CFMoto 450 CL-C from China: Cruiser for beginners
CFMoto is stepping on the gas, not only in its home market of China, but also in Germany. The latest creation is a chic cruiser for under 6000 euros.
CFMoto 450 CL-C: Retro bike with loving details
(Image: CFMoto)
- Ingo Gach
Cruisers from the entry-level class are currently all the rage, with Honda's CMX 500 Rebel and Kawasaki's Eliminator 500 selling in their thousands. The trend has also spilled over into China and CFMoto built the 450 CL-C in response. It can hardly be denied that the two Japanese cruisers served as a model. But the Chinese developers have skillfully implemented it. A teardrop-shaped tank as an eye-catcher, a deep seat hollow for the rider, a wide, not too high handlebar, a small round headlight and, of course, fat tires – the cruiser is finished. The rider can casually roll along the boulevard, and even short people can easily reach the ground with both feet. CFMoto uses a simple but solid tubular steel frame as the backbone. A wide mudguard with a tiny pillion seat arches over the rear tire, while a rather narrow fender covers the tire at the front.
Interesting rim design
The very thin spokes of the rims are an interesting idea; from a distance, they are reminiscent of wire-spoke wheels, as they actually belong on a retro bike. However, cast rims are not only cheaper, but also lighter. The tire dimensions were chosen to be thick and knobbly, typical of cruisers: 130/90-16 at the front and 150/80-16 at the rear. A water-cooled two-cylinder engine with a displacement of 449 cm3 and 270 degree crankshaft offset serves as the drive.
CFMoto 450 CL-C (9 Bilder)
With a bore/stroke ratio of 72 x 55.2 mm, the engine should even be relatively free-revving. Two balancer shafts should smooth the engine. CFMoto specifies the maximum output as 44 hp at 8000 rpm, the maximum torque is 42 Nm at 6250 rpm. The rear wheel is driven by a belt. Two rear silencers arranged one above the other discharge the exhaust gases into the open air, the upper one adorned with a discreet "CL-C" lettering.
Milled ribs
The fins of the cylinders are milled to give the impression of air cooling. In general, the developers have tried and given the 450 CL-C many loving details, such as the handlebar end mirrors and the black-painted bracket that extends from the front wheel axle upwards over the mudguard. For the brakes, they used a well-known name: J. Juan. At the front, a radial four-piston brake calliper decelerates a 320 mm brake disk. At the rear, a single-piston brake caliper with a 220 mm disc provides support.
CFMoto 450 CL-C (6 Bilder)
The 450 CL-C has dual-channel ABS and slip control. Even though an upside-down fork is not really appropriate for a bobber, it should do its job well. The cleverly concealed rear shock absorber - intended to simulate a rigid frame - is adjustable in preload. The wheelbase of 1485 mm is rather short for a bobber and gives hope for good handling. In addition, apart from the crew, the engine only has to accelerate 181 kg, which, even with 44 hp, should be enough for reasonably fast performance in the entry-level class.
Low seat height
The rider sits at a height of just 690 mm on the seat cushion, the pillion passenger will probably not last long on the small seat cushion. The headlight is illuminated by LEDs, as is the rear/brake light integrated into the rear indicators. In the cockpit, a 3.6 inch TFT round instrument provides information, and the displays are correspondingly small. The CFMoto Ride app offers smartphone connectivity. The tank holds 12 liters of fuel, which should ensure an acceptable range given the manageable performance. The 450 CL-C is already available in Germany, and CFMoto now has around 60 dealers in this country. Its price of 5790 Euro plus 495 Euro delivery costs is pleasingly low.
Addendum: Solo saddle
The brand has also presented the 450 CL-C Bobber with a solo saddle. The two models do not otherwise differ technically, but the CFMoto looks entirely different with the single seat and the modified rear mudguard and bracket. The single seat is certainly very similar to that of the Triumph[ ]Bonneville[ ]Bobber (test), but better well copied than badly done. It remains to be seen when the Bobber with solo seat will come to Germany, but it is very likely that it will.