CFMoto NK650 Impressions

[ZMC888]

I met I guy called 'Cowboy' today who let me have a quick spin on his NK650. He has some kind of friendship with CFMOTO, and is a semi-pro stunt rider for them, He and his friends make stunt videos, speak OK English and are likable guys, they hang about on http://www.moto8.com/. They said the bike is registrable in Shandong province for 1000RMB, and that they can source the bike for 30,000RMB, less than the advertized 37,000RMB.

cfmoto-cb650nk-1.jpg

First I had a look at the bike, a tangerine and white colored CF, looked a bit like a cross between a Kawasaki Ninja 650 or ER6 and a KTM Duke. After I started it I noticed was that the engine noise was very loud, not particularly from the pipe, but a massive clatter from the valves, pistons and cams. Although this must be normal operation. I was impressed when I sat on the bike all the levers hand and foot grips were in the right places, a nice city 'supermoto' style riding position just my style, no racer wannabe or cruiser couch, slightly more dynamic than a CBF500 with the hands and similar foot position. Finding first gear was easy, as the road was cold and dusty I put the machine in 2nd gear fairly early and took her through the power bands in 2nd. Well there is nothing missing from the machine here, she pulled up toward red line nicely and I had to back off early due to a few old women wobbling around on ancient ebikes on the wrong side of the road carrying vegetables. The brakes came in nicely and gave me the same capable stopping power that you'd expect on a Japanese middleweight street bike of this kind which is very impressive on a China bike.

The bike is on first impressions nearly as good as a Japanese bike of the same kind, albeit slightly less refined. So now I'm split on one side I want to take the gamble. Just my kind of bike, a 650 twin with a regular riding position, ideal, and for a good price. A bike China and Chinese bikers can be proud of, yes it's openly a Kawasaki copy, but it proves China can make something a bit more than a potato carrier. If CFMOTO sell quite a few it helps the Chinese economy and makes bike bans and big bike bans less likely. On the other hand I worry about all those noisy internals. If I buy one will I be bombarded by niggles because the bike hasn't been R&D'd properly? Will the bike develop some problem that can't be fixed after a few years when I'm out of warranty? Would CFMOTO help me out?