This Chinese Cafe Racer Looks Futuristic, Engine Packs A Punch Too

Apr 27, 2022
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3 min read

Chinese manufacturer Colove Motorcycles will also launch a neo-retro roadster as well

Details of the Colove 321F cafe racer and roadster bike have been leaked via type approval documents.
Both are around 20kg lighter than the Yamaha MT-03.
Features premium underpinnings and a single-sided swingarm.

The saturated two-wheeler market of China is all set to get two unique offerings from Colove Motorcycles, both codenamed the "321F", based on the images originated from the Chinese type approval application. Colove or Kove motorcycles grabbed headlines earlier this year when they presented their working 400cc four-cylinder sportbike prototype engine, and now, the company is gearing up for the launch of the 321F neo-retro twins.

The combination of a boxy LED headlight setup along with a muscular chiseled fuel tank present a rather modern yet retro persona to the bike. Additional retro elements include a brown leather split seat setup. The main difference between both the twins are that one sibling is a semi-faired model with a tucked in position that features a sharp front cowl for a classy cafe racer look, while the other is a retro naked bike offering an upright riding position. Additionally, the cafe racer also gets raised clip-ons, while the roadster gets a single-piece bar.

Both these bikes are mechanically identical, with the engine mounted in a tubular trellis frame derived from the NK321R naked bike and NK321RR sportbike. The 321Fs are powered by a twin-cylinder liquid-cooled 322cc engine that produces 41.5PS and 28.47Nm, which puts it right in the Yamaha YZF-R3 and MT-03's territory. While we do not know how the bikes perform in the real world yet, considering that the naked and faired bikes only weigh 148kgs and 149kgs respectively, the power-to-weight ratio would definitely be higher than that of the MT-03 and R3.

From what can be inferred from the images, the suspension duties are handled by USD forks at the front and a monoshock at the rear. Further adding to the premium feel is a single-sided swingarm for some high-end style that’s usually lacking in this segment. The two bikes use 110/70ZR-17 front and 150/60ZR-17 rear tyres, the faired model is seen with wire-spoke wheels while the naked version uses cast alloy wheels.

Although the company’s plans for exports aren’t clear, there is an English website (using the Colove name) at colovemoto.com. Perhaps this is Colove’s final use of the 321F platform before it shifts its attention to its 400cc four-banger that will come later this year? We will have to wait and see. Prices too have not been revealed, and it is highly unlikely that these bikes will be heading to our shores anytime soon. For now, the most affordable cafe racer for enthusiasts in India is the Royal Enfield Continental GT650, while the closest replacement roadster would be the Honda CB300R.