★ CFMOTO 650 MT REVIEW ★

A review on the great value cfmoto 650mt
kindly loaned by tin shack motorcycles
tinshackmotorc...
PLEASE LIKE ,SHARE AND SUBSCRIBE THANKS :)
music by bensound.com

[@ThePlatonius]

I saw this review a few weeks ago, didn't think much of it, but went and tried the bike out for a few hours on a test ride, because I liked how it looked. I was really suprised, Clutch is smooth, engine is plenty powerful (for my needs). Seating position is very nice, the seat is good. I bought one :) I added the SHAD panniers and the guards as well, they where not standard here. For 5500 euro, this feels like a steal. 3 years warranty from supplier as well. Thank you for making reviews of bikes that very few in Europe do, as most of the reviews I have seen so far from CFMOTO, have been from Asian market. I know a lot of people do not like Chinese bikes, but I don't care much about that, as a lot of "premium" bikes have a lot of parts from China anyways and CFMOTO builds engines for some of them. I live in north Europe, so will see how the bike holds out during winter as I ride all year, if there is no snow :)

[@dimitriskatsoulis4986]

Hey man! Any problems from the northern winter? Give us an update of the bike!

[@ThePlatonius]

@@dimitriskatsoulis4986 I rode it in -6C once, runs fine, no problems. Went and even tested it in snow on normal road tyres, bike was fine, tyres cant handle it :D need spikes. I have not fitted heated grips as of yet, will do that when snow clears.

[@dimitriskatsoulis4986]

@@ThePlatonius that's awesome! I've read a lot about metal parts like exhaust pipes and screws going rusty in chinese bikes, glad yours survives! Maybe do a video on her! Stay safe man, greetings from warm Greece!

[@Rolandmo]

I just bought one also. I am planning to buy shad sh23 side cases. Do I need new special holders for cases, or you just strap them on. Thank you for your reply.

[@giorgos4123]

​@@dimitriskatsoulis4986 το ΜΤ είναι το πλέον κατάλληλο για τη βόρεια Ευρώπη διότι κατέχει το "καλοριφέρ". Μπορείς να το έχεις όλο το χρόνο. 🤣🤘

[@markheath284]

Got one here in Australia, great all rounder already done lots of touring, very reliable and plenty quick enough for me, a lot of bike for very little money.

[@markpulling12]

Thanks mark ...yes these are amazing for the money :)

[@dpardom]

Do you still get it? Any long-term review. I’m thinking about buying one.

[@goldyboy65]

Hey mark how's bike going

[@chrissydenham6668]

Great review Mark.Thanks. We’d all love to be able to spend 10k plus on a new bike from some premium brands, but what the Chinese companies are doing now is allowing the average rider / returner to buy new. You have the warranty and excitement of picking and collecting a new bike at an affordable prices. Quality and styling have taken huge steps..... It surprised me and got me back on two wheels again. All the best!

[@markpulling12]

Thanks for the comment chris

[@CFMOTOUK]

Thank you Mark. Fair review of the 650 MT. We love this bike!

[@markpulling12]

No problem it was a pleasure riding it ... hopefully get a 650 n from tin shack to review one day ! :) Cheers mark

[@clue0001]

Got mine a few weeks ago, as my first bike. It's great for touring 👍. Until now, I haven't had any problems with it. The engine runs smooth and the bike is highly maneuverable and easy to lean in U-turns. Thanks for reviewing it.

[@markpulling12]

Thanks Gabriel my pleasure

[@123mirc]

Hi there! How is the motorcycle holding up? Still pleased with it? Thx

[@clue0001]

@@123mirc hi, it works great and I do recommend it. I haven't had any issues with it so far. Compared to some other naked bikes and sport bikes I've ridden, this one feels more comfortable, gives you more confidence on the road. The windshield however needed another small one on top for me cause even with it's highest setting, the wind kept hitting my neck(1.82 height). I tested emergency breaking a few times at higher speeds and lower speeds with it and I can say that it breaks well, the ABS kicks in and you confidently remain on it. Your front wheel doesn't go anywhere. I put a few clips riding it. I hear that the 2022 models have some awesome LCD displays so that's worth checking out. Maybe go on a test drive and see for yourself 👍🏍️ Ride safe.

[@123mirc]

@@clue0001 Thank you for the feedback! I will definitely check it out for myself. I am thinking to get it as my first bike, mainly for commuting and going on longer roadtrips. And because it is an ADV it is perfect for our horrible roads. Ride safe!

[@clue0001]

@@123mircmy pleasure. It's a great first bike, plus the crash bars and added storage make it even more worthwhile. Cheers 🏍️

[@stevesanelli90]

Excellent review & great to finally hear it in English! Not many around. I absolutely agree it’s a great bike for its price point & for the features you get in the UK. Here in Australia, we get 3 year warranty but no pannier cases as standard fitment. All it really needs is a centrestand & heated grips which both can be added as aftermarket. Appreciate your ride & review! The new 800MT will be even better, but I prefer the looks of this kiska styled version.

[@markpulling12]

Thanks Steve ...I really enjoyed it Great bike for the money and did you know csmoto make the engines for Kawasaki bikes :)

[@user-sw2lv3zp6o]

@@markpulling12 Haven't CFMoto got a tie-in with KTM?

