The motorcycle world is fraught with blatant imitations of other better-known brands of bikes. It's a "wild west" industry where rules don't seem to apply in the eyes of some motorcycle manufacturers. Many are willing to make a quick buck churning out motorcycles that are lacking in quality, especially when compared to the ones they're taking extreme inspiration from.
Although there's a multi-layered moral dilemma that's introduced whenever motorcycle manufacturers copy others, that's not what this post focuses on. Instead, it's examining whether the motorcycles that took certain design and engineering ideas from others are quality products in their own right.
It's important to note that the copied bikes are far from perfect. They still have problems and flaws like almost every bike out there. However, despite being knockoffs in some regards, there are pros buyers will find that they wouldn't find in the original. Whether it be a difference in cost, a change in design or their performance that ups their value, these bikes—no matter how much they copied others—are judged on their own. While it's easy to assume all motorcycle ripoffs are inferior to the originals they stole from, they're worth an honest examination.
Some of the most popular motorcycle brands out there are Ducati, Honda, Yamaha, and BMW. Although major manufacturers have been the victim of copycats—which they'd likely prefer didn't exist at all—we'd like to think they'd be privately pleased with what other manufacturers came up with based on their own creations.
20 Wonjan WJ150R / Honda CBR250R
There's no shortage of manufacturers in China accused of taking design aspects from other companies for their motorcycles. The Wonjan WJ150R is one such motorcycle that attracts this kind of undesirable attention.
According to Visordown, the bike bears similar features to those of Honda's CBR250R.
The line between inspiration and complete knockoff begins to blur at this point. When one examines the shell frame—also known as fairing—on both motorcycles, it's hard not to see where the resemblance lies. Honda no longer offers the CBR250R—Motor Beam notes it’s no longer listed on their website—making the WJ150R an appealing substitute.
19 Sur-Ron White Ghost / Honda Grom
An electric bike, for some, is about the worst thing ever created. Like two opposites coming together, it appears like some paradox to riders who would prefer not to compromise. Still, we have to accept that electric vehicles are the future, and we might as well get on the bandwagon. For those looking to get an electric bike, the Sur-Ron White Ghost is a great place to start. We like the look of this bike even if the motor is severely lacking with its 62 mph top speed, according to Paultan. It might bear some similar characteristics to the Honda Grom, but it's a bargain at $3K.
18 CFMoto 650TK / Kawasaki ER-6
Bike manufacturer CFMoto has a few on this list starting with the 650TK. Here's what we like about this bike: it's well constructed and bears impressive technical features. It even comes with a clutch that's produced in Japan, as AutoWise notes. The outlet goes on to detail the injectors, which are Magneti Marelli, and the fuel-injection features, which are credited to Ducati. With those kinds of specs behind it, we prefer it to the pricier Kawasaki ER-6. Unfortunately, as Rider Magazine notes, the bike isn't available in the U.S. currently, though it could be had for about $7K before it rode off into the sunset.
17 Chiang Jiang 750 / Ural
It's hard not to like—or want, for that matter—a Chang Jiang 750. It's an endearing bike with unique styling and appeal.
According to Bike EXIF, the Chang Jiang isn't without its design flaws, such as a reverse gear that wears away at the gearbox over time.
Those things turn us off, but it's a classic bike with a lot of grit nonetheless. The bad news is that Bike EXIF notes that it's not produced anymore. Although the Ural is a classic bike that the Chang Jiang 750 is said to have copied, as AutoWise notes, we prefer the styling to that of the lean-looking Ural.
16 Benelli 402S / Ducati Diavel
Benelli didn't always make motorcycles. As Benelli's website details, the company also made shotguns and rifles. Their motorcycles have garnered a reputation for being unoriginal, however. Not only do they tend to make copies, but they seem obsessed with making their bikes look like Ducatis. The first Benelli to make it on this list is the 402S, which, according to Car and Bike, resembles the Ducati Diavel. Ducatis are great, but why throw down hard-earned cash on one when this alternative is available? It still gets a reasonable 399 cc parallel twin engine, as Car and Bike details, which may not match the Ducati's, but proves serviceable for our tastes.
15 Kengo R350 / Kawasaki Ninja 300
Ninja motorcycles have a unique and established style on all their bikes. When Chinese bike maker Kengo decided to mimic the Ninja 300 for their 350 model, as Motoroids reports, the borrowed look really stood out. In spite of the similar appearance, how does the motorcycle fare on its own? For one, Motoroids notes that the Kengo 350 has not one disc brake like the Ninja 300 but two, adding that much more security. The rear tire is also noted for being slightly thicker than the Kawasaki's, which is a nice detail difference riders can appreciate. While Kawasaki is a household name, the Kengo 350 appeals more to us than the Ninja 300.
