Qianjiang Motorcycle Group, doing business as QJMOTOR, is a Chinese motorcycle manufacturer founded in 1985 and headquartered in Winling, Zhejiang Province. It is one of the largest two-wheeled vehicle manufacturers in China.
Since September 2016, Chinese auto giant Geely has been Qianjiang's largest shareholder.[4]
Brands
QJMOTOR markets the entire range of Qianjiang products in China, including motorcycles and scooters. Since 1999, Qianjiang has marketed motorcycles outside China.
The company acquired the Benelli brand in 2005 and debuted the brand at the 2022 EICMA motorcycle show in Milan, Italy.[5]
International
In 2024, QJMOTOR arranged exclusive distribution of its models in Europe with SIMA (replacing DIP SAS in that role). The new agreement covers Belgium, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Switzerland. SIMA distributes other motorcycle brands in Europe, including Hyosung and Royal Enfield, while owning retro-maker Mash Motorcycles.[6]
Italy
In 2005, Qianjiang acquired Benelli.[7] In 2009 they invested an added $26 million "to help revitalize the Italian brand." In recommitting to their investment in Benelli, Qianjang Motors general manager Haimei Yan said, "Although we have not yet turned a profit in the budget, we are here to stay, and believe in the company."[8] The company announcement in late-2021 of the new TRK 800 adventure bike model stated it was "born in the Benelli Style Centre and developed by the R&D department of the House of the Leoncino in Pesaro, where the headquarters and the heart of the company are located."[9]
In 2023 MV Agusta Motor S.p.A. announced a strategic partnership with QJMOTOR for distribution of its motorcycles in China. Dongshao Guo, general manager of Qianjiang Motor, said of the arrangement, "We hope [...] we will be able to work together to import more high-performance motorcycles for Chinese customers, that are fashionable, easy to handle, and fun to ride."[10] Qianjiang had an agreement to make the Lucky Explorer MV Agusta adventure bike[11] (and use their large-capacity four-cylinder engine in future models). Of the two versions of this bike QJMOTOR was due to build for MV Agusta – the 5.5 and 9.5 (denoting engine size)[12] – manufacture of the 5.5 was halted with the purchase of a 25.1% stake in the Italian company by the Pierer Mobility Group, owner of KTM and Husqvarna, which has as a long-standing partnership with CFMoto (a QJMOTOR competitor).[13]
Qianjiang is in a joint venture with Marzocchi to make motorcycle suspensions in China.[14]
United States
As part of its "More Roads to Harley-Davidson" strategy, Harley-Davidson announced June 2019 a partnership with Qianjiang Motorcycle Company to develop a 338cc "baby Harley" model motorcycle for Chinese and other Asian markets.[15]
The QJMOTOR brand entered the US market in 2023, distributing 11 models.[16]
Models
Motorcycles
Some of the more popular Qianjiang motorcycle and scooter models as of May 2023 are:[17]
Enduro/Supermoto
- COV 125
- COV 500
Standard/Naked
- SRK 125S
- SRK 250
- SRK 300
- SRK 400
- SRK 500
- SRK 600
- SRK 800
- SRK 900
- SRK 921
Sport
- SRK 125R
- SRK 250R
- SRK 250RR
- SRK 250RD
- SRK 300R
- SRK 400RR
- SRK 500R
- SRK 600RS
- SRK 800RR
- SRK 921RR
- SRK 1000RR
Dual–Sport
- SRT 300DX
- SRT 550X
- SRT 800X
- SRT 600SX
- SRT 700SX
- SRT 800SX
- SRT 900SX
Cruiser
- SRV 125
- SRV 250
- SRV 300
- SRV 400
- SRV 500
- SRV 600
- SRV 700
- SRV 900
Enduro/Supermoto
- COV 125
- COV 500
Standard/Naked
- SRK 125S
- SRK 250
- SRK 300
- SRK 400
- SRK 500
- SRK 600
- SRK 800
- SRK 900
- SRK 921
Sport
- SRK 125R
- SRK 250R
- SRK 250RR
- SRK 250RD
- SRK 300R
- SRK 400RR
- SRK 500R
- SRK 600RS
- SRK 800RR
- SRK 921RR
- SRK 1000RR
Dual–Sport
- SRT 300DX
- SRT 550X
- SRT 800X
- SRT 600SX
- SRT 700SX
- SRT 800SX
- SRT 900SX
Cruiser
- SRV 125
- SRV 250
- SRV 300
- SRV 400
- SRV 500
- SRV 600
- SRV 700
- SRV 900
Scooters
- FORT 125
- FORT 250
- FORT 350
- FORT 600
- FORT 4.0
- MTX 300
- VPS 125
- CTR 125
- LTR 50S
- LTR 125
- LTS 50S
- LTS 125S
- SQ 16
- SQ 200
- SQ 350
ATVs
Many of these models are rebadged under different brands.