[@sirikulsomsuwan]

@@user-sw2lv3zp6o yes I think they build KTM engines along with Kawasaki engines too.

[@michaelcayer8358]

An 800MT is new news for me. That really interests me, especially for the combination of 2up riding, & travelling through the mountains, that includes a lot of steep climbs. Assume that this bigger engine in coming on a 2023 model? And that this is a brand new engine unlike the current twin that comes from Kawasaki. Any planned electronics coming with this new model like VSA? Thx in advance for your reply.

[@theolneyrider]

Another great review 👍🏻👍🏻 It’s really nice seeing reviews on bikes out of the ‘premium’ brands and seeing how good these affordable bikes are.

[@markpulling12]

Yes it's really opened my eyes to these brands....I'll get one oneday myself :)

[@julianrose810]

A really nice bike pity there's no center stand🙂

[@michaelcayer8358]

@@julianrose810 Agreed, one of the first things I notice during Mark's walk around, & identifying the weight of the bike. Would add a lot more stability, convenience & safety. Wish these stands were standard on all bikes.

[@ivanperov5975]

Ride this bike in Australia for nearly 2 years. Done about 12000 kilometers. We can make up to 700 km in a single day without feeling exhausted. Tired, but not nacked. Very comfortable and responsive bike. My other bike, cfmoto 250nk. We did about 13000 km in Adelaide commuting. Just sold it for the scooter:) Both bikes had no issues once forever. Plenty of power, and easy on lower speeds. A bit funny on gravel, but I reckon more due tyres and my skills. The only thing that happened was a thermoswitch, so the fan stopped coming on. Was fixed for 200 aud by local mechanic. I gave up on warranty after 1st service, as I found its just a waste of money w local dealers. Do most services myself, and tyres again, w our local moto mechanic. So fully agree w review. Very comfortable tourer, reliable equipment, easy to ride and well built. I had two sfmoto bikes, and both were absolutely nice to ride.

[@markpulling12]

Thanks for the info Ivan Cheers mark

[@danielcaceres2496]

Hi Ivan. I got my 650 MT recently and I noticed that the engine produce a lot of heat towards my legs. Temperatures indicates 95 degrees when I'm riding in the city. Is it normal? Thank you

[@ivanperov5975]

@@danielcaceres2496 hi Daniel . It's working temperature is 95-98C. When fan comes on you will notice it's immediately drops to 85. I noticed this heat too, but it never bothered me. On my other bike I reckon have the same. I think it's design feature, when excessive heat just going through rider. On a highway speed I think it's not so obvious. So I would say it's normal. Enjoy your ride and stay safe

[@kTSWaynos]

Do you still have the bike, hows the build quality and have you had any issues, i've been looking at them but everyone i ask say stay away from them and the quality is not as good as the Japanese made bikes.

[@ivanperov5975]

@@kTSWaynos Hi Wayne. I did nearly 20000 km on this cfmoto. Only one issue in just over a year: shortcut on radiator fan. Was fixed by our local dealer in Gawler. I drove this bike across Australia, some trips were over 3000 km. Loved this bike and it never let me down. I only sold it because I get bored w bikes. So tend to buy and sell them and then buy different one. But quality and reliability of these cfmotos are well undervalued. I am now thinking to get 700x heritage. Once available as 2d hand in decent condition. Cheers. Ivan

[@chrisweeks6973]

I went to ride a demonstrator one of these this week; here in Oz, it's call the 650MT and is priced at AUD$8,790 - say USD$5,680/ GBP5,000. Also, here in Oz, the 650MT does NOT come with the SHAD pannier cases as standard; they're an extra AUD$1,026 for the kit which includes bracketry, plus shipping. For me, at 218 kg (480 lb) the bike is too heavy and the C-of-G is way too high. Stationary or at a slow walking pace, at anything over a couple of degrees of lean, the bike wants to fall over and I dropped it; that's the first time that's happened to me in 60+ years of riding and it immediately put me off riding it. In contrast, the 700 Heritage has its C-of-G much lower, due to the engine being a stressed member (unlike the 650, which is cradled) and consequently it doesn't want to fall over. Sure, the 650MT looks very nice, but for this older guy the bike's too top heavy and that's a problem.

[@HondaWanderer]

Thanks! After reading this I've excluded this from my very short list (which is now just the KTM390 adv and the CB500x)

[@sirikulsomsuwan]

Can’t wait for your review of the Cfmoto 650 GT. Take care, ride safe

[@stephenchapman8344]

Excellent value for money for all who are not ‘ brand ‘ slaves. 👍

[@clangerbasher]

What am I finding is these smaller brands offer 'alternatives' that are missing from the bigger brands' ranges.

[@rrw_au9584]

@mike bernal what are you comparing it to? the MT is the equivalent to the MT07 tracer so a ton cheaper. the engine is the ER6. they have a 800mt coming out which is based on the 790 KTM adventurer. not cheap knock offs, they made them for KTM and Kawasaki.

[@Jim553just]

An interesting review. I wonder how long it will be before riders can accept that these are the bikes that are real value for money. It is, as always, a good review.

[@markpulling12]

Hi Jim ...yes these are great.. I'm reviewing the GT model today :)

[@chrisredfield3240]

@Derek James you can still get honda parts for almost all models after 20 years will cfmoto do the same ?

