One wonders where the limit is when we talk about the price-performance ratio that more and more Chinese brands and models offer every day. The recently officially presented CFMoto 500SR is the best exponent of this idea: 78 HP of power for just over 3,600 euros to changehighlights the level we are talking about. Let’s remember that with that same money, at the end of the glorious nineties, and still in pesetas, you could get, for example, an iconic Aprilia RS125.
That is, for around 600,000 pesetas of those, those from Noale put at your disposal 34 HP loaded with impetus and revolutions. Undoubtedly, that 2T concept has little or nothing to do with current frames.
In the latter, the technological level, as well as the spectacular finishes or a top-level cycle part, delight current fans. And the best of all is that they are able to offer much more for practically the same as then.
CFMoto 500SR in detail
Leaving aside the happy comparisons (more than one will be praying in Aramaic for having mentioned their idolized RS125), there is one thing that is irrefutable: CFMoto has just introduced a new and dangerous rooster into the pen of medium-displacement sports cars. And we say dangerous, obviously referring to the commercial interests of its most direct rivals. Among them we can highlight the brand new CBR500R Four, also launched for the first time in the Chinese market, and the intimidating Ninja ZX-4R.
It is clear that, if finally offered in Europe, this 500SR will not cost the same as in its native country, obviously. In any case, we predict an exit rate well below that of its most direct rivals. In fact, we can resort to the wild card of the rule of three to speculate a little on this topic.
Taking into account that the aforementioned CBR500R Four is offered in China for around 5,665 euros at the exchange rate, we would be talking about a rate 37% higher than its rival in that market. If we compare this statistic directly with the ZX-4R, it is likely that the CFMoto 500SR will end up being offered for a price of less than 6,000 euros in those European countries where the brand decides to market it.
On a technical level, the 500SR stands out for having a 500 cc, 4-stroke DOHC tetra-cylinder, water-cooled, powered by a Bosch injection system and associated with a 6-speed gearbox, equipped with a CF-SC slipper clutch. With internal dimensions of 63 x 40.1 mm and a compression ratio of 12.3:1, the brand announces a maximum power of 78 HP at 12,500 rpm.
The maximum torque, 49 Nm is found with the engine rotating at 11,000 revolutions. As an interesting fact, as published by Cycle World colleagues, CFMoto states that “the 500SR gets an additional 3.5% increase in power (up to 82 horsepower) when the high-speed forced air intake comes into play.”
The cycle part is controlled by a chrome-molybdenum steel lattice structure along with a double-arm aluminum swingarm. The assembly is supported by a fully adjustable suspension system, with a 41 mm inverted fork on the front axle and a monoshock doing the same at the rear.
For its part, braking has a double 300 mm front disc actuated by four-piston Nissin radial calipers and another 220 mm rear disc bitten by a single-piston caliper. The equipment is assisted by an ABS system signed by Continental and with the possibility of disconnecting it on the rear wheel. This section is completed by a steering damper with up to 24 adjustment positions.
Finally, referring to the main dimensions of the motorcycle, CFMoto declares a wheelbase of 1,394mmwith a pilot’s seat located at 805mm of the ground and a weight of 186 kilograms. Numbers very similar to the Voom variant and which demonstrate the brand’s performance when it comes to seeking adequate ergonomics supported by fairly contained general figures.
