QJMotor SRK921RR reaches Europe
By Ben Purvis
No bike company's range has grown faster than QJMotor's over the last few years - the Chinese upstart has gone from nothing to more than 130 different models in less than five years. After concentrating on its home market QJMotor is now spreading its wings globally and has just stepped into a new category by introducing its MV Agusta-powered SRK921RR sports bike to Europe.
Initially set to reach the German market, the SRK921RR uses a 921 cc four-cylinder engine that's manufactured by QJMotor in China under licence from MV Agusta, and can trace its heritage back to the original MV Agusta F4 750 superbike. MV developed the 921 cc version of the engine for a short-lived version of the Brutale, and has now let QJMotor adopt the design.
In terms of outright performance the bike is still a step down from similarly-sized fours from Europe or Japan, with a peak of 129.3 hp (95 kW) at 10,000 rpm and 93 Nm of torque at 8000rpm, but also features an MV-style chassis with a cast alloy swingarm section and steel trellis front end, allied to a single-sided swingarm. In China, the same basis is used for the 'Super9' model, which is a close replica of the exotic MV Agusta Superveloce, while the SRK921RR has a more modern look complete with the inevitable winglets and a four-pipe exhaust system similar to the MV Brutale 1000's design.
The performance might be a generation behind the latest, cutting-edge four-cylinder bikes, but the SRK921RR offers substantially more power than rivals like Yamaha's new R9, which peaks at 87.5 kW (117.3 hp), while simultaneously offering Italian-esque styling, high-spec chassis components including Brembo brakes and Marzocchi suspension, and plenty of technology. What's more, it does it for a price that undercuts the Yamaha R9 by a wide margin - coming in at € 12,999 in Germany, where the R9 starts at € 13,999.
While Chinese companies are still finding it an uphill task to convince European customers to buy their more high-end models, that's likely to change rapidly if bikes like the SRK921RR live up to their promise.
