I bought CHINA'S Dakar Rally Motorcycle! Kove 450 Rally BRUTALLY HONEST REVIEW + KTM 500 Drag Races!
506,415
Published 2023-03-17
Stock Kove 450 Rally vs. Stock 2022 EXC-F 500 Six Days: 16:42
Stock Kove 450 Rally vs. Stock 2015 EXCF-W 500: 15:14
Reserve your Kove 450 Rally HERE and use code MUCHLOVE to get $500 off your reservation:
gpxmoto.com/product/fse-450r-rally/?sld=everide
DO NOT GOOGLE CFMOTO, GACHonda, and ESPECIALLY don't click this link to ADVRider if you don't like China:
www.advrider.com/f/threads/popular-bikes-made-in-cβ¦
0:00 Spiffy and slightly cheesy, melodramatic intro
1:08 Welcome!
1:25 The current dual sport "unicorns" as voted by you (See them at: www.everideadv.com/best-dualsport-motorcycles )
1:57 No editorial input from GPX or Kove
2:15 My credentials as a reviewer
3:22 Spoiler 1... I freaking LOVE this motorcycle!
4:55 Kove's biggest problem isn't a problem with the bike... it's that it's built in China.
5:59 I became a Kove affiliate AFTER testing the Kove and writing 99% of the review. The only parts of the review I changed were to tell you I'm an affiliate.
8:10 Is the Kove a "Legitimate" rally motorcycle? Kove's 2023 Dakar Rally Results and how they compare to top factories like KTM, GasGas, Honda, Yamaha, Husqvarna, and more.
9:04 List of 2023 Dakar Withdrawals. Credit: dakar.com/en/rankings
9:45 Why I still had doubts after the Dakar finish
10:49 Rally bikes are utterly inaccessible to most people
11:26 How Subaru changed Rally and car culture in the US with the accessible Impreza. Video Credit: zeroundersteer.com/
12:54 How Kove's 450 Rally is like Subaru's Impreza
13:50 Spec for Spec (horsepower, weight, suspension, price etc) Kove 450 Rally vs. KTM 450 Rally Replica
15:15 Stock Kove 450 Rally vs. Stock 2015 EXCF-W 500
16:42 Stock Kove 450 Rally vs. Stock 2022 EXC-F 500 Six Days
17:25 How does the Kove power FEEL?
19:22 On road power and capability
20:00 Kove's Suspension slow mo and thoughts
21:30 How does the Kove feel to ride? Like a dirt bike!
21:45 Simple maintenance on the Kove 450 Rally is a dream
23:03 What are the Kove's service intervals?
23:20 The Kove 450 Rally's creature comforts rival premium big ADV bikes. Details about the TFT screen.
24:25 Gas mileage and range
25:02 Other features and comforts (sprocket, pegs, luggage straps, toolkit, etc)
26:04 Fit and finish after one week and one month of riding
26:24 Problems with the Kove 450 Rally Pre-Production model I had
27:15 The pre production bike's problems were quickly corrected by GPX and the factory
28:33 More problems with the Kove 450 Rally
30:35 Addressing Kove's distribution issues and lack of dealership network
31:45 How will early adopters deal with bigger mechanical issues?
32:30 Aftermarket parts availability?
32:55 What about the price of the Kove?
33:20 Is the Kove 450 Rally worth $9000?
34:35 Where would I rank the Kove 450 Rally on the Dual Sport Survey range of capability OFF ROAD? (See it at www.everideadv.com/best-dualsport-motorcycles )
35:16 Where would I rank the Kove 450 Rally on the Dual Sport Survey range of capability ON THE ROAD?
35:38 The Kove 450 Rally's total score for range of capability IMHO
36:36 What ultimately sold me on Kove: the guys who build it!
37:50 A special treat for people who stay until the end!
I'm lucky to ride dual sport motorcycles and host rallies FULL TIME! Want to know what budget-friendly parts, riding gear, and camera gear has proven reliability and worked well for me? Check out my list of recommended dual sport and ADV gear, from tires to t-shirts: amazon.com/shop/everide Using this link to buy gear supports this channel with a small commission that doesn't cost you a dime.
