CF Moto 800 MTx Review
- Geva Telem
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
The writer is an average and mediocre rider and everything written is his opinion only.
So much motorcycle for so little money.
That's what I thought at the end of the day of riding at the Israeli launch event around the Dead Sea, so we could experience winding roads and broken trails and understand in depth how much fun the new Chinese CF Moto 800MTx is.
As someone who rides a Tenere 700 every day, lacking electronics and safety features, with a high center of gravity and an extremely narrow body, it was a very big change for me to get on a high-tech machine with a colorful 7" vertical screen, joystick that controls everything, and the large, wide front end of a large motorcycle.
Despite the heavy appearance and considerable weight of the new machine, thanks to KTM's low-mounted fuel tank, the center of gravity is almost imperceptible when standing or riding, and the motorcycle is flexible and elegant in sharp turns and tight U-turns offroad. It has a rally look with a high front fender, LED headlight and windshield that suddenly allow anyone who is disgusted by the terrible design (beauty is in the eye of the beholder) of the KTMs to be able to ride a machine that is a bit of a copycat with improvements.
Advantages CF Moto 800 MTx
First and foremost - the price. For £7999 you get a mid-sized adventure motorcycle that can do everything. Second, the agressive rally design in two very successful colors - one turquoise/silver in the colors of the little brother (CF Moto Ibex 450 MT) and the other black from head to toe and reminiscent of more expensive and larger dual sport motorcycles. The technology and luxurious equipment - controls, cruise control, quickshifter, steering dampener, the large screen that displays a lot of information and the ability to go offroad with the push of a button prevents a lot of frustration that can be found in competing models.
The suspension provides 230 mm of travel and at my weight (68 kg) they worked great on all types of terrain and at all speeds, even with an open throttle on fast trails and entered the front end into protruding rocks and water passages that on another motorcycle would compress the shock all the way. I know that this is very subjective and everyone has a different weight and riding style, so don't take my opinion as the single truth, because what works for one won't necessarily work for another.
The disadvantages
The main missing piece is the engine.
The Chinese company is the engine manufacturer KTM and they decided to take the 790's engine with the chassis and fuel tanks and build their own motorcycle based on it. It is not yet known whether they have solved the engine's well-known problem with rapid camshaft wear and it will be interesting to follow.
On the basis of the KTM, a powerful and luxurious motorcycle was built with a combat look reminiscent of the 790 ADV R, production of which has already been discontinued, and it enters a very crowded category with the Tenere 700, Aprilia Touareg, Kove 800x, and other bikes expected to arrive in 2025 (Kove 800x Rally, Voge 800 Rally).
The second drawback is the weight. The dry weight is 196 kg but the wet weight is 231 kg. So it's true that the lower fuel tanks lower the center of gravity, but trying to move such a heavy machine over rough terrain is never easy.
Some dry data (from the press release):
The 800 is the big brother of the CF Moto IBEX 450MT, which was launched last year and has been a resounding success. The new model features a 799 cc, liquid-cooled parallel twin engine with 95 hp at 8,500 rpm. The suspension system includes a 48 mm inverted front fork with full adjustment and 230 mm of travel, and a fully adjustable monoshock rear brake with 230 mm of travel. The motorcycle comes with 21-inch spoke rims at the front and 18 inches at the rear, along with 90/90-21 front and 150/70 R18 rear tubeless tires.
The CF Moto 800MTx is equipped with advanced safety systems including Bosch Cornering ABS, 6-axis IMU-based traction control, a two-way quickshifter, steering damper, and tire pressure monitoring sensors.
The 22.5-liter central fuel tank can be expanded with an optional additional 8-liter tank. The flat, adjustable rally-style seat allows a choice of heights between 830 mm and 870 mm, depending on the rider's preference. The motorcycle's dry weight is 196 kg,
The 800MT-X
The price of the CF MOTO 800MT-X on the road will be 59,980 NIS (including tolls).
CF MOTO 800 MTx review
After half a day of riding on a variety of trails and roads, I came down with a big smile on my face. I came with a lot of anticipation for the big brother after the successful launch of the Ibex 450 last year and my expectations were met. I think this is a motorcycle that will be very successful because of the competitive price and the amazing specifications it brings with it and I recommend taking it for a test ride. Its maintenance interval is 15,000 km, especially excellent for those who need a daily vehicle that will take them on Highways to work and to the desert on weekends. Despite the visible thickness in the lower part, we had no problem going between mountains and rocks, in ravines and in the ruts that formed after rain.
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