CFMOTO has been on a roll lately, constantly launching new models. Recently, the brand presented the MT450, the entry-level model, which made its global appearance on the beaches of the Philippines.
Building on the enthusiasm for the MT 450, CFMOTO is now launching what could be the flagship model of the MT range: the so-called 1250MT.
It’s no secret that CFMOTO and KTM have gone hand in hand for several years. The partnership has given rise to models such as the 800NK and 800MT – derived from the KTM 790 Duke and Adventure, respectively. In addition, there have been rumors on several occasions that the CFMOTO 450 range is what happened to the discontinued KTM 490 series of motorcycles.
Now, you can probably guess what I’m getting at with the 1250MT. It’s more than likely that the Austrian brand’s technology is being used, perhaps in the form of the twin-cylinder engine from the previous generation 1290 Super Duke and Super Adventure. For reference, this engine already exists in the CFMOTO universe, as it powers the 1250TR-G, a grand-tourer used en masse by the Chinese police force.
Here, the engine has been slightly downsized to 1,279 cc and delivers 140 horsepower – more than enough to compete with models like the BMW R 1300 GS and the Triumph Tiger 1200. And while the 450MT and 800MT excel off-road, it seems that the 1250MT is a more road-focused machine, as evidenced by its 19-inch front and 17-inch rear alloy wheels.
Although nothing official – apart from the presentation of this bike – has come from CFMOTO, we can use the other bikes in the MT family as a basis for the technology and features we can expect from the 1250MT. Riding modes and intelligent connectivity are a given, and it’s more than likely that the new model will include heated grips, an adjustable windscreen and other touring accessories.
There’s no doubt that Chinese motorcycle manufacturers like CFMOTO have their eye on the prize when it comes to dominating the global market. In less than a decade, we’ve seen Chinese-made motorcycles go from cheap imitations to performance-oriented machines that stand out on the world market.