Text/photo: OA Isdahl

I’ve been waiting a long time to get to know the new QJ Motor portfolio from importer Erling Sande and I finally got the opportunity. I’ve done a lot of analysis of the models coming to Norway and I’ve had quite high expectations for both quality and driving characteristics.

Erling sande has already got the farmer network in place

Morten Gjestad at Erling Sande AS says that the father dealer network is already in place with the following dealers in the following cities:

Motercenteret på Rud – Bærum
Bergen MC Center – Nyborg
Cross Centeret Snellingen – Oslo
Eide Motor og Utleie – Tromsdalen
Førde Motercenter – Førde
Skien/Kragerø Motorcenter – Skien
Leeres Motorsport AS – Fredrikstad Fredrikstad
Lundamo Auto AS – Tiller/Trondheim
MC Butikken AS – Haugesund
Motorsyklisten AS – Kristiansand
Nesbyen Bil AS – Nesbyen
Verdal Båt Scooter og MC – Verdal
Motorcenteret – Bryne

The sales statistics show that the QJ Motor portfolio has sold very well so far; in fact, the brand is already in an impressive tenth place in the sales statistics for the period May 1 to August 10 with a total of 79 bikes, ahead of brands such as Husqvarna, Moto Guzzi, Aprilia and Royal Enfield. In comparison, top-selling Yamaha has sold 580 bikes in the same period. This could of course be an element of novelty interest but I don’t think so. Interest in more affordable, good quality mid-range bikes is growing, so this should fit well with the trend we’re seeing.

No Copy Cat

Evil tongues often proclaim that the Chinese are copying successful concepts, and they’re welcome to do so, but it’s probably more the case that the Chinese are agile, learn quickly and use rapidly acquired knowledge to find ways to create their own products that stand up just as well as the learning objects they use. The SRT 700 SX is definitely not a copy-cat, and the closest we get to something similar to other brands is probably simply the use of well-known high-end components such as dampers from Marzocchi, brakes from Brembo and tires from Metzeler.

The rest are designed and manufactured by the Chinese themselves in state-of-the-art factories with many competent environments and with production materials of recent data and high quality. In this case, it is done with great precision and perhaps even to a better quality. Note that QJ Motor delivers products with a 5-year warranty, so you don’t need to be afraid that this is not good enough because it is. Incidentally, the manufacturer has been producing motorcycles for four years and is by no means a beginner.

Numbers can lie, but not actual performance and capacity

The SRT 700 SX doesn’t look very impressive when we look at the numbers in isolation. With a weight of 243 kg, 70 HP and 70 Nm, moderate performance is to be expected. The model has a length of 2225 mm, a wheelbase of 1510 mm and a tank that holds 19.5 liters. The model is quite large but still slim, has a nice seat height of 82.5 cm and has all the equipment you can think of. You won’t find an equipment catalog here because the bike simply has EVERYTHING. For 129,900 you get a heated rack, heated seat, 90-degree bend on air vents, spoke wheels, hand-guards, LED lighting, side panniers and top box, center support, and yes, the only things you don’t get with your purchase today are a quick release and a blipper. But in return, you get access to a beautiful gearbox that’s just great to drive.

The strange thing is that when you get on the bike, you immediately notice the combined effect of technology, the manufacturer’s knowledge and expertise, and in total this adds up to so much more than what the performance figures should be able to deliver in isolation – in other words, we’re talking about synergy effects in the true sense of the word. The SRT 700 SX is a real surprise and delivers handling that reminds me of a Mutidtrada, only smaller and lighter. The bike is very well balanced and has a wonderful steering geometry and comfort that makes it a precision riding tool that in a way makes it a hybrid between a Ducati and an Aprilia. It’s not a bad comparison.

Design and deliveries with a high fun factor

The design has its own identity and the engineers have undoubtedly put a lot of time and effort into creating a unique identity that is certainly not a copy format. Like a BMW 1300 GSA, it may not be particularly pretty, but it’s tough and cool and definitely distinctive. A lot of people like that.

