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7000 Km owners review on the new CFmoto 650MT
7000 Km owners review on the new CFmoto 650MT
This review is not about the bike specification and not to talk about switches and stuff like that, all this stuff you can find on the internet.
With over 70.000 km covered on the TR-G will "0" problems, it was time to move on to a lighter bike.
I found the TR-G hard work loaded up travelling through out China in General.
So with the MT being nearly 50 Kg lighter and I was very happy with the TR-G, so my expectation was going to be high with the MT.
When I viewed the new MT at its launch last year, my first impression was "Ho no you have it so wrong".
Yes, it's a good looking bike, but the public needs a bit more than let's say the Versys or the Honda CB500X has.
Some nice 19"/17" spoked wheels would have been nice.
Center Stand would have been great.
And the Shad rear Boxs just stick out too far IMO.
After my visit to the CFmoto open day a few weeks ago, viewing the MT on display with some nice Alliumiuim rear boxes, I started to re-think about purchasing the MT.
With the arrival of the MT, it was time to start ordering all the new bits from CF/Taobao to spec the bike up to my requirements.
No need to list all the bits added you can view them from the pictures posted.
Over the last 7000km, I have travelled on Toll roads at high speed and hits loads of bad pot holed roads and hit the twisties stuff trying to keep up with BikerDoc lol.
All that I had hoped for light turns in, handles the bad roads well, just need to change the tyres to some MT60 or Continental TKC 70 tyres, then the bike will be spot on IMO.
So far I have been impressed with the bike.
With 18L of fuel, CF quotes a range of 400KM?
Over the last 7000 km, I find that a bit on the high side and one should work on 320km combine riding and only 250km on constant high speed riding on the toll roads.
One good point is the speedo reading is spot on, I mean no errors read 150kmn and my GPS shows 150kmh.
We have a saying in the UK "THINGS" come in "3" Buses, Taxi, Trains, and bad stuff?
Well with the MT it was 4.
1. On my trip down to Ningbo on the Toll road, after about 450km I notices when in 6th gear, the gear indicator read out started to change for 1 to 6 all by its self?
Am I really doing 150kmh in 1st gear lol?
No problem its only a read out no big thing.
2. With in a day of this problem the speedo readout stopped?
Doing 100 kmh it had "0" speed showing?
This was I bit more of a problem with so much as the trip meter and total km covered stop as well, meaning I had no way to check for fuel range.
As I was just across the river from CFmoto factory I decided to arrange to take my bike to them to sort out.
I do have a relationship with CF so this option is not open to most other owners.
CF was aware of these 2 problems and 2 new sensors were fitted and free coffee and food were made available by CF.
A new Hi-Viz CFmoto jackets were presented to me with profound apologies.
Thanks, CF great customer service.
3. After getting back to Ningbo to do some more mountain road riding with BikerDoc, we headed out to the wind Turbine farm area at the top of some mountains.
Parking the bike on some grass area, I was finding the ground uneven so I and the Doc were trying to position the bikes better when the Doc needed to kick the bike out of gear.
Woops said the Doc the gear lever has just broken lol
Well, he does have a BMW, made better and stronger lol.
I was 40km away from Ningbo and the closest CFmoto dealer and the time was 5 pm.
Made a call to my Contact at CF and it was arranged for the Ningbo shop to remove the part I needed from a new bike in its showroom.
And the owner would stay until we arrived, with some zip-ties we got the lever back on and was only good to find 2nd gear.
Made it to the shop ok owner had the new part ready and back on the road in 15 mins.
Big thanks to the shop owner and to CF once again.
To be fair to CF I must point out that I fitted an after market longer gear foot lever, which was made and sold by CF.
IMO that is the problems, the extra long gear lever put more pressure on the connection rod fixing bolt.
And I think if you keep to the OE lever this problem would not happen.
IMO it's just a short sight on CF part.
On asking my contact at CF if there was aware of this problem, I was told that this part would only have broken if I dropped the bike.