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I recently built my DREAM DIRT BIKE! See all the parts and build details here:
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#kove450rally #dakar #everide #adv #adventure #dualsport #kove
All Comments (21)
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UPDATE Use coupon code MUCHLOVE with the link in the description for $500 off the $1000 reservation cost! This is a LONG and detailed review! Be sure to check out the description for the full chapter list! Much love and enjoy!
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when I heard the story of the KOVE rally from this years Dakar and heard how passionate the designer is, I knew it wasn't built cheap just to sell units... and seeing all 3 Kove bikes finish the Dakar and their 5 year goals/hopes to podium was great...
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Hands down one of the best bike reviews I've seen on YouTube. Clear, structured and well edited. Thank you for the depth of info.
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The fact so many companies now in 2023 make it almost impossible to send customer feedback is really something that needs to change. Constant customer feedback and improvement is the only way to stay competitive.
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Hopefully this bike will wake up the sleeping Japanese giants. Competition is healthy as heck for us.
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Tyler, From one overweight, middle aged, wreck damaged ADV rider with an identity crisis to another, DON'T CHANGE A THING! Keep being you! It's why I watch and keep coming back. The world needs more brutal honesty and yours is always refreshing! Hope to do one of your rides before I'm too old and fat to not die on one! Your epic cinematography and narration never disappoints. Cheers!
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Hey Tyler, that was an awesome review. Don't sell yourself short, your commentary is world class and super hilarious. I can't belive I never made it down there when I lived in Cedar. I still plan on linking up with you at some point down the road though. Keep up the awesome work you do and I'm so Stocked for you making the move to do this full time, it's also an inspiration...
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I hope they do well. Watching the highlights of the Dakar this year you could see the passion of the Kove team is the real deal.
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This is what happens when legacy brands sleep on customer input. Iβm glad China came forth and did this, Iβll absolutely be considering one of these.
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My experience with recent GPX bikes: fasteners loose and rusting. Inexplicable failures to start. Exposed connectors and wiring. Cheap plastic and decals like a power wheels. Toy. DMV refuses to issue a plate due to VIN not showing up in their system as road legal. That is all with a brand new bike. I'm even more curious about how it looks in five and in 10 years. This is what the brand is up against. And any potential buyer should be asking
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I'm very keen to see how the Kove story plays out. Hopefully they'll be successful, and I hope their introduction forces the establishment to innovate, reduce prices, and build a range of lightweight ~500cc accessible adv bikes for us! We'll see. π
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One of the best reviews of any motor powered vehicle I've seen. Every conceivable point covered elequently. I grew up reading Car & Driver , Road & Track and appreciate good writing. Your worries are unfounded. A few shipping containers of Chinese parts might suffice for the launch, but piggybacking with existing repair shops is the only way short term to keep customers happy. Service what you sell.ππ
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So good to hear your voice again on a amazing in depth bike review. I hope things are going well for you. It has been 5 years ago that I took Part in one of your rally's. I hope I can get to do another some time before I am to old. I am almost 72. All my best to you and Jess and your kids. Much Love from John Page JR in Washington.
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This is literally THE review to watch for this bike! Nice job, man! I'm glad you got to play with this bike in early times!
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Tyler, Iβve followed you for a long time. I was here for the csc fiasco. This was a fantastic video! Glad you are still doing what you love! Blessings to you and your family!
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I have been patiently waiting for your review of this bike. I always appreciate your honesty (both bike and life) in your videos. I can't wait to see the availability of it in Canada.
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Aw man now I want one!! Awesome review Tyler, can't wait to see more videos with it once you have your very own in the stable. Maybe I'll have to consider one as my next bike down the road π
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This bike will have the resale value of a used tissue.
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Great review, lovely editing, nice work as always! Drag race was quite a surprise! Personally I'd just prefer a longer valve check interval, and I love tubeless tires (I have a DR and I'm actually considering converting to tubeless). I've had way more flats on road than offroad and with a plug kit your up and on your way in 5 minutes :)
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First of all - thank you for all of your dual sport videos - you really helped me find my way from 850GS towards first CRF 250, and now 701 Enduro. this video is really, really interesting. I've watched all of it and my only two questions remaining are about long term reliability and spare parts availability. please keep on posting next videos about your experience with Kove. If in your hands it will remain reliable, then we might have a real, surprising unicorn. All the best from Warsaw, Poland!
