Motorcycle specifications CFMOTO800 NK Sport 2024 In the big leagues

Younger readers won't remember the days when the Suzuki 600 Bandit was THE roadster star. Era after era has brought the 600 Fazer, the Z 750, the MT-07, and obviously soon the Hornet, to the steps of glory. But what if a Chinese were to become a contender for this title?

Unthinkable even in the previous decade. Pure science fiction when the 21st century opened its doors. And yet, the arrival of models like the CF Moto 800 NK heralds a future in which certainties are likely to be slowly shattered. Gone are the days when Beijing's multiple 500s nibbled at the wheels of the CB 500 F. The 800 NK is a change of frequency with fun, rock and goodies.

We wouldn't go so far as to say that the NK 800 is beautiful, ugly or stylish. But to say that it looks good is an absolute must. The design is polished, a little taut without being sharp, with pronounced shoulders and a build somewhere between athletic and muscular. The cladding cleverly hides the frame almost entirely, while the minimalist stern could almost claim to be of the English or Italian school. 10 bags that the vast majority of people will hesitate whether it's Japanese or European.

Where the judgement will start to click is when reading the on-board equipment. Exactly the opposite of BM, where bikes come with a little bit of standard equipment and a lot of options. On the CFMoto, there's plenty of standard equipment and 2-3 optional extras - which are also found on the richer Advanced version .
mind you, German bikes aren't exactly bare jackals either. In fact, their practical aspects are very well thought out. But here, the biker discovers another dimension of equipment.

43 mm upside-down forks, aviation brake hoses (rare at this level of the range), Kayaba front and rear suspensions with adjustable preload, compression and rebound damping (very rare, if not unheard of for the price), 5-inch TFT color display, GPS sensor, smartphone connectivity and CarPlay system, 3 engine maps ( Street - Sport - Rain), cruise control (up to 130 km/h ....), limited slip clutch, automatic turn signals...... It's even possible to adjust the position of the selector and brake pedal nipples. Like it! An impressive range of equipment, impossible to find on the competition. In the face of all this toast, it's staggering that a USB socket isn't fitted. CFMoto has also omitted traction control. Not really essential, but present on all the bikes the NK will have to contend with. This may change in 2024, as the Advanced TC version now offers this riding assistance.
The price argument will also have a nice effect: lower than that of an MT-07 Pure, with a much more extensive technical specification.

thanks to its agreements with KTM, CFMoto can introduce a modern, well-known powertrain, without having to spend years on development. What's more, offering an engine of this origin is reassuring for the customer. Now it's time for the 799 cm3 parallel twin to show its fangs. First seen on the 790 Duke and Adventure, it now powers the NK with its Austrian technology. The plans landed in the Hangzhou factory, where it is now being produced in large quantities.
Its connecting rods rev up to 9,000 rpm to send 95 horsepower through the big 180 mm rear tire. A width for show rather than efficiency... as is customary in this category. The internal agitation continues up to 10,500 rpm. The 8.1 mkg of torque ensures convincing acceleration and acceleration. But while CFMoto benefits from the technical plans, it has to design its fuel injection in-house. The result is an engine behavior that cannot be compared with that of a 790 Duke. And with occasional surprises.

As the "big" CFMoto bikes have a good dose of KTM DNA, it's only logical that they should be fitted with J. Juan brakes. The Spanish supplier equips a good proportion of Mattighofen's models. The equipment consists of 4-piston radial clamps for biting 320 mm discs. The work is effective on the Austrian models, and should be just as effective on the Chinese. The rear can also prove its worth, with a 260 mm disc topped by a 2-piston caliper.

The 800 NK features a chromium-molybdenum steel frame and aluminum swingarm - not carried over from the Katoche models. The motor is a load-bearing element and contributes to the frame's rigidity. The weight of 186 kgs is well placed in its class, and proves light for a Chinese bike of this size. The little 650 NK brother weighs 20 kgs more. Clearly, the transfer of knowledge promises a bright future for this challenger. Equipped with a rather sporty geometry, the 800 NK should show a lively behavior, which suits the gang of small-time crooks where it comes looking for trouble.

The 800 NK is a small step for mid-size roadsters, but a sledgehammer blow for certain stereotypes.
No more Chinese cars that look like nothing or are blatant (or even distressing) copies.
No more Chinese cars with anemic engines and 60s technology.
No more Chinese bikes penalized by a 50-kilogram enbonpoint and wet cardboard parts.
No more taking the motorcycle strategy of the world's factory onto our roads.
So, maybe the Sino-Austrian troublemaker won't oust the segment leaders, but he's got his place in the locker room. Let's talk about it again in 10 years' time, with surprises that will be hard for the competition to digest.

M.B - Manufacturer's photos