at the end of the day is what makes you smile. rode them both, liked CF riding position more, ordered the RE, go figure..but at the end of the day is what makes you smile more!
Yup ultimately it's that totally off paper, individual preference that matters most. On paper, a cb500x should be the ideal bike for me. Had one and I totally hated it. Bikes really do have character, and they either fit you or they don't.
I tried the RE 450 yesterday. And I was surprised in a positive way. That engine performes well. At low speed, nearly tickover it just rolled on, even up hill. Look forward to the Guerilla!
I got mine CF moto, and I hate it. They lie about the weight and fuel consumption, my screen shows 4.1L /100km , measured at the gas station, its about 4.7L. That is a lot. My average with about 80kmh speed on the road is about 4.3-4,4L/100km. More then tenere 700, and has about the same KG. What a fail of a bike. Also, that "substantial guard" under the bike is like 1mm thick, hahah.
@@laaaliiiluuu yeah just looked it up, more expensive and complex because it need to use servo motors etc, vs just plug and play on the himi. Still awesome it’s available though
I about to chose the RE, just to also buy me into the brand and history. Rode one for two days in the South of France. Excellent motorbike, also for on rode with 34 km per liter, in case that interests you.
Between the two I would pick the Royal Enfield Himalayan as there’s less plastic to damage when on an adventure ride abs you set it to off and that’s it so why have a big switch on the CF Moto it feels like a afterthought to me. What will the availability of the CF MOTOs plastic parts in 5-10 years time? Remember the Lifan 125 road bike correct they have all but disappeared these days RE have been trading since 1901…
They lie about fuel consumption on 450MT, my screen shows 4.1L /100km , measured at the gas station, its about 4.7L. That is a lot. My average with about 80kmh speed on the road is about 4.3-4,4L/100km. More then tenere 700, and has about the same KG. What a fail of a bike.
@@mysticmac651 here in Greece mt 5990eur. and RE 5890 euro and tubeless 6490eur. so i think mt is better 5990 tubeless and two cylinder,only time will tell which bike is better.
Royal Enfield provides a centre stand as part of the bike. CFMoto make it available as an optional extra. Thumbs up to both brands for that, plus a good range of bolt on accessories.
Another big difference is servicing the air filter. On the CF, pull the seat and the air filter is directly available. On the Enfield you have to remove the seat AND tank and then take apart an access panel.
What a lot of choice! They both look good, (CF moto is nicer in my opinion) but to my eye the CF is on the nail for quality, and it feels really nice to sit on. The Himy looks a little awkward with that elephant head fuel tank, but it looks better in the darker colour. I think if RE had had kept the new shape nearer to the old shape it would be a winner! But not this time RE.
The CF450 is what Suzuki could do with their new V-Strom. Suzuki don't have anything between their 125 and 650 models. The Indians and Chinese are going to do very well in this bracket I think.
Suzuki has made a good 250 vstrom, which is atvpar with 350 ccs. If they make one around 400-500cc, they will nail it. But I guess whatever suzuki makes, it will have a good price. So Suzuki will lose on price basis.
@@nannu3703 interestingly the V Strom 250 is a twin cylinder in most markets, while in India its a single cylinder. Power output is absolutely the same in both engines amazingly
@@varun1036 Different models, the twin was made 2017-20, round Headlamp 17 inch front wheel, the simgle was introduced 2023, stacked LED headlight, 19 inch front wheel
I tried both and very much enjoyed the riding position of the CFMOTO against the RE where I felt perched on the seat. The exhaust tone on the CF was phenomenal 😮
That’s what I found - the cf felt made to measure for me as soon as I sat on it and supremely comfortable riding position, which for me now is the clincher.
This is a very detailed introduction. Thank you for your efforts. I personally like the 450MT very much. It has many small details that are better: inward-folding rearview mirrors; one-touch ABS; complete metal guard plate at the bottom of the engine; very nice exhaust sound; because it is a twin-cylinder, its engine vibration suppression is also very good. Very simple, capable, and tough appearance design. I like its TFT instrument UI design very much. The 450MT and 450SR/450NK/450CL-C use the same engine. There are at least 100,000 of this engine running in the world. I have not found any negative news. I think it has withstood the test of a certain mileage. I definitely choose the 450MT.
You are spot on. I have two RE, GT650 and Hunter350, like them both. Passed on the 452, too heavy for a single (15-20 kgs). Lacking all the adjustments and features of the MT450. New water cooled engine, this ride by wire throttle..........The looks of it are also all confused for me, tank, lights, the front fender. Got 1300 km on my MT450. I don't like the short gearing and the fueling off idle is shit. I installed 15t sprocket, waiting for a good clean tune. Rest is very good.
@@pawelwolski1316 I think CFMOTO will definitely push OTA system upgrades later to solve the throttle jerking problem when driving at low speeds. They often do this.
@FabrizioSpinelli First it is not night and day difference. For any given speed, the rpm drops about 450 rpm (speedometer has "correct" indication as the signal must come from the wheel speed). This is a positive outcome and a must for my riding. Since the torque delivered to the rear wheel is bit less, the bike is not as "aggressive" in acceleration. My friend has 14t, so switching back and forth u can feel the difference. Again it's small but noticeable. If I was riding side roads, limiting speed to 100 kmh, or doing long distance dirt riding, I would keep the 14t. For everything else, the 15t is the way to go. CFMOTO messed up giving the MT450 such short taller gears, that's the real issue here.
One thing nobody is talking about is service intervals - at least here in Europe himi have 10k km while cf 6k km - one would have to pay almost double for just the oil changes to keep the warranty... no idea why all the Chinese have such short service intervals, maybe to keep the money flowing for the dealer?
The reason they have short milage maintenance intervals because the cheaper kind of alloy and steel inside the engine that the Chinese using their bikes. Once failed to change oil it will overheat and easily melts,😂😂😂
@@richlijacanacua Japanese machines also had 6000km service interval a couple of years ago, more or less all at once jumped to approx 10.000km oil and 40.000km valve service, I seriously doubt that they invested in sv650 or z650 engines to make a change... I haven't done any deep research into whether parts have been changed in these older engines.
The Japanese service specs have not been accurate. Ask any 300l owner if they can go 10,000 miles without a valve adjustment. The entire bike stops functioning around 7,000.
@@romanbednar5917nah mate, the old sv650 can easily reach 80000 km with no valve adjustment. My old air cooled Yamaha tt600, 9000km oil interval. That engine derived from the 80's.. Japanese build quality has proved itself for decades..
"no idea why all the Chinese have such short service intervals" - You mean like Toyota do in Africa? All their cars have half to 1/3 the service intervals of their competitors. So much for the engineers trust in their engines...ofcourse it could just mean "job creation" for their staff...point is "Legendary Toyota" has the shortest intervals.
I will choose the Himalayan Royal Enfield 450cc. set-up single cylinder engine because it is diver-sable bike for off-roads, rough-roads and smooth roads. It is easy to maneuver and control. Also retro looking bike. So gorgeous! CF-Moto it is good only in smooth road and hard to control and maneuver in off-roads. That is the reality in handling bikes.
I will stick with my t7. Bought new £8349. Although i have just ridden a rented 450 himalayan up to 5800 metres (umling la in the himalayas) and the 450 was epic on sand, dirt, gravel, river crossings, tarmac and altitude.
