CFMoto 800MT-X launch: Off-Road Middleweight Marvel

CFMoto 800MT-X combines KTM power with Chinese engineering at under $16k.
Fully loaded with adventure-ready tech: 95hp engine, Bosch IMU, switchable modes, and 22.5L tank.
Proven off-road and on-road capability at the Aussie launch in Victoria’s Otways region.

With our local test of the new middleweight adventure bike from Chinese giant CFMoto a more subdued affair due to it being the middle of winter, we jumped at the chance of heading over to Aussie for their launch as it’s always warm over there, right? Oh, how wrong we were…

Words: Paul Pics: Fstyle Photo

KTM heart, CFMoto practicality

Part of the reason for the trip to the CFMoto factory was to check out the new manufacturing facility they built as part of their joint agreement with KTM to produce the KTM 790cc models. The massive facility is state-of-the-art, with a robotic production line featuring plenty of impressive-looking automated equipment alongside a dedicated team of workers assembling the machines for the Austrian brand. And it’s this same production line that sees the assembly of the CFMoto models featuring these powerplants, with the massively successful 450MT (IBEX) and 800 variants all assembled in this facility.

Now, you can’t talk about KTM’s parallel twin powerplant without mentioning camshafts, with the orange team having a very public issue with engine malfunctions due to the camshafts. Well, it turns out it wasn’t what the camshafts were made of rather an issue with getting sufficient lubrication to it that was causing the failures. CFMoto discovered this and made the necessary changes to the internals of their 790cc twins to make sure they didn’t suffer from the same issue. And speaking with the man from CFMoto in Australia, he confirmed that over the three years they have been selling models featuring this powerplant, he’s only had three orders for camshafts and they weren’t for anything to do with a lack of lubrication. Instead, he said they have found the products to be incredibly reliable, with very little in the way of warranty work other than occasional software updates, something the owners can do themselves via the CFMoto App if they connect it to the bike. Yep, it’s time to stop underestimating what Chinese motorcycles are all about…

And talking tech, CFMoto has taken a refreshingly simple approach to the subject. There are switchable power modes – Rain, Standard, Off-Road – with the modes altering the settings of the lean-sensitive ABS and traction control thanks to the BOSCH 6-axis IMU. But the best bit is how to configure the MT-X when you’re about to head off-road, with a three-second push of the mode button all that’s required to flick the bike into Off-Road mode while also disabling the rear ABS and traction control. Oh, and you can do it on the fly, with a slight roll off the throttle all that’s required to select the setting. The only frustrating thing with this is going to be waiting for your mates when they continuously stop before an off-road section to dive into multiple menus to set their bike up for riding off-road.

Other standout features on the MT-X that adventure riders are going to love include and adjustable screen which you can also do with one hand on the fly. It’s not a massive screen so there is still some buffeting, but I was much happier being able to see what was in front of me on the muddy, twisty trails we were riding than having a large screen blocking the way, especially when it was coated in mud.

The low-slung 22.5-litre fuel tank is another carry-over from the KTM 790 Adventure although it’s slightly modified for the CFMoto. It was also part of the reason we needed to wait for the arrival of the model, with the manufacturer of the tough fuel cells apparently a bit surprised at the number CFMoto reckoned they needed to keep up with demand of the new model. And despite looking vulnerable sat down by the engine, a number of riders took a tumble on the launch without any damage to the tank, while the lower centre-of-gravity was a definite bonus when riding in soft mud or sand. Plus, it also made picking the bike up easier, something that’s a serious consideration when riding bigger adventure bikes.

Mixed Adventure

While many adventure bikes only see a modicum of dirt use, the Australian importer of CFMoto had other ideas, teaming up with Otway Adventure Motorcycles who were assigned the job of planning a two day test of the new machines. Located within an incredible rainforest (no wonder it was wet…!) a stone’s throw from the world-famous Great Ocean Road, the team usually organise adventure tours for customers who want to ride one of their fleet of 450MTs on easy trails. And we got to experience a first day of fast, open gravel through stunning scenery before dropping down to the coast where we carved through the glorious twists and turns of this motorcycling paradise and discovered how good the MT-X behaves as an adventure tourer.

