CFMoto 450NK (2024) – Review

The A2 licence category is one of the most highly competitive, fiercely fought battlegrounds in motorcycling as manufacturers try their utmost to engage with new customers from the start of their riding lives, or even those coming towards the end as the downgrade from larger capacity models. If they can bring new riders to their brand as they learn the ropes, those riders will hopefully stay loyal as they progress to bigger and more expensive machines – at least, that’s the theory. This means there are a dozens of A2-compliant bikes to choose from: sports bikes, retros, scramblers, adventure and, the most prevalent and competitive all them all, naked sports.

Now, for 2024, a new manufacturer enters the ring in the form of Chinese giant CFMoto and their competitively priced 450NK, which starts at under £5000 and is currently on offer at £4299. On price alone, it should have the competition worried, but the 450NK is also an attractive and punchy parallel twin, complete with rider aids and Bluetooth connectivity. We spent a day riding the 450NK to see if the offer is as good as it looks.

Pros & Cons

2024 CFMoto 450NK - Price

The all-new CFMoto 450NK is listed at £4999 but CFMoto currently has it on offer at the time of writing for just £4299, and it comes with a beefy four-year warranty in the UK. Honda’s CB500 Hornet is also new for 2024 but is priced at £6199. KTM recently launched the 90% new 390 Duke at £5699, while Kawasaki's all-new Z500 starts at £5699. All are new models for 2024, A2 licence compliant and make similar power, but the CFMoto undercuts the competition by a significant amount. It will be available in Nebula White and Zephyr Blue, with PCP prices starting rather attractively from less than £50 per month.

2024 CFMoto 450NK - Engine & Performance

The 449cc parallel twin is not copied over from KTM like some CFMotos but designed and produced in-house. It makes an impressive 34.5kW/46bhp @ 10,000rpm and 39.3Nm/29ftlb of torque at 7750 rpm and features fuel injection and a 270-degree crank, which in theory smooths out the power delivery.

The big surprise is the noise it makes; for an A2 compliant bike that meets all the latest Euro emissions regulations, the NK's exhaust is refreshingly fruity. It’s not loud but has a real bark – way more than any other bike in this class. This in turn adds a bit of character to a potentially rather vanilla A2-capped twin and encourages you to hold onto the revs for a few more rpm. It’s easy to have a spirited ride, watching that digital rev counter climb towards the redline, exhaust note making life seem pleasantly sporty. Peak power and torque are both relatively high in the rev range compared to the competition – the 450NK doesn’t have the mid-range of the Kawasaki or Honda, for example – but it does enjoy being thrashed, so much so it will happily rev into the redline if you are feeling mechanically ruthless. Top speed could well be north of 100mph as indicated on the dash, depending on the prevailing conditions, and it accelerates quickly to motorway speeds. 70mph cruising isn’t a problem, although it does get a little bit vibey at high rpm.  

The gearbox is kept busy but is not as smooth or slick as you’d expect from a modern day machine. That said, I found myself deliberately going down a few gears to send that rev counter skyward again and get that exhaust singing. The NK loves to rev, responds willingly to a handful of throttle, and has possibly the sportiest engine the class.

2024 CFMoto 450NK - Handling & Suspension (inc. Weight)

There is plenty of positivity when it comes to the 450NK's handling, too. The seat is low enough at 795mm and narrow, while the bike's centre of mass is carried low in the chassis. CFMoto quotes a weight of just 165kg and that's reflected in the NK's flickabilty and sheer ease to manoeuvre, especially in town. At low speeds it’s incredibly agile – the steering featherlight to the touch – and could become a courier favourite. New riders are going to jump on the CFMoto and have some serious fun without in any way feeling intimidated.

However, there is a but. More experienced riders, possibly those coming down in capacity, will discover where CFMoto has saved on costs. The 37mm diameter upside-down non-adjustable forks are adequate, as is the rear shock (which has adjustable spring pre-load) but both lack a little control and feel when the pace picks up. This lack of feeling is partly due to the unfamiliar CST Adreno tyres, which never threatened to slide or lose grip but failed to deliver the confidence-building feedback of, say, the KTM Duke 390. The ride and handling are good, but there's a sense of vagueness rather than reassurance when you start to push on a little.

