Did an Unexpected Brand Just Roll Out the Best-Looking Affordable Adventure Motorcycle Yet?

Certain styles of motorcycle are, frankly, harder to screw up than to get right when it comes to aesthetics.

I’m thinking here of the cruiser, roadster and scrambler, among others, where the basic template just kind of naturally sings. 

QJMotor

Due to the range of technical requirements — and, you know, beaks — involved, I would not put adventure bikes in this category.

So when an upstart brand unveils an affordable ADV that looks great, I sit up and take notice.

That’s exactly what’s happening with the new QJMotor SRT 900 SX, which is turning heads right out of the gate — in a good way.

Black beauty

As alluded to earlier, adventure bikes inherently demand a level of versatility that to some extent dictates the look. 

For example, you need clearance for rocky terrain, handguards and crash bars for protecting yourself and the bike and mounting points for hard luggage.

QJMotor

Even so, leveraged properly, an ADV’s contours can look pretty compelling. 

Long-established brands BMW and Ducati have set the standard here with the GS and Multistrada, respectively, but they’re not exactly the most affordable, even in their midsize configurations. The BMW F900 GS has a base price of $14,275, while the 890cc Multistrada V2 starts at $16,595.

Yet, straight out of Zhejiang Province, China comes QJMotor with a similarly sized stunner priced at £7,699, roughly $10,350 USD. (Note: QJMotor also offers a smaller-wheeled, more road-oriented variant, the SRT 900 S, for £7,499, around $10,080 USD.)

QJMotor

Clearly cribbing the German and Italian styles — why not? — the SRT 900 SX carries a familiar silhouette, from the snarling beak to the angular, jauntily jutting exhaust pipe.  

Perhaps even more importantly, one of the three color schemes (the black and yellow showcased here) is damn near perfect, right down to the tubeless spoked wheels with copper-colored rims.

Adventure ready

As usual, looks mean squadoosh if the performance can’t live up to them. Judging from some of the available specs and details, the SRT 900 SX has got the chops. 

It starts with the power plant, a 904cc parallel twin-cylinder engine mated to a 6-speed gearbox and making a claimed 93.8bhp at 9,000 rpm and 66.3 Ib ft of torque at 6,500 rpm.

QJMotor

Aiding handling, the brand teams up with a couple names much better known to Western markets. Brakes-wise, the bike boasts dual-channel ABS backing up Brembo dual 320mm discs with four-piston radial calipers at the front and a single 260mm disc at the rear. 

For suspension, there’s a long Marzocchi adjustable inverted fork up front and a Marzocchi hydraulic monoshock at the rear.

At 32.9 inches, the seat is approachable for most riders, while 8.3 inches of clearance plus a 19-inch front and 17-inch back wheel wrapped in Maxxis Adventure tires enable you to navigate a wide range of tricky terrain. 

QJMotor

Nodding to modernity, the bike also boasts ride-by-wire throttle, traction control, cruise control and selectable ride modes, plus LED lighting, USB charging, a 1080P forward-facing dash cam and Bluetooth connectivity for turn-by-turn navigation via your smartphone.

In other words, hope you’re itching to do a whole lot more than simply look at this thing.

Availability and pricing

The QJMotor SRT 900 SX recently launched in the UK at a starting price of £7,699. Considering QJMotor currently offers seven bikes in the US, let’s just cross our fingers this one becomes number 8.

QJMotor

QJMotor SRT 900 SX

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