On the fast gravel sections, it was the powerplant that came to the forefront of the package, with the 95hp at 8,500rpm making itself known power-sliding the rear wheel, while the increased torque lower in the midrange compared to the other models in the range was just right for driving out of turns. It’s a powerplant that feels familiar, probably because it’s so closely related to the KTM version, and never feels like it’s lacking in any area, even with a max output figure slightly below 100hp. But let’s be honest, who really needs more than that from a proper adventure bike.

With just under 200km covered throughout the day, the fuel gauge still hadn’t moved by the time we got back to the lodge for the night, with the gas level needing to get below 50% before the bars start disappearing. While I’m not the biggest fan of this system, which supposedly gives a more accurate indication of what you’ve got left as it’s only counting down from 50%, the fact is you’re going to be getting somewhere close to 450km out of a tank on the MT-X. And even though the seat is seriously comfortable (thankfully CFMoto didn’t bring the KTM saddle over), chances are you’re going to want to stop to fill up if you’ve travelled that far.

Gettin’ It On

After a cold, wet, but relatively uneventful day 1, it was the second day of the launch that was going to really put the bikes and the riders to the test. With another cool, frosty morning greeting the fleet of MT-Xs parked outside the King Parrot Lodge where we were staying, it wasn’t long before we were off the gravel and into the Aussie bush to get a real taste of how the CFMoto was going to perform in the wild.

Coming from NZ, I struggled to recognise the soil and conditions in front of me with the same speed as my Aussie counterparts who instinctively seemed to know what was grippy and what was slippery as ice. Yet I think everyone was surprised at just how quickly and the frequency with which the terrain changed in this area, as it seemed every minute we were swapping from riding in slippery mud and grass to then swapping into loamy soil before getting onto a sort of yellow hardpack that had grip until it didn’t. And while it made for a challenging ride, it also highlighted the versatility of the MT-X. With a decent amount of rain recorded in the weeks before the ride, the importer had decided to fit the bikes with slightly more aggressive tyres, although the Metzeler Karoo 4 rubber can hardly be described as a full-on knobbly. Still, the way the MT-X managed to find traction at times where I felt opening the throttle was more than likely going to result in a serious slide was quite remarkable, with the flexible nature of the parallel twin combined with the Off-Road map giving the rear wheel a serious advantage in slick conditions.

Fire trails soon turned into muddy single-track littered with large puddles, roots and bogs meaning I needed to keep my eyes ahead while carrying more than comfortable speed to keep up with a few of the off-road hotshots who’d turned up for the Aussie outlets. And, to be honest, I wasn’t expecting anything near the sort of off-road prowess from MT-X, which somehow felt just as comfortable diving for berms or jumping over water corrugations as it did carving through the sweeping turns of the Great Ocean Road the day before.

That off-road ability is enhanced in part by that low-slung fuel tank, as the majority of the weight of the bike feels as though it’s between your feet. Standing up on the grippy pegs which had the rubbers removed offered a nice, comfortable off-road riding stance, with the slim area just in front of the saddle making it easy to steer the 800 by pushing the bike down while gripping between your knees. And while I did rotate the handlebars forward slightly to open up the standing position, there wasn’t anything else I felt needed to be done to make the CFMoto a capable performer off-road.

With one section seeing us all bashing through bush before getting onto a tight and gnarly single track complete with deep ruts that continued on down a steep hill, the only option to get to the bottom was to drop in and ride the rut. Initially I was worried about that wide tank, but at no point did it hook up or cause an issue. Greeted by a serious puddle at the bottom, I was thankful for the fact the airfilter and intake snorkels are located high up under the saddle of the MT-X, with the filter a simple cartridge variety that will make swapping and cleaning a breeze. And while the OEM option is a paper filter, CFMoto has already got Unifilter in Australia to manufacture a foam item that drops straight in.

