CFMoto 800MT: China's KTM
By Ben Purvis
An ever-closer relationship with KTM has spawned the new CFMoto 800MT, which got its official unveiling at the Shanghai Motor Show based on a licence-made KTM LC8c twin. Although it's likely to be at least another year before we see the 800MT on export markets, it's intended to be a global model, with production due to start before the end of Q2 2021.
It's powered by a 799 cc version of the LC8c engine, as used in the KTM 790 Duke and 790 Adventure. CFMoto already manufactures those engines on KTM's behalf, and this year has started making complete 790 Dukes and Adventures for the Chinese market. With 94 bhp and 57 lb-ft of torque, the CFMoto 800MT's engine is in the same spec that was used in the 790 Adventure, which has since been superseded in Europe by the more powerful 889 cc '890' version.
The steel frame is also basically identical to the KTM Adventure's chassis, albeit with a new aluminium swingarm, but despite competing in the same adventure bike market, the CFMoto 800MT is a quite different proposition to the Austrian bike.
Where KTM doesn't compromise on off-road ability, the 800MT is a more road-oriented machine, with a conventional 19-litre fuel tank mounted above the engine instead of the KTM's low-slung, side-mounted twin tanks.
CFMoto is to offer two versions of the bike, a base model with no luggage, which weighs 231 kg wet, and a 248 kg model with panniers and a top box.
As with many new Chinese bikes, the 800MT is heavy on technology. Cruise control, a heated seat and grips, built-in sat-nav, keyless ignition and automatic high-beam headlights are all standard fit. Unusually, given the close KTM connection, the CFMoto uses KYB suspension rather than a WP product, with upside-down forks and a monoshock rear. The brakes are from Spanish provider J.Juan - now owned by Brembo.
Chinese-made KTM 750s
KTM is developing a new range of 750 cc models as part of a joint venture with its Chinese collaborator CFMoto.
The new machines, which will include a 750 Duke, 750 Adventure and 750 Supermoto T, are to be built by CFMoto in China but sold globally - effectively replacing the now gone '690' range.
Although the plans have been confirmed by an investor-relations presentation from KTM's parent company, PIERER Mobility, there's no detail yet on the design or configuration.
They are likely to be powered by a slightly downsized version of the LC8c parallel twin engine, which CFMoto already manufactures on KTM's behalf in 799 cc and 889 cc versions. With European KTMs using the LC8c, all adopting the 889 cc '890' version, a detuned 750 cc variant would be separate enough to establish its own position in the market.
KTM has also long been working on a 500 cc '490' parallel twin with Indian partners Bajaj, and between them the 490 and 750 models will comprehensively fill the gap in the firms' range between the 373 cc '390' single-cylinder models and the 890 Duke and Adventure.
By outsourcing manufacturing responsibilities to its partners in China and India, and allowing Bajaj and CFMoto to also use the engines in their own machines, KTM will be in a position to vastly increase its output without the need to expand its current Austrian facility, and benefit from the lower manufacturing costs in China and India.
KTM has cooperated with CFMoto for a decade and in 2018 broke ground for a new headquarters for the CFMoto-KTMR2R brand in China - including manufacturing, R&D and testing facilities on a 25-acre site. It now has a production capacity of around 50,000 bikes per year.
At the moment, there's no confirmed launch date for the new 750 models, but the motorcycle press in China is already speculating that an RC750 sports bike will also be introduced alongside the 750 Duke, Adventure and Supermoto T.
