Arrival of the CF Moto 650TR

[Nuhaus]

And so? :) Hoping to see a longer review after the first 1000k, for now, some quick questions.

What was your final price after freight & taxes? How difficult was it to get plates? And more importantly, how is the initial ride / power? I'm very seriously considering this bike and the Benelli. Hoping to hear some positive comments from you soon, and more pics without the plastic bags and boxes! :)

[ZMC888]

And so? :) Hoping to see a longer review after the first 1000k, for now, some quick questions.

What was your final price after freight & taxes? How difficult was it to get plates? And more importantly, how is the initial ride / power? I'm very seriously considering this bike and the Benelli. Hoping to hear some positive comments from you soon, and more pics without the plastic bags and boxes! :)

+1 We need a decent review of this bike.

[MJH]

Cfmoto uses Ducati Energia EFI and electric controls….
http://www.ducatienergia.com/eng/prodotto.php?id=40


Not sure if that is what is used on the 650, but it is what is on the 150cc CF-150 models and also the scooters they offer.


That’s a private company not a joint venture and it has probably some of the most sophisticated products offered in china.

They are also in some way involved with Malaguti...
http://www.malaguti.com/en-US/Home.aspx

Makes you wonder does VW AG realizes that they do not have an exclusive on the Ducati name?
Which also raises the question…do Ducati Motorcycle use Ducati Energia controls? They may or may not and VW AG does not own that do they?


So when you see Ducati as the name on the EFI what preconception do you form?


Interesting…then consider that Ducati Energia has or does it posses more or less knowledge?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ducati_Energia




They split into two and in that still have the right to the name?

[felix]

Eagerly waiting for more on this bike! I guess you're first MCM owner of a CFmoto 650, be it NK or TR, so we're all pretty impatient to see how you get on. Thanks for taking the plunge, hope it goes well for you!

[Nuhaus]

Went by a new (to me) shop on Wuzhong lu today. They were advertising the TR @ 46800. Too much for my taste. Wondering what the version with fairings offers that makes it worth so much more.

[ZMC888]

Went by a new (to me) shop on Wuzhong lu today. They were advertising the TR @ 46800. Too much for my taste. Wondering what the version with fairings offers that makes it worth so much more.

That's also too close to 50,000RMB for me too.

Cfmoto uses Ducati Energia EFI and electric controls…. http://www.ducatienergia.com/eng/prodotto.php?id=40 Not sure if that is what is used on the 650, but it is what is on the 150cc CF-150 models and also the scooters they offer. That’s a private company not a joint venture and it has probably some of the most sophisticated products offered in china. They are also in some way involved with Malaguti... http://www.malaguti.com/en-US/Home.aspx Makes you wonder does VW AG realizes that they do not have an exclusive on the Ducati name? Which also raises the question…do Ducati Motorcycle use Ducati Energia controls? They may or may not and VW AG does not own that do they? So when you see Ducati as the name on the EFI what preconception do you form? Interesting…then consider that Ducati Energia has or does it posses more or less knowledge? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ducati_Energia They split into two and in that still have the right to the name?

I think this is just an outsourced manufacturing company, might be owned under the Ducati Umbrella, might not be. Not so unusual is it. 220px-Bosch-brand.svg.png Bosch for example:

Bosch's core products are automotive components (including brakes, controls, electrical drives, electronics, fuel systems, generators, starter motors and steering systems), industrial products (including drives and controls, packaging technology and solar panels) and consumer goods and building products (including household appliances, power tools, security systems and thermotechnology)

Or Brembo 9985.png1961-2011: 50 YEARS OF HISTORY AND INNOVATION

2011 was a major milestone for Brembo, as the company celebrated 50 years of business studded with extraordinary technological, sporting and commercial successes. On January 11 1961, Emilio Bombassei and Italo Breda founded Officine Meccaniche di Sombreno, the original progenitor of today's Brembo. Already with them was the current group president Alberto Bombassei, who was just twenty years old at the time. Marzocchi, Nissin, the list goes on......

I think it doesn't matter who owns them, they'll supply the industry with the components they want.

[felix]

Wondering what the version with fairings offers that makes it worth so much more.

Yes, that's been on my mind since they released the price too. I was hoping bikerdoc would have answers, but now maybe shanghaifingers will enlighten us! What does this bike have, apart from fairings and cases, that warrants an extra 9000 kuai over the naked version?

Speaking of cases, how do they feel? Would they survive a crash or are they like the flimsy ones that come with the JH600 'adv' ?

[TB-Racing]

Makes you wonder does VW AG realizes that they do not have an exclusive on the Ducati name?
Which also raises the question…do Ducati Motorcycle use Ducati Energia controls? They may or may not and VW AG does not own that do they? ?

G'Day,

Attached a pic of a Ducati Multistrada 1200S ECU, MIJ = Made in Japan by Mitsubishi Electric, did some serious mods on the Duc today and swapped out the ECU to a Ducati Corse one.

[MJH]

Ducati Energia is a wholly owned subsidiary of Finanziaria Generale Felsinea S.p.A, they are offering the EFI system to developing markets.

Firodia Group of Companies and Ducati Energia SpA Launches EFI Lite for Motorcycles Dec 17 10

[Shanghaifingers]

Okay okay okay... I have been off riding the TR or ST 1300's little brother as I call it.

First impressions are good, the bike is smooth, really smooth. The gearbox is slick and easy to shift. The 650 TR feels very well balanced and quite nibble when slotting through traffic. One of my main conserns before the bike arrived (having bought it sight unseen) was its over all dimentions, much to my suprise the bike suits my 1.85 meter frame just fine. My feet are fully planted whiles stopped and my arms are comfortable on the (ugly) handle bars. The riding position is upright, think commuter bike, but the my feet and legs are a bit tucked up under me like a rce bike.

