CFMoto

CFMoto brings 450SR twin to Europe

By Ben Purvis

CFMoto's 450SR is probably the company's most ambitious machine to date. Previewed with the Italian-styled SR-C21 concept at last year's EICMA, the production 450SR has since been launched in Asia and is now confirmed for European markets in 2023.

While the styling is a clear evolution of the look seen on CFMoto's existing, smaller-capacity SR models, the 450SR is completely new and built around a dedicated 450 cc parallel twin engine. This water-cooled DOHC motor uses a 270-degree firing interval from a crossplane crankshaft, giving the feel and sound of a 90-degree V-twin combined with the tight packaging and reduced component count of a parallel twin engine. Dual balancer shafts keep it smooth and there's a slipper clutch between the engine and the six-speed transmission.
Although the final power figures for European bikes won't be confirmed until after homologation, the Asian version is good for 37 kW (50 hp) at 9,500 rpm and 39 Nm of torque at 7,600 rpm, in a package weighing only 168 kg, including fuel. That low mass means it'll be hard to detune the bike enough for A2 licence regulations in Europe, but for full licence holders looking for a lightweight sports bike, it fills a gap in the market that's been empty since the demise of two-stroke machines like the 55 hp, 167 kg Aprilia RS250 two decades ago.
High-spec chassis components include 37 mm upside-down forks and a Brembo brake system using a single 320 mm disc and a four-piston, radial-mount caliper at the front, with Bosch ABS.
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