QJMotor SRT 600 S Review, Specs and What It Means for South Africa
In Britain the QJMotor SRT 600 S costs £4,699. For that you get a 554cc twin-cylinder adventure bike with adjustable Marzocchi suspension, a 7 inch TFT, heated grips, a heated seat, tyre pressure monitoring, crash bars, spotlights, a centre stand and three aluminium luggage boxes. A Honda NX500 with none of those extras costs £2,200 more. It is the sort of offer that makes you look for the catch.
Three British publications have now tested it properly, and they found both the value and the catch. This is what the SRT 600 S is, what the tests agreed and disagreed on, and what it means for South Africa, where QJMotor went on sale this year but this particular model has not yet arrived.
This is a research based review. Scooter125 has not ridden the SRT 600 S and the bike was not supplied by QJMotor or a dealer. Specifications and riding impressions come from road tests by Bennetts BikeSocial, Carole Nash and Visordown, and the South African context from Ride Fast’s report on the local QJMotor launch. The running cost sums are our own at the September 2026 fuel price. The SRT 600 S is not on QJMotor South Africa’s launch list, so every rand figure for the bike itself is an estimate.
What you need to know first
The SRT 600 S is a 554cc liquid-cooled parallel twin making 41 kW (55 hp) at 8,250 rpm and 54 Nm at 5,500 rpm. It has a 19 inch front wheel and a 17 inch rear on cast rims, an 805 mm seat, 190 mm of ground clearance and a 20.5 litre tank. Weight depends on who you ask: the tests quote 215 to 220 kg ready to ride, and more with the luggage fitted.
It is built in China by Qianjiang, the company that owns Benelli. In Britain it carries a two-year unlimited-distance warranty and needs a service every 6,400 km.
QJMotor arrived in South Africa in 2026 through KMSA, the long-standing Kawasaki importer. The SRT 600 S was not among the seven launch models. The nearest equivalent on sale here is the bigger SRT700 SX at R129,995.
Who is QJMotor?
QJMotor is the house brand of Qianjiang Motorcycle, one of China’s largest manufacturers, which builds more than 1.2 million machines a year and sells in over 130 countries. Qianjiang has owned the Italian brand Benelli since 2005, and the group itself is controlled by Geely, the company behind Volvo and Lotus. So while the badge is new to most riders, the factory behind it is not. If you have seen a Benelli TRK 502, you have seen its work.
What you get for the money
The equipment list is the headline. All of this is standard in Britain:
- Three aluminium luggage boxes, two panniers and a top box, with the frames.
- Heated grips and a heated rider’s seat.
- A 7 inch colour TFT with Bluetooth and turn-by-turn navigation.
- Tyre pressure monitoring, shown on the dash.
- Adjustable Marzocchi suspension front and rear.
- Three riding modes and switchable traction control, with Bosch ABS.
- Crash bars, a bash plate, hand guards and LED auxiliary lights.
- A centre stand, a USB-C port and a 12 volt socket.
Carole Nash’s Phil West called it a level of equipment “you’d literally normally expect of a bike costing twice as much”. Bennetts’ Steve Rose made the point a different way: it is a new bike, with a warranty, for the price of a five-year-old Japanese one.
The 554cc twin
The engine is QJMotor’s own eight-valve twin with a 270 degree crank, which gives it the uneven beat of a V-twin rather than the smooth hum of a Honda 500. Power is 41 kW, about 6 kW more than an NX500.
The three tests read it differently. Rose described “flexible power delivery” with a light clutch and smooth throttle, and rode it on four 240 km motorway trips without complaint. West called it unintimidating and versatile, with “no particular performance highlights”. Visordown’s Chris Cope was the least impressed: he found “very little low-end punch” and said it gets wheezy approaching 130 km/h. All three agreed it is a pleasant, easygoing engine and not a fast one. Cope added that the exhaust note is the best thing about the bike.
That matters more in South Africa than in Britain. At Highveld altitude a naturally aspirated engine loses about 15 percent, which leaves roughly 35 kW to move well over 220 kg with luggage and a rider. Solo at the coast it will cruise at 120 km/h comfortably. Two-up with full boxes on the N1 out of Johannesburg, it will be working hard.
Chassis, brakes and how it rides
The frame is a steel trellis. The fork is a 43 mm Marzocchi upside-down unit adjustable for compression and rebound, and the Marzocchi shock is adjustable for preload. Brakes are twin 320 mm front discs with four-piston radial calipers and a 260 mm rear, with Bosch dual-channel ABS.
Handling is the bike’s strongest suit on the road. Rose found it “reassuringly confident” on twisty roads and easy to filter through traffic. West called it neutral, well balanced and decently nimble, with a ride quality “more refined than you’d normally expect” at the price. Cope agreed it is well balanced despite the weight, and capable on gravel roads with the right tyres.
