Sister company Benelli’s inaugural products will be available in capacities ranging from 250cc to 500cc.
We have learned from company sources that QJMotor will launch in India this month, with the launch of 4 new motorcycles. For the uninitiated, QJMotor is a sister brand to Benelli – both companies are owned by Qianjiang Group. While QJ has so far mainly operated in its home market of China, the company is looking to expand globally for some time.
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The lineup will feature two retro style models: SRC250, SRC500
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SRK400 naked roadster will also be released here
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Finally the SRV300, a lightweight roadster with a Harley-Davidson connection
In China, the company offers a wide range of more than 30 models of motorcycles, scooters and even electrics. But QJMotor’s India launch will feature four models, all of which will be gasoline-powered motorcycles. The most familiar of these is the SRC500.
QJMotor SRC500: details
Listed on the QJMotor website with its charming full name, the SRC500 (QJ500-8A), you don’t have to squint much before this bike starts to resemble the Benelli Imperiale 400. It’s basically a car. Imperiale, with a few tweaked styling and a larger engine. Where the Imperiale has a 374cc single cylinder engine, the QJ is equipped with a larger 480cc engine, almost the same as the Benelli. Maximum power is 25.8hp, compared to the Imperiale’s 21hp. And depending on where on the QJ website you search, peak torque is either 36Nm or 40Nm.
QJMotor SRC250: details
The other classic motorcycle in QJ’s lineup will be the SRC250; full name SRC250 (QJ250-9). You might think that the similarity in nomenclature translates to similarity between the two products, but in reality, they are chalk and cheese. The SRC250 not only has its own design language, but is also powered by a two-cylinder engine! You might think that would make it a tenacious, high-revving little machine. But the 249cc unit manages 17.7 hp at 8000 rpm. For reference, the Suzuki Gixxer 250 makes 26.5 hp at 9300 rpm. Maximum torque is also quite modest 16.5Nm on the QJ (Suzuki manages 22.2Nm).
QJMotor SRK400: details
Among QJMotor’s more modern offerings will be the SRK400, a edgy-looking streetfighter that looks well-equipped to take on something like the KTM 390 Duke. At its heart is a 400cc tandem engine, producing a respectable 41.5hp and 37Nm – figures that are almost on par with the KTM. It’s all brought together by a chassis that looks a lot like the Benelli TNT 300, so you get a trellis frame suspended from an upside-down fork and a monoshock. Like the TNT, you get two 260mm brake discs up front, and despite its solid foundation, the SRK retains its 186kg, fluid-filled weight.
QJMotor SRV300: details
The final product that QJMotor will bring to India is perhaps the most exciting. Called the SRV300, this is a lightweight roadster with a strong Harley-Davidson connection. The Milwaukee giant wanted to tap into the fast-growing midsize segment in Asian markets, and for that purpose, they partnered with QJMotor. SRV300 is a model that can be improved into a Harley-Davidson and sold in many of these markets.
As for the bike itself, it’s not listed on QJ’s home site, but it does appear on several of the company’s international websites, along with specs. It ticks off a big Harley box by sporting a V-twin engine. If it comes to the HD badge in the near future, it will become one of the few Harleys to feature a liquid-cooled engine. With a capacity of 296cc, this engine produces 30.7 horsepower and 26Nm, combined with a 6-speed gearbox.
On the styling front, the SRV can be classified as a bobber, with its chopped fenders and low profile. The fuel tank has a square teardrop shape, while the headlights are round. While the million-dollar legrooms are visible, it’s hard to imagine that anyone could comfortably sit on top of the small saddle that extends behind the rider’s saddle. Suspension includes an inverted fork and twin shock absorbers, and there’s a single disc brake at each end.
QJMotor: India launch progress
The company will officially announce the lineup in India in mid-November and the bikes will be sold through existing Moto Vault dealers that sell Moto Morini and Zontes motorcycles. This distribution network is owned and managed by Adishwar Auto Ride India which is also the distributor of Benelli in our market. Given the size of QJMotor’s international roster, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Indian lineup grow in the months following launch.
