CF Moto 800 XC Initial Ride and Review

This is an initial ride and review of my new CF MOTO 800 XC ATV. My wife and I purchased this to use as a back country touring machine. I give my initial impressions as I take it off road for the first time. I give a demonstration of how the transmission works while riding, some suspension thoughts and a few little issues I find along the way.
I am new to ATV riding so my impressions may be useful for others getting into the hobby as well.
I have quite a lot of experience driving trucks, Jeeps, Samurais, and some motorcycling. I will compare the differences I see between a few of these machines.
This is a very capable machine from what I have ridden of it. There are a few things I will have to address such as the suspension settings, the transmission is very jerky at low rpms, and the right rear shock gets incredibly hot from the exhaust. Most of these are easy fixes with a little time and money.
#cfmoto #800XC

[@zforce950driver9]

some advice on downhills , give it gas and keep the belt engaged , thats how to use engine braking , you will make flat spots on the belt if you let it start rolling fast then hit the gas,

[@RatherBeWheeling]

Thanks for the tips!

[@owensmith1258]

Great advice👏🏽

[@RichardSandstrom1163]

I own the same year make and model and even the Ghost Grey color as your quad. It will take a little to dial in the shocks and only run 6 - 7 psi in tires. Mine rides and drives amazing for a quad of its size. The engine breaking takes getting used to but is very useful. I think a large part of it is you being new to it. Do another review after you have had it a while you can't really review with 15 hrs. As a person that has rode all my life and owned all the big brand bikes I can tell you, CFmoto holds their own and is better at some of the things! Look forward to seeing your updated review.

[@RatherBeWheeling]

Thank you for the tips! The adjustable suspension was definitely a selling point for the 800 over the 600 for us. As I mention in the video I did end up playing with the settings and it has mellowed out. I can see how this video may not be useful to a seasoned, experienced rider. I tried to post my initial impressions and review coming from the perspective of someone new to Quads (Sorry if I did not make this clear in the video). I had many questions that were overlooked or not talked about by the bigger channels who are more financially biased on certain brands/products. I was very interested in how it "felt" to drive a CVT off road compared to a motorcycle or truck. It can be very counter intuitive to new riders, we actually put off buying for several years due to the high rpms and noise some of the machines we test drove put out. I would very much like to do a long term review. I would like to cover some of the things I could not find on this model concerning actual 2 up riding and BDR travelling. Most of the content I found was centered around mud bogging or aggressive trail riding in ORV parks rather than overlanding or actual touring. I agree with you, CF Moto offers a good ATV at a reasonable price and we are overall pleased with the machine. I have also found some short comings that I wish I had known before purchase, maybe not deal breakers but things that add to the initial cost of the vehicle or need a work around to fix.

[@collinallen5356]

@@RatherBeWheeling what things are you referring to the “need a work around to fix” ??? I am curious as I am looking into a 2-up VS sxs and it seems that the other brands 2up are close to sxs prices. So theoretically I’m buying either this 2up or a sxs

[@RatherBeWheeling]

@@collinallen5356 Sorry I missed this question, thought I had sent an answer. The big issues I have are the excess heat from the lean fuel mixture, this is pretty bad esp in the summer when it is hot, felt a few lean stumbles on take off several times. Leg feels like it is cooking in my boot. The right rear shock gets too hot to touch from exhaust and already looks to be seeping oil from the excess heat. I also do not like the over revving of the engine, its obnoxious and causes fuel consumption to be excessive... not good if you are planning long trips. A few other minor issues like the passenger getting absolutely covered in dust because the body is so short over the rear tires and the dust boils over the back of the machine, if you compare to the other big touring machines you can see the difference. To be fair these are pretty picky but important issues for us because we really want to do some long distance touring and will spend hours on the machine at a time. The two big issues are easily fixed with an ECU flash and a clutch kit. The dust issue I think we can solve with some large mudflaps and brackets. We do enjoy the machine though, and I still feel for the price you get a ton of machine.

[@ryanpaasch7464]

@@RatherBeWheeling I just bought the same thing this week 2022. I noticed the heat, you can get a CPU from msc mid city cycle or ray Parker programmer 300 for the first 150 the second this will take the heat out of the right side. I think the suspension is good. I am working on the 20 hr break-in time.

[@PureePlayer]

I wish they put those grey plastics on their Overland 1000. That Ghost Grey looks sooooooooo good!

[@buddyeast1928]

I have the same machine, the throttle finessing to engage the engine braking is what you'll learn. Once I did, I think it works well. We also have a gen 2 500 which has the one-way bearing and I have to admit, that engine braking is better but as I understand it, they could not use the same one-way bearing in the 800 due to it not being able to handle the power.

[@lonniepruitt5487]

Looking to buy one very soon.. it’s beast.. looked at 600 after seeing 800 I’ll get that one

[@hasan7865]

Your tires are a vital part of the suspension components! Decrease your air pressure between 4 to 6 PSI and also adjust your suspension to the softest, then you will feel like you're on cloud 9 😂

[@RatherBeWheeling]

Thanks for the tips, the tires are at 6. Took out a few turns of preload and lowered the valve settings. Feels much better now, this thing felt like it was set to jump helicopters when I got it ha ha!