To my eyes, and based on the specs, the CF Moto 450 MT is a Tenere 450 :-) However, it's more modern looking and the price point provides ridiculous value. As a 2022 Honda CB500X owner, I'm very tempted to make a switch as I can likely sell my CB500X and buy a brand new Ibex 450 (450 MT's name in the N.A. market) without spending a dime. However, since I already did a Rally Raid rear shock upgrade on my CB500X I'll likely keep it for a couple more years. By then, the long term reliability of both the Himi 450 and the CF Moto 450 MT will be clearer. In the meantime, I'll keep bashing the beefy Rally Raid skidplate on my CB500X thanks to less than ideal ground clearance :-)
I really like these comparison videos you're making, great job of it too. Both have a a lot to offer, but if its my money...at the moment I would still go the Enfield route because I know where I am with them. But its getting a difficult choice. Thanks
Agreed ER, I can't ride the CF but just having them side by side is handy. I'd like to follow the owners of these bikes online and see if any problems crop up...
I think the price difference answered to you already I ordered cfmoto If im not happy i will trade for a Himalayan If still not happy Honda all the way 😅
I believe the Royal Enfield is a superb motorbike. I watched a lot of guys riding around India and I’ve never had a stick of trouble with the 450s. They got plenty of grunt with the stand. I would put a block on it so it can stand up a bit better, but that’s probably the only thing that I would change on the Royal Enfield Anyway thank you for the review it was well done. Keep up the good work from Australia.
What RE had with the previous iteration was an iconic design...whereas this one just looks like a lot of other ADVs...and CF Moto actually nailed the retro styling (throwback to the transalp from the late 80s!) So definitely the CF Moto winning this one for me!
After many videos, and reviews read, I am leaning towards the RE 450. Have not yet ridden either, but will before dropping $. Currently ride a 2016 Africa Twin DCT which has been Excellent for 33,000 mi, but looking to down size….
On CF moto central stand is optional. By the way, on Himalayan you miss handguards, higher windshield, metal engine protection, etc... and most of all, Tubeless wheels are optional on RE...
I can ask the same about an Indian company. According to a lot of owners royal enfield is having trouble with parts with a bike that’s still in production. Like it or not cf moto is making the other manufacturers take notice.
big difference is the weight & how heavy they feel. For me the Himalayan feels very heavy.Himalayan is also taller-wider & longer than the 411 so it's almost become a middleweight segment bike instead of the lite middleweight bike. Air cleaner for hImalayan under the tank so you actually have to remove the tank to change the air cleaner. CF is under the seat towards the back of tank.I think Royal Enfield probably could have improved on what they had by installing a alloy swing arm & lighter tank. I think the 450 MT is a better all round bike but it depends on support from after market suppliers-depends on parts availability & depends when the bikes actually become available in the show room as well as reliability over time.
The 450 Himi feels alot heavier than the 411. The 450 is very top heavy indeed. I love the RE brand and I wanted to love the Himi 450 so much more but I just couldn't buy one because of that top heavy weight
@@pggp273 it probably doesn't help that it has a bigger fuel tank 17 litres. However the 411 was also fairly heavy at 200 kg wet. The new 450 is taller, longer & wider which wouldn't help.
A very reasonable account of both bikes and my own personal thoughts are that the Himalayan is likely better suited to green laning, with a dual sport style, whilst the 450MT is more adventure bike style for touring with some gnarly bits thrown in. Ultimately they will both do the same thing, which probably means that style is what will decide for the individual. My inside leg is 29” and seat height is probably the main focus for me, at 61 I do not want to be going off road (only just starting to do this) on something too tall, which is why I never really took my Tiger rally pro off road. I would have taken my CRF250 rally off road but some low life nicked it. So I purchased the Himalayan the day before the ABR festival and did my first bit of trail on the Bridgestone trail, where I also had my first OFF, so now has some battle scars, although I will add that I loved it and will be looking for places to gain experience off road. I actually chatted with one of the designers at the show and made some design options to rectify the side stand issue, to which end he said that the stand issue was created due to the requirements in the American market, so perhaps they can create an alternative for the UK. Strangely the CRF250 was the opposite issue with the stand being so long it was nearly vertical and created issues of a possible topple if on a slope. Anyway this is starting to look like a dissitation, so I will say buy which one you like the look of and I am sure you will not be disappointed. PS my other bike is a speedmaster
What is a shame is that this 490 KTM platform has been scrapped. Imagine a Norden 501 on this. The looks, the features and I'm guessing it probably would have been amazing to ride.
No one ever mentions luggage ....wish they'd not put the exhausts so high like on the CF ! How many people cross rivers ? Really ? No point in losing half a case for the exhaust !
If you ride the TET in much of Europe you will cross water, not raging torrents but some deep fords. A low exhaust is a deal breaker for me, likewise a low air box. The UK TET has Strata Florida which is very wet and deep.
@@themoog3889 I bought an FE 501, then made it travel friendly. If you're traveling light, then the rackless panniers and roll top bag carry pretty well everything I need to camp with no high exhaust issues. I'm not sure about the concept of adventure riding. It seems to have settled on taking a GS on tarmac which I think of as touring on a big, fast comfortable bike, which can carry a tonne of kit and be absolutely happy on gravel. I suspect what I do, which is mostly TET and trails, with quite a lot of single track is something other than adventure riding. Adventure riding seems to have settled on bigger miles with some gentle off road. I'm not knocking that sort of riding. I enjoy that too. Nordic TET is a real adventure which is much better suited to s bigger adv bike than my modified dual sport/enduro crossover. I do both, road biased on a 900 Tiger with a bit of easy trails and scrabbling about on rocks and mud on the 501. They are very different experiences.
Its a thinner seat on CF moto compared to Himi and the ground clearance is 220mm vs 230mm on Himi, But its a very vibey single cylinder motor compared to parallel twin on 450MT.
Just did a 1,500k loop on my MT in the company of a 701LR, Duc DesertX, A Toureg, XT600 (modded) and a weestrom. Loaded with camping gear. The MT was superb on the dirt, great in the sand and blitzed them all on on non tar surfaces. On the tar it kept up!. The RE is a pedestrian plodder. No comparo. The suspension on the MT rocks and it sounds better.
Glad I don't have to make the choice between the two, they both look very good, the numbers are very similar, but probably the fact i'd find an Enfield dealer quicker, would swing my choice to the Himmy, plus the fact I tend to lean towards the classic names anyway. PS. looks like you've bought yourself a new Lawn mower?
@@ryanoliver-vi9gm No I didn't try the CF moto, but what I meant was, how it feels while riding. It simply flows , love the chassis and it's stability.
I doubt we'll be getting the CF Moto 450 MT, it looks like they're pushing a bigger adventure bike, the Ibex 800 here in the US. The Himalayan 450 hasn't arrived yet, and I've heard nothing so far. We still have the Kawasaki Versys-X 300 as an ongoing model here. Very much in the same class as these. I've been looking into that one lately, and would probably gravitate towards that, even over the Enfield. The RE bikes always appeal to me, but I think my desire to try out other brands wins out when I stop and think about it.
Thanks Mark. I go back and forth on which brands to invest in... having been an RE owner and now the BSA. If the Kawasaki 300 was available here I would probably go for that bike...
I would find it odd that the Himalayan is more road bias seeing as it's supposed to be a rugged off road/adv, whereas the MT looks more road bias and the front wheel looks too big in proportion. Just my opinion obviously. Loving the screen on the RE but am looking forward to what else they will churn out with that engine. Perhaps channels such as yourself could put a call out to CFMoto owners of say 5 years to review and see what their longevity is, might put pay to the negative comments or not. I joined the ER6F/N Facebook group, kinda wished I hadn't, because you see posts about issues all the time, but no one ever brings them up in big brand reviews unless it's a recall and it's soon forgotten anyway.
