If you thought Chinese bike manufacturers still restricted themselves to cheap ‘n cheerful scooters and 125s, think again. There’s now a whole raft of Chinese-made mid-range machines, and one of them – the Voge DS800X Rally – was the top selling adventure bike in October 2025, even out-numbering BMW’s evergreen R1300 GS.

Of course, October is a quieter time of year for bike sales, but there’s no denying the upward swing of Voge sales in particular. In a market down 14.7% in the year to October, sales of the Chinese brand were up by 165% (from a low base). The DS800X also topped the 750-1000cc segment overall.

Alongside Voge, CF Moto (one of the first Chinese mid-size bikes to come to Britain) now offers a range of bikes up to the new 750SR-R sports bike. Benda offers the Napoleonbob cruiser at £5699 while a whole raft of Italian badges – Moto Morini, Benelli and Morbidelli – now adorn Chinese bikes. Even the KTM 790 Adventure is now made for the Austrians by CF Moto. All offer keen prices, sometimes with high tech specs such as cornering ABS and electronic suspension. Times have changed.

At the BMF, chair Jim Freeman said: “ Something that’s been expected for a while, first the Indians and then the Chinese either branded with retro names or under their own labels. As with the original British brands, long ago, I’d bet that these brands are reaching into newer riders more than existing ones. Back in the day it was the Japanese that reached into the younger market, while the more mature carried on buying Brit metal. ”

Written by Peter Henshaw

Top image courtesy of Moto Morini