A week in the saddle of the CFMOTO 450SRS

Chaps! Here’s our 450.. Use it every day, get your friends to ride it – and tell us what you think! That was the friendly marketing man from CFMOTO South Africa when he dropped the bike at our offices…

Deon grabbed it and took off to call on dealers, Pete then ran it home and back every evening and we roped our mate Michelle Leppan, who usually rides a KTM Superduke for a day in the saddle. We even took it to the track and spent a few slippery laps before taking the bike back. At the end of it all, we can tell you that this is one versatile, fun to ride machine.

Gorgeous!

Absolutely – just look at it! It drips carbon fibre detailing, that single sided swingarm, the beautiful TFT display – all the little details that are fitted as standard, man – it’s so well specced.

Brembo brakes, ABS, traction control all in a really appealing package.

Check the winglets, the sculpted tank, the beautifully tailored seat… all quality components.

The 450 gets gold anodised 37mm USD separate-function KYB fork with adjustable compression and rebound damping, a single-sided swingarm that looks so trick, and an underslung exhaust for that MotoGP look.

Then there’s the traction control, a welcome inclusion for newer riders along with a one-way quick-shifter.

The engine:

It’s not over the top, a parallel twin that focuses more on low down and midrange rather than out and out horsepower. 47 HP is the claimed figure and that horsepower gives a very user friendly spread of power – especially for day to day use.

Sporty?

Absolutely! But not over the top sporty. Other bikes in this class are definitely more track focussed, particularly in the aggressive riding position. CFMOTO has delivered a bike that is comfortable and fun for the everyday commute as well as that crack around the track.

The peg-to-seat ratio is generous, even for bigger riders and the clip-ons give it a sporty, but comfortable stance.

The tank shape is excellent, allowing you to really lock in with your knees and it’s comfy for long stints. The fairing is well designed too. At full tuck, you feel isolated from the wind, with lots of space to get under the screen for a few extra km/h down the straights.

She easily gobbles the traffic and likes to be opened up a bit – you’ll quickly see speeds in excess of the 160KPH mark.

Handling is as expected, the geometry is good – it turns in predictably, holds a line, and feels stable on corner entry and mid-turn. It’s not as flickable as a pure old-school small capacity sportsbike, but the steering is light enough to flick side to side with ease. The forks are set to the soft side, but remember, the suspension is adjustable, so you can spend time setting her up to what you prefer.

The bike weighs in at 179kg wet, slightly heavier than its Japanese competitor, but you’ll be hard pressed to feel that extra weight on track or road.