Well I did 9k on my ER6F 2015 bike Lee and no issues... and weirdly mine was an ex rental bike. Not often that happens. So hopefully that comes as positive news. We tend to talk about this all the time, between the RUclipsrs at least the small channels. How objective are people really being with their brand reviews and particularly on launches. It's a big debate...
How many owners will take either off road? I have lots of unsurfaced roads were I live, but thankfully very little rain, so no mud. The Himalayan is a great road bike, and on the twisty mountain roads it handles and brakes well, belying the 21 inch front wheel. The sidestand lean you get used to quickly, and no chance of it being blown over like my 411 was-twice. Oddly the CFMoto does not appear to be available anywhere in Spain.
Thanks Jerzy, yes I think the side stand was designed with the 411 side stand in mind I believe. Perhaps they will bring out a revised in the middle version....
Endless comparisons, yet to choose for one self, then an aesthetic appeal to the person choosing. One is not better as you said, and the sooner we realise it's not things or specs that bring contentment in being.
I have watched/read every review out there... This is going to be my first bike... What a difficult choice damn... Is it just me? This decision bothers me for 2 months now
I'm in the same boat. Really tough to decide. I'm reading the all comments hoping to find some insight that will sway me towards one bike.... but no such luck. Going to have to see if I can test ride them. BTW: the price difference here in Mexico is only $450 usd more for the CF.
Great review I did look at both bikes yesterday and was taken a back how difficult the Royal Enfield was to move of the side stand on uneven ground this would be a deal breaker for me personally I know you could fix this but the cf moto just appeared more upmarket.i was comparing the cf moto to my Honda cb500x and it would appear a suitable replacement .back in 2020 I had to buy hand guards and power outlet which all come as standard on the cf moto but still don’t on the cb500x or the nx500. I also am considering going for a different bike looked the Royal Enfield shotgun but my wife commented on the 650 logo and the paint schemes are not as nice as the other Royal Enfield range, the shotgun could looked more retro I don’t mean like a classic 650 if they release it but more like a triumph bobber paint scheme.maybe more premium.
Hi Malcolm, thank you for this comment and apologies for the delayed reply. Perhaps wait for the Himalyan 650? No doubt they will have fixed the side stand issue on that bike and it will have the 47hp Twin that you like...
I've tried both, I found the himalayan motor more fun(torque is available very soon), but sound very meeehh compare to the twin of the 450mt(very linear feeling at acceleration)
To me how a bike looks is so important and the CF looks like it's been beaten by an ugly stick. The RE is far more to my taste and is the one I'd buy. Did Suze attack you head with some scissors while you were asleep quite a different look you've got there.
2 cracking bikes Sean. Like everything else, there be likes/dislikes on each. The CF really seem to be coming into the Limelight. The black n Gold Himmy, looks fantastic, for sure. Unfortunately not for me….only cause of my 27 inch, inside leggies.😢 Lovely back drop.😊
Hi Mark, hope youre well! There will be supporters and detractors on both sides, for me don't want such a big bike really. They are both full sized bikes if that makes sense.
Himalayan has a lot of vibration, mt 450 is like butter smoooth! Also I could not feel the weight on the Mt 450 but found it a bit difficult to handle the hymalayan offroad!
@@kevinnielsen1356 I did a test drive, trust me i Pulled as hard as i could! At full gas i could not see in the mirrors! Tryed both low rpm and high rpm.
@@sniperule2004That is a characteristic of single cylinder engines when under full power. When up to speed at partial throttle it's a different situation.I test road one a week ago. 65 mph high gear was smooth, 55 was smooth in 5th. I didn't ride above 70. It vibrated thumper style if the engine was loaded below 4000 rpm in 4th gear up. My Moto Guzzi V7III is my smoothy. P S it may not be a good idea to look in the mirrors while accelerating full blast.
I really like the colour of the RE and those wheels and the CF is also very nice I think in the end I would probably plum for the CF as it is a twin as I have never really been into singles but both are very good bikes .👌👍
I would have bought the CF Moto until I rode it. The fuelling on/off the throttle I could not live with. Not good, it would make life difficult off road. CF Moto needs work in this area to be a top bike. I hope they get it right eventually as the rest of the bike is good. Not mentioned in comparison?
It's funny I just watched another comparison on YT and the guy said if he buys one it is the Royal Enfield. BTW I would take the Enfield too, it has just a lot more character....
Having now ridden both….I really wanted to like the Himi over the CF….but I just didn’t. The vibes on the Himi plus the top heavy weight, fit and finish, wind management plus tubed tires has put me off. Above all though the motor is just a peach on the MT….not just smooth but more tractable and alive….much more fun. Where the Himi wins for me is ride quality out of the box (but fully adjustable on the MT but not had the opportunity to change), service intervals and dealer choice. Ordered the MT.
Sean, would you care to comment on Usernamekate's assertion that the BSA's exhaust sounds like "dirty, wet farts"? 🤣 Congratulations on this video, by the way, it seems to have gained some serious traction!
Hi Mark, haha I did see that. With my Hitchcocks exhaust I can say no but I will let the standard bike owners defend their own exhaust sounds 🤣. This video seem to have done alright actually, I'm pleased. I was lucky to have both bikes side by side even though I couldn't ride the CFmoto. Cheers, Sean
Not keen on either, although the RE is a single which is what I like in the sub-500cc category. It's a bit heavy, though. In summary: the RE for the dash; MT for the adjustable screen; RE for the headlight and high mudguard; MT for the cross spoke wheels; a tie for the profile. They're just different. As I've said elsewhere, I want to see the Guerrilla, but I'll probably stick with the 390.
Except: -Worse range and fuel consumption -Adjustable suspension, but lower spec than the himi -Bad fuelling at low speed and stalls easily -handling feel is not as good as the himi through the twistys It’s a great bike but to saw its levels ahead is a bit disingenuous I think. I’ve spent 1hour on each test riding and still can’t decide which one I’d go for because they are both good 🙈
You do realize cf moto makes the engines for ktm right? Let’s be honest it’s not about finding parts it’s because people don’t want to buy a Chinese bike. Yet they will buy Chinese anything else
That’s weird. Seeing as cf moto makes the engines for ktm and you can get parts for those. Royal engield isn’t exactly getting parts fast. Jus task the owners
Cf Moto 450mt: Service intervals are every 5tsd kilometers.. not that amazing! This means high maintenance costs. Gasoline consumption too is far above comparable bikes too. Value retention above seems questionable. Seeting position / knee angle for bigger drivers could be problematic. Nice and attractive looking bike though.
How can we argue with the price tags/specs of the cfmoto??? It's a good looking bike. Seems well built and with quality components. I believe it has alarm built in and a movement sensor also. Royal Enfield has history, capabilitiy and that vintage look but CFMOTO and other "chinese" manufacturers are steping up to the demand. I say chinese in spite all bikes are using chinese componentes and chinese built engines (a few at least). And we all now that japanese bikes these days aren't as reliable as they were 30 years ago. Mt450 are selling as hot bread over half world and the other half is begging for them to come. I have to be honest... i testdrived booth and mt450 surprised me for the positive. Wasn't expecting to be in love of road and in road. Have a fx650 honda and when i sat on her it just it me... What a crappy old bike i own!!! If they haven't told me it had chinese tyres i wouldn't believed. The 450 engine has proofs on the other models... so my question is... How long can i hold my HONDA?!?
