You know that feeling when you catch up with someone you haven’t seen for years and realise how much they’ve grown up?
It was the same sensation riding CFMoto’s popular 450MT.
I rode my first, and last, Chinese motorbike a decade ago. To be honest, I am an old-school Japanese bike rider and these new Chinese offerings have largely passed me by. Mind you, when I started riding Japanese bikes they tended to be built in Japan!
I’ve heard good things about CFMoto, that KTM link added to its street-cred, and its models look well built with a quality finish.
The model flying out of the showroom is the 450MT adventure bike, which sits below the 700MT (also on our demo fleet) and 800MT-X.
Ride it and you soon understand why it is such a hit with customers. It stands out with its rally-inspired styling and stacked headlights.
The 450MT is the smallest model engine-wise in CFMoto’s ‘multi-functioning touring’ range, which aims to tick as many boxes as possible with riders looking for an all-rounder, but has a big-bike feel.
That can be worrying if, like me, you are ‘vertically-challenged’ but no issues with the 450MT. I easily swung my leg over the seat, which can be set at 800mm or 820mm, and I could get both feet firmly on the ground so I felt comfortable and able to hold up this tall 175kg bike.
I used to ride adventure bikes and soon felt at home with the higher riding position and with one hand quickly cranked the screen up to the tallest position for maximum protection when the heavens opened!
The gearbox ‘snicked’ into first positively, the clutch has a light, easy action and I was away confidently. What struck me was how easy this CFMoto is to ride.
The riding position felt good for my 5ft 8in frame, the controls simple and easy and the TFT screen a joy to use. It gives all the information you need at a glance and the menu is intuitive to navigate on the move and return to the main display at the flick of buttons on the left-hand cluster. It even has a warning light to remind you that the sidestand is down.
Power comes from a 449cc, parallel twin engine with a 270-degree crankshaft angle giving it V-twin-like low-down torque. It burbles away with a lovely exhaust note from tickover which rises to a purposeful bark when motoring hard. The six-speed transmission is slick and precise.
The 450MT develops an A2 licence-friendly 42PS at 8,500rpm and 42Nm of torque at 6,500rpm.
The tight engine was ‘thrummy’ at low revs but strong and smooth between 4,000 and 7,000rpm, picking up cleanly and quickly, ideal for real-world riding. It was pulling around 5,500rpm at an indicated 60mph so should be capable of motorway cruising.
The trip computer showed 54mpg so the 17.5-litre tank gives a decent range.
KYB front forks are adjustable for compression and damping, the rear shock for preload, compression and rebound. Both have 200mm of travel.
I found the standard ride firm enough to know what was going on beneath the wheels but supple enough to soak up bumps and lumps.
Wet roads kept speeds down through corners but it felt tidy through the bends on 21in front and 18in rear wheels, an ideal set-up for those looking to explore some off-road green lanes.
The 320mm front and 240mm rear discs provide adequate braking.
It has Bosch traction control and ABS, the latter can be switched off for the back wheel at the touch of a button for off-road riding.
The 450MT does not skimp on kit with that TFT display, Type-C/Type-A charging port, spoked alloy wheels with tubeless tyres, sump guard, rear rack, handguards and full LED lighting.
Available in Zephyr Blue and Nebula Black, the 450MT is £5,898 on the road with a four-year warranty.
CFMoto’s 450MT is a capable middleweight adventure bike that is well-equipped, pleasant to ride and very attractively priced.
