So I bought one four months ago based on this review. I live in China so Japanese bikes come with a premium charge and cost three times as much as anywhere else. The good: - It's a DOHC 650cc engine with twin throttle bodies - Parts here are cheap and they honor the warranty. - You can ride it for five or six hours and not feel tired, very comfortable. - Cruises at highway speeds all day. - Comes with Shad panniers, but they're not the best quality. - Kiska designed, looks great. - Display is adjustable for brightness, never had a problem seeing it in direct light. The bad: - People here, at my local dealership anyway, have no idea how to diagnose and fix a problem. Makes the warranty somewhat useless. - About $60 aud to replace a clutch lever. - No aftermarket support even for oil and air filters, Kawasaki parts aren't a direct swap even though the engine is basically a Kawasaki copy. - After 3000km it has developed a ticking noise like lose valves or tappets, dealership seems not interested in fixing it or even looking at the problem. - Brakes aren't as capable as you'd like them to be. - Feels dead to 4,000rpm then the acceleration picks up. - Zero difference between "touring" and "sports" mode, just changes the look of the display. - Significant amount of clutch drag, even in neutral. Dragging/scraping sound goes away when the clutch is engaged. - Runs different depending on what it feels like doing on any given day.
@@evanmcknight2566 nope, further south. Their mechanics are so poorly trained I caught them putting a 20 amp fuse into a 10 amp circuit... They honestly cause more problems than they solve. I've recently just been buying tools and a bike stand and I'll just do the work myself. The warranty isn't worth jack squat over here. Doesn't speak well for the brand as a whole. I've lost my faith in them.
@@justaclosedaccount I have a little Suzuki 250 here in China and was really thinking about upgrading to this bike, but you and another rider here in China had similar experiences so I'm thinking a Kawasaki Ninja 400 or Versys 300 might be a better choice for around the same money. Way less power, but I don't want a bike with all sorts of issues. Putting the 20 amp fuse where a 10 amp should go is a great way to start a fire and just plain scary. Thank you for your comment. I appreciate the honest feedback.
This is exciting news, back to affordable bikes. Sometimes I baulk at the price of some of these machines. Almost the same price as a reasonable car. The good thing about having machinary like these are, hopefully more people will take to riding motorcycles. Not everyone wants traction control. Fly by wire throttle control. TFT displays Bluetooth connectivity with your phone. The beauty of a simple motor cycle is. It should be cheap to maintain. I should be able to change things like spark plugs. Within a few minutes. Shouldn't need to strip half the bikes to get to them. So hurrah for cheap bikes. With reasonable quality.
I'm still having a hard time whether I will get this Gt650 or the CLX700.. I will use it primarily for long ride/touring. By the way, new subscriber here!
After 5,500km on a 2021 CFMoto 650GT, this is what's up... 1) cylinder head assembly needed replacing 2) sprockets and chain needed replacing 3) clutch needs replacing 4) vibration from windshield (known fault, no one wants to fix it). 5) dealer servicing is poorly trained and lacks professional anything. 6) output shaft, clutch or gearbox are making terrible grinding noises. 7) oil leak on clutch cover, one of bigger, metal screw in plugs near the oil inspection gauge. 8) headligh lets water in, not much but enough to be annoying. All services were done on time, half of this is poor quality engineering or assembly, the other half is poorly trained mechanics that reuse gaskets and tell you there's "no problem" until you actually compare the same bike side my side and point out the differences. This is after only 5,500kms. Called customer service and they're not too interested, stop by the dealership all the time and they never fix anything properly. This is of course in the country I live in and very few things are done properly.
@@justaclosedaccount I have a few dealers here in my country, in Europe. If I decide to buy this brand, I will have to do research on which is better. I've heard that in the UK they get 4 year warranty. But here it's advertised as 2 years.
@@Gugukax yeah, china has two years as well. The reason I went with this is because it's sold back home in Australia and the Japanese bands cost four times what they do anywhere else. But the mechanics are trained poorly and they simply don't know how to fix the bike properly.
Thank you for your feedback. I think I'll pass on CFmoto for now. I'm also in China and was really tempted, but it doesn't sound like it is worth the hassle.
So I bought one four months ago based on this review. I live in China so Japanese bikes come with a premium charge and cost three times as much as anywhere else.
The good:
- It's a DOHC 650cc engine with twin throttle bodies
- Parts here are cheap and they honor the warranty.
- You can ride it for five or six hours and not feel tired, very comfortable.
- Cruises at highway speeds all day.
- Comes with Shad panniers, but they're not the best quality.
- Kiska designed, looks great.
- Display is adjustable for brightness, never had a problem seeing it in direct light.
The bad:
- People here, at my local dealership anyway, have no idea how to diagnose and fix a problem. Makes the warranty somewhat useless.
