Menus
- Chinese competition
- Parallel twin of 649 cm3, 70 hp and 62 Nm, 226 kg full made, Metzeler tires, J. Juan brakes, Bosch ECU, Continental ABS, YUAN shocks…
- Discovery
- In the saddle
- In the city
- On the road
- Highway
- Cycle part
- Braking
- Consumption
- Comfort / Duo
- Conclusion
Chinese competition
Parallel twin of 649 cm3, 70 hp and 62 Nm, 226 kg full made, Metzeler tires, J. Juan brakes, Bosch ECU, Continental ABS, YUAN shocks…
It was inevitable. Just like the productions of the Japanese industry half a century ago, Chinese motorcycles are no longer confined to cheap products and not always of good quality because they are built according to a logic of cost and often offering poor reliability and no spare parts.
CF Moto 650 GT review
It was the case before. But now the productions of the People’s Republic are better and better built, with a more attractive style which is no longer so frequently modeled on that of Western machines. But if the giant Qianjiang has played a key role in this trend via its Italian subsidiary Benelli, the real precursor in this process of installation in international markets through a range of attractive and well-designed mid-size motorcycles is the smaller brand. CF Moto.
CFMoto was founded in 1989 by Lai Guogui, a then 24-year-old entrepreneur. In 2007, the brand opened its current 150,000 m factory² in Hangzhou, located 200 km from Shanghai, where its 1,500 employees (including 240 engineers in the R&D department) regularly increase the production of motorcycles and scooters, but especially quads, a sector in which CFMoto is a leader. In 2009, the company began to develop in-house its own liquid-cooled 650cc parallel twin overhead camshaft as a platform for a range of different midsize machines. The 650NK naked roadster was the first to emerge in China in 2011 before being exported the following year. The 650TK road follows to be exported from 2014 while the 650MT sport-tourer arrives in 2017. It is now the turn of the 650GT to see the light of day, which uses the same diamond tubular steel frame as its sisters with the same parallel twin.
Roadster CF Moto 650 GT
Discovery
At the EICMA show in November 2018, CFMoto unveiled this latest model in a growing range and replacing the 650TK, whose cases were integrated into the body and could not be removed. Listening to the comments of its customers, CF Moto has equipped its GT with removable SHAD cases as on the 650MT tourer, but with an integral fairing as for the TK, also adding an adjustable screen, a two-seater saddle much lower (795 mm high vs. 840 on MT) and shorter suspension travel.
The CF Moto 650 GT
The 43mm Yuan fork of the GT is taken from the NK roadster (the MT has an inverted element) and can be adjusted in compression and debate on 125 mm while at the rear the Yuan shock absorber adjustable in preload and trigger works on 130 mm? The 17-inch aluminum rims are shod with Metzeler RoadTec 01 tires, with a 160 / 60ZR1 rear which promotes handling and good grip.
Shock absorber of the CF Moto 650 GT
LED headlights now equip the fairing more protective than that of the 650MT even if the two machines refer to the Austrian design of Kiska. There are also LEDs on the indicators and the taillight as well as a 5-inch TFT screen on which you can select one of the three driving modes available (Sport, Touring, Rain).
The headlights of the CF Moto 650 GT
As with the 650MT already tested two years ago, I had the chance to discover this new model at the Australian importer of CF Moto, Mojo Motorcycles in Melbourne, to try one of the first machines to come off the lines. production and sent for homologation testing. After being seduced by the general performance and the price / quality ratio of the naked 650NK in 2012, then having visited the Hangzhou factory to see for myself the level of control imposed at each stage of production, I couldn’t wait to see how this twin-cylinder platform continued to progress.
Fairing of the CF Moto 650 GT
The 650MT was the first CFMoto to comply with Euro4. The 650GT follows this path by incorporating a Continental dual-channel ABS as standard, while remaining as affordable as its sister. With deliveries planned for the course of 2019 in Australia, the 650GT is sold there for $ 8490 AUS (5,320 euros) with taxes and asks for $ 650 AUS (407 €) more for the pair of Shad suitcases. By way of comparison, a 650 MT is traded there for $ 7,990 (5,000 euros) and a Kawasaki Ninja 650 for $ 9,999 (6,260 €). In France, the GT is not yet distributed, but the MT being marketed € 6,250 it should turn around € 6,500. But does the 650GT manage to deliver what we expect, despite its budgetary compromises in terms of quality and performance? ?
