Is CFMOTO reliable? What owners say, and what to know before you buy

It is the question we hear most in the showroom: is a CFMOTO reliable? The brand is Chinese, its prices are lower than Japanese and European bikes, and it is natural to wonder where the catch is. Here is what we know, with sources, without sugar-coating.

In short

• Owner feedback mostly describes minor issues (finish, sensors, settings), rarely breakdowns that leave the bike stranded.
• The 800 cc engines are derived directly from KTM's twin, which CFMOTO also builds for the Austrian brand.
• In Belgium, new motorcycles sold through the official network come with up to 5 years of warranty, with no mileage limit, provided servicing is done on time.
• The real thing to watch is follow-up: servicing to the manufacturer's schedule and buying within the official network.

Who is CFMOTO?

CFMOTO is a manufacturer founded in 1989 in Hangzhou, China. It builds motorcycles, quads and side-by-sides, and now sells most of its vehicles outside China. In Belgium, the brand has become one of the best sellers in two years: 6th brand of new motorcycles in 2025 with 1,246 registrations (5% of the market), then 5th in the first half of 2026 with 6.9% of the market, according to Febiac figures.

In other words, thousands of CFMOTOs are already on our roads. A brand piling up breakdowns would not grow at this pace.

The KTM connection

CFMOTO and KTM set up a joint venture in China in 2017. Since 2021, the Hangzhou plant has built mid-range KTMs, including the 790 Duke and 790 Adventure. The 799 cc twin of the CFMOTO 800MT and 800NK is a version of that KTM engine, made in the same workshops.

The 450s (450MT, 450NK, 450SR, 450CL-C) use a twin designed by CFMOTO, and the 675NK an in-house triple.

What owners report

The media that compiled owner reviews reach the same conclusion: the mechanicals hold up, the finish sometimes lags behind.

• Leaks and cooling: reported mainly on the 450SS (oil leaks at the filter, coolant overflow), according to Jalopnik and SlashGear. These sources do not mention the 450MT.
• Electronics and settings: a 9,000 km test of an 800MT (Bike Review) notes throttle mapping fixed by a dealer update, an occasionally temperamental quickshifter and intermittent tyre pressure sensors. No breakdown that stranded the bike, no mechanical part replaced.
• Finish: fasteners showing some corrosion after a winter, luggage mounts to tighten. Nothing that is not sorted at a service.
• Resale value: lower than a Japanese bike, according to the same sources. That is the other side of a lower purchase price.

What about recalls?

Like every brand, CFMOTO has recalled motorcycles: an ABS module on a batch of 700CL-X Sport built in late 2021 (Motorradonline), a rear tyre on a small batch of 700MT in the United Kingdom. A recall is carried out free of charge by the official network: one more reason to buy and service your bike at an official dealer, who can see the vehicle's history.

A warranty that says a lot

In Belgium, new CFMOTOs sold through the official network since 1 May 2023 come with up to 5 years of warranty (2 years + 3 years), with no mileage limit, provided the service schedule is followed. Few manufacturers commit for that long. All the details, what is covered and what is not, are in our article on the CFMOTO warranty in Belgium.

Our tips for a trouble-free CFMOTO

• Follow the service schedule in the manual, at the planned mileages and dates: it is the condition for the extended warranty, and the best way to catch a small issue early.
• Buy within the official network: warranty, recalls and updates go through it.
• Keep your service invoices: they prove the follow-up for a warranty claim and reassure a buyer when you sell.
• Store the bike properly over winter if it stays in the garage for several weeks: battery, fuel, protection against road salt. See our guide to winter storage.

Our view as a dealer

A CFMOTO is not a throwaway bike: it is a modern, well-equipped motorcycle, built by a manufacturer that also produces for KTM, with a longer warranty than most of its rivals. It needs what every motorcycle needs: regular servicing and a workshop that knows it.

The full CFMOTO range is in our showroom in Woluwe-Saint-Lambert, where we are an official dealer, and our workshop services CFMOTOs, bought from us or elsewhere. A question? Contact us.

Frequently asked questions

Are CFMOTO engines KTM engines?

The 799 cc twin of the 800MT and 800NK is derived from KTM's LC8c engine, which CFMOTO builds in the joint venture set up with KTM. The 450s and the 675NK use engines designed by CFMOTO.

How many kilometres can a CFMOTO do?

No serious source gives a figure for engine life, and the brand is too young in Europe for statistics at 100,000 km. The 5-year warranty with no mileage limit granted by the importer shows, at least, that it trusts the mechanicals.

Where can I have a CFMOTO serviced in Brussels?

At an official dealer, to keep the warranty and the service history. Eddy Sport, in Woluwe-Saint-Lambert, is an official CFMOTO dealer: book from the workshop page.

Sources consulted on 7 November 2026: Febiac, KTM and Pierer Mobility, Jalopnik, SlashGear, Bike Review, Motorradonline, CFMOTO Benelux. Photo: CFMOTO.