Standout Points

It would be easy to comment that the 800MT-X is a great bike for under $16k, but the reality is that it is simply a GREAT bike. There are so many standout features which CFMoto has obviously put some serious thought in to make it great for adventure riders and, dare I say it, some of the established brands would do well to look at what they’ve done.

There were a couple of questions before this ride, with the YU’AN suspension being a major one. On the road and the initial part of the stroke from the forks felt a little firm, and it wasn’t until I started pushing the MT-X off-road that I began to appreciate the set-up – this suspension really works. Despite the MT-X having a wet weight of 220kg I still didn’t manage to bottom the suspension despite hitting some jumps and sharp roots harder than I probably would have usually. And with full adjustment front and rear combined with 230mm of travel, it’s more than up to the job of what 90% of riders would require.

CFMoto 800MT-X off-road review suspension — *Fully adjustable suspension.*

CFMoto 800MT-X off-road review brakes — *Not overly sharp but enough power for mixed use.*

Then there were the J.Juan brakes, with the four-piston radial calipers at the front offering a decent level of performance, although they did lack that final bite which is nice to have when you seriously need to scrub speed. I’m sure a change of pads for a more aggressive compound could offer more power, although if you’re going to be riding off-road more than the road, a bit of softness isn’t going to be the end of the world.

The standard up/down quickshifter is excellent and another selling point for a bike at this price, as is the fact there’s also cruise control. Spoked, tubeless wheels are another bonus, while the vertical TFT dash is not only great to read but also features tyre pressure monitors and tyre air temperature monitors as standard. Oh, and the standard T-Box connectivity feature even signals your phone if the bike gets moved when you’re not around. Yep, it really is fully loaded.

Game Changer

There’s no doubting the CFMoto 800MT-X is going to dramatically shake up the mid-capacity adventure market, with this much performance on- and off-road combined with top-shelf tech available at a price considerably cheaper than anything in the category. We seriously punished the bikes on the launch and there wasn’t one single issue. In fact, many ended up on the floor or in a bush (or upside down – don’t ask…) and we didn’t break as much as a lever. And they weren’t fitted with any additional protection.

If you ever needed an example that a motorcycle made in China could be as good as anything made by the traditional manufacturers, then this is it. And it’s not only as good, but it’s also seriously cheap. It’s going to be interesting to see how this plays out in the future and how the market responds.

And There’s More…

Low Seat

Do you struggle to get your feet down on traditional adventure bikes? Well, CFMoto has got your back with the MT-X as it’s available not only in a Low version, but you can then add a low seat which drops the saddle height from 870mm to 810mm. And after sitting on the low version, that’s a massive drop which is likely to make it really appeal.

The LS version is lowered due to changes with the suspension which sees travel dropped by 40mm, although it’s still got the same amount as the capable 450MT. That gives you a seat height 830mm from the floor. But if you still want to go lower, then an optional low seat then takes another 20mm out.

It’s a great initiative which, combined with the affordable price of the MT-X, is going to open up adventure riding to more riders than ever before.

Accessories

As you might expect from a brand that makes affordable bikes, the accessories are competitively prices as well, so it’s not going to cost you an arm or a leg should you break anything. There’s also already a comprehensive list of genuine accessories available, with everything from full luggage systems to more protection, rally footpegs, heated grips and even a taller saddle.

Where We Went

Otways Adventure Motorcycles is a new operation based between the coastal gems of Lorne and Deans Marsh, south of Melbourne. They’ve got a fleet of CFMoto 450MT adventure bikes, with the idea is to offer organised rides in the incredible area. The ultimate mix of bush and beach, the team can tailor rides to suit skill levels, while the fleet of 450MTs are the perfect choice for riders of all skill levels.

In partnership with King Parrot Cottages where we stayed, there’s the option to stay in beautifully appointed cottages or even glamp, which makes it the perfect choice when you’re travelling in a group where some want to ride while others want to simply relax.

For more info and to hook a ride up next time you’re heading over the ditch, check them out at https://otwayadventuremotorcycles.com.au