I agree Malcolm. The VStrom 650 has that incredible reputation for reliability. I have one and I love it. I also know a young chap who road one the length of South America and back, that one was 10yrs old with 70k kilometres on the clock, he had two problems both of them punctures and he's about to set off around the globe on the same bike. Could you put the same trust in one of these Chinese machines? Only time will tell. Great review though Dave.
Motorcycles like cars look really similar because of tablets instead of clocks. It's awful without character. Engines are often from the same factory or with almost the same character, suspensions from Showa or Kayaba...and the touristic character...I prefer retro style like the Royal Enfield classic, BSA, Kawasaki W800 or Moto Guzzi...but this is me😅
It's the return of the Japanese influx, people had the same opinion back then. I note people because the Japanese also entered the car industry, Datsun being one of those brands. Who would of thought that, that very car company would provide a secure future for hundreds of hard working people in the north east today, yes Nissan formally Datsun. Maybe some old fogie like me will reflect on today's influx from china and maybe, just maybe, have held a successful career in one of these companies. Yes there here to stay make no doubt about it. If there's one thing about the motoring industry we all benefit from it's comparison. Nice video on a nice bike, but my question is, can you get hold of one?
@@robwilkguitar4458 My mum had a Datsun which myself and my oldest sister, who's younger than me, learnt to drive in. Datsun was the name of the importer. He had them badged with his name.
Nice review! For me it was more esthetics. I have chosen the trk702x in same colour, dune sea. I like the looks more than the cf moto. The front of the cf moto is like a bulldog, ugly inward nose :-) not elegant or refined. Keep the revs high enough and the engine is a gem on the trk. Lower rpm is less fun with it. Engine sound with stock exhaust is also great with some minor pops and bangs when shifting down. Thanks for the review/content 👌
With all these Chinese and Indian built bikes available in the UK, The likes of Honda , Yamaha , Suzuki , and others are going to have to be more competitive, which can’t be a bad thing I say .
Great vif as always thank you. I went for the green TRK702x. And i love it.. I did get high quality HEED crash bars and belly pan. And i love it. No regrets. As for residual value.. There are worse things in life to worry about!
Been very much looking forward to this video Dave. Thank you for an honest balanced comparison between the two. Much of the choice appears to be aesthetics and whether you need extra tech… not an easy voice but thank goodness for both of these bikes… there are far too many £15k plus behemoths.. hope you’re still enjoying the CF Moto… and the Guzzi and Norman!
HondaTransalps were out of stock locally and it was what i was after,but ! ..a nearby dealer had a new 23 ibex 800t in stock..its now in my shed. Love the sound of the ktm motor when you crank it ! Bennellis arent an option round here in nova scotia canada..
Personally l don't think these bikes are going to make dent in the UK market & apologies for the long post..... I've been in & around Jerez for a month & it struck me that in the past 30 years l've seen the streets go from 90%+ Vespa & European to maybe 10%, they then moved to 90% Japanese but now l'd guess 60% are Chinese/Korean. Keeway are the most popular scooter and Voge the bigger bikes. But the market here is multi-generational & constantly regenerating, they are 2 considerations, affordability & reliability, little if any brand loyalty, they are more open minded. It's totally different to the UK, where London & delivery riders apart it's nearing an OAP market of buyers for new motorcycles. I'm 60, why would l buy one of these things when l can afford anything (within reason) and my main consideration is "Does it look good/cool"? Followed by a desire for history and authenticity, not very open minded l know but that's what they are up against with an ageing market, who can still afford European/Japanese and with fresh memories of poor Chinese bike quality.
Hi Dave, good morning from Norfolk. Excellent comparison review this morning, i think even the most discerning buyer would find "you had it covered". As always, your efforts are appreciated. Regards, Roy.