[@bossb2539]

From Las Vegas Nevada USA. Always great reviews Mark! Cheers!

[@markpulling12]

Many thanks 👍

[@simonrasmussen2345]

These are now available here in Canada, with a five year warranty, and very favourably priced! The dealer network is extremely limited and I am concerned about resale value, but it comes with Pirelli tyres, Bosch fuel injection and brakes manufactured in Spain by a subsidiary of Brembo, so the quality of components seems to be very high. I need to replace my 2022 Versys 650 which was damaged beyond economic repair in an accident and I'm very tempted.

[@markpulling12]

Thanks for the comment Simon .... regarding resale....if in the UK I bought one for say £6000 then five years later sold it for £3 k the annount lost is way less than say a BMW costing £20k new....If you catch my drift....that's the way I look at it anyway. Best regards mark

[@user-sw2lv3zp6o]

Excellent review. Very thorough, as ever. There is a CFMoto dealer five minutes ride from where I live. A rider in Chiang Rai [sadly killed a few months ago on his CRF1000] was sponsored to ride a CFMoto from China to England. This was when CFMoto were a much younger company. The bike performed faultlessly. His argument was that they are now just about as good as the big fours' offerings. Regarding this bike, its looks are spoiled by the screen and crash bars. I like the look of the company's 700 scrambler-styled bikes which some Southeast Asian markets already have. They haven't arrived in Thailand yet. The 650 road bike's front seat is too short to fit on comfortably, and I am not at all fat. Obviously built for young Southeast Asians. RIP China Steve.

[@sirikulsomsuwan]

I’m living down in near Pattaya mate, there’s a CFMoto dealer near me, never occurred to me to visit untill I saw one on the road yesterday along with Marks review I need to go test ride one! Take care ride safe

[@user-sw2lv3zp6o]

@@sirikulsomsuwan You'll be impressed with the build quality, I feel. Benelli are good bikes, too. Very reliable. Is there a Benelli dealer in Pattaya?

[@markpulling12]

Thanks for the replies guys :)

[@sirikulsomsuwan]

@@user-sw2lv3zp6o yes, I think most brands here in Pattaya but MV Augusta dealership only in BKK

[@user-sw2lv3zp6o]

@@sirikulsomsuwan An MV would cost!

[@otablott7779]

Saw one of these blasting down a motorway near London, couldn't workout what it was until I saw this video. Quite an eye cathcing bike, sounds pretty good too.

[@markpulling12]

Thanks great bikes for the money :)

[@bartlassaut553]

My first bike was a second-hand Benelli Imperiale 400 from 2020. A good bike, but somewhat too low in horsepower (21) to comfortably overtake or merge with a line of faster cars and trucks on a highway. After an hour or so of driving at 100 km/h, the pressure of the wind became annoying without a windshield. So I recently bought a 2021 MT650 with 20,000 km for €4,200 including 2 side paniers and a large top case from Shad. I got €2200 for my Imperiale. I found that a good deal. I ride a lot in the East Belgium/Roermond region in the Netherlands and the Aachen/Dusseldorf/Cologne region in Germany. The MT650 is also a very good bike that remains perfectly comfortable at 150 km/h. There is only some crosswind turbulence behind the windshield, but not really disturbing. Accelerating from 90 km/h to 130 km/h is very smooth in 6th. I am 1.90 with relatively long legs and the triangle of footpegs/saddle/handlebars is a bit on the small side for me. But maybe that's because of my bad hip. If the saddle could be raised slightly or offer more space to slide a bit forward or backward during long rides, it would be perfect.

[@markpulling12]

Great comment many thanks 👍 Best wishes mark

[@gideonleroux7519]

Long-term reliability, resail value , only time will tell.

[@milkfactory588]

I'm buy CF650MT at last year. it good bike at low price. just little problems.

[@markpulling12]

Thanks for the comment Regards mark

[@mrd4335]

I've owned a CFmoto for 18 months until I moved up to a bigger bike, I really enjoyed it and was very happy with quality, the Yamy MT range is not as good. It's was faultless during ownership and I put 2k on it in 18months, Was sad to see her go really ): Paul. UK

[@markpulling12]

Thanks for the update Paul Yes they are really good bikes Regards mark

[@MGman100]

Another good review Mark. Good to see that you're looking at bikes other reviewers don't bother with. This is another value for money Chinese bike. Still wouldn't buy one though and yet again short service intervals.

[@markpulling12]

Thanks fair point re service intervals ...I think it's just cfmoto being cautious ...you could easily extend them as it's basically a Kawasaki engine and they are 7500 miles regards mark

[@mikehurley5052]

@@markpulling12 Is it the Kawasaki engine or just a copy of it?

[@rrw_au9584]

@@mikehurley5052 its the ER6

[@G91YS]

I'm waiting for the TRK800 :-)

[@markpulling12]

That one is going to be amazing :)

[@mindspinn311]

As a former owner of a Kawasaki Versys 650 and someone generally put off by the Chinese motorcycles that are sold here, I wish CFMoto would come to the US. I’d love to try one of these! It looks like it’s actually built with actual Kawasaki parts. I wonder if these are actually licensed by Kawasaki to be manufactured using their engines and parts. I wouldn’t be surprised.

