The CFMOTO 450CL-C cruiser is new to the scene for 2025, but it surely involves the moto playground geared up with some expertise behind it. Its 449cc parallel-Twin may also be discovered within the 450SS sportbikethe 450NK bare bikeand the Ibex 450 journey bikeand we’ve loved the platform in every of those iterations. That mentioned, the CL-C brings a driving expertise and persona all its personal, stepping out from its siblings’ shadows.
The obvious distinction between the CL-C and the opposite CFMOTO 450s is its cruiser stance and styling. It’s becoming that I examined this bike at and across the Fontana Dam in Graham County, North Carolina, as that’s the identical place the place I examined Triumph’s Bonneville Bobber a pair years in the past. Whereas these bikes differ considerably by way of displacement (by 751cc) and value (by $8K), lots of the 450CL-C’s design components jogged my memory of the Triumph. And that’s not a criticism: The Bobber has an simple cool issue.
The CL-C appears the half with its spherical and vivid LED headlight, fats tires, machined cylinder fins, bar-end mirrors, analog-style spherical TFT show, and blacked-out elements. Even the gasoline cap appears prefer it may’ve been taken immediately from Triumph. The rear part isn’t as svelte because the Triumph, but it surely all works collectively to create a handsome little cruiser. My take a look at bike was fitted with a number of accesories, together with saddlebags, an engine guard, a headlight grille, a small windscreen, and a passenger backrest (see value checklist under) – all of which could improve or detract from its styling relying in your private desire. The saddlebags had been particularly helpful for my functions.
GEAR UP
Additionally befitting a bobber-inspired cruiser on this class, the CL-C is pleasant to small riders. It has a low seat top of 27 inches, and its claimed 399 lb moist weight is well-balanced, making it straightforward to handle.
The CL-C’s footpegs are midmount, and the handlebar is mounted a bit low in comparison with many cruisers. The well-padded seat is sculpted to hug your backside, however the seating place requires the rider to sit down with their weight on their tailbone. This seating place is completely comfy for around-town driving and provides the rider a sense of management over the bike, but it surely causes some soreness after a pair hours of seat time. The seat doesn’t provide a lot additional room to maneuver round to alleviate stress factors.
Additionally detracting from long-range consolation is the suspension. The CL-C contains a 37mm inverted fork and a central monoshock, neither of which is adjustable. Cruising round nation roads at 45 mph, the suspension labored nicely to take in inconsistencies within the highway and supply good suggestions when dipping into corners, but it surely turned harsh when rolling over bumps at freeway speeds.
My complaints concerning consolation might be summed up: This isn’t a touring machine. It’s not meant to eat up miles of interstate or to experience cross-country in consolation. As an alternative, discover the backroads route, cruise by means of some small cities in your approach, cease to take pleasure in lunch at a scenic overlook. Your butt and your spirit will thanks for it.
The engine provided every part I wished and extra. It produces a throaty and imply sound that at all times makes me excited to twist the throttle however isn’t too loud, and it offers an excellent mixture between peppy punch and predictable management. In cruiser tune, it makes a claimed 40 hp at 8,000 rpm and 30 lb-ft of torque at 6,250 rpm, producing much less horsepower than the opposite CFMOTO 450s and barely extra torque than the 450SS and 450NK.
Whereas driving about 200 miles on the interstate from my residence to Fontana Dam, I at all times had energy on faucet to make a fast go or get away from bunched-up visitors. The machine will simply cruise at 80 mph with extra grunt left to present and with minimal vibration, though the engine will get heat on the ankles after a time. It has a 6-speed transmission, a slip/help clutch, and distinctive to the CL-C, a Gates belt ultimate drive, eradicating the necessity for chain upkeep.
Brakes are supplied by J.Juan, with a 4-piston caliper and 320mm entrance disc and a single-piston caliper with a 240mm rear disc. The brakes provide clean development between gentle and onerous braking, though in an emergency-brake state of affairs, you’ll should exert some effort to gradual the bike down shortly. Fortunately, there’s ABS to again you up do you have to want it. I at all times recognize a motorbike with adjustable levers, and the CL-C has them, so I used to be capable of pull the levers in for simple attain.
Out of the equipment included on my take a look at bike, I discovered the saddlebags essentially the most helpful. They’re compact sufficient to look proper on the small bike however giant sufficient to pack a change of garments and a few toiletries for a weekend journey. The carry handles and quick-release characteristic made them particularly straightforward to pack into and out of my cabin, and so they embrace a rain cowl and attachable shoulder straps. The clasp closure is a bit difficult to get used to and feels stiff at first, but it surely’s straightforward to make use of when you’ve opened and closed the baggage a couple of instances.
