Can't wait for mine to arrive. I ordered one, but it's currently in transit. I think it will be a great first bike for me. Thanks for posting the video. It helped. 👍
Thanks Mike. Very interesting review and another ride showing good practice which is really helpful. I particularly like the demonstration of considerate overtaking a number of vehicles travelling in a convoy-like stream.
Hi guys. I am riding this bike in Australia, done about 8000 km. Had a bit of a tour around Oz. Roughly 2000 km. Slightly changed the seat - made it a bit softer. Its a perfect bike for 7500 aud. Simple, easy to ride and reliable. I agree, that mirrors are perfect. Windscreen needs to be higher a bit, so I may get an extension. Yet, at my height - 170, I didnt find it terribly bad. On a weekends I may usually ride over 400 km. I love it. Also have cfmoto 250 nk, to commute around Adelaide. Both are really good bikes.
@@mikeroberts all I need is convinient commuter and long traveller on occasions. And I have two bikes for the price of one, just because those are 4 brands? What I really like: quality built. Every single part you touch, feels quality. Comfortable riding posture. Cfmoto done a great job working this out. Again, that's for me. Easy to look after this bike. I do some maintenance work myself, so found that components (bolts and nuts) are well designed and quality. As you critically observe the bike to find any loose ends - nothing. All designed to fit. So in my opinion, cfmoto is a great bikes. By the way, I do work w farmers. Many have cfmoto 4x wheelers. So... waiting for their 700...
A have thise bike for a year, and about 4.000 miles, and it runs perfectly. Bike performans is comperable with any 650-700cc ADV- touring bike, like Versyis 650 or Vstom 650 but it is concederably cheepier than those bikes, espetialy with handgards, crahbars and paniers as standard equitment. Engine is actualy BOLT TO BOLT copy of Kawasaki Versys 650 engine from previus generation. Good Spanish brakes with Continental two-chanel ABS, KAYABA SUSPENSION FRONT AND BACK, AND BOSCH FI, make this bike a very nice pakage. My recomendation!
@@mikeroberts servisimg in on every 3.000km.. But it varies from country to country. I thimk that regular one is on 5.000km. About rust... I only notised rust on edges inside fuil tank, nowhere else.. But in Montenegro we generaly have dry and hot weather. Paint, plastics and body work are in mimt condition!
Hi Mark great review,couple points as others said lower HP,I think this engine is based on the versys 650 MK2 ( which I got) Kawasaki make there own engine,none are built in China. Even according to Bennett’s it’s a clone engine got slightly different specs etc,not bore but others. Even Kawasaki.Has no pre load,dampening as on my bike mk2 ,mk3 got remote damping rear. But I will be keeping an eye on this about £1200-£1500 cheaper than versys mk3
Yes, the engine is a 'nearly copy' of the Versys 650. Service intervals are not as long though, so over time may balance out cost? There's another 650 model, think it's the GT, which is very similar but less 'adventure' styling. Maybe a bit more like the Versys?
I think you might be one of the only people from the UK reviewing this brand. I might consider getting the naked 400 or 650 when I pass my A2. Just depends on the used market!
Seems like a pretty good bike for a bargain price. I would be tempted if I were in the market for a new bike as I think there is a lot of unjustified brand snobbery.
I was impressed with the visual quality. How that would translate to longevity is hard to say. You can read my more detailed thoughts in my written review in the following magazine. See page 11. www.suffolk-advanced-motorcyclists.com/sam-observer-mags/SAM%20Observer%20October%202020.pdf
Who noticed that the car he caught just before the 30 limit did NOT slow to 30 as Mike did. I see this every day cars seem to think that 40 is the go everywhere speed!
Sadly Suffolk is full of "40 Everywhere" drivers. They are up you backside in the 30s and dawdling about in the Nationals. You'll see me picking a few off in my overtaking videos.
Well apart from the bike your ridding style gives your job away I might suggest or at least you've had training Mike, looks very like a ridding style I recognise very smooth but making progress. Nice review cheers.
Thanks 👍 Not ex-job Paul, but 20 odd years as an IAM Senior/National Observer. If you click through to my channel page you'll see plenty of 'Advanced Riding' videos.
Thanks for the comment. Yes, the mirrors are very good, as they are on many bikes these days. Do they remove the need for a lifesaver at times? No. Roadcraft says to consider a lifesaver, not do one as a mater of course. So like a lot of riding, "It depends". I'll assume you are referring to the overtakes shortly after leaving the village at 9:42 Here, I accelerate away from the village after the National Speed Limit sign. If you watch the right mirror, you can see the village disappear as I head towards the vehicles, the long stretch of road behind is empty all the way back to the village. For the first two cars I move out for the overtake after the farm entrance. I'd been checking the mirrors regularly since leaving the village, the road behind and beside me is empty. The next two overtakes are done immediately after an oncoming car passes, this means there can be nothing to my right I don't know about. At other times in the video you will see me look to the right to clear the small blind spot beside me. The subject of rear observation has come up before, and I think once I'm out riding again I'll do a video on the subject. A lot of people incorrectly expect owl like head movements all the time. If you don't know what is beside you take a lifesaver/clear the blind spot.
