CFMoto 450CL-C First Look

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The 2025 CFMoto 450CL-C. (CFMoto/)

At last year’s Beijing Motor Show, we got our first glimpse at CFMoto’s 450CL-C cruiser. Now, the Hangzhou, China-based manufacturer is announcing that its twin-cylinder cruiser is headed stateside. The 450CL-C features classic cruiser styling, basic rider aids, a TFT dash, and an approachable MSRP of $5,699. CFMoto USA expects models to arrive in dealerships in fall 2024.

Radiator. Cooling fins. The “1989” on the engine does not denote the size of the engine, but the year the company was founded. (CFMoto/)

The 450CL-C’s 449cc twin-cylinder engine uses a 270-degree crank and dual counterbalancers—further evidence of the parallel-twin craze taking over motorcycling. In the 450CL-C, it’s tuned to accentuate low- and midrange torque, producing a claimed 40 hp at 8,000 rpm and 30 lb.-ft. at 6,250 rpm. Despite being liquid-cooled, the cylinder head has cooling fins: presumably more of a styling affectation than anything else. There’s also a belt final drive to further trod the classic cruiser styling path. A badge beneath the fins honors the year of CFMoto’s establishment: 1989.

Round TFT dash. The 200 kph on the speedometer seems optimistic, right? (CFMoto/)

The 450CL-C uses a 37mm inverted fork and a rear monoshock. Braking duties are handled by a four-piston J.Juan caliper and a single 320mm disc in the front, and a single-piston caliper and 240mm disc in the rear. With safety in mind, the 450CL-C is equipped with dual-channel ABS and traction control. Traction control, but not ABS, can be disabled through the dash. A low seat height of 27 inches means the 450CL-C should automatically make the list of “best bikes for inseam-challenged riders.” Its low-center of gravity will help riders command the claimed wet weight of 399 pounds at a standstill.

A 27-inch seat height is low by most anyone’s standards. (CFMoto/)

The 450CL-C’s dash maintains the full-moon visage of an analog unit, but ensconced within is a 3.6-inch full-color TFT screen that offers modern convenience and smartphone connectivity. No cut-rate LCD stuff here. LED lighting completes the modernized cruiser aesthetic.

The 450CL-C has a classic cruiser stance. Nice details include a cool fender mount and bar-end mirrors. (CFMoto/)

On the surface, a small-displacement cruiser isn’t the biggest news in the moto world. However, the 450CL-C provides an entry into motorcycling in a not-too-crowded category alongside the popular Kawasaki Eliminator and Honda Rebel 500. Whether it will be a viable alternative in consumers’ eyes remains to be seen, but we’re firmly of the belief that competition—in all its forms—improves the breed. For starters, at $5,699, the 450CL-C undercuts the prices of the Kawasaki Eliminator ($6,649 for the non-ABS model and $6,949 for the ABS model) and Honda Rebel 500 ($6,499) by a significant margin.

By being competitively priced and providing features (like the TFT dash) absent on the competition’s motorcycles, CFMoto may have a clear road into riders’ garages. If the brand name can develop some cachet by proving the long-term reliability of its products and supporting its already-large dealer network, the establishment will take serious note. Not that it hasn’t been done before, but winning over the hearts of motorcyclists is going to take some doing. CFMoto’s latest entries could go a long way to that end.

The 450CL-C is available in Nebula Black and Bordeaux Red. (CFMoto/)

2024 CFMoto 450CL-C Specs

MSRP:	$5,699
Engine:	DOHC, liquid-cooled, four-stroke parallel twin
Displacement:	449cc
Bore x Stroke:	72.0 x 55.2mm
Compression Ratio:	N/A
Transmission/Drive:	Manual 6-speed/belt
Claimed Horsepower:	40 hp @ 8,000 rpm
Claimed Torque:	30 lb.-ft. @ 6,250 rpm
Fuel System:	N/A
Clutch:	Wet, multiplate slipper
Engine Management/Ignition:	Bosch EFI
Frame:	Steel tube
Front Suspension:	37mm USD fork
Rear Suspension:	Monoshock, spring preload adjustable
Front Brake:	4-piston J.Juan caliper, 320mm disc w/ ABS
Rear Brake:	1-piston J.Juan caliper, 240mm disc w/ ABS
Wheels, Front/Rear:	16 x 3.0 in./16 x 3.5 in.
Tires, Front/Rear:	130/90-16 / 150/80-16
Rake/Trail:	28.0°/4.25 in.
Wheelbase:	58.5 in.
Ground Clearance:	6.3 in.
Seat Height:	27.2 in. (adjustable)
Tank Capacity:	3.2 gal.
Claimed Wet Weight:	399 lb.
Availability:	TBA
Contact:	cfmotousa.com

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