- About $60 aud to replace a clutch lever.
- No aftermarket support even for oil and air filters, Kawasaki parts aren't a direct swap even though the engine is basically a Kawasaki copy.
- After 3000km it has developed a ticking noise like lose valves or tappets, dealership seems not interested in fixing it or even looking at the problem.
- Brakes aren't as capable as you'd like them to be.
- Feels dead to 4,000rpm then the acceleration picks up.
- Zero difference between "touring" and "sports" mode, just changes the look of the display.
- Significant amount of clutch drag, even in neutral. Dragging/scraping sound goes away when the clutch is engaged.
- Runs different depending on what it feels like doing on any given day.
Was the dealership in Shanghai by any chance?
@@evanmcknight2566 nope, further south. Their mechanics are so poorly trained I caught them putting a 20 amp fuse into a 10 amp circuit... They honestly cause more problems than they solve. I've recently just been buying tools and a bike stand and I'll just do the work myself. The warranty isn't worth jack squat over here. Doesn't speak well for the brand as a whole. I've lost my faith in them.
@@justaclosedaccount I have a little Suzuki 250 here in China and was really thinking about upgrading to this bike, but you and another rider here in China had similar experiences so I'm thinking a Kawasaki Ninja 400 or Versys 300 might be a better choice for around the same money. Way less power, but I don't want a bike with all sorts of issues. Putting the 20 amp fuse where a 10 amp should go is a great way to start a fire and just plain scary. Thank you for your comment. I appreciate the honest feedback.
sensible speed you maintain.
70-100 kmph.
very well done.
Very informative and great presentation, I would not balk at buying any of the CFMOTO machines.
Thanks John!
This is exciting news, back to affordable bikes. Sometimes I baulk at the price of some of these machines. Almost the same price as a reasonable car. The good thing about having machinary like these are, hopefully more people will take to riding motorcycles. Not everyone wants traction control. Fly by wire throttle control. TFT displays Bluetooth connectivity with your phone. The beauty of a simple motor cycle is. It should be cheap to maintain. I should be able to change things like spark plugs. Within a few minutes. Shouldn't need to strip half the bikes to get to them. So hurrah for cheap bikes. With reasonable quality.
I agree! Jeff.
I'm still having a hard time whether I will get this Gt650 or the CLX700.. I will use it primarily for long ride/touring. By the way, new subscriber here!
Thanks! Sorry about the late reply ( 6 months oops) - I missed this comment. Did you buy either? Jeff.
Since going into partnership with KTM, CFMoto have lifted their game.
Nice review sir.. How about the throttle response in all rev range? Is it accurate and smooth?
Hi there, yes it was quite good. The throttle response is tame, due to the weight and low power, but fuelling is good.
Which would you say is better on the highway, CFMoto 650GT or CFMoto 700CL-X?
Well, it's not CFmoto's first sports tourer actually :) 650TK is
gday m8 , can we de-lam these bikes for experianced riders'
I'd say so but I'm not sure. Sorry! Jeff.
@@BikeReviewcomau righto cheers m8
Rebadged ER6?
Not quite but similar - geometry is basically the same, different seating position and the Kawasaki is 30kg less and has more power.
Best review...
Thanks!
where can i get one in USA?
I think they only export ATV's over to the USA, might be wrong tho...
ciao sono italiano quanto sei alto?
After 5,500km on a 2021 CFMoto 650GT, this is what's up...
1) cylinder head assembly needed replacing
2) sprockets and chain needed replacing
3) clutch needs replacing
4) vibration from windshield (known fault, no one wants to fix it).
5) dealer servicing is poorly trained and lacks professional anything.
6) output shaft, clutch or gearbox are making terrible grinding noises.
7) oil leak on clutch cover, one of bigger, metal screw in plugs near the oil inspection gauge.
8) headligh lets water in, not much but enough to be annoying.
All services were done on time, half of this is poor quality engineering or assembly, the other half is poorly trained mechanics that reuse gaskets and tell you there's "no problem" until you actually compare the same bike side my side and point out the differences.
This is after only 5,500kms. Called customer service and they're not too interested, stop by the dealership all the time and they never fix anything properly. This is of course in the country I live in and very few things are done properly.
What country?
@@Gugukax China
@@justaclosedaccount I have a few dealers here in my country, in Europe. If I decide to buy this brand, I will have to do research on which is better. I've heard that in the UK they get 4 year warranty. But here it's advertised as 2 years.
@@Gugukax yeah, china has two years as well. The reason I went with this is because it's sold back home in Australia and the Japanese bands cost four times what they do anywhere else. But the mechanics are trained poorly and they simply don't know how to fix the bike properly.
Thank you for your feedback. I think I'll pass on CFmoto for now. I'm also in China and was really tempted, but it doesn't sound like it is worth the hassle.
📝