@@mikeroberts it’s a matter of habit I never miss a lifesaver glance even in the car …I used to ride a BMW R1100RT and the mirrors were surprisingly good too considering their position but I never trust myself especially after I was being observed during an IAM training lesson and the instructor managed to run into the back of me!
@@mikeroberts I did enjoy the footage there are some conflicting views from other people who reviewed the same bike with regard to the quality of the plastic and the suspension …I guess for the money one shouldn’t expect more ....as it actually looks very good unlike other Chinese offerings which look like bad copies of successful models!
@@alessandroferrero139 If in doubt have a look. With regard to the quality of the CFmoto. I was pleasantly surprised. Sure, it has been built to a cost but visually it does look of a good quality. Only a couple of UK winters will really reveal the truth. Thanks for the comments/discussion.
Alex, interesting. Do you own one? First ride style reviews can't cover long term ownership and I mentioned in the video I'd like to see how one holds up to a couple of UK winters.
Can't wait for mine to arrive. I ordered one, but it's currently in transit. I think it will be a great first bike for me. Thanks for posting the video. It helped. 👍
Glad you found it useful. Enjoy your new bike.
Thanks Mike. Very interesting review and another ride showing good practice which is really helpful. I particularly like the demonstration of considerate overtaking a number of vehicles travelling in a convoy-like stream.
Glad you enjoyed it! 👍
Hi guys. I am riding this bike in Australia, done about 8000 km. Had a bit of a tour around Oz. Roughly 2000 km. Slightly changed the seat - made it a bit softer. Its a perfect bike for 7500 aud. Simple, easy to ride and reliable. I agree, that mirrors are perfect. Windscreen needs to be higher a bit, so I may get an extension. Yet, at my height - 170, I didnt find it terribly bad. On a weekends I may usually ride over 400 km. I love it.
Also have cfmoto 250 nk, to commute around Adelaide.
Both are really good bikes.
Sounds like it is working well for you.
@@mikeroberts all I need is convinient commuter and long traveller on occasions. And I have two bikes for the price of one, just because those are 4 brands? What I really like: quality built. Every single part you touch, feels quality. Comfortable riding posture. Cfmoto done a great job working this out. Again, that's for me. Easy to look after this bike. I do some maintenance work myself, so found that components (bolts and nuts) are well designed and quality. As you critically observe the bike to find any loose ends - nothing. All designed to fit. So in my opinion, cfmoto is a great bikes. By the way, I do work w farmers. Many have cfmoto 4x wheelers. So... waiting for their 700...
A have thise bike for a year, and about 4.000 miles, and it runs perfectly. Bike performans is comperable with any 650-700cc ADV- touring bike, like Versyis 650 or Vstom 650 but it is concederably cheepier than those bikes, espetialy with handgards, crahbars and paniers as standard equitment. Engine is actualy BOLT TO BOLT copy of Kawasaki Versys 650 engine from previus generation. Good Spanish brakes with Continental two-chanel ABS, KAYABA SUSPENSION FRONT AND BACK, AND BOSCH FI, make this bike a very nice pakage. My recomendation!
Thanks for the comment. How's the servicing? How regular is it? How is the finish holding up to the wet weather?
@@mikeroberts servisimg in on every 3.000km.. But it varies from country to country. I thimk that regular one is on 5.000km. About rust... I only notised rust on edges inside fuil tank, nowhere else.. But in Montenegro we generaly have dry and hot weather. Paint, plastics and body work are in mimt condition!
Vlado, po tebi koje su najveće mane ovog motora ? Da li ga ti preporučuješ nekome ko tek ulazi u malo jaču kubikažu ?
Hi Mark great review,couple points as others said lower HP,I think this engine is based on the versys 650 MK2 ( which I got)
Kawasaki make there own engine,none are built in China.
Even according to Bennett’s it’s a clone engine got slightly different specs etc,not bore but others.
Even Kawasaki.Has no pre load,dampening as on my bike mk2 ,mk3 got remote damping rear.
But I will be keeping an eye on this about £1200-£1500 cheaper than versys mk3
Ment Kawasaki has pre load,damping etc full adjustment front and rear
Yes, the engine is a 'nearly copy' of the Versys 650. Service intervals are not as long though, so over time may balance out cost? There's another 650 model, think it's the GT, which is very similar but less 'adventure' styling. Maybe a bit more like the Versys?