[@rickgarcia8481]

After watching your video, you were really conservative driving it of course it was break in. But as you know by now driving so slow does make things rougher, speed up and let the suspension to its thing it will ride smoother. Good video

[@deepsouthNZ]

G'day mate nice ride what is the fuel consumption like? I can't decide between that and the 600

[@RatherBeWheeling]

I don't have solid numbers, I can only say I was shocked how bad it was. I don't know if it is the same with all ATV but I remember our first trip out doing 60-80 miles and burning through a tank of fuel, mixed driving on moderate roads and trails. The dealer I purchased from is now selling remapped ECU and clutch kits to help in this area. I guess I am used to riding dual sports, getting 40-80 mpg ha ha. We chose the 800 over the 600 after being able to test drive both, the 800 is much smoother and came with fully adjustable suspension and a few other nice upgrades, both nice machines though.

[@stevepataska8373]

‘This is a really stupid idea.” Proceeds to do “really stupid idea.” 😂. Yes! That’s what riding is all about!

[@tylerh1930]

I got rid of my 2013 sportsman 500ho a while back to pay for some stuff for my wedding. I've been really thinking of getting one of the cforce 800s once my car is paid off

[@JohnCrashJones]

What do you use to capture your voice? You come in very clear over the roar of the wind and engine!

[@joshuacripe1514]

The 500 and 600 have a one way bearing on the primary where the engine break will damn near stop you . The 800 doesn’t have that but rides ton better . The vtwin sounds amazing

[@RatherBeWheeling]

absolutely! I can see when riding hard trails solo engine braking would be a benefit. For sure one of the reasons we picked the 800 over the 600 was the smooth operation of the 800. It is taking me some time to get used to it coming off of a motorcycle with a manual transmission. Agree... the 800 does sound really good!

[@kevinorr581]

I had the 600 and recently traded in for the 1000. The engine breaking is very different between the two. It’s taking a little to get use to but I think the trick is to find that balance between a little throttle on the downhill to keep from coasting and have to apply the brakes. Still learning though

[@joshuacripe1514]

@@kevinorr581 does the 1000 get hot like the 800? my 600 runs smooth and cool to the right leg. The 800 burns your right leg lol

[@Butchmcmasters7MM]

I just bought an 800xc I pick it up from the dealer 11-5-2022 I’m so excited to hit the trails

[@RatherBeWheeling]

Congrats! Its a really nice machine, we have enjoyed ours so far.

[@yohaiav]

Thanks for the video mate. Are the suspensions really stiff? Is it comfortable to travel with a friend for a long time with the 850 on the trails like you showed in the video?

[@RatherBeWheeling]

Mine was set up to jump helicopters from the dealer. I made sure the tire pressure was about 6psi and then spent a few trips adjusting the suspension to be softer. It is not bad now... but does feel a bit more tippy than before. We found it pretty comfortable to spend a few hours riding on moderately rough roads at a sight seeing pace. The biggest issue we have with riding double is the rear overhang is way shorter than the competition so dust and mud is flung straight up and onto the rear passenger, you can look at pics and see the rear tire is not covered by the body.

[@yohaiav]

@@RatherBeWheeling If you had the option, would you choose zforce 800 ex for more comfort?

[@RatherBeWheeling]

@@yohaiav Sorry for the late reply YT notificatons are not working well. I think if we had to do it over we would probably go with a SXS for 2 up riding. for a variety of reasons. being able to talk to each other for one, and less dust and mud on the passenger, also being right up against each other on the quad can get hot in the summer. all in all it is a good bike but we may end up trading for SXS in the future.

[@bigjay6743]

I got rid of the engine brake on my 600 drove me nuts plus better of fuel.

[@juliansaunders6163]

it a CVT you have to blip the throttle to stop it free wheeling. zit just something you get used to

[@BabbaIsKool]

After 7 months of owning, has your mind changed? Like do you like it more than when this vid was posted

[@RatherBeWheeling]

I think we like it pretty well, after tweaking the suspension settings an setting tire pressure at 6psi it rides pretty good for touring. with the suspension softened up it can feel a little tippy when crossing ditches and on long sweeping turns. It is pretty comfortable and has enough power for what we do. Two main complaints I would like to fix are the high revs and exhaust heat/lean fuel mixture. A clutch kit will solve the revs, the lean fuel mixture is not so easy. The engine will sometimes stumble just off idle, and the exhaust is ridiculously hot on your leg and the rear shock is too hot to touch. I am worried the rear shock will fail because of how hot it gets, some heat wrap might help. An ECU flash would help for smoother acceleration and lower exhaust temps but is expensive. From what I have seen most brands have their little quirks. We are looking for a way to cover the rear tires, the body on the CF is shorter than other brands and allows dust and mud to spray straight off the rear tires onto the rear passengers back. I bought a rear bumper and will install truck flaps to help with this. For the price, I think it is a great option and considering the Polaris dealer would not get off his butt to show us a machine when I was at the dealer kind of pushed my decision.

