If there’s one class of motorcycles that’s been heating up lately, it’s the 450 to 500 adventure segment. Bikes like the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 and the CFMoto 450MT (sold in the US as the Ibex 450, which I got to test last year) have made it clear that you don’t need a liter bike to go on real adventures.
These midsize ADVs are lighter, cheaper, and easier to handle, yet still powerful enough to cross continents. They’ve hit that sweet spot for riders who want something capable but not overwhelming.
This is where QJ Motor joins the conversation. It’s a brand that’s been on an absolute roll lately. If you’ve noticed, they seem to have a new bike announcement every other month, and there’s a good reason for that. QJMotor sits under the massive Geely Group, which is the same automotive powerhouse that owns Volvo, Lotus, and Benelli, which also means it has deep pockets and access to serious engineering and R&D resources. That’s why we’re seeing this rapid-fire wave of new models spanning everything from sportbikes to cruisers to full-blown adventure machines.
Their latest project is the QJMotor SRT 500 RX, an upcoming midweight enduro that’s shaping up to be one of the most interesting bikes in its class. It’s powered by a liquid-cooled 449cc parallel twin that produces about 48 horsepower at 9,500 rpm. A six-speed transmission comes standard, but QJ is also rumored to offer an optional automated manual gearbox similar to what’s fitted to their SRK 500 RA sport model. That could make this one of the most accessible adventure bikes for riders who want to focus more on the ride and less on clutch control.
From a hardware standpoint, the SRT 500 RX means business. It rolls on a 21-inch front and 18-inch rear wheel setup, both wire-spoked, backed by long-travel suspension likely developed with Marzocchi. The steel frame and aluminum swingarm combination aims to keep things strong but manageable, and the claimed dry weight is around 384 pounds. With the 18-liter tank filled, that should bring it closer to 420 pounds ready to ride. Still pretty reasonable for a twin-cylinder ADV.
QJMotor clearly isn’t cutting corners when it comes to features either. The SRT 500 RX comes with a full-color TFT display that supports smartphone connectivity, LED lighting all around, traction control, and dual-channel ABS. The photos show Brembo brakes, an adjustable windscreen, a luggage rack, and even a USB charging port. Basically, everything you’d expect on a much more expensive bike, and maybe a few extras too.
The kicker is the price. Reports suggest it’ll launch in Europe in early 2026 for under 6,000 euros, or roughly $6,400 USD, if it ever manages to make its way to the US. That’s seriously competitive, especially considering the kind of equipment it packs. It puts the SRT 500 RX right up against bikes like the CFMoto 450MT, the upcoming BMW F 450 GS, and the freshly launched Kawasaki KLE 500.
Gallery: QJ Motor SRT 500 RX
What makes this bike so compelling isn’t just the spec sheet, but rather, what it represents. Like CFMoto and Royal Enfield, QJMotor is proving that adventure bikes don’t have to be expensive or intimidating. The SRT 500 RX could open the door for a lot more riders to experience trail riding and long-distance exploration without breaking the bank. And with the kind of backing it has from Geely, the quality and refinement should be more than up to par.
Sources: QJ Motor, Motorrad Online
