Chinese motorcycle maker Kove accelerates into Canadian market

CTV News

10 hours ago

Henry van der Veen rides one of his company's Kove 450cc adventure bikes on a forested path near Carstairs, Alta.
A family-run shop in rural Alberta is at the centre of a push to introduce a new player to Canada's motorcycle industry.
Kove Moto is the sole distributor of Kove motorcycles (pronounced Kov-ay).
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The first shipments arrived late last year from the Chinese manufacturer in the massive inland city of Chongqing.
Kove Moto has started selling its machines across Canada this year after an extended certification process.
The company has already placed bikes in 12 dealerships from coast to coast.
The goal is to reach about 20 outlets before the year is over.
Distribution is handled entirely from Carstairs, where the Bauer family operates Alberta Powersports.
The company was approached in 2023 by Kove's North American distributor about representing the brand in Canada.
'We fell in love with it very quickly—very quickly—especially once we got the first demo models into the country and we were able to ride them. We knew right then that it was the real deal,' said Joshua Bauer, who handles sales and marketing.
That first test was a September 2023 demo ride with nearly 50 participants.
Henry van der Veen rides one of his company's Kove 450cc adventure bikes
Henry van der Veen rides one of his company's Kove 450cc adventure bikes on a forested path near Carstairs, Alta.
'It was kind of funny, like it was hard holding the bike back. Being in a big group, you kind of ride at a slower speed, and man, was it challenging to keep that bike at, like, a low pace, because all this wants to do is open up,' Bauer said.
Kove's pricing often matches and often bests motorcycles from established global manufacturers.
Bauer says that's intentional.
'They've proved themselves around the world as durable, long-lasting and quality race machines that are available to the general public at really, really reasonable prices,' he said.
Bauer acknowledges there were once negative sentiments about Chinese-made motorcycles in North America but says that perception is changing.
'China had a stigma and reputation of building not bad but lower-priced bikes, and people always said, 'You get what you pay for.' In a sense, the conversation is definitely shifting now,' he said.
That shift has been helped by Kove's global racing record and reliability in the field.
Bauer also notes that, unlike Chinese-made electric vehicles, which are currently facing a 100 per cent tariff in Canada, motorcycles are not affected, at least for now.
Henry van der Veen rides one of his company's Kove 450cc adventure bikes
Henry van der Veen rides one of his company's Kove 450cc adventure bikes on a forested path near Carstairs, Alta.
'Right now, we're not impacted by tariffs the way cars are, and that allows us to keep the bikes priced competitively,' he said.
Parts supply is another area the family says they've worked to address from Day 1.
'We stock in Canada a large amount of OEM parts. We've also worked with aftermarket companies from across North America on developing parts and components for the bikes so that riders in any region in the country are going to be covered for our very short season,' Bauer said.
Kathryn Bauer, who manages the parts operation, says their approach is hands-on.
'As soon as I get that call, I will box it up and get it to you as soon as possible, whichever way it takes,' she said, recalling a recent order where 'we stood in line for 45 minutes at a private airport line to get it on that plane, to get it out to our customer that needed the part.'
Henry van der Veen rides one of his company's Kove 450cc adventure bikes
Henry van der Veen rides one of his company's Kove 450cc adventure bikes on a forested path near Carstairs, Alta.
The range in Canada covers a spread of off-road and adventure-oriented machines: two motocross bikes, the 800X Pro and 800X Rally middleweights, and the 450 Rally in both street-legal and competition formats.
All are built by Tibet New Summit Motorcycle Co., Ltd., Kove's parent company, which has earned attention in the rally racing world for its participation in the Dakar Rally.
Henry van der Veen, who handles operations and logistics, says the versatility of the bikes stands out.
'It feels like a dirt bike, but it has the ability to travel on road and do some great distance,' he said.
'It makes you a better rider. It really does.'
Kove motorcycles have a considerably larger gas tank than most adventure bikes.
The 450 model has a 40-litre tank capable of taking the bike 500 kilometres before refuelling.
The homologation process—the regulatory step to approve Kove's street models for Canadian roads—concluded in October 2024, nearly 18 months after the project began.
'In order to make these bikes road legal, we have to go through a process with Transport Canada,' said Joshua Bauer.
'It took about eight months … and then they gave us the approval and the green light.'
Since then, Kove Moto Canada has been building its presence in the growing adventure motorcycle segment.
'It's the fastest-growing motorcycle segment … 14 to 18 per cent growth year after year,' Bauer said.
'That's compared to some segments of the motorcycle market which have decreased about 22 per cent.'