14 C8 Tomahawk / KTM 200 Duke
While not all copycat motorcycles improve on the originals, some have slight tweaks that make it arguably more tempting. In the case of the C8 Tomahawk out of China, it takes a lot from the KTM 200 Duke.
According to Motor Beam, it has a 250 cc engine, which is slightly larger than the Duke's roughly 200 ccs.
For the most part, the suspension, the console, and the disc brakes appear the same, as Motor Beam reports. That makes the Tomahawk a worthy copy, especially since the motor ostensibly improves on the original. Although it's never good to steal, the Tomahawk may drive us to break our ethics this once if it means owning one.
13 Benelli Leoncino Sport / Ducati Scrambler
It's brave of Benelli to compete directly with Ducati using a bike design that closely resembles theirs. According to RushLane, the Benelli Leoncino Sport, which has a scrambler design, was meant to go up against Ducati's own Scrambler model. The story goes the same as all the other Benellis': these are decent enough bikes that save money and that riders can count on. Compared to more expensive offerings like Ducati, it's hard to reconcile the higher cost. The 500 cc engine may not tap into the performance many bike owners want, but it'll do the job as an everyday street bike.
12 Jonway YY250 / BMW F650CS
The Jonway YY250 looks like an intriguing bike, though it's one that took a lot of liberties in its design. According to Visordown, it gets its looks from the BMW F650CS, which has an interesting history. Northwest Motorcycling Sound Rider reports that the F650CS came after a successful first generation rolled onto the scene. One of the most noteworthy attributes of the F650CS is its swing arm, which Visordown reports isn't on the YY250. Regardless, it's a cheaper alternative that looks just like a BMW bike; plus, like most of the bikes on this list, the cost difference is the real appeal.
11 Wonjan WJ300GS / Ducati Panigale
Wonjan makes another appearance on this list, only, there’s bad news. According to CarToq, their WJ300GS—also known as "Space Ranger"—bears several design similarities with Ducati's Panigale 1098 model; it certainly doesn't look like a coincidence but an unabashed copy. It's no lie—the Panigale 1098 has a superior motor. This is something of an advantage, though, since it gives riders the awesome styling and look of the bike without compromising on fuel economy. At the end of the day, we don't expect to race our bikes. Just give us the look of the 1098 but in the form of something we can actually ride every day.
10 Benelli 752S / Ducati Monster
In spite of some of the criticisms to beleaguer Benelli, one has to admit their lineup of bikes is diverse. Not all motorcycle makers can say that. While the site Motorbike Writer notes that Benelli changed from an Italian-owned company to a Chinese one—which might explain some of the copycat bikes—they still produce quality rides. That outlet goes on to report that the Benelli 752S looks awfully like Ducati's Monster model. What a lot of these knockoffs don't always promise is dependability, but the 752S looks to be a different story. With the benefit of longevity and a cheaper price tag, we'll take the 752S.
9 CFMoto 650NK / Kawasaki ER-6
CFMoto has a reputation for taking some questionable liberties with their design choices. Earlier on this list, there was another CFMoto offering: the 650TK.
According to AutoWise, the 650NK is similar, only, it's the naked version, which is more appropriate for streets.
Part of us wishes the copying had stopped there, but CFMoto took cues from Kawasaki again. For similar reasons as with the 650TK, we'd take the 650NK over Kawasaki's more expensive offerings. There's a silver lining. The good news is that, unlike the 650TK, the NK is still available for sale in the United States bike market, reports Rider Magazine.
8 Benelli TNT 600 / Ducati Monster
Another Benelli makes the list, and to no one's surprise, it’s another Ducati "remake." It's also the second time on the list that Benelli took cues from Ducati's Monster; granted, they make something of their own monster, and it's good for the price. For $6,000 new, the TNT600—as Jalopnik reports—will offer riders a naked bike that proves a tempting alternative to bigger bike brands. We know the Ducati Monster is a better-made bike, but when one considers finances and the difficulty of obtaining something that valuable for pleasure, it's a tough purchase to justify. As an obligatory pun: the TNT600 detonates, thus blowing the price of the Monster away.
