Thanks Chris, I’ll try again

I see the problem, didn’t realise CF Moto made quads so all agricultural sales coming up - put in CF Moto Motorcycle dealers and hey presto
Chesterfield is near enough

Spoke to sales guys......June . But don't hold them to it . Lit of interest and enquiries . Personally I think the initial allocation will go immediately , then it will be Sept I think

Thanks

It's now in Bike magazine.......Pcp being just shy of a 900 pound deposit , then 45 quid a month for three years......looks like the engine bars maybe an extra . Will soon see how correct they are......but the monthly payment sounds about right

I was talking today with Mark, one of the directors of KTM Centre in Hemel Hempstead, about the CF Moto 450 and he says they are taking on a dealership for the CFMoto marque, with "bikes on their way."

(KTM's relationship with CFMoto dates back to 2013, and in January 2023 KTM took over the distribution of CFMoto bikes in UK and Ireland.)

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"For sheer delight there is nothing like altitude; it gives one the thrill of adventure
and enlarges the world in which you live," Irving Mather (1892-1966)

Local dealer here in Estonia is advertising them for €6490 - over half a grand less than an NX500 - but no demo or in-stock bikes quite yet. At half the price of a Tuareg, it's pretty compelling...

Saw one at one at my LBS - looks great if a bit more bulky than what I'm used to (like a 300 Rally vs a 300L).
Also, I know it's from a shop and reads like AI, but this review/comparison may be worth a read (actually, not really).

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Morocco Overland 4 pre-order for Xmas • Trans Morocco Trail

Picked mine up yesterday - came in a month early ;-)
A story here.
More in the website shortly.

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Morocco Overland 4 pre-order for Xmas • Trans Morocco Trail

I have thoroughly watched and read first impressions and reviews about the CF Moto450 MT. And what strikes me first is thats its not the Unicorn many of us wanted. Its wet weight is around 195 kilos and thus only approx 10 kilos lighter than the T7, Transalp, Tuareg etc. And it has half the power. Fuelling is not great a low rpms, brakes are a bit flimpsy, fuel milage seems to be 4 liters pr 100 kms or 70 mpg imperial, 58 mpg US or 25 kms pr liter - which seems like a lot for a 450 cc efi bike. The new Himalayan is said to get around 30
kms to the liter or 20 % more.

How the reliability will be is still to be discovered, but that it will be as reliable as a Honda is difficult to belive. And what about second hand value? Still uncertain - but probably not the best.

The good points are first of all the price. Its very cheap compared to similar bikes. And it comes with a lot of accesories such as a skid plate, adjustable shocks and forks, center stand, adjustable windshield (something many brands could have learned from!) foldable mirrors (which do break quite easily - ask me how I know…) double 12 volt socket etc etc.

Still no dealers in the country I live in so might not ever see it here though….

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In the end everything will be fine. If its not fine its not the end....

195kg wet weight is still on the heavy side for me.

Looking forward to your in-depth review!

I agree on paper not a unicorn which anyway will vary from person to person, but it's a lot of bike for the money.
Him 450 with TL wheels (also on my list): 10% more £, but looks like an easier to manage trail bike due to less in your face surfaces which can appear like 'weight'.
Yes only 10kg less than T7 but a lot lower and wider seat, and CoG overall (due to tall CP2 motor), which for me is important.
One go on a T7 put me off, though I ran an XScrambleR 700.

I do believe there is
A. Weight impression once on the move which so many huge bikes manage to mask well, right up to GS13 etc.
B. Weight picking it up upside down out of a ditch which is when 195kg = at least 195kg, but for risk-averse me occurs rarely. Young bulletproof matey below laughed off his USD AT. With my back, I would have been less sanguine.
C. Weight in the mind: 'OMG this thing is nearly 200 kilos tanked up, I dare not go up there in case I have to deal with B because I exceeded A.

C influences me heavily which is why I enjoyed exploring with my CRF/WR/KLX etc. But not the crippling road miles which are also part of travelling.



Fyi: no centre stand on mine and screen adjustment is minimal. May need an MRA lip.

We'll see about resale values, but things have come a long way from the WK400 ;-). The stigma of Chinese crap has been well-earned, but come up to it blind and it looks as well made and finished as anything else out there.

Him 450 could be more unicorny to some (not tried one - they say 'feels' heavier). looks like a huge improvement on my 400 which I enjoyed once there.
For me MT is a more interesting experiment this year when I have less of a need for a trail bike.

IMO, the bike to compare with is the 'NX500' (old CB-X):
A bit heavier wet
Same tank vol
Seat a bit higher?
TL cast and now 19 FR
74 mpg av (on mine)
1000 quid more, but loads used I bet.

A huge amount of the MT appeal is the 270 motor; it's how a proper motorbike should sound and respond. It's why many ride. Weights & specs and online chatter all fall by the wayside. There are many other 270s, but none like the MT. Can't recall owning any Honda like that since my CB350K4.

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Morocco Overland 4 pre-order for Xmas • Trans Morocco Trail

Hi Chris.......460 Mt has arrived in crates but I think they are all sold best give Gary a ring . If ur tall like me then the hi seat will b on ur shopping list.........they look good tbh

Many wise thoughts and considerations there Chris and I agree for the most part.
First of all I thought I read it came with a centerstand - but apparently not. My bad and appologises…

There is as you say no unisone agreement about what a unicorn overland motorbike is or what specifications it should have. But still - I dont think 195 kilos is the weight most overlanders would like their bike to be.

Then again you have a good point in that there is also a consideration in how the CoG is and how the bike bear its weight - your B-point.
Well known Youtuber BigRockMoto has an interesting test where he drops all bikes he tests and then (try to) lift them back up again. The T7 didnt fare well in that test. (Although its a very subjective test…)

No the new 450 Himalayan is not a unicorn either as it also is close to 200 kilos.

But I dont agree that the most natural comparison is the NX500 (CB500X) That is a road bike with 19/17 cast wheels with some offroad capability. One cannot compare that to a 21/18 wheeled bike with much more ground clearance.
The new Himalayan is the only (almost) direct comparison. Almost same cc size engine, almost same weight, almost same petrol tank size, almost same price etc etc.

I agree that a 270 degree crank paralell twin engine is a great sounding engine although I have only a very modest experience with such engines (half a day on the new Transalp and 30 minutes on a T7) But will this new 270 crank razzmatazz last? Time will show. Maybe a different type of engine will evolve in the near future?

Again - havent seen any CF Moto importer where I live, so dont know I will be able to try one in the nearest future. But would really like to have a go on one….

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In the end everything will be fine. If its not fine its not the end....

Well the exhaust sounds fantastic.....no need for a can. Techs are impressed with the general build quality given the price . Def needs a hi seat if u r tall mind . Clutch is seriously light in its action . Will need something on the tank to protect the paint.....like most bikes tbh . After my Gsa it weighs nothing lol . Our allocation is sold and there is a waiting list for the next lot . The T7 has shown that a basic spec bike at a good price can sell by the crate load, this will too..........