[@markpulling12]

Yes Alex it feels just like a versys to ride cheers mark

[@maskedavenger2578]

You don’t see these in any dealers locally . They are usually punted out of small gaffs located in small industrial units & scruffy back street bike shops that flog obscure low priced generic basic Chinese offerings .The nearest shop will be usually a hundred miles away & parts hard to obtain The only thing going for it is it will have a good cloned Japanese engine taken from a popular older Japanese design & you may be able to use some generic parts from other bikes & the price providing you don’t expect a decent trade in price .It will be a higher spec than your standard Chinese budget offerings so could be worth a punt depending the dealer not being a fast buck Swiss Tony merchant & has a good reputation locally & can guarantee parts in 48 hours .for at least 10 years .

[@Roy_Godiksen]

Brilliant as always💖💖👏🏼👏🏼 Those are Metzeler M7RR tires on it . Are they stock or aftermarket? If the bike comes stock with M7RR's that's worth mentioning.

[@markpulling12]

Hi Roy ...these come as standard with the metzeler tyres :) :)

[@Roy_Godiksen]

Self correction; i think that is the Metzeler Z8 tires, not the M7RR tire. Good sport touring tires, but not as sticky as the M7RR's. They last longer though.

[@cosak23]

i see in UK of august 2022 , with panniers it is £ 6299. an £800 jump . around 13% increase :(

[@ianross225]

It looks like there was a mix up on the GS copy line and they accidentally installed flat twin crash bars. I imagine they’d touch down before anything else.

[@The_Arby]

Chinese are definitely taking over Japanese bikes these days, much better quality and a good choice of bikes for all ages and abilities and much cheaper too :-) Nice one Mark :-)

[@markpulling12]

Thanks ...in riding many chinese bikes of late ,I can honestly say I'm very impressed :) Regards mark

[@KevZX-10RC1H]

It's a Kawasaki?😏

[@paulrollinson1305]

Much better quality? Yeah, sure.

[@The_Arby]

@@paulrollinson1305 They are.. Go look at Zontes swing arm compared to the likes Honda plain simplified rear arm.. Japanese Bikes have got too complacent over the yrs, cause they had no competition.. Now they have!!!

[@The_Arby]

@@yeahrightmate Think the Chinese have up'td there game abit now, considering BMW and Harley Davidson now build alot of there bikes now in China...Bit i know what your saying with past Chinese bikes :-)

[@gregmarcus3064]

The new Japanese of the future. I think they've already arrived and are only getting better and better.

[@carlosalbertoleguizamon3413]

Muy buena moto la 650 cc MT muy cómoda en ruta ARGENTINA

[@josephbyrne2202]

Hi Mark. First of all, great bike. Sob story.... I took delivery of my bike in Spain 2 weeks ago shortly after my new car was delivered. Side by side they looked like a retired nurses dream come true until the wing blew the bike and smashed it against the car|||||||| Lots of damage||| car repaired. Te dealer Locos Motors in Xavia collected the bike within 18 hours and is repairing it for me. Not only that but the owner of the dealership Locos Motors has promised me one of his personal bikes to ride while mine is fixed. What about that for service. Jesus (dealers name) is a motorcycling saint. He is not just a dealer he is a very genuine guy with a real feeling for riding.

[@markpulling12]

Hi Joseph ..oh dear sorry to hear your story ...hope you get it all sorted Best wishes mark

[@pab96]

Brilliant review as usual mark. Really enjoy your reviews 👍

[@markpulling12]

Hi Paul hopefully testing the GT version tomorrow :)

[@pab96]

Look forward to the gt version Mark had a Kawasaki 650 versy the first model 2007 Loved that bike sold it with 25000miles on it and still a great motorcycle

[@Crossers76]

Shame they hot shot up to £6600 now without the panniers. Was tempted to test ride one and trade in my CB500x but will probably just get the latest model of the CB for the same price now.

[@CosmikDebriis]

Went and looked at, but didn't actually ride, both the CF Moto and the Benelli TRK today. (Lovely day for a ride). First impressions were. I want the CF motor in the Benelli frame but with the adjustable suspension and panniers of the CF. The Benelli certainly seemed more comfortable just sat on it and somehow seemed a bit better quality (engine excepted). Had a nice chat with both CF Moto guys who seemed like nice people. Bit of a weird setup but I wish them well. Anyway. Looks like neither as I've got my eyes on a used BMW 1200R Sport which is a completely different animal to say the least. Weird how the mood just takes you sometimes.

[@markpulling12]

yes the benelli is so comfortable ...glad you saw them both :)

[@kevinwestwood6668]

Excellent review,amazing value for money.

[@markpulling12]

Thanks Kevin should be trying the GT model tomorrow Seem like a nice quality brand .I really enjoyed it regards mark

[@ambrosia061288]

CF moto 650s are dedicated PCR police bikes, they are nicely built and reliable. Just worry about access for parts/accessories, since its not exactly a 'major' brand in UK.

[@nokneedownian8521]

All that scaffolding on the front reminded me of doing my DAS a few years ago 😂

[@markpulling12]

Haha yes I thought so too :)

[@Tonyrat1964]

Yes, when I took a look that was my thought also.

