Great to see you back!! Lighter is def better when it comes to offroad - 890 as much as I love them is always going to be a big ask in technical stuff unless you're the size of Tarres or the have the skills of Birchy. I've ridden the pro version up at Sweetlamb and will hopefully be buying one this year (2025) for a desert rally later in the year. The Guys up at sweet lamb now have a couple and do one to one training - can certainly recommend them for improving skills and helping with your road book journey as they also do RB nav training too. What's the rack on the back BTW?
Great video! I'm doing similar stuff to my Kove 450 Rally. Have you put your bike on a dyno to check the fuelling on the HP Corse exhaust with the US Decat map? If not, I'll add that to my list of combinations to check on mine, as I'm endeavouring to do all the combinations I can get my hands on. 👍 Lovely riding down there. I've done a few of those lanes with Nathan Millward. Yet to take the Kove down that way but keen to!
good honest viewpoints thank you as a short ass 57 year old shopping for some new metal interesting points, I have short legs less than 29"" and a wonky ankle courtesy of a 450exc how does the seat height compare to the 890 (r) I presume which I have written off as too tall for myself?
I have a 29 leg and completely knackered ankle judging by the MRI a couple of weeks ago! It’s the low version with the rally seat and it’s still a bit tip toes to be honest. I lowered the 890 and had a low seat as well- could get my fore foot on the ground with that.
How does the Kove 450 Rally ( Standard ) compare to a KTM 690 Enduro R / Husky 701? On paper still seems like a heavy bike. Is ther anyway to not use all 8 gallon gas tank by closing off rear fuel tank? Are the gas tanks clear enough to see the fuel level? Thanks for video. Look forward to more Kove reviews, real life service, etc.
The fuel tanks all lead into the front left tank- back goes to front right goes to front left. You can get a valve to close off the rear tank. I can’t really compare it with the two bikes you mention as I’ve not ridden them. Thanks for watching.
Hi bud all good stuff, i'm based nr wellington if you ever need someone to accompany you to get that footage you mentioned just drop me a message. I have various bikes from enduro to race bikes and everything in-between so would pretty much have the terrain covered. Also be interested to see a Kove in the flesh.👍😃
12T off 51T or 52T on the rear, you said fitting the 12T lowers the gearing more than going larger on the rear, gearing is gearing it’s just maths and as already said your chain will love you longer. Oh, and get some training. Finally, take off the bash plate and clean the oil cooler gently.
yep but the problem for many of us "just the job" is not really what we are after when we are out on our bike, currently own a crf 250 so I know what you say also own and trail a 12GS and had most in between, practicalities dont always equal the smiles, but without some experiences that may not be evident, it is certainly not on paper. the Voge is a good bike though.
You appear to want to improve your riding by buying a better bike instead of improving your skills. It never works out well, you spend a lot of money, get frustrated and then give up on riding. Get your skills sorted first and then video the progress your making, would be far more interesting than the bike you are riding.
@@jonay9221 I’d rather not see a fellow rider giving up and/or getting hurt. He already admitted he was a novice despite 3 years of riding. I found out the hard way I needed training, better not to make that mistake.
Thanks for the open and honest feedback. The Kove is not necessarily a better bike than the 890, just a lot lighter but still capable of doing a bit of distance. I ride a lot on my own and am getting older, so sold the 890 and bought the Kove instead. Fits much better alongside the 1290 SAR. I’ve been riding road bikes for many years but wanted to learn off road three years ago. I love it, very little puts me off, I keep within my limits and have enjoyed quite a lot of training since starting. We all have good days and bad days with varying confidence and I’m having more low confidence days currently as I’ve not ridden as much this year. That’s going to change in 2025. Thanks for watching and have a great 2025.
I need to try the Coober with the decat exhaust. So many combinations- the USA decat is very rich low down and I suspect it’s chucking in quite a bit of fuel if the backfires are anything to go by.
It’s great to see you back, always enjoy your videos.
Looking forward to seeing how you get on with the road book rally’s.
Thanks Steve. Did and event today- very wet and challenging. Will film a bit more roadbook stuff once I get it straight in my head. Loved it though.
oh yeah, sick stickers and a wicked bike
Great video mate 👍
Great to see you back!! Lighter is def better when it comes to offroad - 890 as much as I love them is always going to be a big ask in technical stuff unless you're the size of Tarres or the have the skills of Birchy. I've ridden the pro version up at Sweetlamb and will hopefully be buying one this year (2025) for a desert rally later in the year. The Guys up at sweet lamb now have a couple and do one to one training - can certainly recommend them for improving skills and helping with your road book journey as they also do RB nav training too. What's the rack on the back BTW?
That’s great and sounds like you have some fun planned.
Great video! I'm doing similar stuff to my Kove 450 Rally. Have you put your bike on a dyno to check the fuelling on the HP Corse exhaust with the US Decat map? If not, I'll add that to my list of combinations to check on mine, as I'm endeavouring to do all the combinations I can get my hands on. 👍 Lovely riding down there. I've done a few of those lanes with Nathan Millward. Yet to take the Kove down that way but keen to!
