In the last few years names like Voge and CF Moto have burst into the motorcycling mainstream (echoing, incidentally, the experience in the car world which has its own new Chinese brands such as BYD and Jaecoo) and, with engines derived from designs by the likes of BMW, Honda and KTM, not to mention specifications which often include TFT screen, modern electronics and standard luggage, plus, most of all, bargain basement prices, we’ve not only started to take them seriously but also begun to buy them in their droves.
As a result, machines such as Voge’s DS900X have quickly become European best sellers; learner riders (who often are more hamstrung by tight budgets) have been lapping up the likes of Lexmoto’s LXR125 and even some European heritage brands, such as Benelli and, more recently, Morbidelli, have been bought up to grace the flanks of a new breed of Chinese-developed bikes.
But which are the current best? What do you get for your money? And should a bike from a Chinese manufacturer be your next motorcycling purchase? We’ve rounded up five of the current best Chinese bikes you can buy – and, for clarity’s sake, we’re not including bikes from the European brands such as KTM, which manufactures some of its models in China, and nor are we including models that have now gone off sale so can’t be bought new – to help you decide!
Benelli Leoncino 800 Trail
£6299 • 754cc • 80bhp • 224kg (kerb)
Let’s start with one of the more established and familiar brands – Benelli. Although a historic Italian name dating back to 1911 and possibly most famous for its outrageous six-cylinder 750 Sei from 1972, the marque passed to Chinese ownership in 2005 since when it’s produced an increasing range of bikes built in the Far East, one of the most popular being the A2 class TRK502 twin adventure bike introduced in 2017.
The Leoncino 800 Trail, introduced in 2021, built on that basic architecture and heritage. It’s a semi-retro styled machine with an enlarged, more powerful, version of the same Kawasaki-derived parallel twin and also one with a modicum of off-road prowess (there’s also a pure roadster version).
The result ticks a huge amount of boxes: it’s got a historic name; is a decent all-round performer; has an on-trend retro style and, best of all, is phenomenal value, with its current £6299 price actually reduced from its launch price.
Read our Benelli Leoncino 800 Trail review.
Voge DS625X
£5999 • 581cc • 63bhp • 206kg (kerb)
Voge has probably been the most dynamic of the Chinese brands which have most recently landed on UK shores and its DS625X is one of its latest – and arguably its best – offering of all.
Voge is the premium motorcycle brand of Chinese automotive manufacturer Loncin. It was founded in 2018 and is aimed primarily at the high-end European market. The DS625X was launched in spring 2025 and is an update on its previous DS525X with more ccs, more power and more spec’.
As before it’s based on Honda’s impressive and well-proven CB500 parallel twin engine design and, as such, is a middleweight, novice-friendly, adventure-styled ‘first big bike’ – making it a natural rival for machines such as Suzuki’s 650 V-Strom and Kawasaki’s Versys 650. In every other respect, however, the Voge blows those Japanese rivals away in the terms of spec, style and value.
It’s also stylish, well-equipped (complete with big TFT dash etc) and decently built. While in terms of value, currently at just £5999, it’s a lot of motorbike for the money.
Morbidelli T1002V
£7999 • 997cc • 88.5bhp • 265kg (kerb)
In many ways one of the most impressive and significant of all recent Chinese offerings. The all-new, big, V-twin adventure bike was unveiled at Motorcycle Live last November before going on sale earlier this year. Unusually for Chinese bikes (so far) it’s not only a full 1000cc (most are smaller) it’s also based around its wholly own, home-brewed powerplant.
If the name’s familiar that’s because the historic Italian brand was famous for its 250cc Grand Prix racers in the 1970s. Rights to the name were bought by the huge Qiangiang Motorcycle Group, under its Keeway export operation (the same concern that owns Benelli) in 2024, after initially developing the bike under its MBP brand.
The result is great looking bike that’s well-equipped with radial brakes, big TFT dash, rider modes, adjustable screen and more, rides more than reasonably (although its 89bhp output is a little mean compared to European rivals and in light of its 997cc capacity). Like most other Chinese bikes, it is an absolute snip at just £7999, especially as it comes complete with a free, aluminium three-cox luggage set, too!
Read our Morbidelli T1002V review.
Voge R 125
£2799 • 124cc • 14.75bhp • 128kg (kerb)
Not an adventure bike, this time, but, yes, another Voge simply by virtue of it being both so good – and so affordable.
The difference this time, however, is that the R 125 is a semi-sporty naked 125 that’s high on spec and low on price. With more than a hint of KTM 125 Duke about it (which, incidentally, costs nearly double the price), the R has sharp, angular, attractive styling, a KTM-alike tubular steel trellis frame, smart colour TFT dash, reasonable cycle parts including inverted forks and, this time, a price starting at just £2799 – and, when you’re starting out in motorcycling on a tight budget and with other demands such as biking gear, training and insurance to pay for, that could be the most significant stat of all.
No, it’s not as flash or reassuring as a Yamaha or KTM, but the R rides well, is decently put together, will make you the envy of your mates and, best of all, is affordable. And isn’t that what learner/A1 class bikes are supposed to be all about?
Voge DS900X
£8499 • 895cc • 96.5bhp • 238kg (kerb)
And finally, yes, yet another Voge! But it has to be said, the emerging Chinese brand’s recent product releases, along with the all-round excellence of the DS900X in particular, has made them currently simply impossible to ignore.
Also an adventure style bike, the DS900X is this time based on a variant of BMW’s F-series parallel twin (which currently powers the F800 and F900 and which Loncin has assembled for BMW for over decade) but with its own electronics and other modifications resulting in a peak power figure of 96.5bhp, which, conveniently, is about halfway between that of the two BMWs, too.
Otherwise, however, it’s a nicely proportioned, full-size, well-equipped adventure bike with decent performance and manners (admittedly, like other Voges, it’s not ‘quite’ as refined as their European equivalants, but they’re not far off). And, again, best of all, it’s very temptingly priced – and if you want a full three-piece aluminium luggage set, this time it’s only £500 more!