2019 CF Moto 650 GT
To get the answer, I decided to do the same three-day roadtrip in just one day on this road that I had done in the Victorian Goldfields, north-west of Melbourne, five years ago with the 650TK. It is truly a superb route, accessible and fun that crosses the bush and the countless Tiny Towns, vestiges of the gold rush that the state of Victoria experienced a century and a half ago and which retains all its character, especially in terms of architecture which refers to the Victorian and Art Deco eras. 502 km to be covered in a single day under a temperature of 34 ° offered a good test of handling of the bike, especially for a twin 650. Fortunately the summer weather in Melbourne will not have made its usual tour of the 4 seasons in one day. and it will have been hot and dry throughout the trip.
CF Moto 650 GT test drive in Australia
In the saddle
The riding position is quite spacious despite the low seat height which makes you feel more in the bike. The one-piece handlebars are mounted on 100 mm higher saddles attached to the upper triple T and allow a natural position to be obtained. At the end of my long day in the saddle, I did not feel any numbness confirming a well-designed sitting. The mirrors are well placed, do not vibrate and offer an excellent view of what is going on behind you.
Ergonomics of the CF Moto 650 GT
The instrumentation of the 650GT is rather successful and the TFT screen is pleasant in its two versions (black or white) with a very readable analog tachometer as well as the speed. There is also a very readable gear indicator, a clock and the fuel level with a reserve indicator. On the other hand, I only found one odometer, which is strange because the MT offered two … Finally, a 12V socket on the right of the dashboard allows you to recharge your electronic devices. Unfortunately, for a motorcycle intended for long journeys, there is no storage compartment that would allow you to store your toll ticket..
12V socket of the CF Moto 650 GT
The handlebars are also of better quality than before and their ergonomics have been improved even if the horn is placed too close to the turn signals (I kept honking the others when I wanted to change lanes on the highway. .). No central stand, but a simple rather unsightly side element that does the job and is easily grabbed with the tip of the foot
In the city
From the start we immediately feel the engine come to life and stall at a fairly high idle of 1,400 rpm with a pleasant syncopation emanating from the 2-1 exhaust line whose silencer is placed low enough on the right side to leave space for the passenger footrests. The parallel twin is torquey and flexible, pulling strong enough and smoothly transmission from 2,000 rpm to push well from 3,000 rpm when you open the throttle wide. The power responds to the demands in a perfectly linear manner over the entire speed range up to the switch even if the rise in the revs accelerates from 5,500 rpm, without this appearing strongly. The driving is rather smooth.
Test of the CF Moto 650 GT on the road
The six speed gearbox and chain drive are combined with a Japanese FCC wet clutch and make the 650GT a versatile model thanks to an easy clutch and a lever that does not require a lot of force to operate. A good point for driving in an urban environment. This allows easy steering at low speed which will satisfy both beginners and experienced riders, especially as the maneuvers are just as easy thanks to a very tight turning radius. Handy, the GT is also responsive, but by putting the throttle wide open at start-up, the response remains linear and contributes to this feeling of control..
The CF Moto 650 GT at steady speed
Not particularly light for a Twin 650 with its 226 kg without luggage, but with the full 19 liter tank, the CFMoto remains an ideal companion for beginners and, coupled with its fairly low saddle, for bikers and small riders..
On the road
The 649 cc parallel twin is identical to that of the MT and NK. It is essentially a Chinese copy of the Kawasaki ER6 engine, but in smaller dimensions. The twin cylinder here delivers 70 horsepower at 8,750 rpm with a maximum torque of 62 Nm at 7,000 rpm. Thanks to the balance shaft and the heavy bar ends, you don’t feel the slightest vibration up to the switch at 10,500 rpm and even less tingling in the footrests or the saddle than you can sometimes. meet on comparable models. This makes the 650GT pleasant and practical on the highway with an exhaust tone that gives it a hint of character..
The CF Moto 650 GT entering a curve
You have the choice between three different driving modes, the Rain mode considerably softens the arrival of the power to the detriment of a real feeling of performance, but the latter is very useful when one evolves on slippery surfaces. This is also the case with the efficient but somewhat abrupt Continental ABS. On the other hand, the Touring and Sport modes do not show much difference, except for a slightly stronger acceleration on the Sport … The 650GT shows itself although it happens very flexible in one mode as in the other thanks to to its twin cylinder.
The CF Moto 650 GT in a corner
The 650GT is also nice when it comes to going fast, although the acceleration is less straightforward than on the lighter 13 kg MT or the lighter 23 kg NK.