Not happy with this commit but TIC and I am sure there will soon find out if other people buy and fit the new gear lever from CF "IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN".
Now I am getting a bit disappointed with the bike, to say the least.
4. This is the one that has pissed me off the most???
With washing the bike today and watching a video on Youku about the new MT.
I realized that something was not right with my rear shock.
The rear shock has a rebound adjustment screw, but on my bike, it's facing inwards.
On the video and viewing pictures of other MT, the rebound red screw is facing outwards for easy access.
Not sure if it matters which way it goes round but mine is around the wrong way.
I have called my contact at CF today and I am waiting for a response.
I just hope they don't say this can only happen if you have a crash. lol
Why am I more pissed off about this than the other 3 problems.?
What happens to the final inspection, how could there miss this.
There must check 100s of bikes a day and how could you not notice the big red screw missing?
I was going to give the MT 8/10, but now sorry CF you down to 6/10.
It looks like CF made a big step forward with the TR-G and 5 steps back with the MT.
Final word bang goes my contact with CF now.
Pictures will follow on next post
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Re: 7000 Km owners review on the new CFmoto 650MT
Thanks of the report, was very interesting. Made me thinking will they ever learn :lol8:
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Re: 7000 Km owners review on the new CFmoto 650MT
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Re: 7000 Km owners review on the new CFmoto 650MT
Pictures off faulty Gear indicator
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Pictures off faulty Grear lever showing the point of the break, this item is a longer lever sold and made by CF as an add on
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Re: 7000 Km owners review on the new CFmoto 650MT
Pictures of the rear shock fitted around the wrong way, with the 2nd picture shown clearly that the RED rebound adjustment screw should be facing outwards
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Re: 7000 Km owners review on the new CFmoto 650MT
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A gear lever does not break but just might bend if
A) the metal is not casted poorly
B) correct material with sufficient yield strength is applied
C) in case of welding the seam has sufficient fusion and Penetration
I have dropped soon many bikes with casted and welded gear levers and twisted them partly 90degree. But not one was broken.
For the bike itself your description tells me that their QA processes are immature.
Besides that, the described differences between TR and MT indicate a unsecured cost reduction approach. Let's wait and see what else is going to come on these bikes
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Just now I could see the pics from gear lever. Clearly a material problem. A good quality M6 screw u will not be able to break with your foot power
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The setup with AL paniers looks good 👍
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Re: 7000 Km owners review on the new CFmoto 650MT
Quote:
TR and MT indicate a unsecured cost reduction approach
This point I think you are spot on.
No problem with the TR-G Gear sensor and the Speedo sensor.
So it must come down to CF trying to cut cost with their manufacturers
Cheaper parts means more faulty parts IMO
Attachment 19634
Interesting to see when I got the new gear sensor it did have a new part number?
Yes, the new rear panniers with top loading I do like very much, after having to put up with the shad TR and TR-G side loading ones which were never water tight.
Interesting that the new boxes are 32 L and the Shad are 32 L but I can get more shit into the Top loading ones then I could get into the Shad side loading ones
The measurement across the handle bars is 900 mm with the hand guards on.
The OE bike with the Shad box is 980mm.
The new set up is 800mm across the back.
And only 850mm to the outside of the rear crash bars I fitted.
Spot on IMO.
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Looks also much more ADV style with AL paniers. Same volume doesn't means same packing suitability 😀
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Re: 7000 Km owners review on the new CFmoto 650MT
I have found the top loading boxes a lot easy to load and unload then side loads ones.
I have fitted some dry bags inside so I can lift the bags out if needed.
A good Mid size true ADV bike is spot on for China IMO.
The Kawasaki 650 Versys and the Honda CB500X are no better than the MT in way of ADV riding capabilities IMO and cost a shit load more here in China.
As you know I own a Honda CRF250L in Thailand and consider myself a capable rider off-road.