[@markymarknj]

MP, I believe that this is the same bike that's called the ADVentura here in the US; the only difference is that the ADVentura has the TFT display, not the LCD seen here. The bike packs a lot of VALUE; you get a lot for your money! On our side of the pond, this bike's competitors are the Kawasaki Versys LT and the Suzuki V-Strom 650XT Adventure; they're the bagged competitors to the CFMoto. They both cost over $10K here, while the CFMoto is under $7K. Why spend money you don't have to?

[@markpulling12]

Thanks very much for that info mark

[@tindrum]

Yeah you have made me want one!!!

[@stevied6286]

Yep.me too.thr value is astonishing! I'd get rid of the massive crash bars as I don't think it's adventure-like..it's just a vfm UJM or UCM😂.The screen is excellent & looks great!

[@michals1108]

Same was with Japanese at the beginning, they were named as unrieable etc. Now different story.

[@markpulling12]

100% agree these are getting better by the day :)

[@gedborthistle7631]

Very good review thanks Ged Queensland Australia.

[@zrx4me1]

Nice review. Hope we get these in the states.

[@deepsouthNZ]

Great bike, great budget option and they seem to be reliable which is good

[@markpulling12]

Yes these are very good for the money and reliable engine based on the er6 cheers mark

[@davideccles1617]

Another great review Mark.

[@markpulling12]

Thanks david these are great for the money :)

[@niteworlok]

Had a look at one today, looks nice and appears to be quite comfy to ride - one thing, sports/touring mode, whats the difference, anything?? Can you tell is it's more responsive throttle in sports?

[@markpulling12]

It's a throttle map from memory touring mode is just a little softer throttle response Cheers mark

[@TheCaretaker555]

I have a 16 plate versys 650 GT which i will be trading in this year i had every intention of staying with the Versys however for the price this looks interesting

[@markpulling12]

Hi Neil ...to me it feels just like a versys 650 I rode a year or so ago Regards mark

[@sirikulsomsuwan]

The only noticeable difference between the Cfmoto & Versys is 60 bhp v 68 bhp & 218 kg v 214kg so a bit more performance for the Versys but not sure you’d notice it on the road.

[@markpulling12]

@@sirikulsomsuwan yes I couldn't tell the difference in power really :)

[@rolandbristow2050]

Lovely bike a good review. Shame about the short service intervals. I think the Kawasaki 650 intervals are 7000 rather than 3500 for this one. Look forward to the GT VERSION review

[@markpulling12]

Thanks roland ....gt hopefully tomorrow

[@mickleblade]

3.5k miles for service? Really? Bugger.... Not bothering now

[@Davidlouis3]

First class as usual Mark

[@markpulling12]

Thanks David :)

[@docholliday2364]

Top bracket that one brother, with the low price point they have not scrimped on quality 👍

[@markpulling12]

Very impressive for the money :) Cheers mark

[@ursjungo5896]

Great review Mark; as you also recently reviewed the Benelli TRK502, what are your thoughts in comparison with the CFMoto? I'm in the market for a new bike and am looking at both at the moment....would you consider one over the other or is it much of a muchness?

[@markpulling12]

Hi I was waiting for this question :) The cfmoto is better value as it comes with the panniers and proven er,6 based engine ...I actually just preferred the benelli engine as I found it felt like a triple ... ergonomics,comfort etc pretty much the same.... definitely ride both and you'll see what I mean Let me know .. . Best regards mark

[@lesmoore6336]

Good value for money I think. Like it. Very good.

[@emmanuelagustin7093]

Thanks for this review.

[@duanestiles4821]

Nice looking bike and good value

[@disekjoumoer]

Thanks for the review, Mark. The thing that interests me about this bike is how it has riding modes while the Versys doesn't. It's a bit of a gimmick because the engine doesn't really need it. The bars seem a bit of a waste on a bike that will never see offroad riding, and they're pretty ugly to boot. Perhaps the target market is riding schools?

[@markpulling12]

Yes I agree not really needed on a bike with 60 hp .... lovely bike for the money though Best regards mark

[@chrisredfield3240]

Riding modes are only sport and touring. With 60hp I have no idea what the sport map is going to do.

[@deltarov5734]

Thank you very much for an informative review. I see you have reviewed the Versys 650 as well. Would you say the Versys is worth the extra money?

[@markpulling12]

Hi they both ride very similar...if you could get a very good deal on a versys then I'd go for the versys ...but if it's say £2000 plus more money I'd say your better off getting a cf Moto Cheers mark

[@TheQ427]

Interesting - engine doesn't sound nice when revved on N but produces a nice sound whilst riding. Nice bike - thanks for the review. Stay safe

[@markpulling12]

Thanks I think it sounds nice when riding because you can really hear the air box roar noise Best regards mark

[@garyburton6833]

Hi Mark 👋, another great review 👍. Fantastic quality & value for money motorcycle and better equipment than my Vstrom. Cheers and ride safe 👍.

[@markpulling12]

Thanks! 👍

[@ml2799]

Hi Mark, love your real world reviews, any chance you can review the CFMOTO 700 CL-X Heritage? Cheers mate

[@markpulling12]

Thanks mark ...I'm trying to get in with cf Moto as I want to try the new 800s watch this space :)

[@mrsilbo6499]

Real world & interesting review as usual, Mark. But the 3.5k oil change intervals are at variance with the history of the ER6 engine, its reputation for reliability, the quality of today's engine oils and this bike's low state of tune - just 60bhp. Even more so when the valve clearance check is every 24k miles! Triumph pushed out the Trident 660 service intervals to 10k because the triple engine has a long history of reliability & is in a mild state of tune. I can only think that CFMoto want dealers to check everything else very regularly, which helps feed the argument that Chinese bikes are below par on quality.