The accent windscreen is small, however any wind safety is useful on a motorbike like this. Whereas I don’t experience with passengers, the passenger backrest supplied a pleasant spot to latch down my rolled-up rainsuit, and the engine guard offers some reassurance in case of a tip over.
Out on the twisty roads close to the Fontana Dam, the CL-C was blissful to hitch the sport amidst each smaller and far bigger bikes on the highway. What it lacks in touring consolation it makes up for in a fascinating, no-frills driving expertise. Its predictable however fast energy supply was a confidence-booster. In these circumstances, versus consuming up interstate miles, the seating place labored nicely to place me in charge of the experience.
Whereas I spent most of my time within the Fontana space driving for enjoyable, I’ve additionally had the CL-C at residence for a couple of weeks, and it’s made an excellent errand-runner for quicks bops to city. It’s straightforward sufficient to experience and handle that it isn’t a problem to drag out of the storage. In the event you’re contemplating the CL-C for commuting functions, the bike’s gasoline mileage will get a test within the “professionals” column. Its tank holds 3.2 gallons, and I averaged 61.9 mpg, giving me a spread of 198 miles per tank.
Competitors for the CFMOTO 450CL-C consists of bikes just like the Honda Insurgent 500 (the established go-to advice for a lot of newbie riders) and the Kawasaki Eliminator (new in 2024 and primarily based on the Ninja 400). Each are nice choices and are a bit sportier of their driving character than the CL-C. In addition they have in widespread extra fashionable aesthetics and a beginning value of $6,499 with out ABS. Examine that to the CFMOTO 450CL-C with a beginning value of $5,799 with normal ABS and with a classic-cool type, and I believe many consumers inside this class might shift their eyes towards the CFMOTO.
2025 CFMOTO 450CL-C Specs
- Base Worth: $5,799
- Worth As Examined: $6,729 (equipment checklist under)
- Web site: CFMOTOusa.com
- Guarantee: 2 yrs., unltd. miles
- Engine Sort: Liquid-cooled, transverse parallel-Twin, DOHC w/ 4 valves per cyl.
- Displacement: 449cc
- Bore x Stroke: 72.0 x 55.2mm
- Horsepower: 40 hp @ 8,000 rpm (manufacturing unit declare)
- Torque: 30 lb-ft @ 6,250 rpm (manufacturing unit declare)
- Transmission: 6-speed, cable-actuated slip/help moist clutch
- Ultimate Drive: Belt
- Wheelbase: 58.5 in.
- Rake/Path: 28 levels/4.25 in.
- Seat Top: 27 in.
- Moist Weight: 399 lb
- Gas Capability: 3.2 gal.
Equipment Checklist
- Engine Guard: $99.99
- Headlight Guard: $79.99
- Passenger Backrest: $79.99
- Radiator Guard: $99.99
- Aspect Bag Brackets: $99.99
- Aspect Baggage, Leather-based: $299.99
- Skid plate: $79.99
- Windshield, Tinted: $89.99
- TOTAL: $929.92
SIDEBAR: Killboy Cabins at Fontana Village Resort
On this journey to Graham County, I stayed at Fontana Village Resort, positioned near the Fontana Dam and nice motorcycling roads like Moonshiner 28, the Tail of the Dragon, the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Foothills Parkway, and others. The resort is within the strategy of constructing 10 cabins in collaboration with Killboy, the images firm based by Darryl and Lori Cannon in 2001 that captures legendary images day by day on Tail of the Dragon in Deal’s Hole. Darryl can also be the photographer for this evaluate and lots of different Rider evaluations.
Together with every part you’d want for a visit with associates or household, the cabin has three full bedrooms, two full bogs, a well-stocked kitchen (sink, range, oven, fridge, pots and pans, espresso pot, and so on.), a front room, and a eating desk. Outdoors, the cabin features a entrance porch, a personal driveway, and a personal firepit. A few of Killboy’s finest images adorns the partitions of every room, and it consists of motorsport-friendly options like designated racks to hold your driving gear. Two cabins are accomplished to this point, with the opposite eight to be added because the resort continues renovations.
If a Killboy cabin is more room than you want, the resort presents loads of different lodging choices. Initially serving as a camp for laborers developing the Fontana Dam, the resort now consists of Quill’s Canteen & Bar (wonderful pizza and burgers, in addition to native dishes), a normal retailer, the Dam Storage fuel station, an arcade room, a pool and lazy river, an ice cream parlor, minigolf, and extra. Go to FontanaVillage.com to seek out extra data and guide your keep.