Hi dave just got back from completing the NC500 two up with luggage on my trk 702X it was absolutly faultless what a bike what a ride the chinese have well and truly broke into the motorcycle market no faults no complaints from either of us it absolutly tackled everything i threw at it really got tested on the NC500 route it just took it all in its stride two up no problem whatsoever it performed amicably with all the top make bikes quite a few fell off their bikes the 702X just seems so planted as if its on rails gives you so much confidence your happy with the 800MT im happy with the trk 702X will be interesting to keep in touch for the future but to me the bikes are solid and upto the job they were built for at a great price keep up the good work with your reviews giving more and more people chance of buying and enjoying these cheap adventure bikes at a very reasonable price
Hi Brian sounds like you had a great time up there….I must get around to doing the NC 500 some time. I really enjoyed the TRK702X it’s so well balanced and it was a close call between that and the CF for me with the inclusion on the CF of integral crash bars, spotlights and cruise control finally sealing the deal….both great bikes though
I don't know if it's just the angle you shot your video at but your CF Moto just looks a bigger bike. I wonder what a passenger would think because again the seat looked bigger and there looked a bit more room for the passenger. As these bikes are both tourers it would have been nice to see and hear a passengers thoughts on them both.
Hi Dave and thanks for the great review. Just as an aside, and regardless of any new bike's country of origin, I have real concerns regarding the longevity of these TFT screens. Living in the tropics of the skin cancer capital of the world, otherwise known as Queensland, Australia, I've personally experienced LCD readout failures on several of my own bike's instruments. It seems that there's no way of repairing them once they're gone either. I don't know if the TFT stores information like odometer readings and so on, or if that info is stored in the ECU. Hopefully it's the latter.
As a 6'1'' tall road rider, I would be pleased too own Either of these fine bikes. Not having ridden either of them, the Suspension adjustment on the CF Moto, is a great bonus. Suspension on a bike can enhance both comfort and handling/road holding and is not given enough consideration by enough riders? Based on that alone the CF Moto 800 is a fine choice.Thanks a lot for this useful comparison video.
That's a nice comparison review, Dave; very fair. For me it's a case of, 'You pays your money and makes your choice' as in practical real-world terms for most folks, there's not a lot of distance, apart from price, to choose between the two. I must say that, styling-wise to my untutored eye, it looks like both bikes came out of the same design studio. Yes, doing all these reviews is indeed a hard life, but one has to struggle for one's art. Our collective heart goes out to you! 😁
Take off the badges and I would struggle to tell them apart, it’s down to the little additional features that the enthusiasts will spot, but that can be said of so many models nowadays. Nice balanced review Dave, it’s down to personal preference of the purchaser. Good luck to them both, let’s get some younger blood into the arena.
No younger blood. the licensing system is messed up insurance is crazy VED on both of these is £117. And we don't pay them enough to live on. At this point a small car is cheaper to run than most motorcycles.
i have a benelli trk 702 i did the nc500 early this mounth the first leg was nottingham to inverness 440 miles my bum has never been so sore,apart from that a fantastic bike
Great review TBW! Much appreciated. I wonder if the new to be released TRK902X will be closer to the 800MT in future? Worth finding out specifications... Cheers
Thanks Dave, that is a great comparison between the two models competing for your cash. Without riding either it would appear that the CFMoto has slightly better components justifying it's higher price. I couldn't make out whether the Benelli has tubeless tyres and a cable throttle rather than the ride by wire of the CFMoto. This would be why the Benelli lacks rider modes and cruise control, not essentials but could also justify the higher price of the CFMoto. Both bikes are too big for what I want at this present time but the CFMoto 450MT really hits the spot!
I reckon the Chinese have well upped their game in recent years , got back to what motorcycles were intended to be . Inexpensive reliable 2 wheeled economical transport for the masses . I notice in places such as Africa & Latin America , they manage to use the most basic low end Chines bikes , often overloaded ,day in day out ,in gruesome extremes of weather & floods on all manner of road & un paved tracks , up mountains & volcanoes & down the other side . So these Chinese bikes can’t be as bad as many pretentious bike snobs would have others believe . I reckon the Chinese should take a leaf out of Hondas book , & bring in proper 5 star dealer ships with proper 5 star factory trained mechanics . This would give better assurance to punters ,of decent after sales service & long term parts availability . As it is at present it’s hit & miss on how Chinese bikes are looked upon & serviced & if parts are going to be still available in 5 - 10 years time . Otherwise I reckon a lot more riders would be inclined to take a punt on chinese badged bikes . 👍
Certainly be delighted to own either one of them. I don't go to bikers meeting places as I mind there is too much snobbery surrounding our favourite passtime. Sadly.