With a set of 60/40 tyres fitted to the MT, it will do as much as I want it to be able to handle.
So for now for me its the best option available at a cost.
Now the new 2017 Suzuki V-Strom 650 XT, yes a nice bit of kit and leaves the MT in the dust.
If you want to play you need to pay in China.
Link......http://www.visordown.com/road-tests-...-650-xt-review
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Re: 7000 Km owners review on the new CFmoto 650MT
Roll bag is on my shopping list, but unsure of what kind of roll bag should buy. Top loader would be more comfy, but side loaded could be better in that it is more simple.
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Re: 7000 Km owners review on the new CFmoto 650MT
Do you guys know whether similar bags available for TR-G as well?
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Re: 7000 Km owners review on the new CFmoto 650MT
Hi Alex
The bags I have are designed for top loading boxes.?
But I see no reason why you can use them for the TR-G.
Just look on Taobao mate.
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Re: 7000 Km owners review on the new CFmoto 650MT
Update on rear Shock fitted around the wrong way on the production line.?
It was arranged by CFmoto for me to take my MT to the nearest dealer, which was about 130km away from my location.
On arriving at the dealer's showroom, I was impressed, the big new showroom filled up with all sorts of new bikes.
Then I see the workshop, well sorry can't call it a work shop as such, just some little add on the side.
The owner tried to make some space to get my MT in, and then he gets to work on switching around the rear shock.
Then the hard bit lol trying to find the correct tools to do the job.
With me watching with a close eye he tries to remove the shock without first removing some on the side panels.
I did mention to him it would be best to remove some bits first.
But this just fell on deaf ears.
After a few minutes, the penny dropped and then to my delight he then removed the items I told him to remove.
Normally I would do this type of stuff, but I am on a ride just now and I don't have my garage at hand.
The job was completed in a timely manner and I was happy with what was done.
The owner did ask if I needed some other work sorted out, to which I explained I was not sure if he had the tools available lol.
I am sure in time the penny will drop and a nice new showroom doesn't make you a good dealer.
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Re: 7000 Km owners review on the new CFmoto 650MT
Thanks of the pics, fascinating to see motorcycling TIC things :lol8:
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Re: 7000 Km owners review on the new CFmoto 650MT
My riding buddy's new 650MT just had his long distance headlight fail. Bike has around 5000km on it.
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Re: 7000 Km owners review on the new CFmoto 650MT
Quote:
Originally Posted by
stevenade
My riding buddy's new 650MT just had his long distance headlight fail. Bike has around 5000km on it.
And there are LED which should last a lfe time.
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Re: 7000 Km owners review on the new CFmoto 650MT
I just came into a 650MT and the gear lever screw also failed just like Prince's.
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Re: 7000 Km owners review on the new CFmoto 650MT
In the motobike game it's called "A weak link" LOL
Replaced mine and keep 2 more just in case?
Only 5 mins to fix.
Great news about the bike.
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Re: 7000 Km owners review on the new CFmoto 650MT
Quote:
Originally Posted by
prince666
In the motobike game it's called "A weak link" LOL
Replaced mine and keep 2 more just in case?
Only 5 mins to fix.
Great news about the bike.
Achilles heel?
:naughty:
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Re: 7000 Km owners review on the new CFmoto 650MT
Quote:
Originally Posted by
bikerdoc
Achilles heel?
:naughty:
Every make and model have some form of "Achilles heel" even BMW I do hear.
