A New Challenger Appears
Can a Chinese Naked Bike Steal the Spotlight from the Big Names? Ola Stenegärd, Director of Design at Indian Motorcycle, knows exactly who he designs for. Indian riders rarely keep their bikes 100% ‘OEM’. With that in mind, his design team creates motorcycles as a kind of blank canvas, allowing customers to continue where Indian left off: building the ultimate custom machine.
QJMOTOR, on the other hand, is a whole different story. No heritage, no garage-tinkering fanbase. So how good is a Chinese mass-produced naked bike if you still want something that stands out? Time to hit the road with the SRK 600.
Triumph, Indian, Ducati, BMW—names every BikeBrewers fan associates with custom culture. But QJMOTOR? Say what? Exactly. QJMOTOR is a relatively new name, trying to grab a slice of the European market at warp speed. Backed by Chinese giant Geely (yes, the same group that owns Volvo, Polestar, Lotus, and BYD), QJMOTOR is not a matter of fly-by-night. In fact, they were founded back in 1985.
Meet the SRK 600
Sporty Looks, Serious Spec, Wallet-Friendly Price. This morning, I’m greeted by Jan Ykema from Moto Mondo, the distributor for QJMOTOR in the Benelux. Jan gets straight to the point: “I think the Touring isn’t what you’re here for?” Correct. While the SRT 600 SX Touring and 700 SX Touring are certainly interesting for the Dutch market, it’s the SRK 600 that immediately grabs my attention. A sporty-looking naked with a 61 hp parallel twin, Brembo brakes, Marzocchi forks, and a price tag of €7,499 in the Netherlands (€6,699 in Belgium). Good looks, low running costs, and a three-year warranty? Sounds like a sweet deal.
But just being a sweet deal isn’t enough to make it onto BikeBrewers. We want to see if the SRK can be turned into a tasty custom ride on a budget. The base looks promising, but for custom bike lovers, there’s definitely some work to do.
Custom Potential on a Budget
From Factory Fresh to Street Style in a Few Easy Mods. The SRK 600 comes in two colors: glossy red and grey, and my personal favorite, black with gold details for that iconic John Player Special vibe. The bike sits nicely on its wheels. The design feels a bit generic, not overly aggressive. No stubby tail or wild streetfighter vibes here. It reminds me a bit of the Honda CB500. For comparison: the Honda is €700 more expensive and gives you 14 hp and 12 Nm less. On paper, the QJ offers serious bang for your buck.
Of course, you’re not going to drop 10 grand customizing this thing. So the question is: can you give this naked bike a personal touch with minimal budget? Something that lets you cut through traffic in style and park it in the city without worrying about runaway scooters or hipsters knocking over your ride.
Circling the bike, a few things stand out. First, the massive reflectors. Required by law, sure, but they give off kids’ bike vibes with those noisy, colorful spoke beads. Into the bin they go. The rear license plate holder looks like a plastic patio awning. Every bike has one, but this one’s gotta go—tuck that plate right under the tidy tail. Then there’s the headlight. It’s a projector unit housed in a frame with lit-up stripes. It’s unique, and Darth Vader would love it, but as a custom fan, I’m craving a clean, round classic headlight. Swap the exhaust for a retro-looking can with a bit more grunt, grab the handlebars from the faired SRK 600 RS, and replace those mirrors with something less “state-issued.”
Got a few extra bucks left? Paint the wheels gold, match the rider’s seat to the detailing, and you’ve got yourself a custom daily. Sure, you could go further, but first let’s ride.
First Ride Impressions
City Slicer by Day, Weekend Warrior by Choice. We set off from Twenty7 by the river Maas in Rotterdam, during rush hour. Feels like a setup to show off how light and nimble the SRK is. Mission accomplished. The clutch, gearbox, and brakes get more of a workout than the Marzocchi forks or RideMigra S3N tires. This is a basic, no-nonsense bike that feels like an old friend from the first ride. Smooth clutch, positive gear changes, and a mechanical click with each shift. Maneuvering through traffic is effortless thanks to its 176 kg curb weight.
Out of the city, that lightweight feel continues to shine. The 61 horses and 55 Nm pull strongly, and the SRK flicks easily from corner to corner. The non-adjustable Marzocchi forks are tuned on the firm side, adding to the sporty feel but still pretty forgiving overall. The seat stays comfy even after a few hours in the saddle, and the riding position is spot-on. The display is simple, easy to navigate, and lets you switch between standard and sport mode.
Final Verdict
Reliable, Affordable, and Surprisingly Fun. So, who is this bike for? I love heritage, character, and bikes with a backstory. The SRK 600 isn’t a replacement for a classic Ducati M900 Monster dripping with iconic style. But I also wouldn’t want to leave that Ducati parked downtown. The SRK, on the other hand, comes with three years of warranty and seriously solid build quality. To me, this is an ideal daily rider, a worry-free workhorse you can leave parked anywhere, and still enjoy every twist and turn on your way home.
A brand-new bike for a bargain, and with a little extra budget, one you’ll actually want to ride every day. Not bad, QJ. Not bad at all.