As mentioned, the majority of new riders won't care about the unfamiliar rubber, and will simply enjoy the lightweight handling of the CFMoto that makes it so effective in town. As they gain experience, however, and begin to ride at a brisker pace, they may well notice the suspension's lack of feel. It’s a similar story for the single front disc brake and J.Juan caliper: it’s an adequate set up but could never be described as powerful. ABS comes as standard, of course, but it’s not lean-sensitive (unlike the KTM) and is relatively basic.

2024 CFMoto 450NK - Comfort & Economy

Suspension is set on the soft side and the ergonomics suit a short (5ft 7in) rider like me. Taller and larger riders may find the riding position a little cramped – but in all probability most journeys on the CFMoto 450NK are going to be relatively short commutes. Pillions have a seat and pegs, but that is about it. Their seat is very hard and small.

Unsurprisingly, the unstressed parallel twin is frugal, even when revved hard it was still returning over 50mpg, and closer to 60mpg when ridden normally.

2024 CFMoto 450NK - Equipment

The presence of a 5-inch TFT display is impressive for a bike with a sub £5k asking price. It is easy to read, well laid out and reasonably intuitive to interact with. Download the CFMoto Ride app and you can connect via (optional extra) Bluetooth. The switchgear, meanwhile, feels and look a little dated.

ABS and TC come as standard, though neither is lean-sensitive, but only the KTM Duke 390 has lean-sensitive rider aids in this class. Overall finish is more than acceptable while, in the flesh, the 450NK looks poised and is attractive and only its tyres hint at its budget price. If you removed the badges I think most people wouldn’t guess it was a CFMoto made in China as it looks and feels on par with the competition.

2024 CFMoto 450NK - Rivals

KTM 390 Duke, 2024 | Price: £5699

Read more

Power/Torque

44bhp / 28.8lb-ft

Weight

165kg (wet)

Honda CB500 Hornet | Price: £6,199

Read more

Power/Torque

46bhp / 32lb-ft

Weight

188kg (kerb)

Kawasaki Z500 2024 | Price: £5699

Read more

Power/Torque

44bhp / 31lb-ft

Weight

172kg (kerb)

2024 CFMoto 450NK - Verdict

There's plenty to get excited about here, and we can see lots of new young or inexperienced riders being drawn to CFMoto's handsome and sporty new naked – and not just because it undercuts the competition on price. It looks the part, sounds great and delivers A2 licence compliant fun and commuter competence. The motor is free-revving and full of mischief and the handling is easy-going and light. A well-drawn TFT display adds quality and helps ensure the 450NK doesn’t feel or appear like a cheaper version of the Japanese or European equivalent.

Yes, there are a few niggles: the unfamiliar rubber and slightly underwhelming brakes are okay but lack bite, while the gearbox could be slicker. There's also a tangible lack of solidity to the build quality, which makes it feels less like the Honda or Kawasaki and more toy-like, like the KTM. But the upside of that is its lack of bulk and many will prefer the chassis response and ease of use that brings.

CFMoto has produced a bike that can stand shoulder to shoulder with the established competition, and in some areas rise above it, while aggressively undercutting on price. Long gone is the worry that you might feel shortchanged or embarrassed to own a CFMoto, and the 450NK is a genuine option for A2 licence holders.  

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Do you own this bike? Tell us what it’s like, or ask us questions about it at bikeclub.bennetts.co.uk.

2024 CFMoto 450NK - Technical Specification

What is MCIA Secured?

MCIA Secured gives bike buyers the chance to see just how much work a manufacturer has put into making their new investment as resistant to theft as possible.

As we all know, the more security you use, the less chance there is of your bike being stolen. In fact, based on research by Bennetts, using a disc lock makes your machine three times less likely to be stolen, while heavy duty kit can make it less likely to be stolen than a car. For reviews of the best security products, click here.

MCIA Secured gives motorcycles a rating out of five stars (three stars for bikes of 125cc or less), based on the following being fitted to a new bike as standard:

• A steering lock that meets the UNECE 62 standard

• An ignition immobiliser system

• A vehicle marking system

• An alarm system

• A vehicle tracking system with subscription

The higher the star rating, the better the security, so always ask your dealer what rating your bike has and compare it to other machines on your shortlist.