The 650MT was a well-received model on the market, and it's common to see one of these when you go for a ride, both out of town and in urban environments. For this year, CFMOTO has introduced the 700MT, a successful evolution of the 650MT.
Although it retains the features of its predecessor, the aesthetics are now more refined, clearly more appealing to the European market, which recognizes the Chinese brand's efforts to evolve its models in every respect.
The front end is tall and compact, characterized by LED headlights, and the side has been designed to improve aerodynamic efficiency. Hand guards are fitted as standard and the windscreen is now manually adjustable, giving the driver greater protection even at higher speeds. The brake oil reservoir at the front is translucent, which adds a special touch.
ENGINE AND NUMBERS
With a more linear power delivery and a smooth clutch, the engine responds more efficiently, providing an even more pleasurable riding experience. At high speeds, the 700MT's response is very positive and better than I personally expected, given the 66 hp of power (11 more than on the 650) delivered by the twin-cylinder. On the other hand, at lower revs it was necessary to downshift sooner than I expected, since torque at lower revs isn't exactly this engine's strong point.
With 60 Nm of torque, this engine, which already complies with the new Euro 5+ limits, offered fun, especially at medium speeds. In terms of fuel consumption, this engine didn't seem to be the most economical in the segment, but the 18-liter tank allows us to make long journeys without too many worries in this area.
COMFORTABLE CYCLING
Cycling proved to be very capable, with the Kayaba inverted and adjustable front suspension, together with the rear monoshock, adjustable in preload and hydraulic extension, filtering the imperfections of the asphalt well, making it very comfortable in urban environments. On light off-road adventures, the suspension also does a good job, but when we attack some bends in a more dedicated way, we notice that it is not in its natural habitat, leading to greater oscillations of the set and some sinking of the front suspension.
The braking was handled by J.Juan and proved to be on a par with the model's performance. The double discs at the front, together with the rear disc, give us the necessary confidence, with the only detail to point out being the ABS, which I would have liked to be slightly less intrusive.
The riding position is very relaxed and ergonomic, and the comfortable seat helps us to cover many kilometers on the 700MT without too much fatigue. Even with its 220 kg, the model proved to be very agile and, despite its size, it's a good companion for beating the traffic jams. Even so, there are some vibrations coming from the engine, which sometimes make riding a little uncomfortable, and this should be one of the aspects that CFMOTO improves in the future.
ELECTRONICS AND FINAL SUMMARY
The 5-inch TFT instrument panel is well organized, has plenty of information, and navigating through the menus is a fairly intuitive task. It also has connectivity to our smartphone, and offers a wide range of adjustments, reinforcing the model's level of quality. Next to the dashboard there are USB type A and type C sockets, ideal for charging our devices on long journeys.
In terms of driving aids, the implementation of traction control in a future update would be an asset, since the 700MT will be used on a daily basis, and inevitably in adverse weather conditions.
THE BEST Price / Instrument panel / Versatility
TO BE IMPROVED Vibrations / Front fork / Lack of traction control
In short, the CFMOTO 700MT demonstrates a significant evolution compared to the previous model, surpassing it in several aspects. This confirms the ability of Chinese manufacturers to adapt to market needs and listen to customer requests.
With prices starting at €6,790 (excluding ISV and IUC), the 700MT is undoubtedly an excellent value for money proposition.