The CF Moto also has a built in tracker. I have the 450NK and have placed a deposit on a 450MT, after gaving a good lookcat it at the ABR. God knows when i'll get it though. They are in heavy demand.
100% correct. Every bike has a part part in China in it and no one says anything. Heck they even have a collaboration with ktm. No one has a problem buying ktm.
@@ryanoliver-vi9gm they now do... crappy cams and ktm not wanting to repair their bikes. Buying a premium bike and having to maintaine it with a 1500/1700€ service. No thanks.
the cf is just a little nicer looking, a few more accessories, but it's still a chinese bike. i ride a yammy for a reason and would take RE over the CF everytime.
I have ridden and owned REs all my life and one consistent problem has been the reliability, specially with first few lots of a new model. I bought the 450MT over Himalayan just because it’s far superior for outdoors and the engine is much more refined. It’s been 3 weeks 😃and it doesn’t feel like it’s only 450.
A copy how? How else can you build an adventure bike? Is it beachside it looks the same? Well most adventures look similar same as cruisers etc. how about super sports? Are they all copies? Or maybe it’s because China is communist so they are all bad?
I’ve had bad experiences with Aprilia. People have bad experiences with Honda kawi etc yet people buy those. People also have bad experiences with royal enfield. You can only hope you get a good dealer
at the end of the day is what makes you smile. rode them both, liked CF riding position more, ordered the RE, go figure..but at the end of the day is what makes you smile more!
Great comment, agreed 👍
Yup ultimately it's that totally off paper, individual preference that matters most. On paper, a cb500x should be the ideal bike for me. Had one and I totally hated it. Bikes really do have character, and they either fit you or they don't.
I tried the RE 450 yesterday. And I was surprised in a positive way. That engine performes well. At low speed, nearly tickover it just rolled on, even up hill. Look forward to the Guerilla!
I look forward to the Guerrilla too! I want to ride that bike...
Guerrilla is more fun to ride on tarmac
@@MindfulMotorcyclist guerilla & him 450 both have the same engine but gearing is not same him 450 gearing ratio is btr
Thanks Woody 👍
Liking the retro looks of the RE
Yes, the traditional styling of the RE is definitely something I'd go for.
What retro those all LED light right?
@@itsmeee7364 yes the lights are LED but RE gives less robotic space ship vibe and more of a bike vibe.
Yeah the RE is beautiful while basically all the CF motos have looks that only a mother could love. With the exception of maybe the papio.
@@adityan3208 illiterate LED sucks in Enfields
I love Royal Enfield, well after all I’ve got 2 of them. However, on this occasion I’ve ordered the CF Moto.
Wow, nice to hear that. 👏 Edit: just realised this might have sounded sarcastic on a post. Was meant genuinely, enjoy the new bike 🏍
...Ηonest!!
What two Enfield ya got..?
*Plough* 🎉
I got mine CF moto, and I hate it.
They lie about the weight and fuel consumption, my screen shows 4.1L /100km , measured at the gas station, its about 4.7L. That is a lot. My average with about 80kmh speed on the road is about 4.3-4,4L/100km. More then tenere 700, and has about the same KG.
What a fail of a bike.
Also, that "substantial guard" under the bike is like 1mm thick, hahah.
@@SatansBaby1
Change 15T front sprocket
Himalayan is ride by wire, not cabled.
Veridian cruise is looking to develop a cruise control system for the himi. Might sway me to the himi if it’s available when I’m ready to buy
Also the cf is ride by cable, he must of got the two mixed up
😂😂😂
@@slakk5093There are aftermarket cruise control systems for the 450MT as well.
@@laaaliiiluuu yeah just looked it up, more expensive and complex because it need to use servo motors etc, vs just plug and play on the himi. Still awesome it’s available though
I about to chose the RE, just to also buy me into the brand and history. Rode one for two days in the South of France. Excellent motorbike, also for on rode with 34 km per liter, in case that interests you.
Mostly in India nowadays uneducated people buy royal Enfield because they think its prestigious to own like it was in 1980's
Between the two I would pick the Royal Enfield Himalayan as there’s less plastic to damage when on an adventure ride abs you set it to off and that’s it so why have a big switch on the CF Moto it feels like a afterthought to me. What will the availability of the CF MOTOs plastic parts in 5-10 years time? Remember the Lifan 125 road bike correct they have all but disappeared these days RE have been trading since 1901…
Your words cleared one of my doubt .
Plastic is cheaper to replace than metal. And also no one would use this 450s for freaking 20 years.
@@fu8115 Still MT450 Is double the price of Himalayan...
@@mysticmac651 Where?
@@imnotnacho4061 India
Himalayan has a lot better mileage, apparently. Worth mentioning.
I would believe this as singles do tend to sip fuel...
They lie about fuel consumption on 450MT, my screen shows 4.1L /100km , measured at the gas station, its about 4.7L. That is a lot. My average with about 80kmh speed on the road is about 4.3-4,4L/100km. More then tenere 700, and has about the same KG.
What a fail of a bike.
@@MindfulMotorcyclistna my NX500 gives similar mileage as this himalayan 450
Compare the prices first @@midhungopan9270
@@midhungopan9270 ooh sounds unreal. Heard that the NX gives about 25 kmpl in city. Himalayan gives 28 with similar riding style apparently
Tried them both today, the twin feels a lot better
And the price was double the price of Himalayan .
@@mysticmac651 The 450MT is 8% more expensive where I live
@@mysticmac651 here in Greece mt 5990eur. and RE 5890 euro and tubeless 6490eur. so i think mt is better 5990 tubeless and two cylinder,only time will tell which bike is better.
@@andrewm190E yes it's more expensive
@@andrewm190E where is it though ?
Royal Enfield provides a centre stand as part of the bike. CFMoto make it available as an optional extra. Thumbs up to both brands for that, plus a good range of bolt on accessories.
Great point, I might have missed that in the overview. Thanks 😊
@@MindfulMotorcyclist also RE have a different price in tubeless so more expensive than is mt
Another big difference is servicing the air filter. On the CF, pull the seat and the air filter is directly available. On the Enfield you have to remove the seat AND tank and then take apart an access panel.
That is a big difference, nice comment and I'm sure many (including me) didn't know that...
How about service intervals (according to manufacturers) and how much does it cost to service?
Royal Enfield is the world's best and good looking bikes.
What a lot of choice! They both look good, (CF moto is nicer in my opinion) but to my eye the CF is on the nail for quality, and it feels really nice to sit on. The Himy looks a little awkward with that elephant head fuel tank, but it looks better in the darker colour. I think if RE had had kept the new shape nearer to the old shape it would be a winner! But not this time RE.
All of the videos I’m watching on this thing I’m still feeling like the DRz400 I’d still be the champion for me
The CF450 is what Suzuki could do with their new V-Strom. Suzuki don't have anything between their 125 and 650 models. The Indians and Chinese are going to do very well in this bracket I think.
There is a 250 but it is road biased
Suzuki has made a good 250 vstrom, which is atvpar with 350 ccs. If they make one around 400-500cc, they will nail it. But I guess whatever suzuki makes, it will have a good price. So Suzuki will lose on price basis.
@@nannu3703 interestingly the V Strom 250 is a twin cylinder in most markets, while in India its a single cylinder. Power output is absolutely the same in both engines amazingly
@@varun1036 Different models, the twin was made 2017-20, round Headlamp 17 inch front wheel, the simgle was introduced 2023, stacked LED headlight, 19 inch front wheel
Agreed Simon 👍
I tried both and very much enjoyed the riding position of the CFMOTO against the RE where I felt perched on the seat. The exhaust tone on the CF was phenomenal 😮
That’s what I found - the cf felt made to measure for me as soon as I sat on it and supremely comfortable riding position, which for me now is the clincher.
