The Chinese motorcycle brands are catching up... fast!

[p6x]

Well, you certainly remember the 70's and the arrival of the Japanese cars, later followed by the Korean ones, arrival depending on your home base.

At that time, where I lived, we used to make fun of those who purchased the cheap Mazda cars. In France, Mazda used to be a battery brand. Slowly we learned to change our mind. While they looked funky for some, they also started to make some ground. I remember the first time I saw that Toyota Celica GT...

The Chinese have been manufacturing motorcycles, motorcycle engines for some of the European brands for a while now. It was only a matter of time before they would start making their own.

KTM is one of the brands that uses CF Moto to manufacture engines and complete bikes.

As we have been witnessing, Chinese (Indian companies too) companies have purchased a lot of the brands that we grew up with. But today, they are coming strong with their own brand name.

Iron Power Sport in Houston carry CF Moto. They are already sold out of every Ibex, the dual sport of CF Moto.

I only like older motorcycles, and the one brand; I am wondering if the Chinese brands are going to take over the motorcycle market the way they did the EV market in Europe.

 

Edited December 1 by p6x

[audiomick]

Good question, and quite possible.

Your comparison with the "rise" of Japanese vehicles is very appropriate, I reckon.

 

I see two factors that may well influence further developements, in my opinion.

One the one hand is China's authoritarian government, effectively a dictatorship. If that government decides that their motorcycle industry needs to dominate the world, the will just shovel in resources until the goal is achieved.

On the other hand is the slowing of economic growth that has been apparent in China for the last several years. The economy was able to grow very rapidly for a couple of decades, because the starting point was way behind the rest of the world. In the meantime, a lot of catching up has been done. It remains to be seen how much more growth potential is there, and how long the government can keep forcing things through without taking economic and finacial realities into consideration.

[p6x]

4 hours ago, audiomick said:

Your comparison with the "rise" of Japanese vehicles

And South Korean too...

What I have noticed, and I am not the only one, Chinese companies have either purchased notorious brands on the verge of extinction, or extincts, and have resurrected them. I am thinking about Moto Morini, Benelli for example.

I am almost certain KTM will not accept to go under Chinese control.

But during my Parisian walkways, I have noticed the CF Moto on display that did not use to be there before. There are other Chinese brands too, but not well known. (Voge)

Also, look at the Dakar starting 2025...  you have KTM, Honda, Sherco (French!), Fantic(Italy), Huskvarna (KTM), Yamaha, Rieju (Spain), Hero (India), Kove (China), GasGas (KTM), Hoto (???). Of course, almost everybody is racing on a KTM or a derivative of KTM. But we have also Kove, which commercialize their dual sports here in the USA. They do not have any dealerships, but you can order online:

https://www.kovemotousa.com/models-2024

I think the Dakar is the reason why there are so many 450 Dual Sports/Adventure/Trail bikes in the market.

 

Edited December 1 by p6x