7 Sigma Thunder 250 / Yamaha YZF-R25
The thinking behind the Sigma Thunder 250 goes something like this: if you're going to copy, why not copy one of the best bike makers out there? BikesRepublic reports that the Sigma Thunder 250 is, in many ways, exactly the same as Yamaha's YZF-R25 model. With the same engine displacement, one can expect comparable power between the two models. With the Yamaha starting price at a little more than five grand, the Sigma Thunder 250 offers similar design and isn't a total pushover in terms of performance; a Sigma Thunder 250 goes for the cheaper rate of around less than four grand, as BikesRepublic notes.
6 Lion Rokk / KTM 200 Duke
The KTM 200 Duke is so popular, two of the motorcycles on this list copied it. This next addition to the list might be something of a controversy—especially considering that the preference is purely superficial—but the Lion Rokk rocks a better paint job. The KTM 200 Duke has an eye-catching orange, black, and white scheme that certainly looks cool, but it doesn't stand out like the green Lion Rokk's.
As Motoroids reports, the Lion Rokk is practically the same as the Duke, except for its colors, which should make the original maker ashamed.
With the green paint, however, it makes one realize how much it looks like a Ninja—as CarToq points out—making us wonder if we would've ever gotten one in green unless it was a knockoff.
5 Sigma Scorpion 350RR / BMW S1000RR
Many of the copycat motorcycles on this list are available in Pakistan. While that might discourage prospective buyers from picking up a bike from that out-of-reach market, some of the offerings remain tempting. One such bike includes the Sigma Scorpion 350RR. According to BikesRepublic, the 350RR looks just like the BMW S1000RR, which is either ugly or slick in appearance, depending on whom you talk to. For those who consider the bike's appearance to be of chief importance, they'd be best off going with the 350RR. Taking in intel from online forums like Lowyat, the cost is about a fourth of what a BMW 1000RR prices at, making the Sigma Scorpion hard to pass up.
4 Motrac MG500 / Honda CB500
Unlike some of the copycat motorcycle manufacturers on this list, the brand Motrac is available in the States and tends to be more accessible. Their Motrac MG500 looks like an ideal beginner motorcycle for riders just breaking in, although it's not exactly clear whether the bike is for sale in the States. AutoWise reports that the MG500 looks just like the Honda CB500 but is quite different when it comes to technical specs. Still, the MG500 is a competent machine and even has a slightly larger displacement, which suggests even more power. While buyers are probably safer going with a Honda, the price is probably a lot cheaper for an arguably better-looking MG500.
3 CFMoto 650MT / Kawasaki ER-6N
While it's not exactly admirable of CFMoto to base their bikes off Kawasaki looks, it's hard to complain when their creations aren't bad. Rounding out the CFMotos on this list is the 650MT. It's not really a surprise at this point, but it mimics the Kawasaki ER-6N, reports Miyconst. Reports show it's an all-around bike from first-hand experiences and test rides. Carrying a hefty 650 cc displacement that can do up to 71 hp, according to Miyconst, the bike sure gives enough when factoring in the bottom line. Again, CFMoto takes our money over the more prestigious Kawasaki that would certainly empty our bank accounts.
2 Gulsar / Bajaj Pulsar
It takes a lot of guts for a motorcycle manufacturer to copy another bike that's not theirs. It's even more audacious for that company to turn around and sell their copycat bike in the same country the original one is sold in. That's exactly what the makers of Gulsar did, according to CarToq, which also bears a similar resemblance in its name to the motorcycle they copied: the Bajaj Pulsar. Both motorcycles appear comparable, only, they vary in price. With Balaj able to prevent further production of Gulsar bikes into Sri Lanka, as Rediff India Abroad reports, there's the possibility prices will go down now with owners trying to get rid of their Gulsars, stirring possibilities of bargains on the used bike market.
1 Leike Hornet / Gilera DNA Scooter
The name "Hornet" is an appropriate, cool-sounding name for a motorcycle model. Motorcycle maker Leike thought so, too. In spite of Honda having a model called 'Hornet,' Leike went forward with their own model named the 'Leike Hornet.' But instead of also copying the actual Honda Hornet motorcycle, Leike actually based their bike on the Gilera DNA Scooter, as Visordown reports. In reality, the Gilera DNA Scooter has a better chance of staying around longer than the Leike Hornet. It also has plenty of parts still available for customization and maintenance. What makes the Leike Hornet tempting, though, is its price tag, with many used ones being available for a fourth of what they originally cost.
Sources: Visordown, Motor Beam, AutoWise, Car and Bike