[@markpulling12]

Hi Hugh ....yes agreed ...once out of warranty I'd easily push the oil changes to say 5k if this was my bike ....my Kawasaki has 7500 oil changes ... think it's just cfmoto being cautious :). Regards mark

[@ferchomotero4290]

Me parece hermosa esta motocicleta y su potencia....

[@markpulling12]

Muchas gracias y mis mejores deseos.

[@RobertSantos-rw8dy]

Thanks for the insightful review. This is the first I have seen of this Chinese Brand of motorcycle, and they are available in Thailand now... However, not too many dealerships. Thus wondering about the service profile. However, I will have to look at the bike next time I am in that part of Thailand. I have been looking at the CB500X for some time now. The CFMOTO 650 MT seems a better bang for the buck. Just wondering about service, would a Kawasaki shop refuse to work on the competition? Cheers

[@markpulling12]

Dealerships will work on any bikes generally ,:) Best regards mark

[@rrw_au9584]

I had a 2017 650mt unfortunately written off due to novice error with rider fixation. now have a 2013 CB500x. both great bikes. the CB doesn't have the fun/power/excitement factor though. having said that what part of thailand are you in? based on comment rural? if built up go the cbx due to smaller and easier maneuverability. My wife is ISSAN was living a bit away from ROI Et, I would prob go the CBX due to less power so can react quicker to local drivers/riders......

[@dcryder9736]

When im looking at a bike, I like to get your take on it. BTW, is there any bike you dont like? I think you just love all bikes. Lol😂

[@lomate1963]

Nice bike what a shame you didn’t do this review first as Im just waiting on delivery of myBenelli TRK not sure if I’ve made the right choice😩 as this is better value and it’s got panniers and more ommph As standard 💨 think it’s going to sell well ....... off to punch my in the head 😢

[@markpulling12]

No ...don't worry they are both brilliant ...if anything I found the benelli engine to be smoother and more triple like ...both bikes are fantastic for the money Cheers mark

[@danielhanford438]

Hi mark, loving the reviews mate. Just one question. If you were to buy a bike cfmoto my or the benelli trk/trk x. Where’s your money going? Thanks mate

[@markpulling12]

Hi Daniel I've been asked this question loads lately ...the cfmoto is brilliant and is Kawasaki based so very reliable ...the benelli has a very smooth almost triple like twin engine and it's amazingly comfortable ....for me personally All things considered I'd get the Benelli Cheers mark

[@danielhanford438]

@@markpulling12 thanks for getting back to me mate. Appreciate it. Looks like my first bike will be a benelli then 😅😂.

[@Mybwain]

It's a bike that is rider school ready with the bars.

[@rrw_au9584]

One question for you. On the 2017 model I noticed a bit of heat coming off it after a while. did you have that with the new model? one thing I loved over my now CB500x is it is a lot more forgiving with power in any gear at any speed. Also I see the comments asking to compare the 502 and fair enough. but the other aspect not asked, is the power comparison. for me the mt has a ton more than the 500x which you would expect. but curious your thoughts. And lastly MT or GT?

[@markpulling12]

Hi no didn't notice any heat from it at all ...just like riding a versys really ...and think I'd go for the gt...by a tiny margin ...just prefer it's sportier handling Best regards mark

[@MrBoybergs]

Great looking machine and excellent vfm. Another good review Mark.

[@markpulling12]

Thanks Mr bergs :)

[@GPz84]

Good looking bike, but still reliability will always be at question.

[@wfnicdao]

nice review, you may want to try the cfmoto 400nk and 700 clx. they seem very popular here in asia. you may get more views from asians if you review these two bikes. even more so that your height is the average for asian guys.

[@markpulling12]

Thanks I'll try and get hold of those :)

[@scotteger6271]

Mark, I believe this is called the CF Moto Adventura here in the US, which I’ve been looking at, as well as the Benelli TRK 502x. I know you have a Benelli TRK, but I didn’t know if you got that before or after you tried this CF Moto? If you bought the Benelli before you tried this, would you still buy the Benelli, or would you have bought the CF Moto? If you tried this and then bought the Benelli, what made you choose the Benelli over the CF Moto? Hopefully that’s not confusing!

[@markpulling12]

Hi Scott I bought the trk before the cfmoto and I would just choose the trk over the cfmoto because it's a little bit more comfortable for me and the engine is a 360 crank which means it's very smooth for a parallel twin ....both Are brilliant bikes ...the cfmoto probably has the edge on reliability because it's engine is based on the kawa er6 ...power wise the cfmoto has more but it for me didn't make a huge amount of difference....try and get a demo on both if you can cheers mark

[@scotteger6271]

@@markpulling12 sounds good thanks for the response. I’ve ridden the TRK but the closest CF Moto dealer is a distance from where I live. I do my own maintenance work so not really worried about that, plus the engine design is known to be reliable as you said. I do want to ride the Benelli again…there’s a used one here with 600 miles on it for a couple thousand dollars less than what one would be new…clean…never dropped or anything.

