CFMoto has expanded its adventure bike lineup, with a new model based off the same 693 cc parallel twin it’s used for the past several years. The new CFMoto 700MT is debuting to global markets (no word yet on North America), offering a street-biased adventure tourer built around familiar tech.
In this case, it’s非常familiar tech, as that 693 cc parallel twin actually uses the same basic design as Kawasaki’s 650 parallel twin. Kawi used this in the Versys, ER-6n, and other models over the past couple of decades. It’s reliable and trusted, and we have not heard of any complaints about CFMoto’s version of the design, which has a longer stroke to boost capacity, which in turn is supposed to help low-speed performance.
The CFMoto marketing material shows the 700 in use off-road (see below), but the 17-inch front wheel makes it better-suited for paved roads, as seen here. However, it’s highly a possible a 19-17 wheelset is coming, as the Chinese OEMs often do that sort of thing. Photo: CFMoto
Output is a claimed 73 hp at 8,500 rpm, and 50 lb-ft of torque at 6,500 rpm. CFMoto currently uses this engine ina scramblerand other models, and previously sold a CF700 CL-X Adventure as well.
The new 700MT model appears to be an update on that design, mostly with new electro-trickery, although it’s basic stuff—no IMU here. The engine itself now comes with Sport and Eco modes. The lighting is upgraded, there’s a new 5-inch TFT screen, there’s a pair of new USB plugs (one Type-A, one Type-C). ABS is standard (no word on whether it’s switchable, but we don’t expect it is). There’s an 18-liter fuel tank, a wide seat, and a set of 17-inch wheels front and rear. Don’t expect to take this down any hardcore off-road tracks, then!
CFMoto gave the bike a chrome-moly frame and a 43 mm fork, with 140 mm of travel; the rear side-mount monoshock has 145 mm of travel. The brakes come from Spanish manufacturer J Juan, with dual discs and two-piston calipers up front, and single disc in rear. CFMoto also sourced the tires from Europe, going with Pirellis. This Euro-parts-on-Chinese-bikes theme is getting more and more common these days.
Wet weight is supposedly 218 kg, Euro moto-journos say.
Side boxes and crash bars are optional (on many Chinese bikes, they’re standard, and they probably come standard in some other markets).
At this point, we haven’t heard of the machine coming to the US or Canada, and we’d still like to see some more information. Is the suspension adjustable? We’d guess it isn’t. What would pricing be? Although the specs for this bike seem much more in-line with Japanese competitors than its 650 predecessor, none of that matters if the pricing isn’t attractive. And of course, most important of all is: How will the bike hold up to hard use? As always, that’s the greatest question on machines from China.
