The CFMOTO 450CL-C cruiser is new to the scene for 2025, but it surely involves the moto playground outfitted with some expertise behind it. Its 449cc parallel-Twin will also be discovered within the 450SS sportbike, the 450NK bare bike, and the Ibex 450 journey bike, and we’ve loved the platform in every of those iterations. That mentioned, the CL-C brings a driving expertise and character 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 parts 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 vibrant LED headlight, fats tires, machined cylinder fins, bar-end mirrors, analog-style spherical TFT show, and blacked-out elements. Even the gas cap appears prefer it may’ve been taken straight 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 check 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 record beneath) – 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 snug 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 strain factors.
Additionally detracting from long-range consolation is the suspension. The CL-C encompasses a 37mm inverted fork and a central monoshock, neither of which is adjustable. Cruising round nation roads at 45 mph, the suspension labored properly to take in inconsistencies within the street and supply good suggestions when dipping into corners, but it surely turned harsh when rolling over bumps at freeway speeds.
My complaints relating to consolation could be summed up: This isn’t a touring machine. It’s not meant to eat up miles of interstate or to journey cross-country in consolation. As a substitute, discover the backroads route, cruise by means of some small cities in your means, cease to take pleasure in lunch at a scenic overlook. Your butt and your spirit will thanks for it.
The engine provided every thing 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 a superb 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 house to Fontana Dam, I at all times had energy on faucet to make a fast move or get away from bunched-up site visitors. The machine will simply cruise at 80 mph with extra grunt left to offer 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 last drive, eradicating the necessity for chain upkeep.
Brakes are offered 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 easy development between mild and onerous braking, though in an emergency-brake scenario, you’ll should exert some effort to gradual the bike down shortly. Fortunately, there’s ABS to again you up must you want it. I at all times respect a motorcycle 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 check bike, I discovered the saddlebags probably the most helpful. They’re compact sufficient to look proper on the small bike however massive 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 embody 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 luggage just a few occasions.
The accent windscreen is small, however any wind safety is useful on a motorcycle like this. Whereas I don’t journey with passengers, the passenger backrest offered 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 comfortable to affix the sport amidst each smaller and far bigger bikes on the street. What it lacks in touring consolation it makes up for in an attractive, 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 properly to place me accountable for the journey.
Whereas I spent most of my time within the Fontana space driving for enjoyable, I’ve additionally had the CL-C at house for just a few weeks, and it’s made a superb errand-runner for quicks bops to city. It’s straightforward sufficient to journey and handle that it isn’t a problem to tug out of the storage. When you’re contemplating the CL-C for commuting functions, the bike’s gas mileage will get a test within the “execs” 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 contains bikes just like the Honda Insurgent 500 (the established go-to suggestion for a lot of newbie riders) and the Kawasaki Eliminator (new in 2024 and based mostly on the Ninja 400). Each are nice choices and are a bit of sportier of their driving character than the CL-C. Additionally they have in widespread extra fashionable aesthetics and a beginning value of $6,499 with out ABS. Evaluate that to the CFMOTO 450CL-C with a beginning value of $5,799 with normal ABS and with a classic-cool fashion, and I believe many consumers inside this class might shift their eyes towards the CFMOTO.
2025 CFMOTO 450CL-C Specs
- Base Value: $5,799
- Value As Examined: $6,729 (equipment record beneath)
- Web site: CFMOTOusa.com
- Guarantee: 2 yrs., unltd. miles
- Engine Kind: 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
- Closing Drive: Belt
- Wheelbase: 58.5 in.
- Rake/Path: 28 levels/4.25 in.
- Seat Peak: 27 in.
- Moist Weight: 399 lb
- Gas Capability: 3.2 gal.
Equipment Listing
- Engine Guard: $99.99
- Headlight Guard: $79.99
- Passenger Backrest: $79.99
- Radiator Guard: $99.99
- Facet Bag Brackets: $99.99
- Facet Luggage, Leather-based: $299.99
- Skidplate: $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 technique of constructing 10 cabins in collaboration with Killboy, the images firm based by Darryl and Lori Cannon in 2001 that captures legendary images each day on Tail of the Dragon in Deal’s Hole. Darryl can be the photographer for this assessment and plenty of different Rider critiques.
Together with every thing you’d want for a visit with mates or household, the cabin has three full bedrooms, two full loos, a well-stocked kitchen (sink, range, oven, fridge, pots and pans, espresso pot, and so on.), a front room, and a eating desk. Exterior, the cabin features a entrance porch, a personal driveway, and a personal firepit. A few of Killboy’s greatest images adorns the partitions of every room, and it contains motorsport-friendly options like designated racks to hold your driving gear. Two cabins are accomplished up to now, with the opposite eight to be added because the resort continues renovations.
If a Killboy cabin is extra space 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 contains Quill’s Canteen & Bar (glorious pizza and burgers, in addition to native dishes), a normal retailer, the Dam Storage gasoline station, an arcade room, a pool and lazy river, an ice cream parlor, minigolf, and extra. Go to FontanaVillage.com to search out extra info and guide your keep.
