I agree Malcolm. The VStrom 650 has that incredible reputation for reliability. I have one and I love it. I also know a young chap who road one the length of South America and back, that one was 10yrs old with 70k kilometres on the clock, he had two problems both of them punctures and he's about to set off around the globe on the same bike. Could you put the same trust in one of these Chinese machines? Only time will tell. Great review though Dave.
Motorcycles like cars look really similar because of tablets instead of clocks. It's awful without character. Engines are often from the same factory or with almost the same character, suspensions from Showa or Kayaba...and the touristic character...I prefer retro style like the Royal Enfield classic, BSA, Kawasaki W800 or Moto Guzzi...but this is me😅
It's the return of the Japanese influx, people had the same opinion back then. I note people because the Japanese also entered the car industry, Datsun being one of those brands. Who would of thought that, that very car company would provide a secure future for hundreds of hard working people in the north east today, yes Nissan formally Datsun. Maybe some old fogie like me will reflect on today's influx from china and maybe, just maybe, have held a successful career in one of these companies. Yes there here to stay make no doubt about it. If there's one thing about the motoring industry we all benefit from it's comparison. Nice video on a nice bike, but my question is, can you get hold of one?
@@robwilkguitar4458 My mum had a Datsun which myself and my oldest sister, who's younger than me, learnt to drive in. Datsun was the name of the importer. He had them badged with his name.
Hi Dave, good morning from Norfolk. Excellent comparison review this morning, i think even the most discerning buyer would find "you had it covered". As always, your efforts are appreciated. Regards, Roy.
Been very much looking forward to this video Dave. Thank you for an honest balanced comparison between the two. Much of the choice appears to be aesthetics and whether you need extra tech… not an easy voice but thank goodness for both of these bikes… there are far too many £15k plus behemoths.. hope you’re still enjoying the CF Moto… and the Guzzi and Norman!
That's a nice comparison review, Dave; very fair. For me it's a case of, 'You pays your money and makes your choice' as in practical real-world terms for most folks, there's not a lot of distance, apart from price, to choose between the two. I must say that, styling-wise to my untutored eye, it looks like both bikes came out of the same design studio. Yes, doing all these reviews is indeed a hard life, but one has to struggle for one's art. Our collective heart goes out to you! 😁
HondaTransalps were out of stock locally and it was what i was after,but ! ..a nearby dealer had a new 23 ibex 800t in stock..its now in my shed. Love the sound of the ktm motor when you crank it ! Bennellis arent an option round here in nova scotia canada..
i have a benelli trk 702 i did the nc500 early this mounth the first leg was nottingham to inverness 440 miles my bum has never been so sore,apart from that a fantastic bike
Hi Dave and thanks for the great review. Just as an aside, and regardless of any new bike's country of origin, I have real concerns regarding the longevity of these TFT screens. Living in the tropics of the skin cancer capital of the world, otherwise known as Queensland, Australia, I've personally experienced LCD readout failures on several of my own bike's instruments. It seems that there's no way of repairing them once they're gone either. I don't know if the TFT stores information like odometer readings and so on, or if that info is stored in the ECU. Hopefully it's the latter.
Great review TBW! Much appreciated. I wonder if the new to be released TRK902X will be closer to the 800MT in future? Worth finding out specifications... Cheers
As a 6'1'' tall road rider, I would be pleased too own Either of these fine bikes. Not having ridden either of them, the Suspension adjustment on the CF Moto, is a great bonus. Suspension on a bike can enhance both comfort and handling/road holding and is not given enough consideration by enough riders? Based on that alone the CF Moto 800 is a fine choice.Thanks a lot for this useful comparison video.
Hi Dave , Both bikes are great for price & fit & finish , giving the choice id opt for the cf motor because i think it looks better from the front , thanks for sharing this review , ride safe
Thanks Dave, that is a great comparison between the two models competing for your cash. Without riding either it would appear that the CFMoto has slightly better components justifying it's higher price. I couldn't make out whether the Benelli has tubeless tyres and a cable throttle rather than the ride by wire of the CFMoto. This would be why the Benelli lacks rider modes and cruise control, not essentials but could also justify the higher price of the CFMoto. Both bikes are too big for what I want at this present time but the CFMoto 450MT really hits the spot!
Certainly be delighted to own either one of them. I don't go to bikers meeting places as I mind there is too much snobbery surrounding our favourite passtime. Sadly.
I don't know if it's just the angle you shot your video at but your CF Moto just looks a bigger bike. I wonder what a passenger would think because again the seat looked bigger and there looked a bit more room for the passenger. As these bikes are both tourers it would have been nice to see and hear a passengers thoughts on them both.
