It was only a matter of time since Bristol released the sport naked Assassin, but it now has a fully faired version in the Invictus 400RR. Maybe someone at Bristol is into poetry or saw the movie, but it’s a strong and confident name especially if you’re facing off against popular entry-level sport bikes like the Kawasaki Ninja 400, the KTM RC390, or the CFMoto 450SR.

Large “KOVE” decals on the tank and the fairings as well as stampings on the transmission case also tell you that Bristol isn’t ashamed to show off its partnership with the Chinese manufacturer. After all, the latter did finish the recent Dakar Rally in good form.

In any case, the Invictus 400 has some impressive specs to back up the looks. Motive power is provided by a liquid-cooled, double overhead camshaft parallel twin, displacing 371cc and rated at 39hp (at 10,500rpm) and 28.5 Nm (at 9,000rpm). A low, 151kg curb weight suggests that it’s a potential pocket rocket, while a single-sided swingarm and an upside-down fork further raise the sportiness.

The low curb weight allows it to run just ABS-equipped single discs on both ends, with 110/70-17 and 150/60-17 tubeless tires. For reference, Kove’s 321RR has near-similar spec, but uses a 322cc engine with a slightly higher output. Quoted fuel efficiency for the Invictus is 26km/L, and there’s a decent-sized 13L tank to give you respectable range. Seat height of 790mm should be manageable for the majority of riders, too. LED lighting and a digital dash are fully in keeping with the times.

An introductory price of P278,000 should entice buyers to check out Bristol’s new entry in showrooms before pulling the trigger on a new sport bike.