KOVE 450 Rally takes Gold Seal 2025 On-road Petrol
KOVE’s Dakar-bred 450 takes gold for putting up to 32 litres of range in a 155 kg showroom rally bike.
By ROOST Australia desk · 16 June 2025
A bike born in the Dakar bivouac has picked up an award in the showroom. The KOVE 450 Rally is the Gold Seal 2025 winner in the On-road Petrol category. Gold Seal gives a single gold award per category each year, with no second or third place.
From the Dakar to the dealer
KOVE raced its 450 rally platform at the Dakar, then did something few makers do: it put a version within reach of everyday riders. The result is a road-registrable rally bike that keeps the long-range layout of a race machine.
What you get
Power comes from a 449cc single with four valves and twin overhead cams, making a claimed 31 kW (42 hp) at 8,500 rpm and 35 Nm at 6,500 rpm. Fuel is the headline: up to 32 litres across twin front tanks and a rear auxiliary tank, enough to leave most fuel stops behind.
KOVE quotes 155 kg ready to ride and 141 kg dry, which is light for a bike carrying that much range. Suspension travel is 310 mm at the front, with 295 mm of ground clearance.
Built for big distances
The 960 mm seat is tall, as you would expect from a rally bike, and KOVE claims a top speed of 170 km/h. For Australian riders eyeing the Simpson, the Canning or a long outback loop, that combination of range and low weight is hard to ignore.
Why it won
The judges liked that KOVE brought a genuine rally layout, light chassis plus huge fuel capacity, to a showroom bike at an accessible price. That combination is usually only found on race-only machines, and it got the 450 Rally over the line.
Pricing varies by market, so check with KOVE Moto Australia or your local dealer.
Key specs
- Engine: 449cc single, 4-valve DOHC
- Power: 31 kW (42 hp) @ 8,500 rpm; torque: 35 Nm @ 6,500 rpm
- Weight: 155 kg ready to ride; 141 kg dry
- Fuel: up to 32 L (twin front tanks + rear auxiliary)
- Suspension: 310 mm fork travel; 295 mm ground clearance
- Seat height: 960 mm; top speed: 170 km/h
Full specifications, the judges' notes and video are on the KOVE 450 Rally winner page at Gold Seal Awards. The complete list of Gold Seal winners is also published on IMR Awards.
Photo credit: KOVE (KOVE Moto Australia).
Sources
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