Thanks for the feedback on the CF both, I'm not allowed to ride this particular 450 as its earmarked for customer 😀
This is a very detailed introduction. Thank you for your efforts. I personally like the 450MT very much. It has many small details that are better: inward-folding rearview mirrors; one-touch ABS; complete metal guard plate at the bottom of the engine; very nice exhaust sound; because it is a twin-cylinder, its engine vibration suppression is also very good. Very simple, capable, and tough appearance design. I like its TFT instrument UI design very much. The 450MT and 450SR/450NK/450CL-C use the same engine. There are at least 100,000 of this engine running in the world. I have not found any negative news. I think it has withstood the test of a certain mileage. I definitely choose the 450MT.
You are spot on. I have two RE, GT650 and Hunter350, like them both. Passed on the 452, too heavy for a single (15-20 kgs). Lacking all the adjustments and features of the MT450. New water cooled engine, this ride by wire throttle..........The looks of it are also all confused for me, tank, lights, the front fender. Got 1300 km on my MT450. I don't like the short gearing and the fueling off idle is shit. I installed 15t sprocket, waiting for a good clean tune. Rest is very good.
@@pawelwolski1316 I think CFMOTO will definitely push OTA system upgrades later to solve the throttle jerking problem when driving at low speeds. They often do this.
@@Tim-turbo-othey didn’t for the 800mt tho.
@@pawelwolski1316 how do you feel with 15t sprocket on 450MT?
@FabrizioSpinelli First it is not night and day difference. For any given speed, the rpm drops about 450 rpm (speedometer has "correct" indication as the signal must come from the wheel speed). This is a positive outcome and a must for my riding. Since the torque delivered to the rear wheel is bit less, the bike is not as "aggressive" in acceleration. My friend has 14t, so switching back and forth u can feel the difference. Again it's small but noticeable. If I was riding side roads, limiting speed to 100 kmh, or doing long distance dirt riding, I would keep the 14t. For everything else, the 15t is the way to go. CFMOTO messed up giving the MT450 such short taller gears, that's the real issue here.
One thing nobody is talking about is service intervals - at least here in Europe himi have 10k km while cf 6k km - one would have to pay almost double for just the oil changes to keep the warranty... no idea why all the Chinese have such short service intervals, maybe to keep the money flowing for the dealer?
The reason they have short milage maintenance intervals because the cheaper kind of alloy and steel inside the engine that the Chinese using their bikes. Once failed to change oil it will overheat and easily melts,😂😂😂
@@richlijacanacua Japanese machines also had 6000km service interval a couple of years ago, more or less all at once jumped to approx 10.000km oil and 40.000km valve service, I seriously doubt that they invested in sv650 or z650 engines to make a change... I haven't done any deep research into whether parts have been changed in these older engines.
The Japanese service specs have not been accurate. Ask any 300l owner if they can go 10,000 miles without a valve adjustment. The entire bike stops functioning around 7,000.
@@romanbednar5917nah mate, the old sv650 can easily reach 80000 km with no valve adjustment. My old air cooled Yamaha tt600, 9000km oil interval. That engine derived from the 80's.. Japanese build quality has proved itself for decades..
"no idea why all the Chinese have such short service intervals" - You mean like Toyota do in Africa? All their cars have half to 1/3 the service intervals of their competitors. So much for the engineers trust in their engines...ofcourse it could just mean "job creation" for their staff...point is "Legendary Toyota" has the shortest intervals.
i love the design of the RE 450 simplicity at its best
Himalayan actually has the adjustable seat so you can adjust the seat according to your height
Same for the CF.
Very interesting comparison Sean, and as always, very well presented. CF Moto has come out of nowhere to be a serious contender in today's market.
Thank you Richard 😊 🙏
Ridden both and I can't see anywhere the RE is better. I found the RE very vibey and engine flat. Cf moto has tubeless tyres as standard too.
The Himalayan definitely takes the cake if it comes down to looks imo.
I love that style, it looks more like an enduro bike.
I like both, twin cylinder attracts, low speed chug attracts, have to have a test go!
Himalaya is single cylinder
452 is an attractive motorcycle whereas the 450mt is a good looking modern adv , horses and courses
And double the price of Himalayan
And double the price of Himalayan
It is not double the price. In America the re is 5799 the cf moto will be I believe 7500.
@@mysticmac651 452 and mT are about the same cost here
@@ogasi1798 Here MT450 is double the price of Himalayan 452
I will choose the Himalayan Royal Enfield 450cc. set-up single cylinder engine because it is diver-sable bike for off-roads, rough-roads and smooth roads. It is easy to maneuver and control. Also retro looking bike. So gorgeous!
CF-Moto it is good only in smooth road and hard to control and maneuver in off-roads. That is the reality in handling bikes.
Cf Moto has better weight balance
Himalayan it feels top heavy
Cf moto has big fuel consumption for the power it delivers
I will stick with my t7. Bought new £8349. Although i have just ridden a rented 450 himalayan up to 5800 metres (umling la in the himalayas) and the 450 was epic on sand, dirt, gravel, river crossings, tarmac and altitude.
I would, the T7 motor is bombproof one rider has already covered 200k miles on one.
To my eyes, and based on the specs, the CF Moto 450 MT is a Tenere 450 :-) However, it's more modern looking and the price point provides ridiculous value. As a 2022 Honda CB500X owner, I'm very tempted to make a switch as I can likely sell my CB500X and buy a brand new Ibex 450 (450 MT's name in the N.A. market) without spending a dime. However, since I already did a Rally Raid rear shock upgrade on my CB500X I'll likely keep it for a couple more years. By then, the long term reliability of both the Himi 450 and the CF Moto 450 MT will be clearer. In the meantime, I'll keep bashing the beefy Rally Raid skidplate on my CB500X thanks to less than ideal ground clearance :-)
I really like these comparison videos you're making, great job of it too. Both have a a lot to offer, but if its my money...at the moment I would still go the Enfield route because I know where I am with them. But its getting a difficult choice. Thanks
Agreed ER, I can't ride the CF but just having them side by side is handy. I'd like to follow the owners of these bikes online and see if any problems crop up...
RE's legacy and looks are enough to be declared a winner for me. ❤
The himalayan costs starts in my country 5600$
The cf moto costs 7550$
What would you pick ?
Take both for a few test rides and buy the one that suits your mindset 😉
@@Ifkif cf moto does not have test ride haha
Not as expensive as indonesia, just launch himalayan few days ago price range 9320-10.000 usd, the cfmoto mt450 around 9845 usd 😅😅😅
@@Henry14sss 🫨🫨🫨
I think the price difference answered to you already
I ordered cfmoto
If im not happy i will trade for a Himalayan
If still not happy
Honda all the way 😅
I believe the Royal Enfield is a superb motorbike. I watched a lot of guys riding around India and I’ve never had a stick of trouble with the 450s. They got plenty of grunt with the stand. I would put a block on it so it can stand up a bit better, but that’s probably the only thing that I would change on the Royal Enfield Anyway thank you for the review it was well done. Keep up the good work from Australia.
What RE had with the previous iteration was an iconic design...whereas this one just looks like a lot of other ADVs...and CF Moto actually nailed the retro styling (throwback to the transalp from the late 80s!) So definitely the CF Moto winning this one for me!
A lot of 411 owners I've spoken to are not enamoured with the 452. Anecdotal evidence granted...