Testing the CF Moto 650 GT on small roads
With its maximum torque at 7,000 rpm and available everywhere, it is not necessary to push to the red zone. By increasing the gears to 8,000 rpm, we constantly find ourselves in the high curve..
Highway
Head on the fast roads along the Western Freeway to Ballarat, the state’s largest city inland. Protection is excellent thanks to this adjustable screen, which will however have to be handled with two hands to be able to adjust it to a height of 50 mm thanks to two plastic knobs. A pair of hand guards wouldn’t have been too much. After crossing Ballarat I started exploring the roads connecting the small towns of Victoria before finally taking the Calder Freeway back to Melbourne.
The CF Moto 650 GT in a straight line
She is capable of cruising all day at 120 km / h with the tachometer needle planted at 5,900 rpm, or just over half of the way to the red zone. A cruising speed of 160 km / h is also possible, if you operate on a German motorway, the motorcycle always remaining stable and the suitcases not generating any disturbance. At these speeds, the screen protects effectively, at least for the 1m80 pilot. The top speed of 200 km / h is reached at 8,400 rpm. The bike will not go any further and anyway it behaves better at lower speeds..
Cycle part
Regarding handling, the front suspension is very well tuned and remains flexible enough to absorb the worst bumps encountered in the bush including on the angle and at high speed. But like on the 650MT, the rear shock did not convince me with its factory settings. Without a proper wrench on hand, I was unable to change the preload settings .
The wide handlebars provide good leverage that helps take the Gt from one angle to another in the virolos. The pair of Metzeler tires of 17 is also welcome compared to the CST mounts that equipped the NK / TK.
The CF Moto 650 GT on the corner
Braking
Installing J. Juan brakes developed in Spain (but produced in China) offers much more stopping power than the old CF Moto offered. These, like the 650TK, performed well, but did not offer the reassurance that J.Juan two-piston radial calipers provide today by biting their 300mm rotors. 240mm rear and single piston caliper provides extra headroom for carrying a passenger and / or luggage.
The brakes of the CF Moto 650 GT
Consumption
To obtain its Euro4 certification, CF moto switched to a Bosch ECU for its injection system, associated with two UAES 36mm throttle bodies with a single injector per cylinder. In addition to improving fuel economy, a point to be taken into consideration on a motorcycle used for long journeys, the reduction of the latter by 2 mm has also made it possible to gain acceleration and compensate for the performance losses linked to Euro4. With a full tank of 19 liters, I was able to drive 355 km on all types of roads, for an average consumption of 5.33 l / 100km. The reserve indicator light comes on 30 km from the failure..
Riding position on the CF Moto 650 GT
Comfort / Duo
The riding position concocted by Kiska is very comfortable with this low saddle which makes you feel more inside the bike than on the MT. No trace of discomfort after 500 km swallowed in one day. The lumbar support is good and there is enough room for the passenger who will find himself in a higher saddle and has two wide handles. Its footrests are also placed lower and behind compared to the MT, providing more comfort for long runs. In addition, the handlebars mounted on aluminum saddles are ideally designed, curved just enough to the rear to be comfortable and straight..
The side cases of the CF Moto 650 GT
Conclusion
The fact that CF Moto fitted Metzeler tires, a Bosch ECU, Continental ABS and J.Juan brakes allows the brand to move upmarket while also reassuring on the quality of the components, while managing to maintain an affordable price..
With an increasing build quality and a stronger identity thanks to the Kiska Design style, in particular this now distinctive blue color of the brand, the CF Moto 650GT is also a pleasant and efficient motorcycle than a motorcycle costing twice as much with half the style. The thousands of 650 twins sold by CF Moto on Western markets have proven their reliability, the main point of concern which seems to have given satisfaction today. As well designed as its MT sister, this Chinese-made mid-capacity roadster could well be the one that will break through in Western markets, especially thanks to this price. Finally, a Chinese manufacturer seems to prioritize quality over price and has developed a consistent pair of motorcycles with good value for money to cover both facets of the touring market..
The CF Moto 650 GT in Australia
Anyone considering the purchase of a Kawasaki Ninja 650 may be hesitant, with this model being 1,000 euros cheaper, or lean for a second-hand Kawa. The last point of hesitation will lie in the distribution network and the guarantee of having a dealer knowledgeable about the machine to provide maintenance. But here we arrive at a model that is now more than credible on the road market..
Strong points
- Driving comfort
- Marked style
- Price-quality ratio
- Smooth, linear motor
Weak points
- Not imported into France for the moment
- Rear shock absorber
The technical sheet of the CF Moto 650 GT
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