CFMoto 450 MT touring enduro: Light pleasure

Contents

When people talk about touring enduros today, they usually mean heavy machines with impressive displacement and performance. This was not always the case. The original idea of touring with enduros was explicitly related to lightweight machines, because the less weight, the better they could be controlled on unpaved paths. The power remained within a manageable range, if only because you can't really ride fast off-road. You don't need a big engine for that. However, over the decades, manufacturers moved further and further away from the concept and built luxury machines weighing over five hundredweight, as much more profit could be made with large touring enduros.

Lightweight and affordable

It's a good thing that there are still brands that remain loyal to the idea of a lighter and affordable enduro with plenty of suspension travel. CFMoto has recently become one of them. The 450 MT is designed to strike a balance between off-road capability and touring ambitions. It is powered by an in-line two-cylinder engine with a displacement of 449 cm³, which is already familiar and proven from the 450 NK naked bike. The bore/stroke ratio of 72 x 55.2 mm already indicates its torque. For off-road use, CFMoto reduced the maximum output from 49 hp at 10,000 rpm to 42 hp at 8500 rpm.

Not above average, but acceptable performance in the class. More interesting for an enduro are the 42 Nm of torque at 6500 rpm. Thanks to a modified camshaft and throttle travel adapted to the new timing, the engine has a higher torque in the lower rev range than the 450 NK. This may not be enough to tear up trees, but it is enough to plow the 450 MT through sand or mud at moderate revs.

Yamaha Ténéré 700 as a role model

There is no doubt that the designers took the Yamaha Ténéré 700 as a model when developing the 450 MT. The towering "turret" at the front with the almost vertical windshield, the lines of the tank and the side fairing look familiar. Only the narrow daytime running light running down the middle between the headlights – the 450 MT has LED lights all round - sets it slightly apart from the Yamaha. This time, the general accusation that the Chinese like to copy doesn't apply, because the design comes from Kiska. The Austrian design company has been designing all KTM models for over 30 years and it is no coincidence that they also work for CFMoto, as the two motorcycle manufacturers have a joint venture. The 790 two-cylinder models are built by KTM in China, and in return CFMoto is also allowed to use the engine for its own models. However, the 450cc twin-cylinder is CFMoto's own development and has turned out well.

Dry weight of 175 kg

The manufacturer puts the dry weight at 175 kg. With a full 17.5-liter tank, the 450 MT should come to around 187 kg. Perhaps not a real flyweight, but considerably lighter than the adventure bikes with large displacements. Anyone who now asks why CFMoto does not use a single cylinder for the Enduro in order to save weight should be reminded of the smooth running of the in-line two-cylinder with 270 degree crankpin offset and two balancer shafts. A single cylinder offers less smoothness due to its design alone. The manufacturer also emphasizes the torque plateau between 5500 and 7200 rpm, i.e. in the speed range that is typical for a 450cc in country road operation.

The wheels also show how serious the Chinese are about off-road capability: 21 -inch front and 18 at the rear is the preferred choice of enduro riders. The 41 mm thick upside-down fork comes from the Japanese supplier KYB, is adjustable in rebound and compression and offers a decent 200 mm of suspension travel. The shock absorber from the same manufacturer works with a linkage, is adjustable in preload, compression and rebound and also has 200 mm of travel. The ground clearance of 220 mm is also no cause for complaint for off-road riders.

Tubular steel frame and aluminum swingarm

CFMoto chose a tubular steel frame - simple, but proven and robust. The swingarm, on the other hand, is made of lightweight aluminum. For an enduro bike, the 450 MT has a low seat height of 820 mm, which can even be adjusted to 800 mm. Other details also show that the developers have thought ahead, such as the serrated footrests with rubber inserts to prevent vibrations, which can be removed for off-road use. The single four-piston fixed calliper brake on the front wheel comes from J.Juan and decelerates the bike via a 320 mm brake disk, while a single-piston floating calliper brake is used at the rear. The rear-view mirror arms are articulated so that they can be taken out of the danger zone off-road. The windshield can be adjusted vertically by a few centimetres by hand.

Five-inch TFT display

The cockpit features a five-inch TFT display that can be connected to your smartphone via Bluetooth. The ABS from Bosch can be switched off, as can the slip control, as the rider sometimes needs to be able to lock the wheels or let them spin when off-road. CFMoto does not have ride-by-wire, so the 450 MT also has no riding modes, cruise control or quickshifter. However, CFMoto has given it two USB ports as an extra: one Type A and one Type C. An aluminum case and top case including brackets and crash bars are available for an additional charge. The 450 MT is available in Zephyr Blue and Tundra Grey paint finishes.

The 450 MT is available in Germany via the not-so-small dealer network and CFMoto only charges 5990 Euro plus 495 Euro transfer costs for the Enduro. Two decisive purchase criteria. The competition cannot even begin to keep up in terms of price.