The CFMOTO MT450 isn’t a new bike. It burst onto the adventure scene, sold like hotcakes and has been reshaping the small-capacity adventure market ever since. CFMOTO clearly knows it’s onto a winner because this latest version receives only minor updates and some fresh graphics. When you’ve got a bike that’s selling this well, there’s no need to reinvent the wheel.
The sales figures tell one story, but rider feedback tells another. Time and time again owners praise the MT450 for being easy to ride, capable across a huge range of terrain, reliable and inexpensive to own. Perhaps more importantly, it’s one of the bikes that’s genuinely changed people’s perception of Chinese-built motorcycles. This isn’t simply a cheap alternative to the established brands. It’s a properly engineered adventure bike that just happens to come with an attractive price tag.
At $9,990 ride away, it fills a gap riders have been asking manufacturers to fill for years.
First impressions
The first thing that stands out is just how well finished the MT450 is. Nothing about it feels cheap. The plastics fit properly, the paint quality is excellent and the overall presentation is right up there with bikes costing considerably more.
The switchgear is well laid out, the TFT dash is easy to read and everything has a quality feel to it.
Hit the starter button and the 449cc parallel twin fires into life instantly, whether it’s hot or cold. The engine settles into a distinctive burbling idle thanks to its 270-degree crankshaft and immediately sounds like it means business. It’s not obnoxiously loud, but it certainly has enough character to remind you that you’re riding something with a bit of personality.
Pulling away from the lights, the clutch is light and progressive, while the gearbox shifts cleanly through all six gears. The power delivery is one of the bike’s biggest strengths. It’s beautifully linear from idle through to the top of the rev range and never feels intimidating. You don’t find yourself wishing for more power because there’s already plenty available for almost every situation.
It’s not a rocketship, topping out at around 140km/h, but that’s hardly the point.
What impressed me most was the amount of bottom-end torque. The MT450 will happily pull away from traffic lights in third gear without complaining. It feels relaxed, tractable and extremely forgiving. The engine never delivers a sudden hit of power, instead building speed smoothly while the exhaust note encourages you to keep rowing through the gearbox with a grin on your face.
Firm but capable
The suspension setup surprised me. Rather than chasing an ultra-soft, plush ride, CFMOTO has opted for a firmer setup that sits higher in the stroke and rewards riders who want to push the bike harder off-road.
The adjustable KYB suspension copes impressively with berms, whoops and flowing single track. Stand up, keep your weight where it belongs and the bike can cover terrain that would surprise a lot of riders.
That being said, it’s important to remember what you’re riding. This is still a 175kg adventure bike, not a lightweight enduro machine.
Yes, you can tackle technical terrain, but you’ll quickly discover how much energy it takes to wrestle a big bike through the tight stuff. Launch it off a large waterbar and you’ll certainly know about it when you land. The suspension does a respectable job of absorbing the hit, but physics always wins and eventually that weight comes back through the chassis.
Where the suspension struggles slightly is on broken roads and corrugations. Sitting down over potholes can send sharper impacts through the handlebars than some riders may expect.
Personally, I’d still take this setup over one that’s too soft. The firmer suspension provides confidence when the pace increases and the bike tracks straighter through rough terrain. You sacrifice a little comfort, but gain plenty of control.
Stock tyres surprise
The CST tyres don’t exactly scream off-road performance when you first look at them. They’re certainly more adventure-focused than aggressive knobbies, so I initially expected to be swapping them out fairly quickly. I was wrong.
On the road they grip extremely well, while off-road they continued to impress in both dry and wet conditions. Even through flowing single track and sandy berms they performed far better than expected.
For a standard tyre fitted to an adventure bike in this price range, they punch well above their weight. Don’t rush out and replace them. They’re better than they look.
Comfort and ergonomics
The riding position has a slightly rear-set feel, placing more weight over the front wheel. The result is excellent straight-line stability and a very planted front-end. On the road the bike tips into corners confidently, while off-road that front-end weight bias helps keep the wheel down on steep hillclimbs.
If your riding is primarily dirt, I’d strongly recommend budgeting for the optional taller seat. It improves the relationship between the seat and footpegs, making it much easier to spend long periods standing.
With the standard seat installed, the MT450 definitely feels more at home commuting, touring and carving mountain roads than spending all day threading through technical single track.
That’s not a criticism. It’s simply understanding what the bike was designed to do.
Brakes and electronics
Braking performance is exactly what you’d hope for. The J.Juan front brake offers plenty of stopping power while maintaining good feel at the lever, and the rear brake is equally predictable without ever feeling grabby.
Traction control is useful on sealed roads but should be switched off the moment you hit loose terrain.
Particularly in sand, leaving it activated will rob the bike of drive and leave you wondering why it won’t move forward properly.
Do yourself a favour. As soon as the gravel starts, switch it off.
The weak link
There was really only one area where the MT450 disappointed me. The fueling.
The bike has a noticeable hesitation when transitioning between closed and open throttle, particularly in first and second gear. That on-off surge becomes quite obvious when riding technical terrain and often requires a little clutch work to smooth everything out.
It’s certainly not a dealbreaker and it’s a characteristic already well known among MT450 owners. In fact, it feels like something that could probably be solved with an ECU remap.
Hopefully it’s something CFMOTO addresses in future updates because it really is one of the few weaknesses in an otherwise excellent package.
The first modification I made was removing the rubber inserts from the footpegs. For off-road riding they simply reduce grip and don’t offer any real advantage once you’re standing on the pegs. Gone.
Living with it
Fuel consumption averaged an impressive 4.5L/100km throughout testing, giving the MT450 excellent touring range from its generous 17.5-litre fuel tank.
The seat is reasonably comfortable for a few hours in the saddle, although after a full day’s riding you’ll probably be looking for a stretch. Again, that’s hardly unusual in this class.
Verdict
The MT450 succeeds because it doesn’t pretend to be something it isn’t. It’s a daily commuter. It’s a capable weekend adventure bike. It’s perfectly happy tackling gravel roads and occasional single track. It won’t replace a dedicated enduro bike and it doesn’t need to.
Instead, CFMOTO has built a genuinely versatile adventure motorcycle that’s easy to ride, economical to own and surprisingly capable once the bitumen ends.
For newer riders it’s an affordable platform to learn adventure riding.
For experienced riders it’s a dependable touring companion that won’t empty your wallet.
Most importantly, it doesn’t feel like you’ve compromised simply because you spent less money. CFMOTO got this one right. It’s easy to see why the MT450 has become one of the biggest success stories in the adventure market.
ENGINE
Engine Type: Liquid-cooled, 4-stroke, DOHC parallel twin, 270° crank
Displacement: 449cc
Bore x Stroke: 72.0 x 55.2mm
Compression Ratio: 11.5:1
Fuel System: Bosch EFI
Maximum Power: 32.5kW @ 8,500rpm
Maximum Torque: 44Nm @ 6,250rpm
Transmission: 6-speed with CF-SC slipper clutch
SUSPENSION
Frame: Tubular steel frame
Front Suspension: KYB 41mm USD fork, fully adjustable, 200mm travel
Rear Suspension: KYB monoshock, adjustable preload, compression and rebound, 200mm travel
Front Brake: J.Juan four-piston caliper, 320mm disc
Rear Brake: J.Juan single-piston caliper, 240mm disc
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 1505mm
Seat Height: 820mm (adjustable to 800mm)
Fuel Capacity: 17.5L
Dry Weight: 175kg
TYRES
Front Tyre: CST 90/90-21
Rear Tyre: CST 140/70-18
RRP: $9,990
Warranty: 3 Years
Website: cfmoto.com.au