The brakes got a cooler reception. Rose said they work but need a strong pull. Cope called them spongy, blamed the pads and suggested replacing them. That is a cheap fix, and worth budgeting for.
Tyres are Maxxis in 110/80R19 and 150/70R17, the same sizes as most mid-size adventure bikes, so there is plenty of choice when they wear out. The standard tyres are road-biased. For regular gravel use you would want something with more tread.
Comfort and the equipment in practice
The 805 mm seat is low for an adventure bike, which makes the SRT friendly to shorter riders. Rose found the seat better than the price suggested. Cope, at 1.85 m, found it cramped and too firm for long days. The screen is not adjustable, and it protects the chest more than the head and arms.
This is also where the catch shows. Much of the equipment is there, but not all of it is good:
- The heated grips were slow according to West and useless even on maximum according to Cope. Rose said both grips and seat warm less than rival systems.
- The dash menus are confusing, and Cope described the switchgear as feeling like it belongs on a toy.
- The main headlight is weak, with the spotlights doing most of the work.
- The fuel gauge stays on full for half the tank, then falls quickly.
- The luggage is useful but not large, and the pannier frames add width.
None of that is a reason to walk away at this price. It is a reason to be realistic. You are getting a lot of features, and some of them feel like they cost what they did.
QJMotor in South Africa
QJMotor is officially here. KMSA, which has imported Kawasaki for decades and also handles SYM, began distributing the brand in 2026 through its dealer network. Ride Fast reported seven launch models, from the SRK450 RR at R104,995 to the SU 9 at R189,995. Two adventure bikes are on the list: the SRT700 SX at R129,995 and the SRT900 SX at R169,995.
The SRT 600 S is not on that list. KMSA has chosen the 698cc SRT700 SX as its middleweight, and it comes with panniers, a top box, heated grips and a heated seat as standard, the same formula with 52 kW and 70 Nm. If the 600 S were added, it would have to sit below R129,995 to make sense, and we would expect it somewhere around R100,000 to R115,000. That is our estimate, not KMSA’s.
Two things to weigh with any new brand here. The first is the dealer network: it uses established KMSA dealers, which is a better start than most newcomers get, but ask where your nearest one is. The second is resale. Visordown expects resale values to be low in Britain, and a brand with no local track record will be the same here for the first few years. That counts against it if you trade bikes often, and matters much less if you keep one for a long time.
What it would cost to run in South Africa
Inland 95 unleaded was about R27 a litre in September 2026. Bennetts measured the SRT at the equivalent of 4.6 litres per 100 km.
- A full 20.5 litre tank costs about R550.
- Range on that tank is roughly 450 km, among the best in the class.
- Fuel costs about R1.24 a kilometre.
- A 40 km round-trip commute costs about R50 a day, or roughly R1,100 over 22 working days.
The cost to watch is servicing. The interval is every 6,400 km or 12 months, about half the distance of a Honda NX500, with a valve check at 40,000 km. Visordown noted that reaching the air filter and spark plugs means removing the tank. Ask the dealer what each service costs before you compare prices, because a cheaper bike with twice as many services can end up costing the same.
Licence requirements in South Africa
South Africa has two motorcycle licence codes. Code A1 covers bikes up to 125cc from age 16. Code A covers everything else from age 18. At 554cc the SRT 600 S needs a full Code A, and a car licence does not cover it.
As a first big bike it has a lot going for it: a low seat, gentle power, traction control and ABS. The weight is the thing to respect. Our guide to what a motorbike licence costs in South Africa covers the fees and the tests.
SRT 600 S versus the alternatives
Honda NX500
The benchmark. The Honda NX500 is listed new on Scooter125 from around R110,000. It has less power at 35 kW, weighs about 196 kg, uses less fuel and needs servicing half as often. It comes with almost none of the QJMotor’s equipment. It also comes with Honda build quality, a dealer in most towns and strong resale. Bennetts worked out that over three years the cost gap between the two in Britain was smaller than the price gap suggests.
QJMotor SRT700 SX
The one you can actually buy here, at R129,995. More power and torque, the same luggage and heated kit, and more weight at 243 kg. If you like the SRT 600 S on paper, this is the bike to go and sit on at a KMSA dealer.
Suzuki V-Strom 650XT
Suzuki South Africa lists the V-Strom 650XT at R166,650. It is the bike Visordown’s tester said he would rather have, bought used. A V-twin with 52 kW, a long record of reliability and parts everywhere. New, it costs a great deal more. Used, it is the safest choice in this class.
Suzuki V-Strom 250SX and used BMW G 310 GS
If budget is the point, the Suzuki V-Strom 250SX is R63,400 new and comes ready for gravel. Dealers also list used BMW adventure bikes on Scooter125, with the G 310 GS at the lower end. Both are smaller and slower than the QJMotor, and both are easier to resell.