[@stephenperry9425]

Nice bike and a good price, CF Moto also make some of the KTM bikes.

[@markpulling12]

Thanks Stephen ....yes I heard that this afternoon :)

[@neilberry3446]

Out of all the Chinese bikes you have tested which one is your favourite ?

[@markpulling12]

Hi Neil ... benelli trk 702 .....but to be fair most are good these days Cheers mark

[@MrCaptainCrazy]

Definitely seems more road oriented.

[@jobyEN]

Just curious how these 'new gen' Chinese bikes would look after a few UK winters with road salt and everything...

[@markpulling12]

Yes ...I agree ..but I'm sure if you rinse off the salt through the winters and acf50 they should be ok :) Cheers mark

[@p.santos6694]

In the website is not saying anything about suspension travel or ground clearance 🤔

[@markpulling12]

Hi ground clearance is 170 mm but not sure on suspension travel ... Cheers mark

[@p.santos6694]

@@markpulling12 thanks for the quick response. Cheers Mark 😎

[@kevindarkstar]

16:52 I'd be a bit surprised if you couldn't get more than 50 mpg on a 650 twin, my nc750s gets 75-82 mpg all day 😊

[@andregrastyan3403]

Very good video again. Could you please tell me if you have crusie control on this bike?

[@markpulling12]

Hi Andre no sorry this doesn't have cruise control cheers mark

[@andregrastyan3403]

@@markpulling12 Thanks too bad.

[@ChadWinters]

debating between thin and the Honda NC750 DCT for my second bike after the Meteor 350 for touring

[@markpulling12]

Hi Chad I'd go for a good used nc750 the engine is a dream for touring cheers mark

[@willyrackham2957]

Nice review but which is more comfortable...this or the Benelli 502 ?

[@markpulling12]

Hi willy ...they are both very comfortable but the benelli just wins for me ...it's like a versys 1000 ..so plush :) Regards mark

[@willyrackham2957]

@@markpulling12 thank you ...I will test the Benelli soon ....it ticks all the boxes ..for me

[@markpulling12]

@@willyrackham2957 Poole moto have a demo if you are south uk

[@nevTk-oe9ud]

can ya do the 2022 models plz man 650 hk and the 700 clx sport im super interested

[@nemanjakostic6875]

Hey man, your opinion for which bike is better buy Benelli 502x or this CFMOTO 650MT. Sorry for my English

[@markpulling12]

Hi I'd go for the cfmoto 650 it's got a very reliable engine Cheers mark

[@nemanjakostic6875]

@@markpulling12 Thanks, i really appreciate your help

[@nickthebig]

can you tell me which motorbike seemed best to you? voge 500dsx or cf moto mt 650. thank you for all

[@markpulling12]

Hi nik I actually prefered the voge ...I liked the way it looked and it's level of spec is great 👍

[@djwolfmanagement]

Hello Mark, This moto is far away better than benelli trk 502?! Many thanks

[@markpulling12]

Hi ...yes it's engine is Kawasaki based and is very reliable...I found the benelli had a smoother engine Cheers mark

[@alenfora1400]

Mark what do you think this bike brand new or the vstrom 650 dl

[@markpulling12]

Tough choice both are great The cfmoto is a good brand but for me the v Strom just wins Cheers mark

[@alenfora1400]

@@markpulling12 thank you Mark

[@lasseholtzer8590]

would be realy nice to see you compare a cf moto mt800 to a benelli trk800.....(both produced in china)

[@markpulling12]

Yes looking forward to getting a go on both of those :)

[@davidmallia628]

Can't go wrong with the Kawa 650 engine, but is it made under licence or cloned?

[@OperationFoxley19441]

Knowing China its most likely cloned.

[@markpulling12]

I'll find out for you David :)

[@davidmallia628]

@@OperationFoxley19441 Not that cloned means inferior quality. Remember that the bmw gs 750 and gs 850 parallel twins are made in China.

[@davidmallia628]

@@markpulling12 Really would like that you get your hands on a heng jian 500 gs adventure, which is in essence a Honda Africa Twin Clone, but with a unicorn format, motor bike adventurers have been asking for, for years. If you see the chinese promo's for this bike, very impressive for 6000 euro, or so. Dual fuel tank, LED throughout, colour display, and more.

[@markpulling12]

Cf moto make the engines for the 650 kawasakis !! ....I have had this confirmed tonight :)

[@interman7715]

I wish they would go back to dial speedos ,digital is to hard to read.

[@mikeroberts]

I too was impressed when I did my review. I would point out it is not a Versys engine. it is an 'almost copy'. So very similar but I thought you gave the impression it was a Kawasaki engine/gearbox by one or two things you said. The whole bike is a copy.

[@markpulling12]

Thanks Mike ...did you know cs moto actually make the engines for the Kawasaki 650 bikes they come out of the same factory but are just re badged :)

[@mikeroberts]

@@markpulling12 Have you got any links for that? The service book/owners manual would suggest otherwise.

[@markpulling12]

@@mikeroberts hi Mike no sorry I don't it's a bit of a hush hush that the Kawasaki dealerships don't want you to know ... I found out from very trusted sources who sell them :) Basically I was told that the smaller Kawasaki engines are made in the csmoto factory .. that's all I know Funny old world isn't it .. you never really know what you are buying and where it comes from :).

