It’s a title that increasingly suits many of the models we call “Chinese motorcycles” on the market. As a result of partnerships and development clearly inspired by European markets and trends, brands like QJ Motor are revealing their full potential and presenting us with models capable of “battling” in the market with Japanese and European rivals… and this SRK 400 is a clear example of that.
Present on our market in a more obvious way since the end of the summer, after being unveiled for the first time at Expomoto in Matosinhos in May, QJ Motor wants to conquer its space on the market and it was with a dynamic presentation of this nice 400 that it was presented to the Portuguese press for the first time after a small introduction party in Lisbon. As for the choice of this SRK 400, it’s due to its commitment to winning over a younger audience, which is less sensitive to being influenced by brands with more tradition in the market and which are still, as a rule, preferred by older people. QJ Motor is aware that younger people who are looking for their first, or even second, motorcycle after moving up to 125 cc, don’t look so much at brands as at what they can get for a lower price, which is why it first unveiled this SRK 400 instead of one of the more thermally capable models in its range.
IN SPAIN
On a cool but not sunny morning, this naked bike stripped away all preconceptions and revealed in the hills of Malaga that underneath its nakedness lies a fantastic proposal for all those who want a medium-sized motorcycle that’s affordable in terms of price and low in terms of running costs, all without losing any sense of aesthetics or the ability to provide us with fun moments at the controls. And at the end of it all, there’s the added bonus of a six-year warranty.
When we first discovered it, we could clearly see that, aesthetically, this QJ Motor takes its inspiration from well-known “outfits” from other models on the market, some even from completely different segments. At the rear, for example, the cut-outs clearly lead us to imagine the rear of an R tuned to a Japanese tuning fork. The same goes for the front section, where the headlight assembly doesn’t hide the fact that it was inspired by the letter Z, but not Zorro. The chassis also doesn’t hide the fact that QJ Motor is part of the same group that owns an Italian brand and the position of the rear shock absorber immediately takes us to another Japanese model. But enough comparisons and similarities and let’s get down to business… what does the SRK 400 have to offer?
400 = 40
Equipped with a two-cylinder engine with a capacity of 400 cc, this SRK claims a maximum power of a mere 41 horsepower at 9,000 rpm, and from the very first moment you notice its total availability. It’s an engine capable of providing us with that moment of a slower ride in city traffic, but at the same time capable of “lifting our souls” in those moments of sportier driving where the sound of the exhaust helps us smile even more. This is because the brand’s engineers wanted the SRK to have a voice that wouldn’t be drowned out by the increasingly restrictive rules imposed on us – yes, I’m in favor of sound in exhausts… sorry for the more sensitive – and which often make us even more invisible in traffic.
DYNAMIC
But that’s just a personal detail… at the controls of the SRK’s comfortable and natural driving position, with which we quickly fit in, we find, in addition to the “smiling” engine, a six-speed gearbox that’s well staggered for the segment, which helps us to reach very “nice” speeds, with the pace only being limited on winding roads by the reduced distance of the lower part of the chassis from the ground. As a result, you’re quickly on your feet and even with the foot rest in “friction” mode on the asphalt. But this isn’t a sports bike either… so let’s slow down.
The rear suspension, by allowing the spring preload and extension to be adjusted, helps to improve the dynamic behavior, where the tires – in this case Maxxis units – make their contribution, although without sporty pretensions, so we can’t ask for miracles when we push the pace a little and start to overdo it on the inclines. The brakes – a beautiful set with double discs at the front and a single disc at the rear – are adequate to stop the 176 kilos that the SRK 400 weighs on the scales.
CONCLUSION
In the 150 or so kilometers we rode with the SRK, we encountered a bit of everything, from mountain roads with fast areas and others that were more winding and narrow, to freeways where we ended a day of joyful riding that led us to discover a bit of all the potential of a motorcycle that, without prejudice, wants to conquer its place in the market where it won’t just be the price that makes the difference, but also its dynamic behavior, aesthetics and performance that will surely win over a good slice of users.
The SRK 400 has turned out to be a pleasant surprise, with both faults and virtues, at a fair price in relation to what is on offer to its future owner, basically anyone looking for a beautiful, fun, economical and, above all, easy-to-use motorcycle. They will have to put this QJ on their list of options. Case in point… Chinese? Why not?
| QJ MOTOR SRK 400 | |
| ENGINE | PARALLEL TWIN CYLINDER ENGINE, LIQUID COOLED |
| DISPLACEMENT | 400 CC |
| POWER | 30,5 KW (40,9 CV) @9.000 RPM |
| TORQUE | 37 NM AT 7.500 RPM |
| GEARBOX | 6 SPEED |
| FRAME | STEEL MULTI-TUBULAR |
| TANK | 13,5 L |
| FRONT SUSPENSION | INVERTED TELESCOPIC FORK FRONT SUSPENSION, 125 MM TRAVEL |
| REAR SUSPENSION | REAR MONOSHOCK SUSPENSION ADJUSTABLE FOR PRELOAD AND EXTENSION |
| FRONT BRAKE | TWO 260 MM DISCS, ABS |
| REAR BRAKE | 240 MM DISC, ABS |
| FRONT TIRE | 110/70 R17 |
| REAR TIRE | 150/60 R17 |
| WHEELBASE | 1.425 MM |
| SEAT HEIGHT | 785 MM |
| WEIGHT | 186 KG |
