CFMoto

First look: CFMoto 675SR-R By Ben Purvis

At EICMA last year CFMoto took the wraps off its all-new 675 cc three-cylinder engine with the promise of a new sports bike in 2024 - now that bike has been revealed for the first time in a near-production form.

The CFMoto 675SR-R that’s been officially shown is a one-off in the colours of the Aspar race team that runs CFMoto’s efforts in Moto3 and Moto2, but apart from a few details, the mass-made version due to be launched later this year will be identical.

There’s still a shortage of detailed specifications, but CFMoto has confirmed that the new engine will make more than 100 hp at a peak of 12,300 rpm and says it weighs 10% less than rival engines, coming in at around 55 kg for the motor and transmission. Although a heavily-disguised prototype was briefly run in front of Chinese CFMoto fans at an event at a track in China last year, the new Aspar-coloured 675SR-R confirms key details about the bike including the presence of an aluminium frame with cast sections around the swingarm pivot and extruded beams connecting it to the steering head, cast aluminium swingarm and a belly-mounted exhaust that manages to hide the catalytic converter and silencer from sight.

The KYB upside-down forks, which are fully adjustable for preload, compression and rebound damping are from the 800 NK and offer easily accessible adjusters on top of the fork legs. The brakes, again borrowed from the 800NK, are J.Juan four-piston radial-mounted calipers, backed up by ABS. Given the high level of electronic equipment normally found on Chinese bikes, it will be no surprise if the 675SR-R features an inertial measurement unit for cornering anti-lock and traction control.