Having Fun On The CFMOTO 450 NK

The Little Naked Bike That Can

The first thing that came to mind when I fired the bike up and whizzed down the street, grinning like an idiot, was Napoleon. The CFMOTO 450 NK is a small bike with a very big-bike complex… and, as I was about to discover, it has every right to have one.

By Deon VDL.

Starting up the 449.5cc, two-cylinder, water-cooled, DOHC engine, it rumbles into life like a grumpy ogre that’s been asleep for a few years and isn’t particularly happy about being woken up.

This is where the Napoleon idea popped into my head for the first time. The 450 NK sounds seriously cool. In fact, if you heard it running without seeing the bike, you probably wouldn’t guess you’re listening to a 450cc machine. It has a deeper, bigger-bike sound that gives you the first hint that this little naked bike might have a rather large opinion of itself.

With 38kW and 40Nm of torque, there is more than enough shove to make the most of that lightweight chassis. You certainly won’t be hanging around when the traffic lights change, and getting safely away from the pesky four-wheeled brigade is no problem at all. In fact, with a bike this light and responsive, you might find yourself looking for gaps in the traffic just because you can. When the road opens up, the 450 NK accelerates so nicelly. We saw a top speed of 164km/h.

The wet multi plate, slipper clutch six-speed gearbox is smooth and easy to work through, with a nice positive feel as you click through the gears. There is no quickshifter fitted, and while I would certainly like to feel what this engine and gearbox are like with one, you have to remember that adding more kit also adds to the price. For a motorcycle aimed at giving you plenty of bike for your money, I’m quite happy to keep changing gears the old-fashioned way, left foot up, left foot down, and get on with riding.

The 450 NK rolls on 17-inch alloy wheels, with a 110/70 R17 front tyre and 150/60 R17 rear. The combination suits the bike perfectly, helping keep the steering light and the handling nimble without sacrificing stability. On the road, the tyres give plenty of confidence when you’re leaning the NK into a corner, and they work nicely with the bike’s lightweight chassis.

The 450 NK’s brakes are just fine for a bike in this class. Up front you get a 320mm single disc with a radially mounted two-piston J.Juan caliper, while the rear gets a 220mm single disc with a single-piston caliper. There is also dual-channel ABS as standard.

Out on the road, the brakes work well. There’s a good feel at the lever, plenty of stopping power and, importantly, they don’t feel grabby or overworked. The light weight of the bike certainly helps here, but even when you’re carrying some speed, the brakes give you the confidence to slow things down quickly, all under control. They’re not trying to be fancy, they simply do the job, and they do it well.

At just 173kg wet and with a 1,370mm wheelbase, the 450 NK is a seriously light, nimble motorcycle. It changes direction with very little effort, making it easy to tip into a corner, hold the line and then power out the other side. Even during our photoshoots, where you spend half your time pushing and turning the bike around to get the right shot, the 450 NK felt remarkably easy to manoeuvre.

The 450 NK uses 37mm upside-down front forks and a rear monoshock. Overall the setup works well when you’re riding a tad enthusiastically. That said, I did find the suspension a little on the firm side over some of our typically bumpy South African roads. It isn’t uncomfortable, but when the surface gets rough, you definitely know about it. On smoother roads, however, the firm setup helps keep the bike composed and contributes to that light, nimble feeling. We reckon that this bike would be a blast around the track.

One of the things I really like about the 450 NK is how naturally I fit into the bike. It genuinely feels like it was built with someone my size in mind. My knees sit perfectly into the natural fold of the 14L tank, giving the rider a really secure and comfortable position without feeling cramped or forced.

The seating position is another big plus. There isn’t excessive pressure on my knees, while the bars and overall riding position keep you upright enough that you’re not constantly loading your wrists or leaning over the front like you would on a sportsbike. This makes a difference when you are spending a decent amount of time in the saddle. The 450 NK feels sporty enough to have some fun with, but comfortable enough that you can ride it for much longer without your body starting to complain.

For me, that’s one of the 450 NK’s biggest strengths. It’s not just a small bike that happens to make decent power, it feels like a proper motorcycle that happens to fit me really well.

The 450 NK gets bright LED lighting front and rear, while the TFT display is bright, clear and easy to read, even when you’re riding in strong South African sunshine. Connect the bike to the CFMOTO App and you get useful extras including navigation, access to your phone calls and music. There are no fancy rider modes to scroll through and no endless menus to get lost in. It’s a refreshingly simple system that gives you the stuff you’re actually likely to use without overcomplicating things, everything you need and not much you don’t.

Where we went:

In addition to using this bike as a day to day commuter, we took a great ride out to Diamond Hill venue on the road towards Rayton and Cullinan. Directly next door to the famous Legends Adventure Park, the Komma Coffee shop serves a great milkshake! It’s a great stop!

Look them up right here. Komma Koek en Koffee

Five Most Asked Questions About the CFMOTO 450 NK

Is the CFMOTO 450 NK a good everyday motorcycle?

Yes. Its comfortable riding position, manageable 173 kg wet weight and smooth 449.5cc twin make it an easy bike to live with every day. It is light enough for town, but has enough performance to have plenty of fun on the open road. We’d love tro take it to the track sometime!

Is the 450 NK fast enough?

With 38 kW at 9,500 rpm and 40 Nm at 7,750 rpm, there is plenty of performance for the real world. It has enough punch to get you away from traffic quickly and enough top-end excitement to keep things interesting when the road opens up. Accelleration is just right and we saw a top sped of 164 KPH.

Is the 450 NK comfortable for longer rides?

Very much so. The riding position isn’t aggressively leaned forward like a sportsbike, and the tank shape lets your knees sit naturally into the bike. For a rider my size, it fits particularly well and doesn’t put unnecessary strain on my knees. The suspension is on the firm side over rougher roads, but on smoother roads the NK is a very comfortable place to spend time.

Does the CFMOTO 450 NK have rider modes or a quickshifter?

No. The NK keeps things relatively simple. There are no selectable rider modes and there is no quickshifter. You do get useful technology such as the TFT display and CFMOTO App connectivity for navigation, calls and music. Personally, I would enjoy trying the 450 NK with a quickshifter, but keeping it off the bike probably helps CFMOTO keep the price where it needs to be.

Is the CFMOTO 450 NK good in corners?

This is one of the bike’s strong points. At just 173 kg wet and with a 1,370 mm wheelbase, the NK feels light, nimble and very easy to throw into a corner. The chassis, brakes and tyres give you plenty of confidence, while the twin-cylinder engine has enough grunt to drive you out of the corner with a smile on your face.

The Final Word

So, after spending some proper time with the CFMOTO 450 NK, I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by just how much motorcycle you get for your money. It is light, nimble, comfortable and has an engine that gives you enough performance to keep a big grin on your face. And then there is the sound, that twin-cylinder engine has a proper, enjoyable note that seems to spread that grin right across your face and turn it into a full-blown smile. It isn’t trying to be a full-blown sportsbike, nor is it overloaded with electronic trickery. Instead, it gets the basics right and does them very well.

For me, the biggest compliment came when it was time to load the NK up and send it back. I personally had a tough time getting the bike onto the back of the bakkie because, quite honestly, I wasn’t ready to give it back. That says a lot more about the 450 NK than any specification sheet ever could. It’s an easy bike to ride, but more importantly, it’s a bike that makes you want to ride it, and for me, that’s what a good motorcycle is all about.

For as little as R114,900.00 the 450 NK is definitely worth it. So, go check it out at your Local CFMOTO Dealer.

Spec Sheet.