As the world continues to eschew large-displacement adventure bikes, midsize models are taking off rapidly. As Chinese bike builders keep their engine sizes small and manageable, European bike makers have had to pivot to have multiple offerings in this segment. The price disparity is also shrinking as Chinese-made bikes have improved exponentially.
Related: CF Moto introduces its two-wheeled lineup
We are surprised to see how they have met in the middle if we look at two bikes on opposite sides of the spectrum. So, how does a Chinese-made adventure bike compare to a German-made model? We crunch the data to see, and you may just be pleasantly surprised.
How does the CF Moto 800 NK compare to the KTM 990 Duke?
Specifications
| CF Moto 800 MT Explore | BMW F900 GS Adventure | |
| Engine | 799cc 2-Cylinder inline, Liquid-cooled, EFI, Eight Valves, DOHC | 895cc Water-cooled, 2-cylinder, four-stroke engine with four cam-operated valves per cylinder, two overhead camshafts and dry-sump lubrication |
| Transmission | 6-speed sequential | 6-speed sequential |
| Power figures | 70kW / 77Nm | 77kW / 90Nm |
| Top speed | 200 km/h | 200km/h |
| Frame | High-strength steel-tube Trellis frame design, | Bridge-type frame, steel shell construction, cast aluminium dual swing arm |
| Suspension Front | KYB upside-down forks, fully adjustable for preload, rebound, and damping, 160mm travel | Upside-down fork, diameter 43 mm, spring pre-load manually adjustable, rebound and compression adjustable, 230mm travel |
| Suspension Rear | KYB fully adjustable spring preload and rebound damping, 150mm travel | central WAD spring strut, spring pre-load hydraulically adjustable, rebound damping adjustable, 215mm travel |
| Brakes Front | Double disc, J.Juan, radial fixed calliper. 320mm | Twin disc brake, floating brake discs, diameter 305 mm, 2-piston floating calliper |
| Brakes Rear | Single disc, J.Juan. 260mm | Single disc brake, diameter 265 mm, 1-piston floating calliper |
| Fuel Tank (litres) | 19L | 23L |
| Tech & Features |
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| Fuel Consumption(claimed) | 3.7L / 100km | 4.4L / 100km |
| Weight | 231kg | 246kg |
| Seat Height | 825mm | 825mm |
| Price | R 219 900 | R 289 407 |
| Warranty | 2 Years | 2 Years |
Verdict
BMW has years of legacy building these adventure machines, and as such, a level of refinement is missing from the CF Moto, but the Chinese are catching up quickly with plenty of European influence. The BMW can command its price point due to a higher spec offering, but the CF Moto is nipping at its heels. If you are looking to save some money and can do without frivolous tech and want a bike that can handle some tough off-road experiences, then the CF Moto will serve you well.