Hi Dave , Both bikes are great for price & fit & finish , giving the choice id opt for the cf motor because i think it looks better from the front , thanks for sharing this review , ride safe
here in the usa, most shops will not allow you to ride a new bike, and most don't have display bikes. but, we have the CF motos here. i'm going to use it the same way you are.
Sound like good bikes. However, I personally wouldn't consider one because I feel that I would be supporting China, who in turn support Russia. As far as I'm concerned, that is a threat to the western world. Just my opinion.
Having worked with computers mainly within the N.H.S. For what seemed a lifetime, I’d never invest in a bike that relies on cheap and nasty electronic components, they don’t like getting their feet wet and are already obsolete, a smiths clock will work for 80 years, this screen etc won’t outlast the bike and will be the death of it when it fails, watch this space.
I am unsure of long-term reliability once you get some miles on them and some years as well. What costs $2 per hour in China to build costs $120 per hour to fix. Lots of electronics waiting to have a expensive failure. Vintage British motorcycles are rebuild able forever. New ones are disposable.
@@thebingleywheeler basic electronics are like the ignition. It has EFI along with all that goes with it. ABS and driving modes. Electronic ignition l can live with. All the rest l have no use for.
The past and Chinese bikes were not urban myths. What you are talking about is today's Chinese bikes which are so much improved. Yes they are good bikes but that does not mean owners from many years ago are all telling lies. What it means is that you have limited experience so stop calling what you know nothing about "urban myth"
@@thebingleywheeler If you had once said "Chinese bikes of the past appear to have often been crap" that would be fine because that was the truth. It would be a shame to dishearten a young rider who's gets a first bike that is an old Chinese model. God help them....they will give up and get a car! You have influence and therefore a responsibility not to mislead others by omission
@xtc2v your omission is to assume that the young have not the wit to intuit that which is obvious from the fabric upon which the narrative is weaved. Personally I have more faith in their intelligence and so I have no responsibility beyond that
![NOSFERATU - Official Trailer [HD] - Only In Theaters December 25](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/nulvWqYUM8k/mqdefault.jpg)
you can buy a Japanees built Vestrom 650 for £6500 brand new at the moment. I know whitch one I would buy
You won’t get hard luggage, crash bars, spot lights and cruise control for £6500 that’s for sure 👍🏻
@@thebingleywheeler and I wont be geting the most unreliable engine KTM ever made either
I agree Malcolm. The VStrom 650 has that incredible reputation for reliability. I have one and I love it. I also know a young chap who road one the length of South America and back, that one was 10yrs old with 70k kilometres on the clock, he had two problems both of them punctures and he's about to set off around the globe on the same bike. Could you put the same trust in one of these Chinese machines? Only time will tell.
Great review though Dave.
@@thebingleywheeler I was comparing the Vstrom to the TRK similar price and HP
I think the residual value for the Suzuki would cover the luggage cost.
Motorcycles like cars look really similar because of tablets instead of clocks. It's awful without character. Engines are often from the same factory or with almost the same character, suspensions from Showa or Kayaba...and the touristic character...I prefer retro style like the Royal Enfield classic, BSA, Kawasaki W800 or Moto Guzzi...but this is me😅
oh you havnt tried KYB SSS sus... showa is like shit compared to it.
It's the return of the Japanese influx, people had the same opinion back then. I note people because the Japanese also entered the car industry, Datsun being one of those brands. Who would of thought that, that very car company would provide a secure future for hundreds of hard working people in the north east today, yes Nissan formally Datsun.
Maybe some old fogie like me will reflect on today's influx from china and maybe, just maybe, have held a successful career in one of these companies.
Yes there here to stay make no doubt about it.
If there's one thing about the motoring industry we all benefit from it's comparison.
Nice video on a nice bike, but my question is, can you get hold of one?
Yes Rob you can get hold of the TRKs…. Bit of a wait for the CF Moto at the moment
@@robwilkguitar4458 My mum had a Datsun which myself and my oldest sister, who's younger than me, learnt to drive in. Datsun was the name of the importer. He had them badged with his name.
