Complete Guide To Buying A Chinese Motorcycle

Recently, Chinese motorcycle sales have been increasing in the U.S. market due to their high-quality features. Chinese motorcycles tend to be smaller and more lightweight than most motorcycles available in the U.S., which has resulted in them becoming top-selling products.

This article lists famous Chinese motorcycle brands and models you may be interested in buying.

Benelli was the first Chinese motorcycle brand to produce mid-sized motorbikes. They are well-known for producing 250 cc Chinese bikes and other affordable, mid-range motorcycles and mopeds.

Due to 250 cc motorcycles and mopeds making up the majority of the Chinese market, Benelli has tried to branch out by introducing larger bikes in the Chinese and global markets since 2005.

Before being bought by Qianjiang, Benelli was originally an Italian motorcycle brand. Qianjiang shifted Benelli’s focus from large displacement motorcycles to affordable mid-range motorbikes appealing to younger riders.

Benelli's current headquarters are still in Italy, but the company is under the authority of its Chinese parent company, Qianjiang.

Zongshen is a Chinese company that claims to make over a million motorcycles every year. Founded in 1992, Zongshen quickly became one of China's leading manufacturers with 18,000 workers and 52 subsidiary firms. Zongshen specializes in making motorcycles with 250 cc engines or lower, dominating China's market of affordable, low-displacement motorcycles.

Chang Jiang's most popular model is the CJ750; the CJ750’s design was based on the 1956 Soviet IMZ M-72. Both came with sidecars and often mischaracterized as BMW "replicas.".

Founded in 1992, Lifan is a Chinese motorcycle brand renowned for producing affordable and reliable motorcycles, including dirt bikes and entry-level bikes.

Loncin motorbikes are well-known worldwide due to being represented by multiple brands. In Italy, this company goes by the name Voge. In Colombia, it is known as AKT. n Ukraine, this company goes under the moniker Viper Motorcycles.

Established in 1956, Jinan Qingqi Motorcycle Co., Ltd. produces mopeds, quad bikes,  electric motorbikes, and motorcycles with small displacement engines. This company’s headquarters are in the Shandong Province of Jinan.

Although Jinan Qingqi is one of the largest producers of motorcycles with small displacement engines in the world, it is best known in China as a moped brand. Jinan Qingqi supplies a lot of equipment to well-known businesses like Suzuki, Cycle Union, and Peugeot.

Established in 2014 by Chris Riether and Nathan Sly, Evoke Motorcycles is a company in Beijing that manufactures electric motorcycles. This company has been manufacturing electric bikes since 2012. The first mass-produced Evoke motorbike was the Urban S, a naked electric street bike with an Italian design and features.

Established in 1994, Benda is one of Zhejiang Province's four main motorcycle companies with a long history of independent motor vehicle manufacturing and exporting.

Furthermore, Benda has a branch in vehicle design, vehicle manufacturing, and power research and development.

Listed below are the top 10 Chinese motorcycles available in the U.S. market:

After Benelli was acquired by Quinjiang in 2005, the company’s focus shifted from larger motorcycles with triple engines to motorcycles with smaller displacement engines.

However, Benelli has recently resumed producing larger bikes, the latest being the sleek Benelli 752 Super-Naked Roadster.

The Benelli 752S has a 754 cc fuel-injected, DOHC, eight-valve liquid-cooled parallel twin engine. It is capable of producing a horsepower oft 75 hp. At the front is a 50 mm Marzocchi USD front fork and four-piston Brembo brakes. At the rear is an adjustable mono-shock and a swingarm mounted to the stylish steel tube trellis frame.

The Benelli 752S offers an upright and balanced riding position and an elegant body. Additionally, the Benelli 752S is equipped with LED lighting, ABS, and an LCD dashboard.

The CFMoto 700CL-X was launched in China in 2019 and released in the U.S. market in 2022. It was equipped with a two-cylinder, liquid-cooled, parallel twin engine capable of horsepower of 73.75 hp at 8,500 RPM and a torque of 68 Nm at 6,500 RPM. The parallel-twin engine's durable gearbox is connected to a six-speed slipper clutch. The CFMoto 700CL-X had a seat height of 800 mm and a fuel tank capacity of 13 gallons.

Many 650 cc CFMoto models are powered by parallel twin engines capable of horsepower of 60 hp.

The CFMoto 650 NK TT has an eight-valve head, a Bosch fuel injection system, and a contemporary design in compliance with Euro 4 emission standards.

The CFMoto 650 NK TT’s engine is fastened to its sleek chassis. This motorcycle has twin front discs, a Continental ABS system, a steel tube frame, a mono-shock rear suspension, Metzeler tires, LED lights, and a digital dashboard.

The Benelli TNT 600 is affordable, dependable, tough, and easy to maintain. Due to how closely it resembles European motorcycles in terms of looks, sound, and feel, the Benelli TNT 600 has become one of the top Chinese motorcycles.

The Benelli TNT 600 is powered by a 600 cc four-cylinder engine that gradually accelerates. Other features include the double overhead camshaft timing, four-valve cylinders, and electronic fuel injection system.

For more than 10 years, Lexmoto has been importing and selling its own line of Chinese motorcycles.

Lexmoto’s newest release is also its largest motorcycle, the LXR380. It is powered by a 378 cc liquid-cooled parallel-twin engine fitted inside a super sports chassis. This motorcycle has an overall weight of 192 kg and is capable of a horsepower of 40 hp.

The LXR380 has twin wave front disc brakes, a rear mono shock suspension, an upside-down front fork, and an aerodynamic fairing. It is fitted with sporty tire sizes that can be easily switched out with aftermarket rubber tires if necessary.

The Voge 300 RR was inspired by the KTM 390R and the Kawasaki Ninja 300. It is powered by a 292 cc, four-stroke, one-cylinder engine capable of horsepower of 30 hp. The Vogue 300 RR is a lightweight motorcycle with an overall weight of 360 lbs.

The Zontes T310-T is powered by a 312 cc single-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine capable of horsepower of 34 hp. The DOHC, four-valve motor has a balancing shaft to ensure smooth operation. Being a lightweight vehicle with a weight of 160 kg, this vehicle is easy to handle and has good performance.

The Zontes T310-T also has a swingarm, a Bosch switchable ABS, an angular body, a lightweight lithium battery, an LCD display, an electrically-adjustable screen, two rider power modes, and keyless ignition and fuel cap.

The Evoke Urban Classic is capable of a horsepower of 26 hp, a top speed of 80 mph, and travels a maximum distance of 130 miles before needing to refuel.

The Mastiff 250 was built with a four-stroke, single-cylinder, air-cooled engine capable of horsepower of 21 hp. The Mastiff 250 has a simple chassis with a steel tube frame, a twin-shock rear swingarm, and front forks.

The Bullit Hero 125 has a simple steel tube frame, a 125 cc four-stroke, air-cooled engine, and off-roading equipment.

The Bullit Hero 125’s engine only has five gears and can produce a horsepower of 11.5 hp. Based on an older Suzuki engine design, it sis reliable and fuel-efficient. The braking is a linked system instead of an ABS and has longer suspensions.

Due to their features, Chinese motorcycle sales have steadily been rising in the United States. Chinese motorbikes are smaller and lighter than most models sold in the U.S., but they are also more affordable and reliable. The Chinese motorcycle industry has been able to create more powerful engines that are larger and have a higher power output. This is why Chinese motorcycles are better built and more appealing to novice riders. If you want to improve your motorcycle look, you can add new Saddlebags, seats, crash bars, fairings, handlebars, luggage racks, and sissy bars.