The Top 10 Best Chinese Motorcycles Worth Considering

Chinese motorbikes don't exactly have the best of reputations, and that means a lot of riders will readily dismiss them. However, the bike industry in the country has turned a corner.

There are an increasing number of tempting Chinese-manufactured models from the likes of CFMoto, Lexmoto, Voge and Super Soco flooding the market offering a dash of style, improved quality and competitive mechanicals - all for prices that undercut the mainstream opposition.

Don't forget, there was a time when many turned their noses up at the influx of motorcycles arriving from Japan, but that soon changed. 

What's particularly interesting about the Chinese bike revolution is in the mix we have some more familiar brands. A lot of European brands like Moto Morini have been snapped up by Chinese companies and relaunched with new products, while KTM's 790 bikes are made in China via the brand's technical partnership with CFMoto.

With all these emerging options vying for your cash, though, where should your money go? Below are what we rate as the best Chinese motorcycles currently available. 

CFMoto 700 CL-X

Of all the Chinese manufacturers making gains in Europe, CFMoto has certainly been the most proactive with a slew of enticing models hitting the market based on trusty - albeit dated - mechanics from engineering partners KTM.

Of all the bikes available, CFMoto's 700CL-X triplets look particularly tempting. Available in three flavours  - Heritage (pictured above), Sport and Adventure - the CFMoto 700CL-X is a bit of a mongrel mechanically with its 693cc Kawasaki ER6-sourced engine, BMW switchgear and a design penned by KTM's favoured stylist, Kiska.

The Heritage is the most handsome of the trio with some smart detailing that helps the chunky, European-centric 700CL-X stand out but if you're not swayed by its retro finish, then there is also the more contemporary Sport and the soft-Scrambler ADV.

Proving more involving and refined on the road than you might expect, at the new price of £4,999 the 700CL-X Heritage is a definite steal.

Visordown Review | CFMoto 700CL-X Heritage [2021]

Lexmoto LXS SE 125

The allure of models like the Yamaha R125 and Suzuki GSX-R125 for those who want to step out with something sporty with their first purchase, for many the Lexmoto LXS 125 fulfils the same brief more than adequately.

And sales charts don’t lie. The Lexmoto LXR 125 regularly appears towards the top of UK sales charts, with its mix of excellent value, striking looks and eager single-cylinder engine enough to win over an increasing number of buyers.

However, we’d encourage you to shell out for the LXS which retains the LXR’s sensibilities but throws in a bit more desirability for not much more cash – especially as its price has now been reduced further. The looks are sharper, it offers retro charm with its underseat exhausts and the 13.8bhp engine beckons you to rev it hard on the back roads.

An R125 or GSX-R125 are more accomplished all round but it’s hard to find a new motorcycle that offers more smiles per mile for little more than £2,500.

Visordown Review | Lexmoto LXS 125 [2021]

Herald Brute 500

British manufactured with financing from China, the Herald Brute 500 is certainly one of the most convincing models on the market with influence from the other side of the Silk Road.

Having progressed from the fairly utilitarian Brute 250, the larger 500 gets a lithe makeover that has a blend of Scrambler and Flat Track racer about it.

While it perhaps looks faster than its 449cc, 43bhp single-cylinder engine would suggest, at just 145kg, it retains an enticing amount of 'chuckability' and benefits from being A2 licence compliant too.

While the Herald Brute 500 - which is also designed in the UK - perhaps shouldn’t quite qualify for this list outright, it remains a discerning choice for someone in the market for a middleweight machine that stands out from the crowd.

Voge 500DSX

Launched on these shores in summer 2021, Voge might still be finding its feet in the competitive UK market but its latest offerings, including the 525 DSX we’re highlighting here, are well-appointed and excellent value enough to make your options list.

For a bit of background, Voge is the 'premium' spin-off brand of Chinese giants Loncin, though its upper-class aspirations don't translate quite so well here on models that, while solid, don't exactly scream class.

Here we are highlighting the Voge 525DSX, which this year replaced the previous 500DSX, and is one of the few like-for-like rivals to the – admittedly very similar-looking – Honda NX500.

While you'll find more sophisticated mechanicals and better quality materials with the Honda, the 525DSX holds its own with handsome looks, a comfortable ride and generous kit levels, while at a penny-pinching £5,999 it is a tempting near-£1,000 cheaper than the NX 500.

AJS Cadwell Clubman

In much the same way Jaguar, Land Rover and MG thrive in China for their unashamedly British heritage, several brands have returned the favour by calling upon our quintessentially classic silhouettes for inspiration with their efforts.

As such, you’d likely cause a few mouths to drop open if you pull up on an AJS Cadwell Clubman and reveal its origin… not least because the name itself couldn’t sound more ‘Keep Calm and Carry On’.

History buffs will point out AJS is of course a relic of the once thriving British motorcycle industry but having been fairly dormant for decades afterwards, it took to importing Chinese-manufactured models to furrow its little portion of the market today, including the eager 125cc Cadwell Clubman.