First impressions are usually the main decider with bikes and from my own point of view I’d say the CF Moto wins it on looks alone. 👍
Agreed on that one Nick for sure
Nice review! For me it was more esthetics. I have chosen the trk702x in same colour, dune sea. I like the looks more than the cf moto. The front of the cf moto is like a bulldog, ugly inward nose :-) not elegant or refined. Keep the revs high enough and the engine is a gem on the trk. Lower rpm is less fun with it. Engine sound with stock exhaust is also great with some minor pops and bangs when shifting down. Thanks for the review/content 👌
With all these Chinese and Indian built bikes available in the UK, The likes of Honda , Yamaha , Suzuki , and others are going to have to be more competitive, which can’t be a bad thing I say .
Great vif as always thank you. I went for the green TRK702x. And i love it.. I did get high quality HEED crash bars and belly pan. And i love it. No regrets. As for residual value.. There are worse things in life to worry about!
Heed bars are excellent 👍🏻
I think the Cf moto takes it for me, I like the front look much better.more sophoisticated look for me
Which ones the CF Moto again?
@@saltaireorangebicyclechopp8555 9
800mt the first bike
The KTM 790 engine has been horribly unreliable, so I assume the same will apply to the CF Moto 800.
What evidence is there of this please I’d like to review it
@@thebingleywheeler Google KTM 790 reliability. Mostly it is water and oil leaks with the countershaft seal being a common site.
Been very much looking forward to this video Dave. Thank you for an honest balanced comparison between the two. Much of the choice appears to be aesthetics and whether you need extra tech… not an easy voice but thank goodness for both of these bikes… there are far too many £15k plus behemoths.. hope you’re still enjoying the CF Moto… and the Guzzi and Norman!
I think that the imperative factor here is that these bikes are within the budget of many - if not most riders. Fantastic value on both models.
Dont think the paint schemes on the chinese bikes are that great. I like the 450 my buy both scheme arnt that good looking
Tablets screens are not long lasting like old school dials
can cfm will die/ white out with 1 yr under the sun.
Nice to speak to you in the flesh yesterday (hunter 350) enjoy your content & musings, hope you enjoyed your pies! Take care..
I'm not buying into this tft screen nonsense.
@@chrishart8548
Progress is a good thing, but it has gone on far too long 😁
@Wallyman1660 great to meet you too Brian 😊👍🏻
HondaTransalps were out of stock locally and it was what i was after,but ! ..a nearby dealer had a new 23 ibex 800t in stock..its now in my shed. Love the sound of the ktm motor when you crank it !
Bennellis arent an option round here in nova scotia canada..
Great result Jamie don’t know why they don’t call it the Ibex here
Personally l don't think these bikes are going to make dent in the UK market & apologies for the long post..... I've been in & around Jerez for a month & it struck me that in the past 30 years l've seen the streets go from 90%+ Vespa & European to maybe 10%, they then moved to 90% Japanese but now l'd guess 60% are Chinese/Korean. Keeway are the most popular scooter and Voge the bigger bikes.
But the market here is multi-generational & constantly regenerating, they are 2 considerations, affordability & reliability, little if any brand loyalty, they are more open minded. It's totally different to the UK, where London & delivery riders apart it's nearing an OAP market of buyers for new motorcycles. I'm 60, why would l buy one of these things when l can afford anything (within reason) and my main consideration is "Does it look good/cool"? Followed by a desire for history and authenticity, not very open minded l know but that's what they are up against with an ageing market, who can still afford European/Japanese and with fresh memories of poor Chinese bike quality.
Hi Dave, good morning from Norfolk. Excellent comparison review this morning, i think even the most discerning buyer would find "you had it covered". As always, your efforts are appreciated. Regards, Roy.
