing high-performance, high-quality and large-displacement sports motorcycles for motorcycle users and enthusiasts around the world.
KOVE has become the No. 4 domestic brand in China's motorcycle line in sales of models over 300cc. Its 500X ADV ranks first in domestic ADV production and has two factories in Chongqing and Chengdu. We focus on product design and development, with a development and design team of nearly 113 people. We also focus on product quality and fully implement IAFT16949 quality system. Our company also has assembly line, department assembly line, engine company, frame factory, silencer factory, CNC parts machining center, complete vehicle bench test bench, engine bench test bench, 3D inspection instrument, etc.
In the future, as a motorcycle brand driven by technology, KOVE MOTO will continue to invest in research, development and design, actively introduce outstanding talents and hardware facilities in the industry, and further strengthen its professional and high-performance product image by continuously investing in new technologies and standards in new products.
KOVE DAKAR 2025
Date: January 17, 2025
The 47th Dakar Rally concluded after a grueling 15 days.
With 12 stages and a total distance of over 7,700 KM, including a 48-hour timed section and a marathon stage, the event was a massive test for vehicles, riders, and logistics alike.
In the motorcycle category, 134 riders started, but 45 were forced to withdraw.
Our emotions fluctuated throughout the event—ups and downs, joys and sorrows, and moments of heartache. Perhaps this is one of the reasons why the Dakar Rally captivates us so much.
#66 Neels
Overall Ranking: 15th
Best Stage Ranking: SS7, 15th
#45 Sunier
Overall Ranking: 37th
Best Stage Ranking: SS10, 30th
#98 Mason
Best Stage Ranking: SS6, 7th
#75 Deng Liansong
Best Stage Ranking: SS3, 37th
#80 Haleem's act of rescuing Mason made the concept of "what goes around comes around" more tangible.
#50 James, despite a broken nose, insisted on participating, showcasing the perseverance of a Manx TT champion.
There are many more memorable people and events that enriched the Dakar Rally, making the "desert" less barren.
In Dakar 2025, everyone shone in their own way, staying humble in good times and resilient in bad times.
A Hard-Earned 15th Place
The Best Performance for a Chinese Manufacture
Our factory rider #66 Neels achieved an overall ranking of 15th, setting a new record for domestic motorcycles in Dakar history.
Competing against the world's leading motorcycle manufacturers and teams, every step up the ranking required immense effort.
The Kove Factory Team has come a long way from an overall ranking of 46th in 2023 (set by Sunier) to 15th in 2025, a leap of 31 places over three seasons. This progress was hard-earned.
Of course, the 15th place is not something to be overly proud of. "Ranking" is merely a byproduct of our collective efforts.
Kove's Self-Developed Engine
The "Gen2 Engine" for Dakar 2025
The 450RALLY EX motorcycle used in the Dakar 2025 season featured Kove's self-developed engine.
This engine, first introduced in Dakar in January 2024 and referred to by fans as the "first-generation engine," underwent further refinement through top-tier international competitions such as the Taklimakan Rally, RALLE DU MOROCCO and the ISDE Endurance Championship.
In 2025, it returned to Dakar as the "second-generation engine." It was used by 12 riders from 10 countries, who praised its excellent performance—stable, powerful, and extremely lightweight, giving it a significant advantage in desert stages.
After the rigorous tests of the 2025 season, the 450RALLY EX's overall performance is set to improve further. With the "third-generation engine" in Dakar 2026, we expect even more impressive results.
TAKLIMAKAN RALLY: ALL STAGE CHAMPION AND OVERALL CHAMPION
On June 1st, the 2024 Taklimakan Rally season concluded. This season saw the participation of 50 teams, 110 race vehicles, and 200 riders. The original plan included 10 stages, but SS2 and SS6 were canceled due to weather conditions. After intense competition over 8 official stages, 18 motorcycles, one ATV, and 76 cars crossed the finish line, with 95 riders completing the entire race.
Stage champion and overall champion
In the 2024 Taklimakan Rally season, four riders, with the new 450RALLY EX, won stage champions and the overall championship. Among them, KOVE RALLY RACING TEAM rider #01 Neels Theric secured 6 stage wins and the overall championship, #02 Deng Liansong won the SS7 stage, and KOVE-sponsored rider #03 Fang Mingji claimed the SS3 stage win and the overall third place.
The immense difficulty is what we want
Our main target in Taklimakan rally is testing the 450RALLY EX. This season, both the stage lengths and the difficulty were significant. The results at the Taklimakan Rally indicate that the 450RALLY EX is now at the level of matuity we have been aiming for in its mass production state. 450RALLY EX bikes performed exceptionally well this season, as expected and as they should. Since the end of the 2024 Dakar Rally, we have spent three months continuously improving and testing the issues that were exposed during the race. At the Taklimakan Rally, we delivered a satisfactory performance.
Preparing for the Dakar 2025
The Dakar, with its doubled intensity, presents even more extreme demands on the race bikes, given the challenging conditions, the riding styles of the racers, and the strength of the competitors.The development of a race bike for Dakar status presents new challenges, and our work is just beginning. Next, the 450RALLY EX will have rigorous testing at the Spanish Baja in July and the Morocco Rally in October in preparation for the 2025 Dakar season.