It’s on the more basic end of the quality scale, but all 10 of its bhp is right on tap, it looks like a shrunken Norton and it’s a hoot to ride.

CFMoto 450MT

 

As mentioned above, CFMoto is one of the most impressive of Chinese manufacturers aided in no small part by its partnership with KTM, whose mechanicals, some engines and design studio – Kiska – it shares.

Arguably it’s most impressive offering so far is the new-for-2024 CFMoto 450MT ADV. It’s a twin cylinder, middleweight adventure bike with smart styling, decent spec including KYB forks credible dual-purpose ability and, best of all, a price tag that’s over £1000 cheaper than any comparable Japanese machine. Think softer, less powerful Yamaha 700 Ténéré but with the accessibility and ease of Honda’s NX500 and you won’t be too far wide of the mark.

As such it’s a truly tempting proposition, impressed on our in our recent test, is genuinely versatile and has enough pleasing touches to satisfy. In short, it’s one of the best Chinese offerings so far.

Moto Morini Seiemmezzo

One of motorcycling's most historic brands, while Moto Morini has endured multiple periods of uncertainty since the turn of the Millennium, its most recent takeover by Chinese conglomerate ZNEN is giving it a Benelli-inspired new lease of life.

Having cleared out its ageing large capacity range in 2018, it hit the comeback trail the following year with the Moto Morini X-Cape 650 ADV-cum-tourer crossover and has since gone on to follow it up with the Moto Morini Seiemmezzo, a new entry into the mid-size naked class.

Literally translated as 6½ - a nod to the 3½, one of its most popular models of the 20th century - the Seiemmezzo is available in sporty STR and scrambler-inspired SCR guise, with the latter £300 more.

From the outset, its clean, chunky lines owe a lot to the Honda CB650R, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, while it handles with some vigour, even if the 649cc engine is a touch restrained at 61bhp, putting a fair few ponies down on its nearest rival, the CFMoto 700CL-X Sport and Heritage.

Nevertheless, at just £6,699, it is well-kitted and great value.

Visordown Review | Moto Morini Seiemmezzo

KTM 790 Adventure

What? An Austrian KTM in a listing of Chinese motorcycles? Shurely shome mishtake? But no. Although the Austrian brand’s mid-capacity parallel twin adventure bike was first introduced in 2019 before being replaced by the 890 version in 2020, the smaller version was introduced in 2023 as a sort of cut-price alternative.

And that’s because the 790 Adventure (along with the 790 Duke) is now built by KTM’s Chinese partner CFMoto, which also makes many of KTM’s engines and whose own 800MT Touring is based on many of the same mechanicals.

It’s a worthy addition, too, with few giveaways that it’s ‘Chinese built’ – in fact it’s actually an improvement over the original with an updated 790 engine (which is also, unlike the 890, A2-restrictable), decent suspension and brakes and great versatility. The 790 Adventure may no longer be quite the sub-£10K bargain it was when first revived, but it’s a worthy middleweight offering that defies its Chinese origins.

Lexmoto RSS 125

Having tasted success in the 125cc sports bike category with the LXR and LXS, Lexmoto gave its 125 platform some added flair in 2023 with the launch of the RSS 125.

Stripping away the fairing before drizzling it in some well-judged 'neo-retro' design cues, the RSS 125 cuts a dash with its simple lines and bulbous tank, plus some attractive colourway options.

Under the skin, the RSS 125 offers a useful 14bhp from its single-cylinder engine, while its feathery 163kg should ensure it is nimble through the city streets when pushed.

Other welcome touches include a 5" TFT dashboard, a 17-inch rear wheel and a six-speed gearbox, while at £2,899, it is over £2k cheaper than the Yamaha XSR125.

Benelli Leoncino 800 Trail

As with Moto Morini, the inclusion of Benelli here shows a bit of artistic licence since it is also one of motorcycling's longest-serving Italian-founded manufacturers.

However, Benelli is in much ruder health these days thanks to the efforts - and financing - from parent company QJMotor, which has used a successful badge-engineering strategy in Asia to give the Italian marque a strong foothold in the world's largest markets.

It means Benelli now out-sells the likes of Triumph and Ducati with ease, while even Italians have returned to its showrooms in droves to elevate the TRK 502 to the top of the sales charts.

For this ranking, however, we've gone for its UK flagship, the Benelli Leoncino 800 Trail, which stands for Little Lion, and puts a paw in the Modern Classic, Cruiser and Scrambler segments.

With its low-slung riding position, easy-going dynamics and punchy – if languid – 754cc engine, the Leoncino 800 looks more upmarket than it is, while this Trail version even gets some off-road ability with its knobbly tyres and raised suspension.

With its price reduced recently by £1,000 to an even more tempting £6,999, the Benelli Leoncino 800 Trail is definitely a worthy alternative to the Royal Enfield Interceptor 650.