First ride: CF Moto X8 ATV

It’s amazing how a paradigm shift can occur in such a short period of time. A few years ago, CF Moto was ‘relaunched’ in Australia as part of an international branding strategy for the export-orientated Chinese manufacturer.

But it really was like a circuit breaker and, in concert with a steady supply of new product coming out of the Hangzhou-based company and a ramped-up marketing assault from Mojo Motorcycles, the Aussie importer, CF Moto has quickly parlayed from ‘emerging contender’ to a force in its own right.

Here’s one example. In April, 2012, the company’s CF500 was the biggest selling ATV in Australia, out-muscling all the Japanese and the best from Polaris and Can-Am. That’s a tremendous result in a market segment which is currently red-hot.

Year to date, the CF500 sits in second place with 236 sales, with only the Honda TRX250 in front of it – albeit by a hefty 361-unit margin.

FLAVOUR OF THE MONTH
The CF500 was just one of the CFMoto ATVs the Bikesales Network recently tried out for size on a popular 4WD park in Werribee (Vic). The CF500 certainly doesn’t ooze innovation – there’s not a massive amount of it in the ATV world – but what it does offer is a thoroughly comfortable ride, a 35hp carby-fed liquid-cooled single-cylinder engine, compact bodywork, and switchable 2WD/4WD with electric diff lock. There’s also a 2500-pound winch, independent rear suspension, a 19-litre tank, a generous 275mm of ground clearance, and outboard disc brakes which are more than strong enough to bring the 327kg (dry) ATV to a standstill. All that for a cool $5990 – it’s no wonder the CF500 is the flavour of the month.

The other ATVs in the CF Moto range are the X5 ($6990), which shares the same engine as the CF500 but with different dimensions (the X5 has a 200mm longer wheelbase) and a few other different bits and bobs, moving up to the X6 ($7290) and the newest kid on the block, the X8 ($10,490).

Both the X6 and X8 use Bosch fuel-injection, but the X8 is a V-twin, with the bodywork masking a fairly impressive powerplant – 70hp at 6700rpm and 72Nm at 6300rpm. Despite peak power and torque residing close to the same rpm ceiling, the X8 thunders away from a standing start with plenty of purpose, and a wedge of terrain-gripping power is seemingly always on tap. You don’t really need any more power than this on a trail, but the good thing is that when you have to creep forward it will oblige, cleanly, and when you want to open the taps it’s ready to pounce.

CF Moto also has plans to use this engine to expand its Rancher UTV (ie utility) range, which will also include a 600cc version. Currently, CF Moto’s only Rancher is a 500cc model.

QUALITY RIDE
We certainly weren’t given free rein to test out the limits of the X8 – some of the rutted and bad-arse 50-metre hills looked like great fun, but they were forbidden fruit on this cold and drizzly day -- but it soon became evident that ride quality is excellent on the 14-inch wheels, dual A-arm suspension, and gas-charged shock absorbers. All much higher-spec than the lower capacity CF Moto ATVs, and I certainly wasn’t belted around by the suspension or hit with some huge shocks through the bars.

It’s not quite an armchair ride on the X8, but close enough to. But then again, for an ATV of this ilk, which has some sporting flair, the rider has to have some control of the situation with this much power on tap. Too soft and mushy and that connection will be lost.

But at 396kg it’s a big girl, and you do feel it. To that end, the X6 may represent a far more realistic proposition for many enthusiasts with its milder engine (37hp and 46Nm) and 344kg dry weight.

In 2WD you’ll have plenty of fun hanging the X8 out, and it doesn’t take long to get into the groove: hard on the brakes, a little bit of set-up with opposite lock, and then a big fist of throttle to drive out. Trail riding these things is great fun, and for someone who’s tired of two-wheelers this could just be the perk-up they need – and steering with the throttle is just so much fun.  It’s just a bummer that recreational registration hasn’t yet become available for ATVs in Australia, but we do know intense lobbying continues behind the scenes.

Of course, there is the ‘safety net’ of 4WD on the X8, which is where we spent most of the day. This mode seemingly chews up even the ugliest terrain, and in low range will happily churn along all day in true utility fashion.

And if it’s utility you’re after, then the X8 happily obliges with the 2500-pound winch, front and rear storage racks, and 450kg of towing capacity. Electric power steering is optional, and we’ll have to wait for a more comprehensive rider to test out the efficacy of the headlights and a few of the other ancillaries. But they certainly look menacing and powerful enough, and the bodywork is quite sharp.

Who’s going to buy the X8? Well, it’s still a utility and that market is huge in Australia so there’s a compelling argument right there. Sure, it may be too big and powerful for some, but for others who require brawn to get the job done, it’s hard to go past– as well as making a first class trail riding companion. That it’s keenly priced at $10,490 is all the more sweeter.