CFMoto 800 MT - Lessons Learned

After a couple of weeks with the CFMoto 800 MT I have 10 lessons learned - chinese take-aways if you will - about the bike. What are it's pros and cons? Stick around to find out!

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My current motorcycles are:-
2014 BMW R1200GS
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2019 Triumph Speed Twin
2019 Royal Enfield Custom 650 Interceptor
2022 Honda GL1800 Goldwing Tour DCT (Airbag)
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Please be aware I am not a professional journalist or otherwise claim to be an expert in any way in motorcycles or anything else. I'm just an ordinary biker like you probably are. Please regard my videos as entertainment only and if information presented is important to you, please verify it via a knowledgable third party....the videos I post are just my opinions and are no more valid than anyone elses.

[bigmac]

Got 40000km on mine mate. Awesome bike. The settings are easy to find. Neutral no problem. 1 of the best bikes I've owned.

[Nigelgf]

It is the best bike I’ve owned, I’m 6’1 about 90kgs, and it feels like an extension of my body. I’ve had it for about 2 years now, it runs and looks beautiful. It kicks the daylights out of the Suzuki’s I’ve had.

[peakrider]

Cheers for the review Andy. These are incredible value for money, seen them reduced to something like £6799 starting price. Number 1 on my negative list isn’t that it’s Chinese, it’s that it’s KTM! I would not buy this model until I think they have addressed the excessive camshaft wear problem, and I mean properly investigated it and fixed it, not the pathetic response given to MCN and bury the head in the sand attitude which seems to be their current strategy. At the end of the day, a 5 year old Versys 1000 is this sort of money, and I’d have one of those above this any day of the week.

[jamiehalifax]

Its a big help to read the manual to learn to operate the screen..im 62 and figured it out pretty fast

[marcusgeorge]

Hi Andy, as a person who owned a CFmoto 8 years ago, living in Melbourne and for over 4 years I had absolutely nothing go wrong with it. I’m also someone who has lived in various places in China with a total of over 40 trips spanning 3 decades. The temperature extremes and conditions in Shanghai (as one example) has colder winters and as hot in summer as similar to Melbourne (just much more humidity). I’ve also spent 2 months on one of these and had zero problems as you have described (including working out what I thought was a simple display to change). Plus, as they have been building bikes for the locals who don’t take anywhere near as top care as you do they still stand the test of time. One last HUGE positive for Australian buyers is the price. Using the exchange rate today it works out to be £7, 143 ride away, nothing more to pay. I’ve seen Triumphs and some Japanese bikes develop signs of wear from using cheaper parts. On a final note, I’ve also visited their main manufacturing facility and you could literally eat of the floor. Doubt you could say that with other brands. They have an enormous amount of money behind them and are aiming to be recognised as a substantial brand. The scary part for everything made in China is they no longer need to pay expats to learn from which is a massive shift in a relatively short amount of time. Just remember where most things you own have actually been made or at the very least have parts from. China.

[ThePerfectOwnage]

I would love to see you make a video about the 450 NK/MT though. That engine is just something else in that class of bikes.

[richyrara]

Im currently in Greece, which is crawling with CF Moto quad bikes and has been for many years. I asked the owner of one of the rental companies if its easy to source spares. He laughed and said whatever he needs it arrives a day later...and thats on a Greek island! The bike youre reviewing though has the made in China KTM engine with the cam shaft issues (as featured in this week's MCN). That would be enough to put me off. That and the fact they're just fairly average bikes (albeit good value for new), and for 9k you could get a lovely second hand multistrada, tiger 1200, Tracer 9GT etc. Which are just better bikes.

[cliveomahoney]

Goodness, how things can change in a month! The (probably) biggest selling point for the bike was the KTM derived engine - not any more, methinks, given Cam-gate and the Co's wholly inadequate response. Excellent vid, in any case!

[FarmerGraham-dgrf]

I have just ridden my 650 MT 4500km around Outback NSW. Performed well, only thing I did was adjust the chain at 3500 and lube it everyday. I had one flat tyre and hit an emu. Its now got 15500 km on it.
No problems, everything stayed tight. Comfortable to ride.