Don’t have access to a dyno and approach it very subjectively with how it feels. Not very scientific! It’s lovely down here.
Decals look great...👍
Thank you. They were pretty stressful to put on but well worth it. Thanks for watching.
Nice looking Bike didn't take long to pick it up 😉
It’s super light. And that makes a difference. Thanks for watching.
Thanks for sharing. Regarding the "noise": how much of the noise is due to the open air filter (intakte)?
Regards
yaK450n (yet another Kove 450 noob)
You don’t really notice the air intake noise when you’re moving- and I wear ear plugs 😎
18:34 hope he got away unscathed
All good. Thanks for watching and ride safe.
Sold my 790 and replaced it with a 701 for the same weight reasons Lighter is certainly better.
ATTENTION: Actual riding part starts at 12:47....
good honest viewpoints thank you as a short ass 57 year old shopping for some new metal interesting points, I have short legs less than 29"" and a wonky ankle courtesy of a 450exc how does the seat height compare to the 890 (r) I presume which I have written off as too tall for myself?
I have a 29 leg and completely knackered ankle judging by the MRI a couple of weeks ago! It’s the low version with the rally seat and it’s still a bit tip toes to be honest. I lowered the 890 and had a low seat as well- could get my fore foot on the ground with that.
How does the Kove 450 Rally ( Standard ) compare to a KTM 690 Enduro R / Husky 701? On paper still seems like a heavy bike.
Is ther anyway to not use all 8 gallon gas tank by closing off rear fuel tank? Are the gas tanks clear enough to see the fuel level?
Thanks for video. Look forward to more Kove reviews, real life service, etc.
The fuel tanks all lead into the front left tank- back goes to front right goes to front left. You can get a valve to close off the rear tank. I can’t really compare it with the two bikes you mention as I’ve not ridden them. Thanks for watching.
The line to the rear tank has a check valve installed from the factory.
Whats the MPG and tank range?
About 2 gallons/ 100 miles at the moment. 30L capacity.
Hi bud all good stuff, i'm based nr wellington if you ever need someone to accompany you to get that footage you mentioned just drop me a message. I have various bikes from enduro to race bikes and everything in-between so would pretty much have the terrain covered. Also be interested to see a Kove in the flesh.👍😃
Nice, and thanks for the offer. The Kove looks good in the flesh.
you are on the right path , singles ftw🙂
a 12 tooth though? oooft that chain is gonna hate you and quick fast
Yep- going to change it back to standard and see how it is.
13T ordered! Not a fan of the 12T to be honest.
No water on air filter 😮
No - a couple of mud splashes.
12T off 51T or 52T on the rear, you said fitting the 12T lowers the gearing more than going larger on the rear, gearing is gearing it’s just maths and as already said your chain will love you longer. Oh, and get some training. Finally, take off the bash plate and clean the oil cooler gently.
Reckon a Voge 300 Rally would have been just the job for you without all the faffing around trying to sort the Kove👍
yep but the problem for many of us "just the job" is not really what we are after when we are out on our bike, currently own a crf 250 so I know what you say also own and trail a 12GS and had most in between, practicalities dont always equal the smiles, but without some experiences that may not be evident, it is certainly not on paper. the Voge is a good bike though.
@@bikenavbm1229
I get that.
Thanks for the comment. Head and heart are strange things!!😎
Thanks for commenting Phillip. You’re probably right, but sometimes we just do things because we want to 👍😎.
Speech only from left channel, annoying. 😵
I know and I hate that but only the last bit I think. Apologies for that. Need to shake down the gear again. Thanks for watching.
@@advnoobie6061 like button pushed :)
Haha. Too right. I don’t like tech errors!!
You appear to want to improve your riding by buying a better bike instead of improving your skills. It never works out well, you spend a lot of money, get frustrated and then give up on riding. Get your skills sorted first and then video the progress your making, would be far more interesting than the bike you are riding.
Did you find the USA ECU better than the Cuber version
Just a tad mean that really.
@@jonay9221 I’d rather not see a fellow rider giving up and/or getting hurt. He already admitted he was a novice despite 3 years of riding. I found out the hard way I needed training, better not to make that mistake.
Thanks for the open and honest feedback. The Kove is not necessarily a better bike than the 890, just a lot lighter but still capable of doing a bit of distance. I ride a lot on my own and am getting older, so sold the 890 and bought the Kove instead. Fits much better alongside the 1290 SAR. I’ve been riding road bikes for many years but wanted to learn off road three years ago. I love it, very little puts me off, I keep within my limits and have enjoyed quite a lot of training since starting. We all have good days and bad days with varying confidence and I’m having more low confidence days currently as I’ve not ridden as much this year. That’s going to change in 2025.
Thanks for watching and have a great 2025.
I need to try the Coober with the decat exhaust. So many combinations- the USA decat is very rich low down and I suspect it’s chucking in quite a bit of fuel if the backfires are anything to go by.