Since you’re reading this, chances are you fall into one of the following categories: you’re familiar with CFMOTO and are intrigued by their line of machinery, or you’re thinking to yourself “What the hell is a CFMOTO”? Well, allow me to provide assistance no matter which category you’re in.
CFMOTO is a manufacturer of motorcycles and off road vehicles who has been slowly gaining traction across the globe. After successful implementation of their utility and sport ATVs/Side x Sides here in the U.S., they’re now beginning to prove themselves as a serious competitor in the street motorcycle market as well. And with a push in recent years to make their presence known in the racing world (E.g. they even have a Moto3 team in the MotoGP series), they have my full attention.
While so many manufacturers seem to have reached competitive stalemates, it’s invigorating to see a new company step into the scene with fresh ideas and dreams.
With units ranging from 125cc mini-motos capable of tackling any urban city, to full-blown touring machines ready to hit the mountain roads, CFMOTO is sure to have something for every type of rider and geographical setting. And oh yeah, did I mention these machines have quite a consumer-friendly retail price?
Thanks to the generous staff at the America’s Motorsports Nashville North location, we were able to get our hands on a brand new CFMOTO 700 CL-X Sport and give it a full shakedown. Check out our review below and be sure to visit America’s Motorsports or your nearest CFMOTO dealer to see one in person!
Presentation
CFMOTO offers two versions of the 700 CL-X: Standard and Sport. The Sport model comes with clip-on style handlebars, bar-end mirrors and a 17 inch front wheel with a Brembo Stylema 320mm dual disc setup. The Standard is equipped with a more relaxed, upright handlebar and mirrors, along with an 18 inch front wheel with a single brake disc. The Standard model has an MSRP of $6,499, while the Sport only adds on another $500 at $6,999.
At first glance, the 700 CL-X Sport gives off the vibe that a café-racer and street-fighter collided. The stubby tail-section, which hosts a covert passenger seat, really cleans up the rear end, especially since they’ve located the license plate and turn-signal bracket to the swing arm.
Having the 17 inch front and rear wheel combination, along with the dual front brake setup visually solidify the unit’s “Sport” nomenclature.
The unique style and setup of this motorcycle truly makes it stand out. I lost count of how many people paused with a look of intrigue, did a double take and eventually asked “What is that?” anywhere we stopped.
Highlight Features
- Two cylinder, liquid cooled DOHC 693cc engine
- 74 HP @ 8,500 rpm, 47 ft-lb torque @ 6,500 rpm
- 6 speed CF-SC slipper clutch
- Bosch Electronic Fuel Injected
- 31.5 inch seat height
- 451 lb curb weight
- 3.4 gallon fuel capacity
- KYB 41 mm fully adjustable front suspension
- KYB link-mounted progressive rate single shock fully adjustable rear suspension
- Brembo Stylema 320 mm dual front brake, radial mount
- Brembo Stylema 260 mm single rear brake, radial mount
- Aluminum alloy front and rear 17 inch wheels
- 120/70 R17 front tire
- 180/55 R17 rear tire
- Continental dual channel ABS
- Electronic Throttle
- One-touch cruise control
The Ride
I’m not going to lie, I really didn’t check any of the specifications of this machine before I swung my leg over and went riding. Had I done so, I probably would’ve been lighter on the brakes when coming to my first turn. I can’t stress this enough: the Brembo dual disc setup on this bike is extremely powerful. Not only did I misjudge my standard braking marker for this corner, but I nearly came to a complete and smooth stop. The brakes and suspension combination on this bike make it a perfect track-day candidate for an entry level machine.
I decided to start my experience in the “Eco” mode, which allowed for a smooth and steady rpm increase while I headed out of town. Once I was acclimated to the controls and overall feeling of the machine, I switched over to “Sport” mode and let her rip.
What was once a calm, easy-going bike now turned into a quick-revving and roaring machine. This engine comes roaring alive around 6,000 rpm and gave me flashbacks to the two-stroke machinery of my youth.
At this point, I was truly impressed with what I’m riding and felt remarkably comfortable. So I decided to turn up the heat and found some suitably aggressive back roads to test the machine’s capabilities.
The 700 CL-X Sport ate up every curve and straightaway I threw at it like it as nothing, which might have boosted my ego and confidence a bit. A bit too much, perhaps.
Heading into a sharp corner, I extended my braking point and felt as though I was heading in with too much speed and running quickly out of road. While heavy on the brakes, I instinctively hammered down a few gears and prepared myself to navigate an upset rear tire. However, to my surprise, the equipped stock slipper clutch did its job beautifully and there wasn’t a moment of hop, slide, or discomfort. The bike slowed quickly and smoothly while keeping a clean trajectory through the corner. Once again, this bike would be so much fun on a track.
Overall, the 700 CL-X Sport reminded me of the Buell XB12 I rode as a teen due to its stocky, naked styling, strong front brake, and aggressive cornering ability. Thanks to its modern amenities such as Eco/Sport modes, cruise control, and ABS it’s definitely a bike I would recommend to both beginner and advanced riders. I look forward to spotting more of these machines on the streets soon, as well as seeing advancements in their racing efforts.
Check out the following links to learn more:
www.americasmotorsportsmadison.com
Ryan Yearwood is the motorsports correspondent for SoBros Network as well as the pioneer and visionary behind SoBros Outdoors. Follow on Twitter: @OutdoorSoBro.
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