[andywharam]

Good morning Andy & Carol🌅hope you’re all well, I have spent many hours on YouTube watching & listening to the views both in America & the UK, regarding 2023 & #024 models of CF Moto bikes with lots of praise & enthusiasm for the NK 450, the 450 SRS, the 650 NK, the 800 NK, after all they all come with a 4 year parts & labour warranty & 1 years Road Side assistance! And they are prices lower than their Japanese equivalents, So I believe they offer excellent value for money in the UK Andy😊🏍️

[brianholland]

I have the benelli trk 702x and neutral is easy to find. the gears and clutch are silky smooth i only paid £6450 for mine with 1000mls on the clock just run in.
no quick shifter no fancy tft to navigate no heated seat or grips.
but can be added if you want at purchase i dont need them im well happy with my purchase at the price ive paid.
i ride everywere two up with the wife on the back we both love it for both comfort and handling.
best investment ive made for that money with the warranty included it pulls great and is perfect for real world speeds and touring. im well looking forward to the nc500 on a couple of weeks two up loaded with luggage its made for it cant fault it so far.
time will tell but the chinese have well and truly improved and catched up the competition with these new bikes and pound for pound value is unbeatable.
some push bikes cost £6450 these days whats not to like.
keep up the good work im still waiting for you to try out the trk 702X Andy love watching your reviews 👌👍🏍💨

[Biggles]

These bikes up close look top notch. 4 year warranty too. The bike Sanctuary in Milton Keynes have the full range and they are all very impressive! I’m a newly converted fan

[jameshales]

Hello Andy, some great comments/feedback on this video. I’ve spent some time in various cities in China related to my aviation career and I was very impressed with their productivity, quality and housekeeping in their hangars. However, I’m retired now and prefer to stick with bikes with proven reliability from Japan and Germany. None of my bikes have ever let me down and only required regular servicing. The search for Neutral would drive me nuts.

[ZJK]

Great summing up review . I'm old enough to remember the reaction to Japanese bikes when they first appeared en masse.
Now look at the UK bike market. If its good quality & value for money, why not .😊

[LewisClayton-ln]

Morning. Great review as always.
I can from riding my mates Explore say that the quick shift and neutral get far better with use. He’s had his a few months now and it’s great. 👍

[maskedavenger]

All my bikes have quick shifters, it’s my left boot & correct use of a clutch & throttle . 😎👍

[chrisc]

I own the American version the Ibex. Almost a year of owning and over 5k miles. No issues so far. I love the bike and besides a few minor issues which once you get used to them it’s not a big deal. Quick shifter is clunky at low revs. Once you wind it out it’s very smooth. Fueling is snappy but I like that. I would buy another one no questions asked.

[khodorALB]

Hello TMF, many thanks for the efforts and upload mate. Your disclaimer slide's duration was little longer this time, i was able to pause from the first time :D.
i have a few comments (from an owner): one thing to note, am not paid or sponsoring anyone: i like the newcomers, especially if they are providing good value products and that is one of the reasons i bought it, and i do provide feedback about any observations and ensure they go to the factory people. this is how support, but i digress, back to comments:
1. you are 100% right about the neutral, when i got the bike brand new, it was fairly easy, but after putting 3k miles, (almost 5 K Km) i found myself in the position, i went back and had them inspect, they knew about it, and it was a matter of adjusting the clutch lever / cable, can be done by owner, very easy.
2. on the menu and finding your way to features, yes, even though i have read the manual, and have the bike for 7 months now, i still find it an issue, and always need to remind myself on how to use the buttons to enter the menu (feedback sent directly to Factory)
3. if i may add, at open speed limit road, the mirrors fold in.
4. the app (at least where i live) has some nice features it is GPS connected and provides some useful information, yesterday i received a message on the app, "long term storage" it means that it has been 10 since i have ridden the bike! app includes navigation

[ricatiman]

Back in 1970, I quit motocross and bought the then new to Canada CB750 Honda, my second of many Japanese bikes. I recall a lot of people telling me that the Japanese bikes were just a flash in the pan and would prove unreliable and difficult to maintain, and dealers would be of low quality. Not So! Here we go again. Most of the electronics I have bought in the last 10 years were made in China, and I have seen no issues whatsoever, with anything Chinese made. Provided the politicians allow us, I see plenty of quality Chinese motorcycles in the near future. Obviously not Ducati quality, but certainly Triumph. They also need to copy Kawasaki's positive neutral finder.

[DatOldeBiker]

Thank you Mr. Flyer. I appreciate you reviewing the lesser known brands along with the popular manufacturers. As always you give a comprehensive and "no-nonsense" but light-hearted blog which I always find very interesting and informative. I hope those troublesome joints of yours are improving. Happy motoring! :>)