Currently, the only 4-cylinder 400cc lineup from Japanese manufacturers is the Kawasaki ZX-4R series, but Honda is expected to add a new CB400 to the lineup. The reason for this is the boom in 4-cylinder supersports in China, and it seems that QJ Motor will also be entering the 400cc class.
Will the third Chinese mid-range four-cylinder model make its debut?
As is well known, inline 4-cylinder engine models have been developed as a specialty of Japan, but in recent years Chinese manufacturers have been actively developing them. Many models have appeared, ranging from the 1000cc class to the 400cc mid-class, with a focus on the upper-middle class of around 600cc.
The new model that was leaked this time is the QJ MOTOR model. It is said to be equipped with a 421cc in-line 4-cylinder engine in a fully cowled body, with a maximum output of 77.5PS and a top speed of 220km/h. The name of the car will be "SRK400RR" and the Chinese name will be "Race 421".
QJ Motor is a major Chinese manufacturer that owns Benelli, and is also working on Harley's X350 and X500 at the end of 2023, and is becoming more and more well-known in Japan. The in-line 4-cylinder "SRK800RR" will start competing in the SBK WSSP from 2024, and is rapidly gaining momentum.
In addition, KOVE will release the "450RR" in 2023 and CFMOTO will release the "500SR VOOM" in 2024 in China. Both are equipped with in-line 4-cylinder engines, and can be said to be rivals to the new CB400 (the Chinese version is said to be 500cc) that Honda will release in China and Japan.
It looks like the battle between mid-4 cylinders in Japan and China is about to intensify, including the Kawasaki ZX-4R, which is also popular in China.
A photo of the "SRK400RR" was leaked in China, said to have the Chinese name "Race 421." It appears to have a new style that follows the design of the SRK1000RC unveiled at the 2023 Milan Show.
SRK1000RC [QJMOTOR] A super sports motorcycle equipped with the 1078cc engine of the MV Agusta F4. It was created by Adrian Morton, who worked on the F4 and F3, and was unveiled at the 2023 Milan Show.
SRK921RR [QJMOTOR] This new model is equipped with MV Agusta's in-line 4-cylinder engine, which was announced at the Beijing International Motorcycle Exhibition in May. Is the 921cc engine displacement the same as MV's "921S"?
921S [MV AGUSTA] A concept model unveiled at the 2022 Milan Show. Based on the 70's "750S".
The 921S engine is based on the F4 series, but has been newly designed in many areas, producing 115.5HP/7000rpm.
SRK800RR to compete in Supersport World Championship
Two Chinese manufacturers are competing in the road race world championships: QJ Motor and CFMOTO, both of which have entries in Moto 2 and Moto 3. However, as they are not competing in either race with their products, they need to participate in production races to prove their potential.
That's where QJ Motor stepped in, and starting this season they began competing with a factory team in the WSSP (World Supersport Championship), which is held alongside SBK. The machine they use is the SRK800RR, which is equipped with an in-line 4-cylinder engine, and the 778cc unit, which is said to have been developed in-house, produces 102PS/10,000rpm.
The rider for the team will be Raffaele De Rosa, a talented rider with 19 podium finishes in the WSSP, but he had not yet scored any points at the end of the Portugal round in August. His best time was also about 2 to 5 seconds behind the leader, so there seems to be a lot of development to be done.
Nevertheless, the fact that Chinese manufacturers have begun challenging the World Championship with their supersport models is a sign that the level of Chinese manufacturers is rising. The in-line 4-cylinder supersports, which are the specialty of Japanese manufacturers, may one day face off against Chinese models in a race.
SRK800RR [QJMOTOR] An in-line 4-cylinder machine announced in 2023. The engine and frame show signs of having studied the CBR650R, which is popular in China, but it will be a proprietary super sports motorcycle.
The SRK800RR will be entered in the WSSP from 2024. Its Chinese name is "Sai 800," with the character "sai" meaning to compete, and this model puts that concept into practice. Will the day come when it can compete at the top?