The engine delivers much more than I expect and the mechanical precision is high. The mid-range delivers punch lines in every gear and makes the bike really, really fun to ride. It’s almost a little difficult to behave like people. The gearbox is precise, but at the same time soft and smooth. As I said, the engine is strongest in the mid-range and delivers impressively well between 3 and 7,000 rpm, where it really stands out from competing models in the same segment and class. After about 8,000 revolutions, it “fades out” towards the top before the rev limiter takes hold at about 1,500 revolutions. The most effective way is to shift earlier and get more power in a new mid-range, in which case the SRT 700 SX delivers impressively well. The seating position is good, the seat provides good rearward support, but at the same time there is room to move over the seat backs if you drive very actively. However, the seating position is so good and the bike is so capable that you’re unlikely to need to move around so much. The wide handlebars are wonderful and ensure that I have a rare good contact with my front wheel. It gives a huge sense of security and the Marzocchi dampers handle poor surfaces exceptionally well together with the frame, swingarm and tires from Metzeler (Tourance). The damping is in a class of its own and I quickly noticed that the SRT 700 SX delivers precision and cornering speeds that are right at the top for this particular exercise during the test.

The sound from the exhaust is so potent and delivers so much good sound that it’s simply fun to drive. The engine has a nice and predictable throttle response and the hefty mid-range makes the model very fun to drive. It’s so fun and comfortable to drive that I simply lose track of time and place.

The equipment list is impressive and no other brand delivers so much equipment included in the price

The side bags and top box are of high quality, look good and are easy to put on and take off. The inside of the bags are padded with sewn-on and smart pockets. The bags are of course lockable.

The bicycle’s switch panel is illuminated so that you can see the controls if you ride in the evening or at night.

We must note the details on the equipment list, here you get, among other things, tire pressure sensors, heating holders, heating in the seat, pre-assembled bobins for the use of depo support, 90 degrees bend on the air valves to name a few. Important and practical details for an everyday motorcyclist that we normally have to pay a lot of money for. Here you get EVERYTHING.

Touring, sport and gravel

The SRT 700 SX has a wide range of uses but is probably first and foremost a touring model, but with the 30/70 tires from Metzeler, the model also thrives brilliantly on gravel roads or even single tracks. The bike is designed for us to be able to stand and ride and it’s incredibly fun to ride such a reasonably priced bike with so much equipment that challenges the competition in terms of quality, handling and not least riding pleasure. The bike’s damping is very impressive and with the 19-inch front wheel, you get both stability and fun factor in the bargain. The fine throttle response and hefty mid-range make it a lot of fun to operate on gravel. Unfortunately, you can’t disengage ABS and traction which limits some of the fun on gravel. But we must remember that this is a Touring model and not an off-roader.

The instrument

The instrument measures a full 7 inches and is certainly good, here you get several display modes and large fine numbers. The switch panels are nice, of the expected quality and well placed.

SRT 700 SX redefines the class

QJ Motor, like the other Asian models, is in the process of redefining the mid-range because they boast cheeky and competitive prices on products that are at least as high quality in terms of driving technology as the established brands. Those who have been in the industry for a while will remember that the Japanese had the same position in the 1970s, no one believed in them, but then they came like a bullet. The same can happen here and I think that dealers who want to take market share in the next decade should pay close attention to what comes from this continent.

In summary

• SRT 700 SX will probably suit the Norwegian drivers very well
• It suits the Norwegian roads and the Norwegian topography very well
• You get access to a great driving experience and outstanding handling
• High fun-factor
• You get access to an unusually large amount of well-functioning equipment without paying anything extra
• There are heavy and serious players behind this
• The perceived quality is high
• Price and risk are low

Thank you to Motorcenteret på Rud who delivered the test bike.