Thank you Roy much appreciated
None
Hi dave just got back from completing the NC500 two up with luggage on my trk 702X it was absolutly faultless what a bike what a ride the chinese have well and truly broke into the motorcycle market no faults no complaints from either of us it absolutly tackled everything i threw at it really got tested on the NC500 route it just took it all in its stride two up no problem whatsoever it performed amicably with all the top make bikes quite a few fell off their bikes the 702X just seems so planted as if its on rails gives you so much confidence
your happy with the 800MT im happy with the trk 702X will be interesting to keep in touch for the future but to me the bikes are solid and upto the job they were built for at a great price keep up the good work with your reviews giving more and more people chance of buying and enjoying these cheap adventure bikes at a very reasonable price
Hi Brian sounds like you had a great time up there….I must get around to doing the NC 500 some time. I really enjoyed the TRK702X it’s so well balanced and it was a close call between that and the CF for me with the inclusion on the CF of integral crash bars, spotlights and cruise control finally sealing the deal….both great bikes though
great review. I am exactly between those two. thanks man
Hard to choose between the two.🤔
I don't know if it's just the angle you shot your video at but your CF Moto just looks a bigger bike. I wonder what a passenger would think because again the seat looked bigger and there looked a bit more room for the passenger. As these bikes are both tourers it would have been nice to see and hear a passengers thoughts on them both.
Agreed Ian alas I don’t carry a pillion (no one is mad enough!)….the CF is indeed a little bigger than the Benelli
Love my Cfmoto 800MT
Whatever your allegiance, Europe,Japan,US,China get your bike b4 electric forced on us!
Hi Dave and thanks for the great review. Just as an aside, and regardless of any new bike's country of origin, I have real concerns regarding the longevity of these TFT screens. Living in the tropics of the skin cancer capital of the world, otherwise known as Queensland, Australia, I've personally experienced LCD readout failures on several of my own bike's instruments. It seems that there's no way of repairing them once they're gone either. I don't know if the TFT stores information like odometer readings and so on, or if that info is stored in the ECU. Hopefully it's the latter.
So funny, but- who can see the motorcycles w/ the stunning backdrop!!! Giggling to meself...
As a 6'1'' tall road rider, I would be pleased too own Either of these fine bikes. Not having ridden either of them, the Suspension adjustment on the CF Moto, is a great bonus. Suspension on a bike can enhance both comfort and handling/road holding and is not given enough consideration by enough riders? Based on that alone the CF Moto 800 is a fine choice.Thanks a lot for this useful comparison video.
That's a nice comparison review, Dave; very fair. For me it's a case of, 'You pays your money and makes your choice' as in practical real-world terms for most folks, there's not a lot of distance, apart from price, to choose between the two. I must say that, styling-wise to my untutored eye, it looks like both bikes came out of the same design studio.
Yes, doing all these reviews is indeed a hard life, but one has to struggle for one's art. Our collective heart goes out to you! 😁
Take off the badges and I would struggle to tell them apart, it’s down to the little additional features that the enthusiasts will spot, but that can be said of so many models nowadays.
Nice balanced review Dave, it’s down to personal preference of the purchaser. Good luck to them both, let’s get some younger blood into the arena.
No younger blood. the licensing system is messed up insurance is crazy VED on both of these is £117. And we don't pay them enough to live on. At this point a small car is cheaper to run than most motorcycles.
Insurance for me was pretty reasonable 👍🏻
Quite correct mr D fully agreed…..a fresh approach at an affordable price
@@thebingleywheeler are you young?
Hi Dave, how did you manage to find out its touratech making the luggage for the cfmoto 800 mt,, it is fantastic quality no doubt about that.
i have a benelli trk 702 i did the nc500 early this mounth the first leg was nottingham to inverness 440 miles my bum has never been so sore,apart from that a fantastic bike
No difference to when the Japanese started to import into the uk back in the 1960s. Look what happened then
Got a that's what she said in the first 15 seconds!
Great review TBW! Much appreciated.
I wonder if the new to be released TRK902X will be closer to the 800MT in future? Worth finding out specifications...
Cheers
Hi Steve yes I’m looking forward to checking out the 902X
Thanks Dave, that is a great comparison between the two models competing for your cash. Without riding either it would appear that the CFMoto has slightly better components justifying it's higher price. I couldn't make out whether the Benelli has tubeless tyres and a cable throttle rather than the ride by wire of the CFMoto. This would be why the Benelli lacks rider modes and cruise control, not essentials but could also justify the higher price of the CFMoto. Both bikes are too big for what I want at this present time but the CFMoto 450MT really hits the spot!
