- The model name appears directly in the patent filing, and displacement drops compared to the 450 Rally
- Engine, frame and swingarm are essentially carried over from the existing model
- Lighting, a license plate holder, reflectors and a side stand point to street homologation
Kove has made a name for itself in the rally segment within just a few years. Since 2023, the Chinese manufacturer has entered the Dakar Rally for four years running, and the 450 Rally, on which the competition bike is based, earned strong reviews. Now new design patents show that the lineup is set to expand downward. The model is called the 350 Rally and is far more street-oriented than the existing rally machine.
What do the new Kove 350 Rally patent drawings show?
The drawings show a completely redressed motorcycle with an unchanged, rally-typical silhouette. The name 350 Rally appears directly on the filed documents, confirming the smaller displacement compared with the 450.
The rally character still comes through. The main reason is the large tank, which extends down on both sides of the engine. There’s also a nearly vertical windscreen. Both are features familiar from desert racing machines.
The most striking change is the new front end. Instead of the current 450’s two headlights mounted side by side, the light units now sit stacked on top of each other, flanked by wing-shaped daytime running lights. In the cockpit sits a horizontally mounted TFT display, in other words a wide-format color screen. Above it is a mount that could be used for a navigation device.
How does the 350 Rally differ from the 450 Rally?
The key difference lies in its orientation: the 350 Rally is drawn as a street motorcycle, while the 450 Rally comes from racing. That’s evident in several details.
The seat is less extreme. It sits lower than on the 450 Rally and is dipped in the middle, rather than flat and straight all the way through like on a motocross bike. That should make it easier to get on. There’s also street-legal lighting, a license plate holder and side reflectors. A side stand is present as well, which the pure competition version lacks.
The exhaust system has also been changed. The header now runs high along the cylinder head instead of passing underneath the engine. It feeds into a muffler mounted high up under the seat.
Why did Kove settle on 350 cubic centimeters?
The displacement class was likely chosen deliberately. In several Asian and European markets, motorcycles of this size stay below thresholds that trigger higher taxes or insurance premiums.
There’s a second factor too. The Dakar look attracts many buyers who would be overwhelmed by an actual rally machine. Such motorcycles are tall, difficult to handle and built for long racing distances. A smaller, street-oriented model opens up the look to a wider audience. The fact that Kove has also worked on the ergonomics fits with this thinking.
What is known about the engine and chassis?
The patent filings don’t give concrete performance figures for the 350 Rally. What is apparent, though, is that the single-cylinder engine is essentially the same as in the 450 Rally, just with smaller displacement.
The frame and swingarm also carry over from the existing model. For comparison: the 450 Rally, according to the manufacturer, runs a 449cc single-cylinder engine with double overhead camshafts, liquid cooling, an additional oil cooler and Bosch fuel injection. The steel frame houses three separate tanks that together hold around 30 liters (7.9 gallons). At launch, Kove quoted 52 hp (38 kW) and 42 Nm for the Factory Edition, about 3 hp and 2 Nm more than the standard version, with a weight of 145 kilograms (320 pounds).
Whether the 350 Rally takes over the 450’s chassis and brakes isn’t clear from the drawings. Design patents protect the outer shape, not the technology behind it.
A new face for the entire model lineup
The 350 Rally isn’t the only model getting the new front end. The design feature with stacked headlights is set to be rolled out to several other Kove models in 2027.
Earlier this year, type-approval documents surfaced for the next generation of the 800X as well as for the 450R, a roadster with a four-cylinder engine. Both also show the stacked headlight solution. Together with the 350 Rally, both models were recently the subject of new design patents showing them from multiple angles.
The new face looks less distinctive than the previous solution with two headlights mounted side by side beneath a downward-sweeping edge. Behind this apparently lies the intent to make the motorcycles look more conventional and thereby appeal to a broader range of buyers.
How big has Kove become as a manufacturer?
Kove is a comparatively young company that has grown quickly. The brand was founded in 2017 and belongs to Tibet New Summit Motorcycle Co., Ltd.
In 2022, the company described itself as China’s fourth-largest motorcycle manufacturer and the largest supplier of models over 300cc. Production takes place at two plants in Chongqing and Chengdu. That same year, the brand introduced itself to the European public for the first time at EICMA in Milan.
Today’s model lineup ranges from small sport models like the 250RR and 350RR, through roadsters like the 350R and 450R, to adventure tourers like the 525X, 625X and 800X. There are also off-road models and the rally lineup with the 450 Rally and 800X Rally. The manufacturer states that it develops and builds engines, frames and final assembly in-house. Besides Dakar, Kove is also active in road racing.
When will the Kove 350 Rally reach the market?
There’s no timeline yet. Neither the patent filings nor any official statements mention a launch date, a price, or the markets where the model will be offered.
Design patents are nonetheless a clear sign that a production model is planned. Since the new styling is set to be extended to several lineups starting in 2027, a reveal tied to the 2027 model year seems plausible. That’s not confirmed, however. Whether and when the 350 Rally will come to Europe also remains open. For the German market in particular, it would be interesting to know whether Kove offers an A2-compliant variant, as it does with the 450 Rally.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What is the Kove 350 Rally?
The Kove 350 Rally is a new motorcycle from Chinese manufacturer Kove, known so far only from design patents. It is a smaller and more street-oriented version of the 450 Rally. The name appears directly on the filed documents.
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What engine does the Kove 350 Rally have?
According to the patent drawings, it uses essentially the same single-cylinder engine as the 450 Rally, but with smaller displacement. Concrete figures for power and torque are not yet known. The frame and swingarm also come from the existing model.
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What sets the Kove 350 Rally apart from the Kove 450 Rally?
The biggest difference is its street orientation. The 350 Rally has a lower seat that is dipped in the middle, street-legal lighting, a license plate holder, reflectors and a side stand. It also gets a new front end with stacked headlights and a differently routed exhaust system.
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Is the Kove 350 Rally street-legal?
The details in the patent drawings clearly point that way. Lighting, a license plate holder, side reflectors and the side stand are features of a street model and are absent on pure competition machines. Official confirmation from the manufacturer is still pending.
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When will the Kove 350 Rally reach the market?
No date has been announced yet. Since Kove plans to extend the new design concept to further models starting in 2027, a reveal around the 2027 model year is possible. Details on price and markets are not yet available.
