CFMoto motorcycle lineup: More information

Not long ago, we told you CFMoto intended to bring its motorcycle lineup back to Canada. Now, we’ve had a look at what machines the brand intends to bring here, and we have an idea of pricing. From biggest/most expensive to smallest/most affordable, see the series below.

CFMoto 700 CL-X Sport / $10,850 MSRP

A neo-retro cafe, the 700 CL-X Sport has a contemporary look built around a liquid-cooled twin; CFMoto claims it makes 75 hp at 8,500 rpm, and 50 lb-ft of torque at 7,000 rpm.

The first time we saw CFMoto motorcycles in Canada, they came with surprisingly decent equipment spec’d as standard, and this bike follows the same pattern. Brembo brakes are factory equipment, including big 320 mm front discs. That upside-down fork comes courtesy of KYB, as does the rear shock; front and rear suspension are both adjustable.

Of course, the Sport runs on 17-inch wheels. Fuel capacity is 13 liters; claimed curb weight is 205 kg.

CFMoto 700 CL-X Heritage / $8,999 MSRP

This machine debuted in global markets in 2021. It’s sort of a retro, scramblerish machine built around that same 692cc liquid-cooled parallel twin engine, with slipper clutch. It weighs a claimed 196 kg at the curb, with 13.5-litre fuel tank. Like the Sport, max output is 75 hp at 8,500 rpm, and 50 lb-ft of torque at 7,000 rpm. Seat height is 830 mm.

Front and rear suspension comes from KYB, and is adjustable; there’s an 18-inch rim up front, and 17-inch in rear, with Pirelli tires.

Sounds like an easy-to-live with bike, with more than enough jam for the highway and a fun backroad romp. It even comes with cruise control as standard.

CFMoto 650 NK / $7,899 MSRP

Say what you want about the appeal of adventure bikes, cruisers and sportbikes—affordable naked bikes are still the basis of most manufacturers’ lineups. In this case, the CFMoto 650 NK looks an awful lot like the machines that CFMoto brought to Canada back around 2014, based on a Kawasaki parallel twin engine. Is this the same powerplant? If so, it’s probably been updated a bit since then.

Currently, CFMoto says this parallel twin makes 61 hp at 8,750 rpm, with 41 lb-ft of torque at 7,000 rpm, which is plenty for a naked bike like this. Brakes come from Spanish manufacturer J Juan, suspension is from KYB; only the rear shock is adjustable (rebound and preload), with the front forks a set-it-and-forget-it arrangement from the factory.

As you’d expect, 17-inch wheels are standard (with Pirelli tires). Fuel capacity is 17 liters; curb weight is 206 kg.

CFMoto 650 Adventure / $7,899 MSRP

The day of the Chinese adventure tourer is here. We’ve certainly ridden our fair share of Chinese dual sports at CMG, but they were all small-bore machines. This is a full-size motorcycle (admittedly, a 650 pales in size when compared to the largest ADVs on the market, but it’s a lot bigger than a 200!).

This adventure tourer really fits into the new “adventure sports” category that’s quickly establishing itself. It has 17-inch wheels, front and rear, so it’s not really aimed at any true off-road action. An easy gravel road might be OK, but don’t plan on doing any single-track.

The suspension is non-adjustable up front, and preload/rebound-adjustable in the rear. Brakes, like the NK naked bike model, are J Juan. In fact, in many ways, this is just a grown-up take on the 650 NK formula; same 61 hp at 8,750 rpm, with 41 lb-ft of torque at 7,000 rpm. You do get an extra-large 18-litre fuel tank and capability to easily add luggage. Alas, curb weight grows to 218 kg as a result of that added capability.

CFMoto 300SS / $5,199 MSRP

Well, look—Chinese sportbikes have come a long, long way since the old days of crude machines powered by air-cooled, big-bored knock-offs of the Honda CG125 engine.

The 300SS is also powered by a single-cylinder engine, but it’s much more exciting than previous Chinese bikes. With 29 hp and 18.6 lb-ft of torque on tap from the 292cc mill (with 11:1 compression and four-valve head), it’s close to some of the world’s most popular made-in-Japan beginner bikes.

Fuel capacity is 12 liters, curb weight is 165 kg.

You don’t get name-brand components with the 300SS; the rear suspension is preload-adjustable, and that’s it. However, that’s more-or-less what you’d expect at this price point, and this entry-level sportbike has styling that will win over many buyers. Even the most jaded industry insider must admit that this CFMoto looks a lot better than many of the entry-level machines foisted upon us by the Japanese OEMs over the years.

CFMoto 300NK / $4,699 MSRP

This could the most affordable entry-level bike on the Canadian market today. Basically a 300SS without the flashy bodywork, it has the same 292cc engine. Fuel capacity is 12.5 litres, curb weight is 151 kg.

With claimed peak output of 29 hp and 18.6 lb-ft of torque, this bike should have enough jam to handle any legal highway speed in Canada, although whether it would be wise to dice with traffic on the 401 on this bike is another question. Regardless, with a price under five grand, CFMoto may sell a lot of these, if it has consistent supply. With flashy naked bike looks to go with the low price tag, CFMoto may attract customers away from the Big Four, especially if the Japanese OEMs continue to have trouble getting bikes to dealerships.

CFMoto 125 Papio / $2,949 MSRP

A Honda Grom wannabe? The 125 Papio is a minibike with cheerful graphics and a low price tag. Again, the Japanese OEMs have trouble keeping these goofy, small-bore hooligan machines in stock, and the Papio could grab some of that market. The air-cooled 125cc single-cylinder engine is likely not as refined as what you get from the competition, but with a claimed 9 hp on tap, it will be enough for parking lot wheelies (only 6ish ft-lb of torque, though, don’t get too excited!).