Hi thank you….yes tubed on Benelli and wire throttle
I reckon the Chinese have well upped their game in recent years , got back to what motorcycles were intended to be . Inexpensive reliable 2 wheeled economical transport for the masses . I notice in places such as Africa & Latin America , they manage to use the most basic low end Chines bikes , often overloaded ,day in day out ,in gruesome extremes of weather & floods on all manner of road & un paved tracks , up mountains & volcanoes & down the other side . So these Chinese bikes can’t be as bad as many pretentious bike snobs would have others believe . I reckon the Chinese should take a leaf out of Hondas book , & bring in proper 5 star dealer ships with proper 5 star factory trained mechanics . This would give better assurance to punters ,of decent after sales service & long term parts availability . As it is at present it’s hit & miss on how Chinese bikes are looked upon & serviced & if parts are going to be still available in 5 - 10 years time . Otherwise I reckon a lot more riders would be inclined to take a punt on chinese badged bikes . 👍
Good points indeed and a more polished post purchase provision would be a good move 👍🏻
Certainly be delighted to own either one of them. I don't go to bikers meeting places as I mind there is too much snobbery surrounding our favourite passtime. Sadly.
There is sadly a lot of that going on…..I don’t go to “bike meets” but I do enjoy meeting and talking to subscribers whilst out and about
Hi Dave , Both bikes are great for price & fit & finish , giving the choice id opt for the cf motor because i think it looks better from the front , thanks for sharing this review , ride safe
Cheers Steve agreed a better looking “face”
Cud you tour on it ease
Yes
For 2.people then
Dave your weeds are taking over!! Too much time on motorcycles,.. living the dream👍
Yep riding beats weeding! 😎
Thanks Dave. You make a compelling case. Regards, Mo 😊 👍.
Cheers Mo 😎👍🏻
Both Chinese......nope
Geopolitical reason or an educated reason? Please tell
@@seanobrien5520 quality, or lacjk of it
@@MtbPoland you're soooooo wrong
@@seanobrien5520 well, have BAD experience with new Chinese bike 😞...
@@MtbPoland please let the public know make and model so we can avoid or make our own judgement 😉👍🏻
here in the usa, most shops will not allow you to ride a new bike, and most don't have display bikes. but, we have the CF motos here. i'm going to use it the same way you are.
Sound like good bikes. However, I personally wouldn't consider one because I feel that I would be supporting China, who in turn support Russia. As far as I'm concerned, that is a threat to the western world. Just my opinion.
Having worked with computers mainly within the N.H.S. For what seemed a lifetime, I’d never invest in a bike that relies on cheap and nasty electronic components, they don’t like getting their feet wet and are already obsolete, a smiths clock will work for 80 years, this screen etc won’t outlast the bike and will be the death of it when it fails, watch this space.
I am unsure of long-term reliability once you get some miles on them and some years as well. What costs $2 per hour in China to build costs $120 per hour to fix. Lots of electronics waiting to have a expensive failure. Vintage British motorcycles are rebuild able forever. New ones are disposable.
Only basic electronics in these bikes though….nothing exotic
@@thebingleywheeler basic electronics are like the ignition. It has EFI along with all that goes with it. ABS and driving modes. Electronic ignition l can live with. All the rest l have no use for.
The past and Chinese bikes were not urban myths. What you are talking about is today's Chinese bikes which are so much improved. Yes they are good bikes but that does not mean owners from many years ago are all telling lies. What it means is that you have limited experience so stop calling what you know nothing about "urban myth"
Another petulant response from a keyboard warrior who can’t be bothered to pay attention to the content…..god you lot are so predictable 😂
@@thebingleywheeler If you had once said "Chinese bikes of the past appear to have often been crap" that would be fine because that was the truth. It would be a shame to dishearten a young rider who's gets a first bike that is an old Chinese model. God help them....they will give up and get a car! You have influence and therefore a responsibility not to mislead others by omission
@xtc2v your omission is to assume that the young have not the wit to intuit that which is obvious from the fabric upon which the narrative is weaved. Personally I have more faith in their intelligence and so I have no responsibility beyond that
I wish your videos were half the length. I don't have time to watch such long ones.
Watch half at a time then….😂
Well don't then ,, simple 😅
@@seanobrien5520 I'm sure the main man understands my point, even if it's beyond you.