[@BabbaIsKool]

@Kegg Porter oh I see! Thank you so much for the information. I will make sure to look into any problems I'll have; if I get this beast, then see what I can do. Again, thank you so much!

[@morganbaxter8793]

What cell phone holder do you have? That thing is rock solid

[@jockmeier2318]

I was wondering the same thing!

[@shawndale1552]

Is it true you have to do a 20 hr service to adjust engine springs? Great video!

[@RatherBeWheeling]

I believe it is 200 miles? If I recall. It is a general service and preventative maintenance check to include valve spring adj/check, oils, fluids, bolts etc. Pretty common for powersports/boat motors to have done early on. Helps catch any issues before they become problems. Try and get a deal through dealership to include it when purchasing if possible.

[@gordlockwood1213]

Thanks for the video! It was interesting to hear your thoughts on riding it coming from a dirt bike perspective. With my XR250, I would gear down and save my brakes on hills like that. You were having to depend on the brakes with little engine braking available. The Grizzly has excellent engine braking due to their sprag clutch, however Yamaha jacked up their prices for 2023 and I am giving the CFORCE 800 a look. I can live without excellent engine braking for the $2000 (Canadian) difference between the Grizzly and the CFORCE 800. Where were you riding? Looks a lot like Okanagan area of British Columbia, Canada where I am.

[@RatherBeWheeling]

Glad it was helpful, I tried to answer some of the questions I had before purchase ha ha. Yes the engine braking is a weird deal for certain.... when you want to coast it brings the RPM down to like 1500 rpm (or near) before disengaging causing you to lose momentum for coasting and saving fuel.... but when on the trail at low speed it doesn't hold long enough. It is not a deal killer for me, I have learned how to use the throttle to manipulate it into engaging for decent, especially in low gear. From what I understand the 600 has much more aggressive engine braking. We test drove both and the 800 felt much more comfortable, smoother machine. This was filmed in the mid panhandle of Idaho, near the Palouse.

[@rafaguerrero3789]

What’s the average miles on fuel tank of gas ?

[@RatherBeWheeling]

Sorry didn't see this message, I have not been able to really calculate this out yet. I will say compared to a motorcycle it is terribly low. We always carry spare fuel out camping because of how fast it goes through it. If I had to guess it would be like 10-15 mpg probably lower, we were going to do some BDR rides on this but are re-considering due to the logistics of re fueling.

[@rafaguerrero3789]

thanks a lot @@RatherBeWheeling

[@lonniepruitt5487]

How you still liking ur 800?

[@RatherBeWheeling]

The quad itself is good, no major problems runs great and rolls out fine. Problem is I just don't ride it as much as I though I would, I just like exploring on a bike more. I will hopefully get a few more miles on it this fall during grouse season.

[@TheSouthpawSharpshooter]

Do another review please!

[@102Montana]

How’s it holding up?

[@RatherBeWheeling]

So far so good. Nice machine. Added a rear bumper and will be adding some rear fender extensions behind the rear wheels. If you are solo riding trails mud etc would be fine but if you intend to ride 2-up as it is designed the passenger will get completed covered in dust and mud. The wheelbase is a bit short and the rear does not have any body overhang like the Polaris or CanAm do to limit this. Its only an issue if you plan on doing full day rides like BDR runs etc. Other than that, the engine heat is pretty insane in the summer and overheats the Right rear shock resevoior, and the throttle is a bit jerky with a bit of hesitation off-idle (I assume it is from the lean fueling to meet emissions like most bikes/quads) these days.

[@102Montana]

@@RatherBeWheeling Thanks. I have the Overland. Only 126 miles so far. And yes, the heat is ridiculous. I was told to delete (cut out) the catalytic converter to reduce heat by 300 degrees. But, that’s just more $$$.

[@lonniepruitt5487]

Going get same color you

[@Pitster73]

Get one of those boxes for the back rack. It will attract the dust so your wife doesn't lol 🤣

[@victorjohnson9521]

He just want to complain about something! I mean your riding a 4wheeler on trails not asphalt...and yes 4wheeler is slower than a motorcycle....did he ride the short bus🤔😂🤣

[@RatherBeWheeling]

Ha ha ha, thanks for commenting. I guess it does sound like a bunch of complaining doesn't it? I had not rode a four wheeler/atv since probably the late 80s, and things have changed a lot. Coming off of a 650 and 1200 adventure bike with a standard transmission is quite different, I guess I just wanted to put a video out from that perspective. We bought this atv to tour some of the BDR in ID and Wa. The dust and mud coming off of the rear tire is obnoxious and completely pelts the passenger after doing a 6-8 hour ride. This ATV has no rear over hang to cover the rear tire like the longer Can Am and Polaris do, something other people looking to ride 2 up might find useful to know if riding the same trails on this "Cross Country" model. No real way of cleaning up at the end of the day in the back country.

[@davidmotroni876]

Stay on a bike

[@RatherBeWheeling]

Probably will, more comfortable, better fuel economy easier to transport, no obnoxious over revving and less heat. This will be good to carry heavy loads and might do better in the snow.