The performance charater is sutble, in the sense that the bikes power delivery comes on nice and easy, without any jurking or lurching. Below 6000rpm the bike can feel underpowered when running with other bikes like ducati's. That all changes past 6000 rpms, the powerband kicks in and the bike starts to move. Even at high RPMs the bike is still smooth almost nothing is felt in the bars or pegs.
Braking is fine, nothing WoW and also nothing to complain about. The bike has dual disk brakes up front which can bring you to a complete stop very quickiy and even though the front supension is plain jane non adujstable there is no real noticable nose dive under heavy braking and the entire bike remain very stable and controllable during emergency breaking and avoiding (tested many times in the last two days TIC).

Interestingly many of you have asked about the price, I don't know what people are complaining about for 46,800 rmb the fair deal for 650 watercooled, fuel injected sport touring bike, considering the next comparable LEGAL bike is in the 100,000 rmb range (I dont include regal raptors or any other smaller displacement bikes). Its not just an NK with a windshield is a differnt model completely it just shares an engine. Hell the plastics are better then Bennelli and the engine is better then the JH 600 (which I also own). Now that being said the bike is a little under equipped. Looking at the dash its analogue both the speedo and the RPM gauge. with only the odometer and fuel gauge being in LCD display in the lower right coner which is backlight when the lights are on. The TR does not have any type of trip computer or even a clock . Indicator lights (idiot lights) are on the outer edge of the inner fairing and are very bright, maybe too bright. On the fairing there is room for speakers, and there are panels that are removable or drillable depending on your choice of installation for a stereo system. A kit is not currently available from CF moto, all though I am told by the production manager in HangZhou they intend on designing and building one for aftermarket sale. There are two glove boxes below the handle bars one that is lockable with the ignition key and the other is unsecured but has a nice postitive latch. They seem to be waterproof but mostlikely they are water resistant. The mirrors are built into the fairing and are well placed and only a small amount of my lower elbow can be seen, they don't viberate much and have good enough visibilty to not be a consern. They are also designed as breakway so if you clip something while driving damage will be minimal and you can just simply pick the unit up and snap it back in place.
The handle bars are Ugly yes but comfy, the designer of the NK definitely used the Honda ST 1300 and the Yamaha FJR 1300 as a guide and the handle bars are a product of this relationship. However they are attached like any other set of bars. Its easy to swap out the bars for a regular set of risers and bars. The controls are the same that are on the NK and they are jsut fine. The clutch and brake levers adjustable and function smoothly.
The seat is a single peice and is quite comfortable even after a few hours, it seems to be softer and thicker then the NK's and its narrow enough at the front for you to grip the tank comfortably while cornering. Now my long legs actually rest on the lower fairing while riding and at first it comfortable because it allows you to fully relax your legs on long straights but after a few hours without knee padding the knee cap can become a little tender. I am not sure why CF moto thought that such an aggressive leg position was needed but I think that lower aftermarket pegs might help with that.

The Head lights are the Automove style incandecent and the parking lights are LED. The brake light is also LED but are a bit dim when NOT lit up under braking, durining braking the lights are very bright. Turnsignals are LED upfront and bulds in the rear, both sets well placed and very bright. No automatic cancel on the signals but big green indicator on the inner fairing left and right respectively.

The side of the bike have these rather large engine guards like on the ST 1300, however they appear to be hollow so I am not sure whether or not they will really help in a crash and I hope I never find out the hard way. They do seem to work quite well as highway bars.....

The boxes are a nice bit of kit, they are none removable and are make of nice thick ABS. The latch and locks are good, not great but good and the each box can fit a full size helmet and then some.
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The boxes are felt lined which is a nice touch. They stick out only as wide as the mirrors so you can lane split through traffic quite easily. The boxes are not ment to take a hit and there is not crach bars either. A stick on the outside indicates that the max load is on 3kgs per bag, which seems a little light to me but therr is a metal subframe supporting the bags which at least indicates to me the possibilty of handling more... A top box will be a must for longer trips or trips 2 up. The boxes are a bit on the small side, as I feel that they could have been much taller, meaning they could extend down more increasing the over all size to accomidate more gear but they seem acceptable for most occasions.

All in all the bike is great, for now.... only time will tell how she will hold up and how well the CF moto company supports its customers and products. SO far the CF moto group has high marks from its customers and the NK owners club in Shanghai is growing to quite a big group... I have only heard rave reveiws from owners about the attentive and fast acting behavior to the CF moto company. Even annoucing problem with bikes before the customers even realize and most importantly fix the problems quite swiftly. They even have gone to customers house to fix recall issues without have to be screamed at or even notified they notify you!!!!

A 2 year unlimtied mileage warranty is give with every purchase and at the time I ordered the bike the offer was 46,800 with 2700 rmb in free riding gear (which was quality stuff)

For the money its a very good bike! I would and have chosen it over the Bennelli Trek do the Bennelli's platic quality and because of the high viberations felt in the handle bars, as well as price. The fit and finish is comparable with other "high end" domestic and semi domestic brand bikes and is capible of being a commuter bike during the week and you long hual touring bike on the weeknds and holidays. I will leave Friday for a week long ride and will report more on the bike after....

FYI I got this bike from the Dealer on WuZong lu near Dragon Rider, Plates are not a probelm an I currently have 15 temporary plates which I attempt to get a HU C plate under my name. Its a address thing not a bike thing... Jaff the owner is great and very accomidating. If you interested in a bike be prepare to wait however as the y are currently only is small production right now and it seems they are building silver ones now, then black and finally Red.

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