If you’re still unfamiliar with QJMotor you’re not going to be for long. Over recent months we’ve reviewed two of this new-to-the-UK Chinese brand’s new bikes, the SRT600 parallel twin adventure bike, which has shades of Honda’s hugely successful NX500, and, last month, the slightly bonkers but still impressive SRV600V V4-powered middleweight cruiser. 

But they don’t end there. In total a 16-bike range of machines is now being brought into the UK by Moto73 (an offshoot of leading independent importers MotoGB) with, on the strength of the vast display at this year’s Motorcycle Live at the NEC, more to follow.

This, the SRT900, which comes in both S and SX trim levels, is its current flagship machine and here are our impressions – with thanks again to Moto 73 for inviting us on the UK press launch. 

First a little recap: QJMotor is the main brand of massive Chinese manufacturer Qianjiang Motorcycle, which launched in 1985, is now owned by the even more massive Geely group (which also owns Volvo, Lotus and Polestar cars), is best known for also owning Benelli since 2005 and currently produces around 1.5million machines a year.  

In total, QJ’s range currently extends to over 60 models with, as mentioned, 16 so far coming to the UK, and we had the opportunity to sample seven at its UK press launch. These are (in ascending price order): the SRT600S parallel twin adventure bike (£4699) and SRV600V V4 cruiser (£5699) both as already reviewed here.

But, in addition, there is also the SVT650 and SVT650X (£5699 and £5999 respectively), V-twin adventure bikes; the SRK900 (£6699) a parallel twin naked roadster and, here, the SRT900S and SRT900SX (£7499/£7699) which is an adventure bike powered by the same engine as the SRK and, like the 650, also available in two versions. The RTs are both 900cc parallel twins with impressive equipment levels and even, as an introductory offer, free three-box aluminium luggage.

The S is the slightly cheaper, more basic, road-orientated variant with cast wheels and street tyres, while the SX has more off-road ambitions with Cross spoke wire wheels including a larger 19inch front, semi-knobbly tyres, crash bars and slighter longer travel suspension. We rode both for around half a day near Moto73’s HQ in Lancashire to see how they measured up. 

Both, as has come to be expected from Chinese bikes, have temptingly cheap prices. The base SRT900S is currently just £7,499 (plus (£200 on the road charges) while the slightly more premium SRT900SX starts at £7,699, again requiring OTR charges of £200. 

Those prices compare very favourably to their closest rivals from more established manufacturers such as BMW or KTM, whose similar parallel twin adventure offerings include BMW’s £9995 F800GS and £11,995 F900GS (whose engines incidentally are both made in China by Loncin), or KTM’s Chinese-built £9999 790 Adventure and £11,899 890 Adventure. There are also, however, an increasing number of Chinese rivals, too, such as the £8499 Voge DS900X and £8299 CFMoto 800 MT-X, whose prices are notably closer. 

Both the SRT900S and SX are available now across Moto73’s already impressive and quickly growing network of dealers and are also available on a PCP deal starting at £112.75 a month.  

At the heart of both is a parallel twin measuring 904cc and producing claimed peak power of 95bhp and 66lb-ft of torque, which is in the same ballpark of more established European rivals such as Triumph’s 900 Tiger and BMW’s F900.  

It also comes as standard with a quickshifter (up, not down), cruise and traction control which, incidentally, those more expensive rivals can’t match except as extra cost options. The SRT900’s delivery and performance is pretty much as you’d expect from those specs without either excelling or underwhelming in any way.  

There’s enough oomph for spritely riding, both will happily cruise at motorway speeds for hours on end, has the rumbly character you associate with a twin (if not feeling quite as refined as some more premium, familiar competitors) while its braking is actually better than most thanks to its pukka Brembo radial calipers. 

Our test route, as it was on the same day as our rides on the SRT600 and SRV600V, took us from importer Moto73’s HQ in Chorley, Lancashire out into the beautiful countryside of North West England, comprised a real-world mix of urban sprawl, M6 motorway then country-bound A-roads towards the Lake District with a mix of twisty B-road back roads thrown in, and the SRT900 took it all in its stride. 

