Thanks to Forbes & Davies for supplying our riding gear for this test; an IXON riding suit and two pairs of gloves, which we’ ll review in a coming issue. and testing. Steep rocky trails, banks, jumps, all sorts. This let me test the suspension to the limits on some quite tricky stuff. I skidded around the various tracks and climbs and bumps, while being conscious of the fact I didn’ t want to drop it. The suspension really shone here, and I was amazed where it would go considering the road-biased tread on the tyres. Photo work done, it was back on to the forest roads and tracks. My bike had done over 400km, so was re-fuelled along with several others. A few were not. At the end of the day we’ d done 560km in 10.9 hours riding. So, yes, the 500km + at the brochure is actually achievable. The last part of the ride was a fun section with a little single track where trees were down blocking the road, and slippery trails with rocks and rocky steps, even our lead rider, who set a cracking pace the whole time, had a wee lay down on a greasy patch. The last portion was dark and those jumpy things were doing their thing again. I think we were all happy to be back for a warm shower and a good meal.
THE SKINNY The CFMOTO team went all out to give the opportunity to really put the 1000 through its paces. Highway, gravel, singletrack and a quarry, we covered all conditions, and the 1000MT-X passed the test with flying colours. Coming in at a sniff under $ 20k, it’ s priced at a point that will sell them a bucketload of bikes. That $ 20,000 price ceiling is a real thing for many Kiwis. And, no longer a niche player, CFMOTO is making on-point bikes that stack up. It is wrong to say the CFMOTO is a great bike because it is so well priced. That does it a complete injustice. The 1000MT-X is a great bike, period.
KIWI RIDER 37