I think you confused the CFMoto with the RE
The RE was the retro, the cfmoto is the new one
@@hihellothere9569 Not in this iteration...the CFMoto definitely takes its cues from the 87 Honda Transalp :)
@@MindfulMotorcyclistsame. I’ve got a 411 and was planning on upgrading to the 452. But after seeing reviews, etc, definitely going for the 450 MT.
Good review, thankyou. I would go for the aesthetic of the RE. Good looking bike.
Thanks Rod 😊
CF Moto is certainly more modern and very Tenere like in looks.
They pretty much copied tenere 😅
How? Every adv bike essentially looks the same just like most sports bikes look the same. How many ways can you build a bike?
@@billumandalcurry
Yes. Chinese companies copy. That's what they specialise in.
After many videos, and reviews read, I am leaning towards the RE 450. Have not yet ridden either, but will before dropping $. Currently ride a 2016 Africa Twin DCT which has been Excellent for 33,000 mi, but looking to down size….
Thanks for the in depth honest review. I like both bikes but I’m leaning slightly towards the MT. Gonna test ride both next week in Australia.
Good luck with the test rides, if you do remember could you write back here which you prefer? 😀
RE Himalayan 450 have a center stand which is a big plus
I missed the cf moto specs not having one, This is a big point.
On CF moto central stand is optional.
By the way, on Himalayan you miss handguards, higher windshield, metal engine protection, etc... and most of all, Tubeless wheels are optional on RE...
@@FabrizioSpinelli I wonder how a chinese company will do on supplying parts when model is out of production ? How easy it is to service etc.
I can ask the same about an Indian company. According to a lot of owners royal enfield is having trouble with parts with a bike that’s still in production. Like it or not cf moto is making the other manufacturers take notice.
Curry
big difference is the weight & how heavy they feel. For me the Himalayan feels very heavy.Himalayan is also taller-wider & longer than the 411 so it's almost become a middleweight segment bike instead of the lite middleweight bike. Air cleaner for hImalayan under the tank so you actually have to remove the tank to change the air cleaner. CF is under the seat towards the back of tank.I think Royal Enfield probably could have improved on what they had by installing a alloy swing arm & lighter tank. I think the 450 MT is a better all round bike but it depends on support from after market suppliers-depends on parts availability & depends when the bikes actually become available in the show room as well as reliability over time.
The 450 Himi feels alot heavier than the 411. The 450 is very top heavy indeed. I love the RE brand and I wanted to love the Himi 450 so much more but I just couldn't buy one because of that top heavy weight
@@pggp273 it probably doesn't help that it has a bigger fuel tank 17 litres. However the 411 was also fairly heavy at 200 kg wet. The new 450 is taller, longer & wider which wouldn't help.
CF is twin and better for travel.
I tried Himalayan over the weekend, and it was great. Just looks very old style
Love retro, but i like 450mt.
Gosh that describes me too!!
I just got Himalayan one week ago and i looking forward this bike is amazing.
Been looking for this comparison thanks 😊
Thanks Jon 😊
Himalayan is faaaar better in reliability and availability.
Himalayan is ride by wire , please read the spec before a review. 👍
I don't think he didn't read the specs before since he mentioned that the himalayan has riding modes. You surely can forgive a slip of the tongue 😁
@abdellahbensaid4372 he's obviously perfect and doesn't make any mistakes in life 😂
Yes I confirm I am very much human and guilty of making mistakes as much of the next man 🤣😃
@@MindfulMotorcyclist how dare you make a mistake 🤣
Both are great and a bargain.
RE just wins out over CF on looks and fact its a single.
Tough choice to be honest!
Always enjoy your balanced and measured reviews. well done. Thank you.
Thank you so much Richard. Very appreciated as always...
Its metal vs plastic😬
I prefer metal over plastics, but...
The mt is a much better bike.
following your thoughts, an Hima 450 is better of an Honda Africa Twin because have less plastic? :D
Plastic are cheap, easily replaceble i guess
Plastic is cheaper to replace than metal and lighter. Use your brain sometimes.
Excellent comparison, side-by-side was a good idea. Thanks.
7:35 on the seat hight of the RE isn't it adjustable under the seat by a bar system
Thank you Kevin. I think that's correct actually. Cheers, Sean
Great video ! but 100 mph is 160 km/h not 190. Love the MT looks.
He said over 100mph
the long kickstand on the Himalayan is very helpful when trying to park on crazy terrain , you dont need to search for an ideal spot
A very reasonable account of both bikes and my own personal thoughts are that the Himalayan is likely better suited to green laning, with a dual sport style, whilst the 450MT is more adventure bike style for touring with some gnarly bits thrown in. Ultimately they will both do the same thing, which probably means that style is what will decide for the individual.
My inside leg is 29” and seat height is probably the main focus for me, at 61 I do not want to be going off road (only just starting to do this) on something too tall, which is why I never really took my Tiger rally pro off road. I would have taken my CRF250 rally off road but some low life nicked it.
So I purchased the Himalayan the day before the ABR festival and did my first bit of trail on the Bridgestone trail, where I also had my first OFF, so now has some battle scars, although I will add that I loved it and will be looking for places to gain experience off road.
I actually chatted with one of the designers at the show and made some design options to rectify the side stand issue, to which end he said that the stand issue was created due to the requirements in the American market, so perhaps they can create an alternative for the UK. Strangely the CRF250 was the opposite issue with the stand being so long it was nearly vertical and created issues of a possible topple if on a slope.
Anyway this is starting to look like a dissitation, so I will say buy which one you like the look of and I am sure you will not be disappointed.
PS my other bike is a speedmaster
Thanks for the comment and good luck with your new Himmy. P.s once off once the next time isn't nearly as bad, mind you it gives you a big shock!
What is a shame is that this 490 KTM platform has been scrapped. Imagine a Norden 501 on this. The looks, the features and I'm guessing it probably would have been amazing to ride.
The comparison that we are waiting for, well done
Thanks very much, appreciate the support 👍
No one ever mentions luggage ....wish they'd not put the exhausts so high like on the CF ! How many people cross rivers ? Really ? No point in losing half a case for the exhaust !
You're right - people do not realize that they carry bagage on adventure bikes.
If you ride the TET in much of Europe you will cross water, not raging torrents but some deep fords. A low exhaust is a deal breaker for me, likewise a low air box. The UK TET has Strata Florida which is very wet and deep.
@@TheIdlesurfer But then your "deal breaker" presents issues for the 95% of people that don't!
@@themoog3889 I bought an FE 501, then made it travel friendly. If you're traveling light, then the rackless panniers and roll top bag carry pretty well everything I need to camp with no high exhaust issues. I'm not sure about the concept of adventure riding. It seems to have settled on taking a GS on tarmac which I think of as touring on a big, fast comfortable bike, which can carry a tonne of kit and be absolutely happy on gravel. I suspect what I do, which is mostly TET and trails, with quite a lot of single track is something other than adventure riding. Adventure riding seems to have settled on bigger miles with some gentle off road. I'm not knocking that sort of riding. I enjoy that too. Nordic TET is a real adventure which is much better suited to s bigger adv bike than my modified dual sport/enduro crossover. I do both, road biased on a 900 Tiger with a bit of easy trails and scrabbling about on rocks and mud on the 501. They are very different experiences.
Exhaust is not such a big deal. My old 800GS has a high exhaust, and the luggage just fits over it with a gap to allow the heat to dissipate
Its a thinner seat on CF moto compared to Himi and the ground clearance is 220mm vs 230mm on Himi, But its a very vibey single cylinder motor compared to parallel twin on 450MT.
