I Bought A Chinese Motorcycle | CF Moto 450 MT

Quick take

• Owner bought the CF Moto 450 MT primarily for its looks, features and value.
• Initial impressions: high build quality, comfortable ergonomics, and many useful features for the price.

Price and purchase

• RRP: £5,699.
• Final price after registration/PDI etc.: just over £6,000.
• Purchase: bought from a local dealer who had one in stock — no test ride before purchase.

Key specs and features

• Engine: 449 cc parallel-twin, ~43 hp, 270° crank (gives the distinctive sound).
• Chassis / suspension:
  • Kayaba forks with two-way adjustability.
  • Fully adjustable rear shock (no remote preload adjuster on the stock unit).
• Wheels: tubeless spoked wheels — good for touring and light off-road use.
• Fuel tank: 17.5 L (approx. ~220 miles range).
• Electronics:
  • Full-colour TFT dash.
  • Switchable ABS and traction control (hold button ~3s to disable rear ABS/traction).
  • LED lighting.
• Ergonomics:
  • Low seat height (~800–820 mm).
  • Wide bars and a comfortable seat for typical rides.
  • One-hand adjustable windscreen and folding mirrors.
• Other equipment:
  • Standard sump guard, carrying rack and pillion bars fitted.
  • No centre stand as standard (available separately).

Owner’s riding impressions and issues

• Rider has about 300–400 miles on the bike and is generally very positive.
• Suspension felt firm out of the box.
• One software hiccup occurred but appears resolved — owner plans to explain details in a future video.
• Heated grips were fitted but described as underwhelming (only lukewarm).

Planned modifications and maintenance

• Add crash bars and a larger sump guard.
• Replace exhaust and battery to save roughly 11–15 kg (may balance added weight from crash bars).
• Remove pillion grab rails (unlikely to be used).
• Consider fitting a rally seat (+50 mm) for taller riders or different ergonomics.
• Possibly upgrade the rear shock later to one with a remote preload adjuster.

Tyres and accessories

• Currently fitted with Dunlop Trailmax Mission tyres.
• Wants proper bark busters — current handguards are inadequate.

Value and ownership outlook

• Owner thinks the bike offers exceptional value for money.
• Curious to test long-term reliability despite some perceptions about Chinese-made bikes.
• Intends to document ownership experience (warranty, servicing, issues) but bought it mainly to ride and have adventures.

Lifestyle and travel plans

• Primary use: adventure touring — a mix of on-road and light off-road.
• Short-term: UK trip to bed the bike in.
• Planned trips:
  • Swiss Alps (May)
  • Balkans
  • Montenegro
  • Amalfi Coast
  • Dolomites
  • Norway
  • Ambitions to ride across the USA and Japan (logistics dependent)
• Owner philosophy:

  “Life is short — buy the bike and go do the trips.” Ride safely but have fun.

Actionable items (bulleted)

• Test long-distance touring capability (UK trip first).
• Fit crash bars and a larger sump guard.
• Fit a new exhaust and lighter battery to reduce weight.
• Possibly swap to a rally seat if taller or if different ergonomics are desired.
• Consider a rear shock with remote preload adjuster in the future.
• Monitor software/ECU issues and how warranty/support responds.

Notable locations, products, and speakers referenced

• Locations: UK, Swiss Alps, Balkans, Montenegro, Amalfi Coast, Dolomites, Norway, USA, Japan.
• Products/features: CF Moto 450 MT, Dunlop Trailmax Mission tyres, Kayaba forks, tubeless spoked wheels, heated grips (poor), full-colour TFT dash.
• Speakers/content creators: Dan (owner/YouTuber), Break Magazine, Chris North (Bike World), Adam Rean (named in subtitles).