CFMoto Concepts Tease Upcoming Models

China’s CFMoto chose EICMA in Milan to preview an array of upcoming 2024 developments including a new hardcore adventure model that’s currently going under the code name “MT-X” and appears to be a new 800cc off-road twin.

CFMoto hasn’t revealed many details of the MT-X, only confirming it’s the company’s new “ultimate explorer” model, with the “X representing the infinite possibilities” that it offers. But digging into the details of the bike we can see that behind that marketing spin is a serious rival to the likes of KTM’s 790 Adventure here.

The engine is the same parallel twin, developed by KTM, that’s used in the existing Ibex (known as the 800MT outside the US market). CFMoto already has a joint venture with KTM and builds these engines, as well as complete bikes including the 790 Adventure, on behalf of the Austrian firm, so it’s not some cheap Chinese knockoff. It’s also clear that, like the KTM 790 and 890 Adventure models, the MT-X has its fuel tank split into two and mounted low down on either side of the engine, lowering the center of gravity.

Although the chassis is largely hidden by bodywork, the elements that can be seen again show a similarity to KTM’s Adventure models, with a near-identical layout of the steel main tubes, the subframe attachments, and the rear suspension and linkage. The same is true of the existing Ibex, though, so it’s possible the chassis is a carryover from that bike, which shares the same swingarm design seen on the MT-X concept. Above it, the bodywork has the sort of serious off-road look we’d associate with the KTM Adventure R Rally models, with a high, flat, motocross-style seat instead of the deeply stepped design seen on the road-oriented Ibex. The front end and headlight, however, have a clear family resemblance to the Ibex and other CFMoto machines.

CFMoto claims the bike is particularly light, and that it will arrive “very soon” in production form, so we don’t have to wait too long before finding out more about the company’s plans.

At EICMA, CFMoto also displayed the 125NK concept, looking very much like a near-production machine, with styling aligned with the 450NK and the latest 300NK models, although the single-sided swingarm, carbon fiber wheels, SC-Project exhaust, and Alcantara seat aren’t likely to make it to the production version that’s expected to debut in the coming months.

Perhaps most intriguingly of all, CFMoto opted to use EICMA to update the progress of its 657cc three-cylinder engine project, which is set to debut in a sportbike that was teased back in September.

The company has confirmed the engine will make in excess of 100 hp, with revs peaking at over 12,300 rpm, and adds that it’s the lightest triple in its class. Not that there are many 675cc three-cylinder machines currently out there to compete with. The latest information includes the tidbits that there are cobalt alloy valves and forged aluminum pistons, and that the whole engine weighs less than 121 pounds.

There’s also a “low inertia crankshaft” that gives 12 percent improved response—although it’s not clear what that is being compared to—and perhaps most importantly the engine has completed 200-hour continuous-running dyno tests with no failures. Reliability might well prove to be more important than outright performance in proving CFMoto’s credentials when entering this new segment of the market.