Introduction

As September swiftly approaches, the 2023 Chinese motorcycle market could aptly be described as intensely competitive. Major motorcycle manufacturers are aggressively cutting prices, and four-cylinder models are making frequent appearances. On September 15, the 21st edition of CIMA Motor kicked off in Chongqing, where numerous exhibitors unveiled their marquee products. This article will focus on the launch of gasoline-powered motorcycles from domestic brands that MEGA CHINAMOTOR has been closely monitoring.

For the 2023 CIMA Motor, a total of 7 exhibition halls have been set up, covering an impressive 160,000 square meters. With over 700 exhibitors, this year’s size has doubled compared to last year’s 4 halls spanning 100,000 square meters. In addition to established domestic motorcycle brands such as VOGE, CYCLONE, SHINERAY, QJMOTOR, and BENDA making their appearances, emerging brands like AKMOTO and X-WEDGE also showcased their latest offerings.

SHINERAY

Pushing the boundaries of off-road and vintage styles, SHINERAY motorcycles made a dazzling appearance at this year’s exhibition. Remember the Stormbreaker 1200 showcased at last year’s CIMA Motor and EICMA? At this exhibition, SHINERAY unveiled 4 meticulously modified Stormbreaker 1200, with Chopper, Cafe Racer, and Classics being the dominant modification styles. These captivating transformations drew numerous onlookers from both domestic and international scenes.

Their brand-new modern vintage street bike, Fengren 525, is a harmonious blend of sporty and vintage elements, boasting an adjustable KYB suspension, J.JUAN opposed four-piston calipers, and BOSCH EFI – attributes making this motorcycle incredibly agile. SHINERAY also launched an export version of this model, the 525FR (XY500). This model will be introduced at the upcoming autumn fair and EICMA.

Moreover, SHINERAY introduced the X-RIDE (XY650GY-A) to the Chinese market, fulfilling the long-standing dreams of many, aptly named by local enthusiasts as the “Sleigh 650.”

Of particular note, the 2023 SHINERAY Customization Contest award ceremony was held during the exhibition. Top domestic customizers showcased their modified versions of the Mash. Enthusiasts from across the country gathered at the SHINERAY booth, sharing insights and sparking new innovative ideas, further promoting and elevating the custom motorcycle culture in China.

VOGE

LONCIN’s premium motorcycle brand, VOGE, unveiled its first four-cylinder sport bike, RR666 S, and a brand-new entry-level sport bike, RR350, during the exhibition.

CYCLONE

ZONGSHEN’s luxury motorcycle brand, CYCLONE, launched numerous new models. Notably, four of them have a 600cc engine capacity: the dual-fixed wing single swingarm four-cylinder sport bike RC680R, twin-cylinder sport bike RC600, cruiser RG600, and the rugged rally bike RX600 powered by the Norton NG560 twin-cylinder liquid-cooled engine. Additionally, they unveiled a vintage scooter, RT250E.

Also spotted were two adorable ZONGSHEN branded Mini models – a 150cc-powered Mini Vintage and a Mini Sport bike.

AKMOTO

A brand-new player, AWAK MOTOR (abbreviated as AK MOTOR), was introduced at the exhibition. AKMOTO is the latest sub-brand launched by Chongqing Aerospace BASHAN Motorcycle Manufacturing Co., Ltd, which ranks among the top ten gasoline motorcycle exporters from January to June 2023. The brand primarily targets the younger demographic and is branded as a pioneer in stylish mini motorcycles. They showcased a trendy 125cc mini motorcycle, AK11, weighing 92KG with a seat height of 750mm. It’s designed to be easily manageable for beginners and makes for a chic urban ride.

QJMOTOR

QJMOTOR, the luxury motorcycle brand under the Qianjiang Group showcased several of its heavy-hitting new models at CIMA Motor, along with their pricing. The four-cylinder sport bike, SRK800RR, is priced at RMB 52,999; the V-shaped four-cylinder cruiser, SRV600, is available for RMB 35,999; the Italian-styled TORNADO 552 comes with a tag of RMB 32,800. They also launched a Sai 450 race edition for RMB 31,999. Moreover, QJMOTOR announced its intent to compete in the upcoming World Superbike Championship (WSBK) with the SRK800RR

Additionally, the Qianjiang brand released a 150cc scooter, DINO, priced at RMB 13,980.