In terms of riding position and comfort it has a lot going for it. Being a typical adventure bike means it’s upright and natural; as a 900 twin it’s not too imposing or intimidating but nor as ‘dinky’ as some rivals such as BMW’s F800GS and KTM’s 790 Adventure – plus it has plenty of equipment to pamper further.

Heated grips and seat are standard (although, it has to be said they take a while to heat up and cool down); its screen’s adequate (if, slightly frustratingly, non-adjustable) and we didn’t get sufficient time to sure about the riding position’s long-distance comfort – but also no reason to doubt its capability.

All in all, it’s better than fine, especially at this price point. 

Once off the motorway we’re able to better suss out the SRT900’s handling and, in both guises, it’s more than adequate. Its chassis may not be particularly remarkable but, on the whole – and considering the SRT’s bargain basement price – that’s a good thing.  

The slightly taller SX feels more substantial than most contemporaries, certainly enough to be comfortable two-up. Yet, as a 900 twin, it’s also fairly slim, unintimidating and neutral.  

From the outset the suspension from historic Italian brand Marzocchi (since 2022 QJ has been making Marzocchi suspension in China) has an air of quality which is underlined by being both rebound and compression damping adjustable. I wouldn’t say the ride is perfect but it’s certainly up to the job.  

Steering is decently light and accurate, too, although swapping to the road-tyred ‘S’ version, with its smaller front wheel, immediately revealed it to be slightly sharper and more immediate.  

Overall, the handling is more than competent and has the reassurance of further adjustability if you need it. 

As for equipment levels, the SRT900 again hugely impresses, especially for the price (although, again, some of its ‘goodies’ aren’t as high quality as those from more premium brands).  

So, in base SRT comes with: a big, cleanly laid-out 7-inch TFT dash with Bluetooth connectivity; 2 x USB charging points; handguards and crash bars; heated grips and seats. There is also multi-adjustable suspension; cruise control; TPMS (tyre pressure monitoring); quickshifter and centre stand. Oh, and there’s a radar proximity warner, too.  

The SX version, meanwhile (which is the red bike in our pictures) comes with 19/17inch cross-spoke wire wheels and matching dual-purpose Maxxis MaxVenture tyres (in place of the S’s 17inch cast items and Pirelli Angel GT touring tyres). Oh, and both also come with free three-box aluminium luggage.  

On the slight downside: the screen is non-adjustable, the quickshifter has no downshift ‘blipper’; the heated seat is a little slow; the radar is a little basic, and the switchgear a bit crude. But hey, starting at £7699 it sounds churlish to complain at all… 

When it comes to practicality it’s hard to imagine a more versatile, useful motorcycle at this price than the SRT900S/SX. It’s big enough, sufficiently long legged and with ample performance to play the big adventure bike role. 

At the same time it’s sufficiently-equipped (heated grips, seat and even luggage) to be a brilliant budget-priced tourer; is not so big and extreme to be awkward around town; has good enough handling and performance to be fun and yet, because of its bargain price, is also not so  precious that you’d be deterred from using it as a year-round commuter. What’s more, in SX trim, it even has some off-road potential (not that I tried it).  

The only slight niggles are the 4000-mile service intervals may put off mega-milers while as a brand-new bike from a brand-new manufacturer, its reliability can’t be guaranteed at this stage, either. 

The SRT900 is such good value it’s almost a ‘no-brainer’. But, yes, there is a but (although this time it’s not a very big one).  

No, both SRTs are not outstanding in any way other than value – but nor does it disappoint, either. And, no, some of its extensive equipment isn’t the best quality, either – the luggage, for example, isn’t very capacious, but, hey, it’s free!  

Instead, the biggest gripe is the same old chestnut associated with most brand-new bikes/manufacturers and especially those from China – the SRT’s not proven, its residuals are unknown, its service intervals are a little short and it’s so new I can’t even confidently yet tell you where its (so far 20-odd) dealers are. But that confidence and reassurance will likely come – and quickly… 

Thanks to Moto73 for inviting us on the UK launch. You check the full specs and information on their site.