Underrated Motorcycle That’s Worth Every Penny

Chinese products have long been viewed negatively. For the most part, any item that comes with a “Made in China” tag is generally considered to be of lower quality than options made elsewhere. This largely depends on the quantity of products produced by China, with quality often coming second to quantity. In the past, this certainly applied to the Chinese motorcycle industry. But, like the automotive sector, Chinese motorcycles have improved significantly over the years, and some bikes are actually underrated.

The Chinese motorcycle revolution is upon us

Until about a decade ago, most Chinese motorcycle manufacturers were more or less content to produce millions of single-cylinder bikes for the domestic market. Attempts to enter foreign markets were often futile, and almost always customers were disappointed by the overall quality of the product and the complete lack of after-sales support. This all changed when the Chinese government intervened.

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A lot of business in China is made up of government subsidies, and while they certainly don’t pay for everything, there’s no denying the fact that the companies that have gotten help are the same companies that have gained a foothold in foreign markets. Some manufacturers acquired defunct old brands (especially those with Italian names) to help with branding, but it’s CFMoto that has really taken the world by storm with a selection of bikes that offer impressive value.

The CFMoto 675NK is a sub-$8,000 model that deserves more attention

MSRP: $7,499

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You could probably walk into a CFMoto showroom, swing a cat, and stumble across seven bikes that offer more value than any of their competitors. There is currently at least one model being sold in every major motorcycle segment, but the bike that really stands out is the $7,499 675NK. The Sport Bike version has been on sale for a while, and certainly has a lot to offer, but the naked bike has been hiding under the radar. At this price point, it’s really rivaling established competitors in the segment with tons of features and a powerful triple.

Home-built triple features based on a proven platform

Power: 95 hp

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For a time, CFMoto manufactured the old Kawasaki 650 engine under license and fitted it to several different motorcycles. It gave way to the more powerful LC8c parallel-twin, which the brand was given the rights to manufacture due to its partnership with KTM. But, this triple is not a licensed design, nor is it a copy. Like the 450cc twin, which is very similar to the Yamaha CP2, this triple was certainly inspired by the old Triumph 675 (and by extension the modern 660 version), but it is quite different internally, with a different bore and stroke.

An ideal street bike powertrain

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Although this engine may have made its global debut in the 675SS sport bike, it certainly makes somewhat more sense in the naked bike version. Theoretically, with the triple, you get the best of both worlds in the sense that it has the top-end performance of an inline-four and the low-end grunt of a twin. In practice, it’s much like any modern middleweight, with most of its torque arriving at around 3,000 RPM. In the real world, where speed limits exist, this is ideal, and you won’t notice the odd flat spot at around 9,000 rpm!

675NK offers unmatched value

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Somewhat surprisingly, the 675NK doesn’t get a ride-by-wire throttle. Although at this price you do lose out on some nice features like cruise control and ride modes, it’s fair that the cost needs to be cut somewhere, and the features you get are still extremely impressive. ABS and traction control (which is adjustable) are both present. You also get a quickshifter (top only) and a TFT dash that includes a tire pressure monitor.

In some respects, it’s an odd mix of features compared to other brands, but looking at it objectively, the cable-activated throttle feels more connected. That said, very few manufacturers have mastered the art of fueling in the Euro5+ era, and CFMoto is not one of them. The steel tubular chassis isn’t much to write home about, but it’s quite light, and the overall weight of the bike is kept down to just 417 pounds. This makes it a fun city bike that will double as a canyon carver on the weekend. Arguably, its greatest asset is its fully adjustable KYB suspension both front and rear, which is a rare feature at this end of the market, and a real point of difference.

However, there is some room for improvement

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The odd flat spot near the top of the rev range and the snatchy throttle aren’t the only concerns. Question marks still loom over long-term reliability. The only other CFMoto-designed engine that has been around for some time is the 450cc parallel-twin, and in other markets, it has started to show signs of decline once it’s out of warranty. The general skepticism towards Chinese brands also doesn’t do anything for resale value.

Subjectively speaking, we quite like its ultra-modern design, and while it still retains some “Transformers” elements, it still works. Unfortunately, the build quality isn’t on par with the Japanese rivals it’s competing with, nor are the finishing touches, for that matter. It still feels “cheap”, but that’s because it is. For the right buyer who is willing to accept the bike for what it is, it presents itself as a genuine middleweight bargain that certainly stands out from the crowd. It’s just a commitment to make, and we highly recommend getting an extended warranty if available.

CHASSIS, SUSPENSION, AND WEIGHT SPECIFICATIONS

Source: cfmoto