[@mikeroberts]

@@markpulling12 If it was a CF Moto source I'd grab a big hand of salt. 😉 If Kawasaki engines were to be made under licence for them, then it would be with Kymco. I know KTM are in bed with CF Moto and the lines are blurred everywhere.

[@rrw_au9584]

@@mikeroberts earlier it was confirmed the 650 MT were the ER6 engins. they are releasing a 800MT later this year and the engine is the 790 adventure. CF moto made it for KTM.

[@Lemonayde]

This vs TRK 502, what's your thoughts? i'm torn between those two!

[@markpulling12]

Hi I had a trk for 3000 miles ,no problems at all ,very smooth and comfortable,the cfmoto may just win in long term reliability as it's engine is er6 based .. but personally I prefer the way the trk rode Cheers mark

[@Lemonayde]

​@@markpulling12 I see, not TRK gets another point for me, thanks my dude. Great Work! 🆙🆙

[@alenfora1400]

The mt800 much better but this is a great price but i like the gt650

[@satchitysatch]

Great video, this or the Kawasaki?

[@markpulling12]

This ...it feels the same as a versys to me :)

[@vageliskoios1062]

Of course the kawa is better.But for the price cfmoto also is a good choice

[@ΜανοςΔ-ψ1τ]

Hello!! I m looking for buy this motorbike a have a question. How is the second seat its ok for 2nd person ??

[@markpulling12]

Hi yes it's quite big and well padded so yes it would be comfortable for a passenger..... regards mark

[@EinkOLED]

It definitely sounds like my old Kawasaki versys. Is the engine a copy or the real deal?

[@markpulling12]

Hi Jim ....no not a copy ...csmoto make the engines for Kawasaki ! :) All the best mark

[@rhemyis]

I think its a misunderstanding here, CFMOTO maybe gets the engines from Kawasaki and not vice versa. I also heard they use engines from KTM too.

[@madcockney]

@@rhemyis If you read the bike press you will see that CFMoto were making engines for different companies including KTM. It's a bit like Hyosung making parts for Suzuki and then whole engines for the SV650. From what I read a lot of the parts on the SV are interchangeable with the Hyosung though it is probably dependant on year model. Suzuki were having parts made in China at one tiime, but I beliive they move those parts to other Asian countries. You are right that CFMoto have permission to use those KTM engines in their own bikes. (I am not sure but I think CFMoto actually build certain complete bikes for KTM.)

[@edwardtodd2833]

Out between the cfmt and the benellitrk which one do you prefer

[@markpulling12]

Hi Edward Benelli for me smoother and more comfortable.... best regards mark

[@user-ys3zh3rf8w]

What company is MIT? Never heard of them

[@markpulling12]

@@user-ys3zh3rf8w these bikes are cfmoto:)

[@user-ys3zh3rf8w]

@@markpulling12 it says they are Spanish, the 530 TT looks a nice bike

[@michaelmahon8896]

No center stand or possibility of fitting one,,, oil and filter changes will be a pain as will chain adjustment

[@neildude58]

Center stands are available from AliExpress.

[@michaelmahon8896]

@@neildude58 I'll take a look,, cheers

[@oldgriff8559]

Have you not heard of paddock stands

[@michaelmahon8896]

@@oldgriff8559 I've got one,,, used to have a versys,, still much prefer centre stand

[@szeken]

I think it's based on the ktm 790. Not kawasaki. It's a joint effort between cfmoto and ktm.

[@markpulling12]

Agreed but the engine is pretty much the same as a Kawasaki er6 ....all it's engine parts are interchangeable with an er6 Cf moto make engines for ktm Cheers mark

[@rrw_au9584]

the upcoming MT800 is the KTM 790 engine. the 650 is based on the ER6 but the KTM styling

[@tomg6284]

CFMoto new model for 2023 the Corona cafe racer.

[@CosmikDebriis]

And so to the question I'd guess every motorcycle vlogger dreads... CF or TRK?

[@markpulling12]

Haha I was waiting for this ...someone asked a few days ago ...the cfmoto has a more proven engine ...but the benelli is fine .for me personally the benelli just wins for it's comfort and smoothness ...the cfmoto for bit better reliability...very tough call ..but think I would go for the benelli just for it's comfort :) Regards mark

[@CosmikDebriis]

@@markpulling12 Very diplomatic ;-) One minor complaint though. Could you find some different roads please, It's getting too easy to recognise where you're riding. I know I've said it before but, get yourself up Came Down overlooking Weymouth bay. Nice road and stunning views.

[@markpulling12]

@@CosmikDebriis yes I'll try and check out came down...the problem us reviewers have is most of the time we only get the bikes for a couple of hours because the demos are getting so booked up now but yes definitely I'll keep weymouth in mind ! Cheers mark

[@CosmikDebriis]

@@markpulling12 If you do another CF Moto then you're close.

[@markpulling12]

@@CosmikDebriis thanks as we speak I'm looking it up on google maps/earth :)

[@Duffloop]

If only they hadn't invented covid-19. Kinda puts you off. Seriously though, no seriously, at that price I'd buy it just to wind people up ;-)

[@markpulling12]

:) haha thanks for the comment :)