In terms of build quality and reliability RE is superior. I'll always choose RE hands-down .
Just did a 1,500k loop on my MT in the company of a 701LR, Duc DesertX, A Toureg, XT600 (modded) and a weestrom. Loaded with camping gear. The MT was superb on the dirt, great in the sand and blitzed them all on on non tar surfaces. On the tar it kept up!. The RE is a pedestrian plodder. No comparo. The suspension on the MT rocks and it sounds better.
Really pleased to hear that story Dave! So will others reading this who have pre ordered MTs! Cheers 🍻
Glad I don't have to make the choice between the two, they both look very good, the numbers are very similar, but probably the fact i'd find an Enfield dealer quicker, would swing my choice to the Himmy, plus the fact I tend to lean towards the classic names anyway.
PS. looks like you've bought yourself a new Lawn mower?
Lawnmower Steve hahaha 😆
Own the Himalayan 450. It is great, does everything better.. a proper functional motorcycle.
Did you ride both? In your opinion it does everything better.
@@ryanoliver-vi9gm No I didn't try the CF moto, but what I meant was, how it feels while riding. It simply flows , love the chassis and it's stability.
Great video buddy 👍...just for your information someone has stolen yr hair!!
😂😂. My hair is drawing more comments than the bikes 😂😂
I doubt we'll be getting the CF Moto 450 MT, it looks like they're pushing a bigger adventure bike, the Ibex 800 here in the US. The Himalayan 450 hasn't arrived yet, and I've heard nothing so far. We still have the Kawasaki Versys-X 300 as an ongoing model here. Very much in the same class as these. I've been looking into that one lately, and would probably gravitate towards that, even over the Enfield. The RE bikes always appeal to me, but I think my desire to try out other brands wins out when I stop and think about it.
Thanks Mark. I go back and forth on which brands to invest in... having been an RE owner and now the BSA. If the Kawasaki 300 was available here I would probably go for that bike...
I would find it odd that the Himalayan is more road bias seeing as it's supposed to be a rugged off road/adv, whereas the MT looks more road bias and the front wheel looks too big in proportion. Just my opinion obviously. Loving the screen on the RE but am looking forward to what else they will churn out with that engine.
Perhaps channels such as yourself could put a call out to CFMoto owners of say 5 years to review and see what their longevity is, might put pay to the negative comments or not. I joined the ER6F/N Facebook group, kinda wished I hadn't, because you see posts about issues all the time, but no one ever brings them up in big brand reviews unless it's a recall and it's soon forgotten anyway.
Well I did 9k on my ER6F 2015 bike Lee and no issues... and weirdly mine was an ex rental bike. Not often that happens. So hopefully that comes as positive news. We tend to talk about this all the time, between the RUclipsrs at least the small channels. How objective are people really being with their brand reviews and particularly on launches. It's a big debate...
How many owners will take either off road?
I have lots of unsurfaced roads were I live, but thankfully very little rain, so no mud. The Himalayan is a great road bike, and on the twisty mountain roads it handles and brakes well, belying the 21 inch front wheel.
The sidestand lean you get used to quickly, and no chance of it being blown over like my 411 was-twice.
Oddly the CFMoto does not appear to be available anywhere in Spain.
Thanks Jerzy, yes I think the side stand was designed with the 411 side stand in mind I believe. Perhaps they will bring out a revised in the middle version....
"How many owners will take either off road? " - I'm guessing, more than before.
Nada in US... you know we do ride motorcycles over here!
Other than Harleys some of us do!
I bought my RE to be ridden mostly on gravel and off road. New knobbly tyres before it was delivered. Its excellent on and off the tarmac.
Endless comparisons, yet to choose for one self, then an aesthetic appeal to the person choosing.
One is not better as you said, and the sooner we realise it's not things or specs that bring contentment in being.
This man speaks the Truth...
Royal Enfield now launched tubeless cross spoke rims for Himalayan, now no worry of tyre puncture
Nice job buddy... love from India❤
Thanks a lot, really appreciated 👏
I have watched/read every review out there... This is going to be my first bike... What a difficult choice damn... Is it just me? This decision bothers me for 2 months now
Have you taken them for a ride? Iam 184 cm tall, What's your height? Is it possible to get a higher satle?
Same
Go for cf
If you not like it,, you will sell it easily than Himalayan
And then buy Himalayan
If stil not
Go for Honda
I'm in the same boat. Really tough to decide. I'm reading the all comments hoping to find some insight that will sway me towards one bike.... but no such luck. Going to have to see if I can test ride them. BTW: the price difference here in Mexico is only $450 usd more for the CF.
I'll go for a single piston. Easy to maintain.
Great review I did look at both bikes yesterday and was taken a back how difficult the Royal Enfield was to move of the side stand on uneven ground this would be a deal breaker for me personally I know you could fix this but the cf moto just appeared more upmarket.i was comparing the cf moto to my Honda cb500x and it would appear a suitable replacement .back in 2020 I had to buy hand guards and power outlet which all come as standard on the cf moto but still don’t on the cb500x or the nx500. I also am considering going for a different bike looked the Royal Enfield shotgun but my wife commented on the 650 logo and the paint schemes are not as nice as the other Royal Enfield range, the shotgun could looked more retro I don’t mean like a classic 650 if they release it but more like a triumph bobber paint scheme.maybe more premium.
Hi Malcolm, thank you for this comment and apologies for the delayed reply. Perhaps wait for the Himalyan 650? No doubt they will have fixed the side stand issue on that bike and it will have the 47hp Twin that you like...
he is baised toward cf moto, providing wrong info about RE it has ride by wire and also has adjustable seat adjustable as low as 805mm to 845mm
😂
Twin is tempting but I would go with Himi's reliable single.
I've tried both, I found the himalayan motor more fun(torque is available very soon), but sound very meeehh compare to the twin of the 450mt(very linear feeling at acceleration)
Thanks, nicely put 👍
Great overview. But how do they ride? How reliable are they?
No idea, we wont have one in my dealer until April now... I can't ride a bike a customer has paid for of course...
To me how a bike looks is so important and the CF looks like it's been beaten by an ugly stick. The RE is far more to my taste and is the one I'd buy. Did Suze attack you head with some scissors while you were asleep quite a different look you've got there.
Haha Ian, I had been trying to grow my hair but it was in the awkward phase so I just lost patience and cut it all off 😂😂
Yeah, I like looks of Himi more, but for me = Himi heart, CF head.
2 cracking bikes Sean. Like everything else, there be likes/dislikes on each. The CF really seem to be coming into the Limelight.
The black n Gold Himmy, looks fantastic, for sure.
Unfortunately not for me….only cause of my 27 inch, inside leggies.😢
Lovely back drop.😊
Hi Mark, hope youre well! There will be supporters and detractors on both sides, for me don't want such a big bike really. They are both full sized bikes if that makes sense.
Audi did not invent sequential turn signals. Ford offered them on the 1964 Thunderbird.
Himalayan has a lot of vibration, mt 450 is like butter smoooth! Also I could not feel the weight on the Mt 450 but found it a bit difficult to handle the hymalayan offroad!
You are running the engine too slow. Above 4000 rpm the vibration disappears
@@kevinnielsen1356 I did a test drive, trust me i Pulled as hard as i could! At full gas i could not see in the mirrors! Tryed both low rpm and high rpm.