LETBE  

Making its debut earlier this year at the Spring Trade Fair, LETBE, as a fresh sub-brand of HAOJIN Motorcycles, has once again stolen the spotlight at this expo. The branding strategy for LETBE differs from HAOJIN, with a particular appeal to the youthful and individualistic demographic, promising them a machine they’d not only enjoy riding but would also cherish as a “mechanical pet.” This time around, LETBE has showcased its entire range, including the latest “Mechanical Pet 2.0” at CIMA Motor. We eagerly await their presence in the upcoming October Autumn Trade Fair.

TEYIN  

TEYIN, whose exports have been on the rise this year, was a part of the current motorcycle exhibition. Their product designs have undergone significant transformations compared to their previous export models. Collaborating with one of China’s top ten design maestros, the 150cc liquid-cooled national trend vintage scooter “Lola” seamlessly integrates elements from the national intangible cultural heritage ” Etles ” silk, brilliantly reflecting Chinese cultural nuances.

MBY 

Under the electric quad brand Today’s Sunshine, the motorcycle division MBY unveiled models like the 50cc mini trendy “Tank” and the 150cc ADV scooter. It’s also worth noting that MBY is expected to present both petrol-powered and electric ADV scooters at the 2023 EICMA in November.

BENDA  

BENDA’s V-twin-cylinder Napoleon 450, which had its premiere in May at Motor China, officially announced its price tag today: RMB 26,900. Once again, it sets a new pricing benchmark for the 450cc segment.

GAOKIN  

GAOKIN, after a period of silence, has made a comeback at this motorcycle expo with four novel models: the uniquely styled STORR 500V, the GK650 Bobber powered by a new 650 V2 engine platform, the V-twin-cylinder GK1000ADV, and the evolved vintage model GK1200 Explorer Edition.

VINTO  

VINTO, a luxury motorcycle brand under the SOKON Holding Group, unveiled a series of models at the expo, including the four-cylinder sport bike GP660 and a 250cc vintage Bobber, available in both single and dual-seat versions.

X-WEDGE  

The recently introduced brand X-WEDGE was also present. While many might not recognize the name X-WEDGE, Chongqing Huansong should ring a bell, especially for those who’ve traded with Chinese all-terrain vehicle manufacturers. X-WEDGE is indeed under the aegis of Chongqing Huansong. Although the quality of their products remains to be seen, they certainly don’t skimp on displacement. Judging from the models displayed, whether two-wheeled or three-wheeled, the eye-popping 1000cc and 2000cc displacement left many attendees in awe.

In addition to the motorcycle brands highlighted above, we also came across several high-quality accessory manufacturers. These include D.Mag, a motorcycle rim brand under the GIANT Group that focuses on lightweight innovative materials, Wuxi’s TARAZON, which mainly deals with motorcycle rims and side boxes, TARO that delves into whole motorcycles and speedometers, and the riding gear brand SCOYCO.

Worthy of special mention is the alliance between CFMOTO and YAMAHA, despite CFMOTO’s absence from the exhibition. On the first day of the expo, they officially announced the establishment of the Zhuzhou CFMOTO YAMAHA Motorcycle Co., Ltd. This collaboration is a robust union of strengths. While it enables faster introduction of YAMAHA’s new models into the Chinese market, the joint venture also paves the way for more innovations, particularly in the scooter segment.

With the unveiling of new products and price announcements by major brand manufacturers at this year’s CIMA Motor, the dust has settled on the Chinese motorcycle market for 2023. We’ll keep our eyes on the October Autumn Trade Fair and the EICMA in Italy this November, anticipating the performance of Chinese export manufacturers in overseas markets.

Read in Chinese: MEGA MOTOR