Q Does it feel like a quality package?
Visually, the Cfmoto doesn’t scream ‘budget’, which is in part thanks to KTM design guru Kiska’s excellent work on its styling. The gold anodising on the spoked-wheels’ rims is a nice touch; the fairing’s fit and finish is good; and the number of add-ons that come as standard such as the panniers, brush guards, crash protection, centrestand and so on give it an air of quality. There are a few rough edges though; the logo on the tail says 800MT-S, presumably in reference to the Sport and not the Touring model, and the adjustable screen’s mechanism is a simple unscrew and loosen rather than a neat click adjuster. But that’s being picky.
Visuals aside, when you are on the go, the Cfmoto initially impresses. The seat is nicely padded but after a while the odd bar position, which feels like it is angling your wrists slightly forwards, is uncomfortable. It’s a shame as, bars aside, you could certainly cover reasonable straight-line distances on the Touring — as long as you are quite short. Even on its highest setting, taller riders may suffer from excessive turbulence from the screen.
Onto the backroads and again, it is a mixed bag with the Cfmoto. The KYB suspension is reasonable over most road surfaces and doesn’t start to protest too much until the pace really ups while the Touring’s chassis is also pleasingly agile and the Maxxis tyres good, if not outstanding. When you do begin to push on, there is an element of choppiness within the forks and shock. However, with a degree of adjustability, there is the potential to dial this out, which you will certainly have to do if you take a pillion, as the shock is quite softly sprung.
Overall it doesn’t feel substandard at all — until you try to brake, at which point you discover the pads have poor initial bite and only moderate power once they do start to grip. With radial brakes and braided lines as standard, there is no reason for the Cfmoto to be lacking in this area but it needs sorting.
Overall, the Cfmoto doesn’t feel ‘Chinese’ but it does have the air of a ‘budget bike’ about it, due to a few annoying issues that similarly-priced ‘premium’ rivals don’t. Which highlights the question of price.
‘It does have an air of ‘budget’ about it’