@@sniperule2004That is a characteristic of single cylinder engines when under full power. When up to speed at partial throttle it's a different situation.I test road one a week ago. 65 mph high gear was smooth, 55 was smooth in 5th. I didn't ride above 70. It vibrated thumper style if the engine was loaded below 4000 rpm in 4th gear up. My Moto Guzzi V7III is my smoothy. P S it may not be a good idea to look in the mirrors while accelerating full blast.
both are awesome but I like character of RE. Moto screams go fast where as RE whispers easy, enjoy life.
I like the looks of the re I love that retro style. But for my money I’d buy the mt. I think cf moto is here to stay and may be the next big thing
CF could be the next big thing indeed... bikes are about to become affordable again!
I really like the colour of the RE and those wheels and the CF is also very nice I think in the end I would probably plum for the CF as it is a twin as I have never really been into singles but both are very good bikes .👌👍
I would probably plum for the CF too, singles for character bikes, for touring and general purpose I'd have a twin... or four cylinder in my case 😀👍
@@MindfulMotorcyclist I've gone from my four to a twin now less weight and slightly lower it feels small but boy is it chuckable 😉👍
I have a Hima411, im looking for the 450, BUT, it should has been twin!!!!
I would have bought the CF Moto until I rode it. The fuelling on/off the throttle I could not live with. Not good, it would make life difficult off road. CF Moto needs work in this area to be a top bike. I hope they get it right eventually as the rest of the bike is good. Not mentioned in comparison?
It's funny I just watched another comparison on YT and the guy said if he buys one it is the Royal Enfield. BTW I would take the Enfield too, it has just a lot more character....
Having now ridden both….I really wanted to like the Himi over the CF….but I just didn’t. The vibes on the Himi plus the top heavy weight, fit and finish, wind management plus tubed tires has put me off. Above all though the motor is just a peach on the MT….not just smooth but more tractable and alive….much more fun.
Where the Himi wins for me is ride quality out of the box (but fully adjustable on the MT but not had the opportunity to change), service intervals and dealer choice.
Ordered the MT.
Good comparison, glad you ordered the MT!
Another excellent video
Very kind of you thanks 😊 🙏
Sean, would you care to comment on Usernamekate's assertion that the BSA's exhaust sounds like "dirty, wet farts"? 🤣 Congratulations on this video, by the way, it seems to have gained some serious traction!
Hi Mark, haha I did see that. With my Hitchcocks exhaust I can say no but I will let the standard bike owners defend their own exhaust sounds 🤣. This video seem to have done alright actually, I'm pleased. I was lucky to have both bikes side by side even though I couldn't ride the CFmoto. Cheers, Sean
Not keen on either, although the RE is a single which is what I like in the sub-500cc category. It's a bit heavy, though. In summary: the RE for the dash; MT for the adjustable screen; RE for the headlight and high mudguard; MT for the cross spoke wheels; a tie for the profile. They're just different.
As I've said elsewhere, I want to see the Guerrilla, but I'll probably stick with the 390.
If you like the retro look, go for the Himalayan. But for everything else, the 450MT is levels ahaed
That's probably a fair assessment...
Except:
-Worse range and fuel consumption
-Adjustable suspension, but lower spec than the himi
-Bad fuelling at low speed and stalls easily
-handling feel is not as good as the himi through the twistys
It’s a great bike but to saw its levels ahead is a bit disingenuous I think.
I’ve spent 1hour on each test riding and still can’t decide which one I’d go for because they are both good 🙈
@@slakk5093 they're indeed good both... but we need to admit that RE is basing most of their marketing on "historical brand" :)
@@FabrizioSpinelli I don’t really get too much in to the marketing, more interested in how the bike is to ride
@@slakk5093Neither, get an old Himmy 411 , cheap as chips second hand now 😂
*Plough* 🎉
nobody talks of the max load on these bikes.... and they are adventure, driver+pax+luggage and you offen overshoot easly.
Good point, where can you find this out before the sale? I know it's in the handbook but before you get the bike?
Do buy a CF Moto and I wish you the best of luck finding spare parts and services.
So you obviously don't have any KTM dealer nearby? Too bad.
You do realize cf moto makes the engines for ktm right? Let’s be honest it’s not about finding parts it’s because people don’t want to buy a Chinese bike. Yet they will buy Chinese anything else
That’s weird. Seeing as cf moto makes the engines for ktm and you can get parts for those. Royal engield isn’t exactly getting parts fast. Jus task the owners
@@ryanoliver-vi9gm This!
the 1960's mercury cougar [mustang ] had those indicators in the 60's
Cf Moto 450mt: Service intervals are every 5tsd kilometers.. not that amazing! This means high maintenance costs. Gasoline consumption too is far above comparable bikes too. Value retention above seems questionable. Seeting position / knee angle for bigger drivers could be problematic. Nice and attractive looking bike though.
How can we argue with the price tags/specs of the cfmoto??? It's a good looking bike. Seems well built and with quality components. I believe it has alarm built in and a movement sensor also. Royal Enfield has history, capabilitiy and that vintage look but CFMOTO and other "chinese" manufacturers are steping up to the demand. I say chinese in spite all bikes are using chinese componentes and chinese built engines (a few at least). And we all now that japanese bikes these days aren't as reliable as they were 30 years ago. Mt450 are selling as hot bread over half world and the other half is begging for them to come. I have to be honest... i testdrived booth and mt450 surprised me for the positive. Wasn't expecting to be in love of road and in road. Have a fx650 honda and when i sat on her it just it me... What a crappy old bike i own!!! If they haven't told me it had chinese tyres i wouldn't believed. The 450 engine has proofs on the other models... so my question is... How long can i hold my HONDA?!?
Good comment, completely agree. Thanks for this. Cheers, Sean
The CF Moto also has a built in tracker. I have the 450NK and have placed a deposit on a 450MT, after gaving a good lookcat it at the ABR. God knows when i'll get it though. They are in heavy demand.
CF Moto also has 4 year warranty and 8 year breakdown recovery, as long as it's kept serviced at CF Moto dealer.
100% correct. Every bike has a part part in China in it and no one says anything. Heck they even have a collaboration with ktm. No one has a problem buying ktm.
@@ryanoliver-vi9gm they now do... crappy cams and ktm not wanting to repair their bikes. Buying a premium bike and having to maintaine it with a 1500/1700€ service. No thanks.
Very good comparison, make sure you do a side by side ride then you get a chance.
Thanks for the comment 👍
the cf is just a little nicer looking, a few more accessories, but it's still a chinese bike. i ride a yammy for a reason and would take RE over the CF everytime.
I have ridden and owned REs all my life and one consistent problem has been the reliability, specially with first few lots of a new model. I bought the 450MT over Himalayan just because it’s far superior for outdoors and the engine is much more refined. It’s been 3 weeks 😃and it doesn’t feel like it’s only 450.
I wouldn't have said I'd heard that REs were unreliable, but your experience is your own and would make me go CF too...
Himalayan is original. CF is copy of Tenere.
A copy how? How else can you build an adventure bike? Is it beachside it looks the same? Well most adventures look similar same as cruisers etc. how about super sports? Are they all copies? Or maybe it’s because China is communist so they are all bad?
Nice bikes. But I'll stick to my versys x300
Nice ride you have, they don't sell that here I'm UK as far as I know 😾
@@MindfulMotorcyclist NOo not since they put the euro 5 emission trough.
I've heard horror stories about after sales with the CFMoto range.
I’ve had bad experiences with Aprilia. People have bad experiences with Honda kawi etc yet people buy those. People also have bad experiences with royal enfield. You can only hope you get a good dealer