BIGGER’S NOT BETTER

There’s an awful lot to like about CFMOTO’s newly-released 450MT lightweight adventure bike. Here’s what you need to know

Chinese firm CFMOTO seems to be going from strength to strength, swiftly adding even more bikes to its eclectic and pretty vast range. There’s now a healthy mix of naked bikes, tourers, sportbikes, retros and adventurers to choose from, ranging from 300cc to 800cc.

CFMOTO’s been on our radar for years, and we’ve seen its gradual progression from budget-focused manufacturer to serious bike builder, with an all-important partnership with KTM helping to add kudos to the relatively new firm.

The CFMOTO 450MT is one of the newest machines to roll off its production line. Perfectly placed to take it to the likes of Royal Enfield’s hugely-popular Himalayan and Honda’s much-loved CRF300L, we’ve been eager to get the full lowdown on it for a while. And now the factory’s released all the important information, including the price.

It’s powered by a 449.5cc parallel twin (with the 270-degree crankshaft that’s

so in vogue at the moment) which kicks out a respectable A2-licence friendly 42bhp and 30lb-ft of torque. But the big news is that it looks to be a proper little adventure bike; capable of tackling some tricky terrain in a manageable way thanks to its combination of compact seat height; decent ground clearance; 21-inch front and 18-inch rear tubeless wheels; adjustable KYB suspension; switchable ABS and traction control; and off-road-ready pegs.

There’s more good stuff in the form of fully-adjustable suspension; a TFT dash (with smartphone connectivity); proper USB charging ports; handguards; a bash plate; a luggage rack; foldable mirrors; and an adjustable screen.

That’s a hell of a lot of kit for the £5699 price – and if riders are able to get past their Chinese bike prejudices (a four-year warranty should help), then we reckon the little MT will fly out of dealers. We’ll be trying to get our hands on one once they start to arrive in the country this May.