CFMOTO 650NKs - First Ride & Impressions

[hmmthinking]

I just bought the 2013 model. Took it for a little squirt around the block and I loved it. But, maybe that's because I haven't ridden for ten years and I'd be happy on anything with two wheels and a motor. Noticed all the things youre talking about, snatchy throttle, jarring transmission, vibrations etc. What I did like was the weight, felt pretty planted and confident. Absolutely love the seating position. Very comfortable. Didn't notice the gear shift being too high to reach. Seemed normal to me. Speedo really hard to read. Mirrors not very helpful. It was more powerful than I expected for a LAMS bike. Really looking forward to taking it out once my mate finishes working on it. Might take it up mountain HWY too. Great video. Cheers.

[johnastirzaker]

A good honest review well filmed and audio very good. I think the bike represents superb value for money, and with a two year unlimited mileage warrenty it 's certainly worth consideration! As for reliability, a guy has used the TR version of this bike (same engine) to travel 23, 000 miles around China with no mechanical issues.

[MichelCernev]

I liked it so much so I bought it and I am happy man.

[Beanerds]

You asked, , Reliability ? my wife rides and loves a Honda VFr250 and Yamaha 650 Vstar , I have owned and loved my CF Moto 650nk in Blue and together we do many western Australian miles together . ps. mine is un restricted at 70 plus hp she opens up well, ,, . Thanks for the review and after 3 years mine sounds sweet ( Scorpion )

[christophersaa]

Great video mate. I would like to contribute something. I know it has been a long time since you uploaded this video but I got myself a 2018 CFmoto 400nk, the smaller cc version. I've ridden it for about 900 kms and I think lot of things have been improved from previous models and designs, although mine is the 400cc version it still a nice motorcycle for its price. I Am currently living in chile and it was the best value for money for about $4300 USD, was even cheaper than the Yamaha MT-03.
Ive seen people with over 20.000 kms on these models and it has been fairly reliable. My only complain is that going into first gear and some of the gears it feels like you are driving a car with straight cut gears, you really have to work it out to make it buttery smooth, but overall its been a great bike.
The design from this 400.4cc bike comes from the er4n and from my research, CFMOTO bought from suzuki the design of this motor and most components will fit into the kawasaki, there are some minor differences between air filters ( you could see the difference in google).

[MaximVoytov]

I hope, that bike would show a good reliable. Good luck on the road. be careful. From Russia with best wishes!!!

[joytech]

I have one of these 2015 NKS models, pulled off the shifter today so I could clean the chain so it is adjustable and mine came at just the right position when I purchased it.

Reliability? Well I have 4200KM on the bike now and have had no mechanical issues - servicing no problems but spare parts are fairly annoying to obtain through dealerships/warranty - I had one issue with a couple of LED's intermittently cutting out on the brake light and the left rear indicator filled with moisture but resolved that one - dealership couldn't replicate the brake light so it wasn't fixed :(

Your comments on the clutch/shifting quality are pretty much resolved after roughly 500km of riding, I can easily shift smoothly and quickly.

Weight-wise I really like it, I'm 5'10-ish and can move it around quite easily (not up my driveway!) but my height is a disadvantage when trying to read the speed - I sit high enough that I can't determine the top of numbers so 7 may appear as 1 I might be doing 77 instead of 70 speed limit.

Might replace the mirrors with something different or weighted better to get rid of those blurry mirror vibes at higher RPM - also the foot pegs on each side attached to the aluminium bits the paint isn't anodized so it will chip against boots and scratch easily and will certainly consider taking it back to metal.

Unfortunately you lose the upgraded dash of the newer NK's and branded brakes but you do save $1000.

[pipboychronicles]

The gear shifter is fixed in the 2015 model. I had the same issue when I reviewed it and its perfect on the new one :) Also has a completely new dash that is night and day better than the old crap one. My mate still has the old one and it has an issue with the speedometer that took ages to fix but otherwise been completely reliable. New one has an issue with the ignition barrel but other than that no issue.

[mrcombi]

Like ya style... I like the front end, has that transformer look to it...

[timokujawski]

I thought the opposite for some reason with the gear leaver but I also thought it was way to close to the peg but I guess I got used to it pretty quickly. They are limited aswell so you can raise the power once you get onto your Rs.

[CorbinB]

Overall a decent review, however a few minor things to keep in mind:

Grabby clutch: standard on most new bikes, as the bike hasn't had time to loosen up and be run in properly.

Instrument cluster: that was done on purpose. They've tested digital displays in Europe, and it just factored too heavily in the price.

These are things I found after owning the original and now this mk2 version.

Overall very decent review for a LAMS rider. If you get the chance, ride the Yamaha MT-07, as that's on the opposite end of the spectrum to this bike ($10, 500 ride away) and has a few million in development in it

[MrBjsss]

Nice review ... I the 2013 650tk and it`s a great bike. The only issue i have is it`s a little top heavy.

[HyoRidaamotovlogs]

It looks nice. Sounds like a little less refined than a Hyosung. About the same price too

[ylism]

Well i was thinking about another review I seen a year or so back about this bike, or one close to it, they said the motor was a copy of the ninja 650, and looking into the specs it has the same bore & stroke, plus it even looks like it has the older frame of the naked er6n & Ninja, so it seems it was there benchmark bike ?

[Xynudu]

Nice review. Good video quality and sound.

Can I ask what camera and microphone combo you are using?

Cheers Rob

[BluuSkyz]

Getting mine today 2014 for 3k usd new.

[yaroncameron-rudeforth]

Yeah so they have 2 throttle limiters and the tune is different.. easiest bike on the market to de restrict tho.. and boy does it go then !! You think it’s quick now !!

[Beanerds]

32000 km's and apart from a few minor things ( all fixed via warranty ) nothing

[Senditwithshan]

It's hard for me to admit to there being a worse bike than a 2008 Hyosung. But when I rode one of those I was damn close to calling it absolute trash. 

It's heavy, the power delivery is unrefined and violent in a bad way, the build quality is poor, the turning circle is rubbish, the front end is pretty ugly, it looks quite front heavy, the handle bars feel like they are forcing your hands to be in an odd position, the mirrors are absolutely disgusting and the gear shifting felt spongy and quite loose.

I would never buy, or recommend one to anybody. CF-Moto has a long way to go in my eyes.


Also, the LAMS triumph street triple is 660cc ;)