CFMoto 450 MT

This is the new CFMoto 450MT – the most affordable adventure touring motorcycle in CFMoto’s line-up. While a lot of people might not have heard about the brand, let me tell you, CFMoto is a serious motorcycle manufacturer from China, and it deserves attention. I got an opportunity to test a prototype for a few hours last week, which led to some discoveries.

The first thing you will notice about this motorcycle is how compact and rugged it looks. Having ridden quite a few adventure motorcycles in the past, I can confidently say this is by far one of the best-looking adventure bikes out there. I think a lot of credit goes to the overall purposeful design language.

At first glance, it resembles the famous Yamaha Tenere 700, but upon a closer look, you can notice the hard work the Chinese designers have put in to make it look this way. At the front, it features a 21-inch wheel, with an angular style front mudguard sitting just above it. The headlamp unit is quite compact, but it does make the bike look nice. The adjustable screen even though is small, adds a bit of mass in the front due to its adjustability. Come to the side, and you will see the large panels around the 17.5-litre fuel tank, giving the bike its road presence. The dual colours around this area add a nice flavour to it. The rear has minimal design cues but the large grab rails look and feel comfort-ready.

The aspect that makes the 450MT such a pleasurable motorcycle is this engine. It is a 450cc, parallel-twin motorcycle with a 270-degree crankshaft. The power figure stands at 44bhp at 8,500rpm and a peak torque of 44Nm, which comes in at 6,250 rpm.

We all know Chinese manufacturers are known for an important thing – giving a lot of value to your money, and CFMoto does exactly that. That is why you will see a series of good and interesting features on the 450 MT.

Firstly, it features a dual-channel ABS with switchable ABS at the back. There’s the traction control system, KYB adjustable suspension, and also a rally-styled windscreen that can be adjusted on the fly. There are also foldable rearview mirrors, which usually aren’t seen on motorcycles in this segment. The 450MT also comes with a colour TFT screen with Bluetooth integration, slipper clutch, and an adjustable seat. It is also equipped with type C and A charging ports.

The moment I sat on the motorcycle I fell in love with it. The bike doesn’t really feel like a 450cc ADV. It made me feel like I’m sitting on a 250cc ADV. The mass in front of me felt easy to handle, and the visuals from the saddle weren’t intimidating at all. Moreover, the seat isn’t just adjustable, but its narrow design allowed me to place my feet easily on the ground.

As I started riding the 450MT, I noticed how well-balanced the motorcycle was. Even at low speed, the bike felt at home, and there was barely any effort involved to ride it around tight city conditions. After riding it for over three to four hours, it was clear that the 450MT is an extremely friendly motorcycle and a lot of the credit goes to its engine and the light clutch.

This 450cc motor is extremely refined. The NVH levels are fantastic and at one point, it made me feel like I’m riding a Japanese motorcycle. The strong low-end works really well in the city and on the trails too. Also, the mid-range does wonders on the highway. Triple-digit speeds on such a refined engine – this is exactly what an Indian market needs right now. A lot of points also go to the tractable nature of the engine. I could do an easy 50kmph in sixth gear – and this is such a boon for someone wanting to have an easy ride in the city. One thing I had major issues with was the fueling. It was choppy in the low revs, which was such a turn-off riding off-road.

The 450MT shines big time when you take it off-road. Be it a steep uphill or a crest where you want to have a nice jump, the 450MT will allow you to do it with confidence and ease. I spent over an hour riding through some extreme trails on the outskirts of Hyderabad and I was totally in control of my jumps and slides. While the stand-up ergos are decent, a riser would be needed for extreme dirt riding. With the switchable ABS at the back, I was having a lot of fun getting the rear wheel out. I’m someone who loves to have full control off-road, so I ended up using the bike without TCS. This allowed me to get through some of the technical sections without much drama.

The tyres are from a brand called Ambro and are proper off-road tyres. On the road, it is a struggle to use these tyres, especially in the corners. There’s a need for a different set of tyres when the bike is launched in India. The J Juan brakes work fairly well. Both sides have enough power and bite to stop the bike when needed. However, I would have loved a bit more feel on the front lever.

The CFMoto 450MT will be launched in India later this year. So as of now, there are neither any details on the pricing, nor any information on the showroom presence or delivery schedule. But one thing is clear – the CFMoto 450MT can disrupt this adventure bike segment if priced well. There are a lot of things that work in the bike’s favour. Firstly, it looks fantastic, almost like the mini Tenere. Then there’s the engine that offers good performance throughout and is refined and grunt, as needed for off-road, which by the way, is a piece of cake for this motorcycle. The low-speed trail ride and the tech have made the 450MT a competitive adventure bike. A few things that didn’t work in its favour are the fueling and the quality of switchgear. But we were told that these bikes are here for testing, and the final production bike will be better. The full detailed review of the bike will take place at the time of the launch. I would have delayed my new adventure bike purchase if I knew the CFMoto 450MT was coming to India in a few months. An on-road price of around Rs. 5 lakh for this bike would do wonders for the brand.

Photography by Kaustubh Gandhi!