ROAD NEWS
CFMOTO ’ S NEW 450MT AND MT-X CONCEPT
Until recently it had been left to the imagination as to how good the rumoured , and ultimately cancelled , KTM 490 Adventure could have been . Thankfully , while KTM dropped the project , KTM ’ s manufacturing partner CFMoto didn ’ t and we now see the realised potential of that platform . Check out the 450MT . Sporting a 450cc parallel-twin engine ( also found in the 450NK and 450SS ) CFMoto might just be the closest to creating an ADV Unicorn for the masses . In 450MT trim the engine delivers 32.5kW ( 43.5hp ) at 8500rpm and 44Nm at 6250rpm , while dual balance shafts improve the smoothness of the 270-degree firing order . Rolling stock comes in the form of a proper adventure ready 21-inch front wheel paired with an 18-inch rear , suspension is a 41mm adjustable fork from KYB with 200mm of travel on offer . Ground clearance is at the pointy end of the small displacement adventure class at 230mm while the seat height is reasonably attainable at 820mm .
Weight , as always , is make or break for these bikes and the CFMoto seems to be quite promising in this regard . With a claimed dry weight of 175kg , the 450MT should be significantly lighter than the soon to arrive Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 . The CFMoto 450MT is expected to be available at dealers across New Zealand during the second quarter of 2024 . Pricing and final specifications will be confirmed closer to the bike ’ s local debut . The MT-X concept also clearly leans on learnings CFMoto has made through building KTM ’ s 790 platform . CFMoto has taken KTM ’ s low-slung fuel tanks and added it to their concept , which with the lightweight triple engine ( just 55kg ), 21-inch front wheel and dirt-oriented ergonomics should make for a highly competitive middleweight adventure bike . Tech-wise the bike features a front end that resembles the 800MT with a full LED headlight , while the vertical 8-inch TFT dash is a touchscreen .
98 KIWI RIDER