Unless you counted the exhaust outlets on the QJMOTOR SU9, as it is commonly known, you could be forgiven for thinking that what you are ogling is an MV Agusta Superveloce. And ogle is the operative word, because this beast is a serious looker. It combines classic design features with a round headlight, which is offset by winglets which are thoroughly modern. Only the Italians can pull off these sorts of design features with such success.
QJMOTOR built their version of the Superveloce as the result of a two-year technical collaboration between MV and QJ. This ended when KTM got a controlling share in MV. Whilst the bikes might look like two peas in a pod, they are actually very different. The SU9 features a 921 cc liquid- and oil-cooled 4-cylinder, 16-valve, DOHC motor versus the MV’s triple. The QJ pumps out 127 hp @10,000 rpm, and 93 Nm of torque.
Under the Skin
I did a deep dive into the motor design to try and determine where MV ended, and QJ started. What I discovered was rather fascinating. Many of the engine casings have QJMOTOR cast onto the outside and MV on the inside, testimony to serious input from the Italian company in the motor design and build.
A closer look at the motor’s internals reveals a clear focus on building a robust and enduring unit. Components include forged pistons and crank, stainless steel valves, similar in material to that used in endurance racing engines, ceramic-coated bores, state-of-the-art conrods and bushings, and an oil cooler as well as a radiator. QJ added two additional counterweights on the crank for even smoother running. The cam chain is made by DID, and the clutch plates are made by FCC, the Japanese supplier to all the major brands.
This is a high-quality engine with which QJ have shown serious intent. It is a shot across the bows of the ‘legacy’ brands!
The chassis is steel and sports fully adjustable Marzocchi suspension front and rear. The wheels are lightweight alloy, with the rear mounted to a sexy single-sided swingarm. Tyres are Pirelli Rosso 4s, in 120/70 × 17 at the front and 190/50 × 17 at the rear. The beautifully sculpted tank holds 15 litres. As we’d expect from QJ, the SU9 features a large TFT display that provides all the vital info. The SU9 also comes equipped with cruise control, a quickshifter, engine modes (Sport, Normal and Rain), cornering ABS, launch control and, perhaps most importantly, a tyre pressure monitor.
The Riding Experience
I had a déjà vu moment when I wheeled the SU9 out of KMSA Distributors. Turning the bike full lock traps your thumb between the clip-on bar and the tank. This immediately gave me a throwback memory to the clip-ons fitted to my Honda CB750 F2 back in the days when men were men and bikes were raw and unfiltered. My muscle memory kicked in, and I subsequently moved my thumb when turning the bars full lock. The SU9 does not pretend to be anything other than a sports weapon. The riding position is aggressive, putting you in full attack mode. Town riding is to be endured. It is absolutely not what this bike is designed for.
Get out on the open road, and it comes into its natural environment. The wind protection is decent, but there is enough wind when riding at speed to hold your upper body neutral on the bars without excessive pressure on your wrists. The rearset pegs are also not too high and even my lanky frame felt properly set up to conduct the four-cylinder QJ orchestra at speed. The motor is strong, with proper hit off the bottom accompanied by an aural assault from the four short slash cut pipes exiting from behind the right footpeg.
As with bikes from most manufacturers, I find Sport Mode just too aggressive. Perhaps I am just old school, having grown up in an era when (Sport, Normal and Rain) mode was vested in your right wrist and didn’t require electronic tomfoolery but rather encouraged the rider to develop riding skill to cater for different riding conditions. My first move on the current crop of fly-by-wire bikes is to engage Normal or Road mode. This mode is the closest you can get to nice linear carburation on a modern motorcycle. So too it was on the SU9.
I did notice some slight surging at a constant throttle, particularly when cruising at highway speeds. I mentioned it to the technical boffs at KMSA, who contacted QJMOTOR and promptly arranged for an updated engine map to be installed. The difference was immediately noticeable, and the SU9 felt smooth and predictable at a steady throttle. Credit to KMSA and QJMOTOR for getting onto it and sorting it out so promptly.
The SU9 is born to turn, which is common with any bike with Italian DNA in its make-up. The bike is stable and planted at all lean angles and through both tighter turns and very high-speed sweeps. It will be a blast around a racetrack. The Brembo Stylema callipers and 320 mm twin discs, allied to the 260 mm rear disc and single pot Brembo calliper, haul the bike up with feel and authority.
Who Is the SU9 For?
So, what is the SU9 about? Firstly, it is a head turner of note. There is nothing currently like it out there (at least in South Africa). It is aimed squarely and solely at those riders who think that anything other than a focused sports weapon is a waste of two-wheeled resources. The passenger accommodation is minimalistic and good for a jaunt to the local craft brewery or coffee shop, but not much more. Again, this is common to all bikes with totally sporting intentions.
The SU9 is an engaging and fun ride and begs to be thrashed unmercifully. If you are an introvert, you should pass, but if you have an ounce of extrovert in you, it is right up your alley. Ride it, enjoy it, and when you’ve done riding, just feast your eyes on its stunning lines and glowing red and silver paint job. That all of this can be had for R179,995 is, in typical QJMOTOR fashion, simply amazing.
QJMOTOR Super 9
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