A mid-displacement cruiser called the C352LS under the brand name MBP, or Moto Bologna Passione, was announced for the European market in May 2024,[18] as were the MBP N250 and N300 (the latter destined for Asian markets).[19]
- SFA 600
- SFA 1000
Electric
- OAO
- OMO 07
- OMO 03
- DQ
- E-LTR
- Q2
- MOi
Engines
Recent QJMOTOR engine development includes launching a new 800cc machine in 2023 for the SRK 800RR model, the company's third four-cylinder engine. Launched in 2020, SRK 600RR, China's first four-cylinder bike, was based on an engine designed by Benelli. QJMOTOR "teased" new four-cylinder engine in 2023, a 600cc V-4 to power a new muscle-cruiser. A fourth four-cylinder motorcycle, the 1000RR "superbike", will be driven by an MV Agusta engine.[20]
In 2024, QJMOTOR announced development of its Supermono engine, a V-shaped two-cylinder arrangement with only one firing cylinder; the second cylinder and piston used only as a counterweight – borrowing the name from the famous Ducati Supermono engine (from 1990) made by cutting off the rear cylinder of its Desmoquattro two-cylinder engine.[21]
In 2022, a patent appeared for a new 900cc parallel-twin to be developed by QJMOTOR and used by Benelli in a new model motorcycle. Similarities to the KTM LC8c, licensed to CFMoto, were noted.[22]
Sponsorship
In 2022, QJMOTOR became the main sponsor of Avintia Esponsorama Racing in the Moto3 class with its two riders, Matteo Bertelle and Elia Bartolini.[23] Then from the 2023 season, QJMOTOR became the main sponsor of Gresini Racing in the Moto2 championship.
See also
- QJMOTOR Factory Racing
References
- Zhejiang Qianjiang Motorcycle Co Ltd: 000913.SZ REUTERS, retrieved 2024-03-31^
- 000913.CN www.wsj.com, retrieved 2024-03-31^
- 钱江摩托(000913)主要股东 - 新浪财经 Sina Corporation, retrieved 11 May 2024^
- Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co., LTD. Completed the acquisition of 29.8% stake in Zhejiang Qianjiang Motorcycle Co., LTD.. | MarketScreener 19 September 2016^
- China's Keeway Acquires Italian Motorcycle Brand Morbidelli carandbike, 2024-04-22, retrieved 2024-04-23^
- Leonel Gomes. SIMA takes over the distribution of QJMOTOR in France and the main European markets Motociclismo, 2024-02-07, retrieved 2024-05-26^
- Janaki Jitchotvisut. So, Just Who Is Qianjiang Motorcycle? RideApart.com, retrieved 2024-03-26^
- BENELLI MOTORCYCLES IS MORE CHINESE THAN ITALIAN: Qianjiang Motors Puts Another $26 Million Into The Italian Brand Motocross Action Magazine, 2009-03-29, retrieved 2024-03-31^
- William Roberson. Italian By Way Of China? Benelli Shows Off New TRK 800 ADV Bike, 800 Scrambler Adventure Rider, 2021-11-24, retrieved 2024-03-31^
- Dave McMahon. Motorcycle brands from Italy, China form partnership Powersports Business, 2020-09-22, retrieved 2024-03-31^
- Ben Purvis. MV Agusta Lucky Explorer: Two New Adventure Bikes Cycle World, 2021-11-23, retrieved 2024-03-31^
- Jamie Elvidge. MV Agusta CEO Reveals New Details On 5.5 and 9.5 Adventure Bikes ADV Pulse, 2022-05-18, retrieved 2024-03-31^
- Jamie Elvidge. Production Halted On MV Agusta Lucky Strike 5.5 Adventure Bike ADV Pulse, 2023-09-14, retrieved 2024-03-31^
- Alex Strange. Marzocchi signs production partnership with Chinese QJMOTORs parent company Visordown, 2022-01-04, retrieved 2024-03-31^
- Dennis Chung. Harley-Davidson to Develop 338cc Model for China with Qianjiang Motorcycle.com, 2019-06-19, retrieved 2024-03-26^
- Ben Purvis. New V-4 for Benelli Cycle World, 2023-04-23, retrieved 2024-03-31^
- Qianjiang Motorcycle Models List 2023-05-28, retrieved 2024-03-29^
- Leonel Gomes. The young Chinese brand MBP is launching the C352LS Cruiser on the European market Motociclismo, 2024-01-08, retrieved 2024-05-26^
- Leonel Gomes. MBP N250 and N300 – affordable for beginners Motociclismo, 2023-12-21, retrieved 2024-05-26^
- Ben Purvis. QJMOTOR SRK 800RR Leaked: Fast-growing Chinese brand adds another four-cylinder to its range; 1,000cc superbike to follow. Cycle World, 2023-06-16, retrieved 2024-03-27^
- Miguel Fragoso. The unusual Supermono engine from QJMOTOR Motorcycle Sports, 2024-02-23, retrieved 2024-03-29^
- Alex StrangeTue. New Benelli 900cc parallel-twin patented by QJMOTOR - and it looks familiar… Visordown, 2022-01-11, retrieved 2024-03-29^
- QJMOTOR Jadi Sponsor Utama Avintia Racing, Ikut Kejuaraan Moto3^