:naughty::naughty::riding::riding:
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Re: 7000 Km owners review on the new CFmoto 650MT
I've had my MT for a few months.. 7,800KM.. So.. my gear position indicator would go crazy when in the wet.. This problem has sorted itself out.. Surprised about the gear lever snapping, it looks like a fairly heavy duty casting.. When I picked it up in Ningbo, the windscreen was short of a couple of mounting bolts.. So they took those off one in the showroom... I've not changed the longer lever, I have 46 sized feet (they seem to keep growing) and the lever is okay.. Gear changing can sometimes be very sticky.. I guess the selector forks need to run in................The stock rear boxes are good for a helmet each which is handy and they hook on and off well. They have also saved the bike as I have fallen over a few times (both sides) when at standstill or just maneuvering it. I must admit the alcohol may have something to do with this. Their stock bramble protectors for your hands that mount on the handlebars are crap.. They have a plastic arm that connects to the mirror.. This means if you tighten them down too much the plastic breaks and if you don't tighten them down the mirrors flop about all over the place.. So I made a couple of steel brackets.. Problem solved..
The fuel level indicator has never worked on my bike.. AT 80km it reads empty which is really annoying.. So I have been zeroing the trip indicator each time I fuel up and then refilling at 250-300km.. (they say it has a 300km range). I've been bitching with the Ningbo shop about this and today they admitted there was a design fault which the factory is sorting out... HOWEVER.. I've been going over some frigging horrible roads just recently and it seems to have shocked the thing into working properly!.
They've located the footpegs at least an inch too high so you're scrunched up a lot of the time. They could be up to 2" lower. Presently it's impossible to ground these out cornering and anyone who knows me knows I corner.......
The most most most fucking dangerous thing about the bike is the Metzeler Road Tec rear tire.. They come standard with the bike.. The first tire split between the treads.. About 1" long.. Then a 16mm bolt lying on the road went right through the tread... 2,000km and the tire was a write off.. I put another Metzeler on the rear and it's also split between the threads.. Luckily I was turning at the junction. A slight POP and no air within a second.
I've been riding bikes for a while, about 43 years and once I had run this one in and let the dog off the leash doing some serious cornering I could feel the bike was "all over the place".. The rubber on these metzelers is incredibly thin.. I mean incredibly thin, both in between the threads and also on the walls.. They must have engineered the crap out of these to get them so thin. The bottom line is they are fucking dangerous. If they haven't already killed someone, they will, 100%.. I really recommend you take your rear tires off and replace them with something more substantial.. If you want to stay alive...They are seriously dangerous.
The good thing about the MT is it uses BOSCH electrics instead of the "ducati" crap that was on the previous MT bikes.
I bought this bike because Doc coerced me into buying a 250 jetmax.. At 80K km it's still going strong, though a lot of bearings need replacing presently and the engine is either leaking oil or burning it.. The CF boys in Ningbo have moved to a new location and won't be able to do anything for me on this for 2 weeks or so.. But CF do make good bikes and the MT is going through some stupid teething problems.... So I'd rate it 8/10 for it is what it is..
But for GODS SAKE, get rid of the metzeler on the back end...
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Re: 7000 Km owners review on the new CFmoto 650MT
CF SCREWS NUTS AND BOLTS... Their quality control on these is terrible.. It's a major problem and they do snap.. The problem is they are so fucking hard you cannot drill and tap them out...
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Re: 7000 Km owners review on the new CFmoto 650MT
Hi Jons
Thanks for adding your review on YOUR bike.
Tyres?
Try the Pirelli scorpion MT60 RS tyres, great all-around tyre BUT don't last long?
Or try the Pirelli scorpion trail 2?
Very good tyre with good mileage
Back..... 12.000 Km +
Front ..... 20.000 Km +
with over 45.000 Km covered now, still love the bike and I am nuts about the NUTS lol.
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Re: 7000 Km owners review on the new CFmoto 650MT
Just saw this review:eekers:
Maybe it's time I do a write up of my Benelli TRK502X, 7,000km on the clock now with absolutely no problems, and I'm not sparing the horses either:riding:
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Re: 7000 Km owners review on the new CFmoto 650MT
That would be good.
I be intrested to read a review on the overweight 502X
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Re: 7000 Km owners review on the new CFmoto 650MT
Quote:
Originally Posted by
prince666
That would be good.
I be intrested to read a review on the overweight 502X
Coming soon, I already started on the article.