A few weeks ago, I was riding the Benda Motor LFC700, a chunky, futuristic muscle cruiser with a style all of its own. This week’s test bike, the £5,699 QJ Motor SRV600 V, is something quite different again, and equally unlike anything else in the segment.

Where most cruisers burble and bellow their way through the revs, this one fizzes. The SRV 600 V feels like the product of engineers who decided to build a cruiser, then thought, “Hang about, what if it revved to 11,000rpm?” And somehow, they’ve made it work.

Engine: small on capacity, big on personality

The 600cc twin in the SRV600 V is an absolute peach. It’s eager, extremely free-revving, and more playful than a cruiser has any right to be. Down low, torque isn’t especially strong, as you would expect, but once you hit the midrange, the fun really starts. Keep it above 4,000rpm, and it pulls hard right up to 11,000rpm, where it rewards you with one of the best soundtracks in the class.

It’s not exactly an arm-stretcher — 65bhp in a 228kg machine won’t threaten a Ducati Diavel any time soon — but if you keep the revs alive, the engine’s enthusiasm is infectious.

There are a couple of small mechanical gripes. The gearbox can feel slushy, and the throttle cable has far too much slack, both of which could be down to the bikes we were riding being rushed through pre-delivery inspection. On the bright side, the clutch is feather-light, and as long as you take your time shifting, false neutrals are easy to avoid.

Handling: planted and confident

The SRV 600 V’s size and wheelbase dominate its behaviour on the road, but it’s far from clumsy. We took it across hill and dale, where the roads were wet, rough, and occasionally lined with sheep, and it handled the conditions surprisingly well.

The CST tyres — not a brand that fills you with immediate confidence — actually performed admirably, both in the dry and in the damp. Combined with the bike’s low centre of gravity and soft suspension, the SRV feels planted and predictable in corners.

While we are on the subject of suspension, it’s Marzocchi kit on the SRV and not adjustable. There is huge amounts of travel to it, but it’s nowhere near as back-breaking as you’d expect. The balloon tyres seem to be doing a fair amount of suspending, meaning the overall riding experience is surprisingly plush and controlled.

Braking performance is also solid. The QJ-branded calipers (likely J.Juan units) deliver good power and decent feedback through the lever. It might not be a canyon carver, but it’s far more capable on twisty roads than you’d expect from a near 230kg cruiser.

Electronics: simple but functional

Don’t expect a tech fest here, but what’s included works well enough. The TFT display is crisp and clear, with a clean layout that’s easy to read on the move. Traction control is switchable and does its job without being intrusive, while the ABS system strikes a good balance between safety and freedom, even in wet conditions.

One minor frustration is the switchgear. It’s borrowed from Harley-Davidson, which sounds cool until you try to use it. The indicator switch is a clumsy rocker on the left-hand side, and it’s far too easy to forget to cancel — something that’s never a good look.

Still, for a cruiser in this price bracket, it’s hard to complain too much. The basics are covered, and they’re covered well.

Verdict: a cruiser that wants to play

Cruisers aren’t for everyone. They’re often heavy, low-revving, and built more for posing than pushing on. But the SRV600 V flips that idea completely. It’s fun, fizzy, and happiest when you’re wringing its neck past 8,000rpm — three things you rarely say about a cruiser.

It’s also cheap. Very cheap. And while it might not have the torque of a Harley or the polish of a Honda Rebel, or the kudos of a Ducati, it delivers a genuinely enjoyable riding experience for a fraction of the cost.