It took me a while to even find the KOVE stand at EICMA 2026. When I finally did, the first thing waiting for me was a wall of engines, and that wall tells you half the story. A 625 twin, a 645 inline-four, a 450 competition single: this young brand now has six different engine concepts.

But the thing that stuck with me wasn’t the variety. It was the weight. Across the board, from the sportbikes to the rally bikes, these things are light. And that’s exactly what we riders have been begging the big brands for.

From racing to a tiny inline-four

KOVE earned its stripes in racing, in the Supersport 300 world championship with a bike based on the 450RR. For 2027, the company says it’s taking the 650RR into world-championship racing. The street versions sit right next to the race story. The 450RR is a small sportbike with a 443 cc inline-four making 66 hp at 13,250 rpm. I climb on, and it fits well. KOVE lists it at 364 lbs ready to ride with a 30.9” seat.

If 450 cc makes you think of a polite little single, think again. A four that screams past 13,000 rpm is a small sensation in this class. Down the road, KOVE has its own electronic clutch, called KEC, on the roadmap for the first half of 2028.

The KOVE 450RR on display at the EICMA 2026 show in Milan.

The 650RR packs the full sportbike kit

One class up sits the 650RR. Its 645 cc inline-four makes 107 hp at 13,000 rpm and 44 lb-ft, according to KOVE. Add a six-axis IMU, cornering ABS and an up-and-down quickshifter. On the stand info I read keyless ignition, a big TFT, cruise control and launch control, basically every electronic aid you’d want on a sportbike. It also reportedly gets radar with blind-spot and lane-change warnings.

KOVE’s roadmap puts the launch in the second half of 2027, without saying which markets. If you’re after a high-revving four with the whole electronics package, this one belongs on your list.

KOVE 650RR in a manufacturer press photo

Sitting on the 625X

On the adventure side, a lot of riders already know KOVE’s 800. I know a few happy owners myself. For me it’s the lightest truly adventure-capable bike on the market right now, and the best compromise between comfort and off-road performance. On my coast-to-coast trip I met a guy who’d ridden it in a rally, and he couldn’t have been happier.

New to me is the 625 family. I sit on the 625X: great display, a full-size adjustable windshield, wide bar. The seating position is fairly low and tucked in, you can see it right away in the knee angle, and I’ve got both feet planted with confidence. The 581 cc parallel twin makes 62 hp and 42 lb-ft. The Pro Max reportedly adds an electronic rear shock that drops the bike below 19 mph.

At EICMA 2026 in Milan, the presenter points out the twin-cylinder engine of the white KOVE 625X.

The 350 Rally is the lightweight headliner

The competition bikes are another story. The 450 Rally with the race single is light, but it doesn’t give you the comfort of the 600 or the 800. The real headliner of the day is something else: the 350 Rally, in red and teal with a rally screen up front. Its 349.9 cc single makes 40 hp and 25 lb-ft. It weighs just 315 lbs dry, rolls on a 21” front and 18” rear, has adjustable suspension and, per KOVE, a 5.5 gal tank.

This thing’s going to be a banger, I’m telling you. Below it comes a 125 Rally at 269 lbs dry, built for Europe’s smallest license class. KOVE’s roadmap has both for the second half of 2027. If you want to go light and go far into the dirt, here’s a real option.

KOVE 125 Rally in a manufacturer press photo

Why light bikes are what KOVE stands for

As much as the lineup fires me up, I walked away with one worry. I hope the distribution network and the dealers can handle this much range. Brands like this used to be fringe players; a dealer would stick one bike in the showroom and call it a day. A lineup like this needs floor space, and something else has to go to make room. I’m curious which established brands are going to feel the squeeze.

Because here’s the thing: KOVE wins with light weight, whether it’s a naked bike, a sportbike or an enduro. For 20 years we’ve been telling the Japanese and the Europeans we need lighter motorcycles. KOVE is actually building them. For me, that’s what this brand stands for, and that’s good news for every one of us.

Can you buy a KOVE in the US?

Yes, just not the EICMA bikes yet. Kove Moto USA is the official importer, and its current lineup lists the 800X Rally at $12,999, the 800X Pro at $11,299 and the 450 Rally Pro Off-Road competition model at $9,499. None of the bikes in this story, not the 450RR, 650RR, 625X, 350 Rally or 125 Rally, shows up there with a US price.

For a ballpark, look at Europe: the 450RR reportedly lists at €7,390 in Italy and the 625X Pro Max reportedly at €6,997 in Spain. Before the 350 Rally was shown in Milan, US media reported that KOVE hadn’t confirmed it for North America. Treat all of it as a hint, not a promise.

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