See what the adventure bikes for sale on Scooter125 are going for, and check the current motorbike specials, before you decide.
Full specifications
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Engine | 554cc, parallel twin, DOHC, 8 valves, liquid cooled, 270 degree crank |
| Bore and stroke | 70.5 mm by 71.0 mm |
| Power | 41 kW (55 hp) at 8,250 rpm |
| Torque | 54 Nm at 5,500 rpm |
| Transmission | 6 speed, chain drive |
| Frame | Tubular steel trellis |
| Front suspension | 43 mm Marzocchi upside-down fork, compression and rebound adjustable |
| Rear suspension | Marzocchi monoshock, preload adjustable |
| Front brakes | Twin 320 mm discs, 4-piston radial calipers, Bosch ABS |
| Rear brake | 260 mm disc, 2-piston caliper, ABS |
| Wheels | Cast aluminium, 19 inch front, 17 inch rear |
| Tyres | Maxxis MaxxVenture, 110/80R19 front, 150/70R17 rear |
| Rider aids | ABS, switchable traction control, three riding modes, tyre pressure monitoring |
| Instruments | 7 inch TFT, Bluetooth, turn-by-turn navigation, USB-C, 12 V socket |
| Length, width, height | 2,190 mm, 896 mm, 1,378 mm |
| Wheelbase | 1,480 mm |
| Ground clearance | 190 mm |
| Seat height | 805 mm |
| Weight, ready to ride | 215 to 220 kg, more with luggage |
| Fuel capacity | 20.5 litres |
| Tested consumption | About 4.6 litres per 100 km |
| Service interval | 6,400 km or 12 months |
| Standard equipment | Three aluminium luggage boxes, heated grips and seat, crash bars, bash plate, hand guards, auxiliary lights, centre stand |
| United Kingdom price | £4,699 plus on-the-road charges |
| South African price | Not on sale; SRT700 SX is R129,995 |
Frequently asked questions
Is the QJMotor SRT 600 S available in South Africa?
Not at the moment. QJMotor is sold here through KMSA, but the SRT 600 S was not one of the seven launch models. The closest bike on sale is the SRT700 SX at R129,995.
How much would the SRT 600 S cost in South Africa?
There is no official price. It would have to sit below the SRT700 SX, so we estimate R100,000 to R115,000 if it were introduced. Treat that as a guide only.
Who makes QJMotor motorcycles?
Qianjiang Motorcycle of China, which also owns Benelli and is controlled by the Geely group. It builds more than 1.2 million machines a year.
Is the QJMotor SRT 600 S reliable?
It is too new to say. The British tests found the mechanical side sound, with complaints limited to accessories such as the heated grips and the dash menus. Long-term reliability is unproven, which is why the warranty and the dealer matter.
Is the SRT 600 S good off-road?
It will handle gravel and farm roads, with 190 mm of ground clearance, a 19 inch front wheel and a bash plate. It is heavy, and the standard tyres are road-biased, so it is not a trail bike.
How does it compare with the Honda NX500?
The QJMotor has more power, a bigger tank and far more equipment for less money overseas. The Honda is lighter, uses less fuel, needs servicing half as often and holds its value better.
How far will it go on a tank?
About 450 km on the 20.5 litre tank at roughly 4.6 litres per 100 km.
The verdict
The SRT 600 S is exactly what it looks like: a competent, comfortable, slightly heavy middleweight adventure bike with an equipment list that embarrasses bikes at twice the price. Two of the three British tests were impressed and one was lukewarm, and the split is instructive. Judge it against its price and it is remarkable. Judge each part on its own and some of them, the brakes, the heated grips, the switchgear and the menus, are clearly built to a budget.
For South African riders it is, for now, a bike to know about and not one to buy. What it shows is where QJMotor is aiming, and the SRT700 SX on sale here follows the same recipe. If that formula appeals, go and ride the 700, ask hard questions about service costs and parts, and compare it with a Honda NX500 and a used V-Strom 650 on the same day.
In the meantime, see what the adventure bikes for sale on Scooter125 cost today.
Sources referenced
- Bennetts BikeSocial, Steve Rose, “QJMotor SRT 600 S (2025) Review”, 20 November 2025
- Carole Nash, Phil West, “Reviewed: QJMotor SRT600S”, 1 April 2026
- Visordown, Chris Cope, “QJMotor SRT 600 S review: The £4,699 Adventure Bike Bargain”, updated 1 October 2026
- Ride Fast, “QJMotor Launches In South Africa”: distributor, launch models and prices
- Suzuki South Africa price list and Honda NX500 listings on Scooter125
- Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, September 2026 fuel price adjustment