@@mikeroberts when i first saw it on your review i thought it was a versys ,also versys service double last year to 7000 miles
Imagine in greece it has a difference of 3200 euros with the kawasaki brand new. Thats a whole lot of money.
I think you might be one of the only people from the UK reviewing this brand.
I might consider getting the naked 400 or 650 when I pass my A2. Just depends on the used market!
It has certainly proved to be a popular video. Looking at the UA-cam analytics most of the viewers are from the UK or Europe/Asia.
@@mikeroberts that makes sense, I don’t think they’ve released the motorcycles in the US yet. Although they have some of the CF quad bikes there. 👍
Seems like a pretty good bike for a bargain price. I would be tempted if I were in the market for a new bike as I think there is a lot of unjustified brand snobbery.
They also do a sports/tourer version based on the same platform that looks interesting.
watch out for the CLX700 soon to be in uk
Thanks, I'll look out for that.
Mike, would you say it would hold together OK as a bit of an all weather commuter. I've an old ER-5 but for this price I'd fancy one of these.
I was impressed with the visual quality. How that would translate to longevity is hard to say. You can read my more detailed thoughts in my written review in the following magazine. See page 11.
www.suffolk-advanced-motorcyclists.com/sam-observer-mags/SAM%20Observer%20October%202020.pdf
Who noticed that the car he caught just before the 30 limit did NOT slow to 30 as Mike did. I see this every day cars seem to think that 40 is the go everywhere speed!
Sadly Suffolk is full of "40 Everywhere" drivers. They are up you backside in the 30s and dawdling about in the Nationals. You'll see me picking a few off in my overtaking videos.
Well apart from the bike your ridding style gives your job away I might suggest or at least you've had training Mike, looks very like a ridding style I recognise very smooth but making progress.
Nice review cheers.
Thanks 👍 Not ex-job Paul, but 20 odd years as an IAM Senior/National Observer. If you click through to my channel page you'll see plenty of 'Advanced Riding' videos.
Are the mirrors that good that a lifesaver glance isn’t necessary?
Thanks for the comment. Yes, the mirrors are very good, as they are on many bikes these days. Do they remove the need for a lifesaver at times? No. Roadcraft says to consider a lifesaver, not do one as a mater of course. So like a lot of riding, "It depends". I'll assume you are referring to the overtakes shortly after leaving the village at 9:42 Here, I accelerate away from the village after the National Speed Limit sign. If you watch the right mirror, you can see the village disappear as I head towards the vehicles, the long stretch of road behind is empty all the way back to the village. For the first two cars I move out for the overtake after the farm entrance. I'd been checking the mirrors regularly since leaving the village, the road behind and beside me is empty. The next two overtakes are done immediately after an oncoming car passes, this means there can be nothing to my right I don't know about. At other times in the video you will see me look to the right to clear the small blind spot beside me. The subject of rear observation has come up before, and I think once I'm out riding again I'll do a video on the subject. A lot of people incorrectly expect owl like head movements all the time. If you don't know what is beside you take a lifesaver/clear the blind spot.
@@mikeroberts it’s a matter of habit I never miss a lifesaver glance even in the car …I used to ride a BMW R1100RT and the mirrors were surprisingly good too considering their position but I never trust myself especially after I was being observed during an IAM training lesson and the instructor managed to run into the back of me!
@@mikeroberts I did enjoy the footage there are some conflicting views from other people who reviewed the same bike with regard to the quality of the plastic and the suspension …I guess for the money one shouldn’t expect more ....as it actually looks very good unlike other Chinese offerings which look like bad copies of successful models!
@@alessandroferrero139 If in doubt have a look. With regard to the quality of the CFmoto. I was pleasantly surprised. Sure, it has been built to a cost but visually it does look of a good quality. Only a couple of UK winters will really reveal the truth. Thanks for the comments/discussion.
What are the differences between this and the 650 gt
I think mostly styling, but I don't know for sure.
Seat height and dash are the main differences.
Gt is sport tourer and mt is adventure tourer
Does it have cruise control?
Not on the one I rode. Not sure if the most recent model does.
@@mikeroberts Thanks
You took your pet chicken?😳
😂🤣😂
pillion seat looks more style over function . way too narrow and thin
Often the case on bikes. I didn't try it but it wasn't that small The riders section is quite large.
Very bad buy. Many problems. No parts
Alex, interesting. Do you own one? First ride style reviews can't cover long term ownership and I mentioned in the video I'd like to see how one holds up to a couple of UK winters.
@@mikeroberts YES. I DO. BUT. IT HAS BEEN IN MECANIC SHOP FOR TWO MONTHS. TOO BAD