Fantastic review again Dave and i think your right the cf800mt has the edge on the benelli 702x but then again it costs a bit more for the extras my budget was the benelli 702x budget and boy am i well pleased with it after having kawasaki then yamaha triumph honda this benelli 702x is just as good as any of them ive had take off the badge and you would not know it was a chinese built bike they have absolutly nailed it and catched up the japenese at building great motorcycles let the haters hate its better for us keep the price down i paid £6450 for mine with all the luggage as you say brand new with warranty a no brainer i go everywere with mine with the wife on the back it pulls like a train i dont even feel her on the back the engine for real world road speed and pulling power is absolutly spot on the mt also takes it with the tubeless wheels the trk 702x is advertised as tubeless wheels but in reality they are tubed as is the honda transalp which i test rode before the benelli and let me tell you the 702x pound for pound value for money blows the transalp out the water i havent money to burn so bought the 702x and have absolutly no regrets happy riding mate keep up the good work in reporting on these fantastic cheap motorcycles in reach now of a lot more people by the way i just put crash bobbins on my 702x as like you i only use it on road nc500 booked in august fully loaded with the wife its absolutly perfect for touring two up 👌👍🏍💨 we are having exactly the same fun riding this just as much as the other japanese bikes weve had before good on them for bringing the adventure fun cheap enough for the masses to now afford to take part
These bikes are not as cheap as first make out except purchase price. A fairly new 2nd had Japanese bikes a much better bet in my view. I have always bought a year old bike, taken a big hit and buy privately. Bought a year old v strom xt 1000 miles for £5775. I know where I would prefer my investment
yup, I bought a year old v-strom 650 XT with much additional gear, so I am happy. Must say that is just more boring than Versys, but better for two up and more stable at hi-speed.
You could just buy a year old Chinese bike so then your comment is kinda invalid 😂 let people buy what they want instead of spreading hate. Soon it will just be Asian and European bikes not all this divided nonsense. Bikers are bikers and in my opinion, seeing more bikers on the road is great!
With all these Chinese and Indian built bikes available in the UK, The likes of Honda , Yamaha , Suzuki , and others are going to have to be more competitive, which can’t be a bad thing I say .
Personally l don't think these bikes are going to make dent in the UK market & apologies for the long post..... I've been in & around Jerez for a month & it struck me that in the past 30 years l've seen the streets go from 90%+ Vespa & European to maybe 10%, they then moved to 90% Japanese but now l'd guess 60% are Chinese/Korean. Keeway are the most popular scooter and Voge the bigger bikes. But the market here is multi-generational & constantly regenerating, they are 2 considerations, affordability & reliability, little if any brand loyalty, they are more open minded. It's totally different to the UK, where London & delivery riders apart it's nearing an OAP market of buyers for new motorcycles. I'm 60, why would l buy one of these things when l can afford anything (within reason) and my main consideration is "Does it look good/cool"? Followed by a desire for history and authenticity, not very open minded l know but that's what they are up against with an ageing market, who can still afford European/Japanese and with fresh memories of poor Chinese bike quality.
Take off the badges and I would struggle to tell them apart, it’s down to the little additional features that the enthusiasts will spot, but that can be said of so many models nowadays. Nice balanced review Dave, it’s down to personal preference of the purchaser. Good luck to them both, let’s get some younger blood into the arena.
No younger blood. the licensing system is messed up insurance is crazy VED on both of these is £117. And we don't pay them enough to live on. At this point a small car is cheaper to run than most motorcycles.
I am unsure of long-term reliability once you get some miles on them and some years as well. What costs $2 per hour in China to build costs $120 per hour to fix. Lots of electronics waiting to have a expensive failure. Vintage British motorcycles are rebuild able forever. New ones are disposable.
@@thebingleywheeler basic electronics are like the ignition. It has EFI along with all that goes with it. ABS and driving modes. Electronic ignition l can live with. All the rest l have no use for.
I reckon the Chinese have well upped their game in recent years , got back to what motorcycles were intended to be . Inexpensive reliable 2 wheeled economical transport for the masses . I notice in places such as Africa & Latin America , they manage to use the most basic low end Chines bikes , often overloaded ,day in day out ,in gruesome extremes of weather & floods on all manner of road & un paved tracks , up mountains & volcanoes & down the other side . So these Chinese bikes can’t be as bad as many pretentious bike snobs would have others believe . I reckon the Chinese should take a leaf out of Hondas book , & bring in proper 5 star dealer ships with proper 5 star factory trained mechanics . This would give better assurance to punters ,of decent after sales service & long term parts availability . As it is at present it’s hit & miss on how Chinese bikes are looked upon & serviced & if parts are going to be still available in 5 - 10 years time . Otherwise I reckon a lot more riders would be inclined to take a punt on chinese badged bikes . 👍
Having worked with computers mainly within the N.H.S. For what seemed a lifetime, I’d never invest in a bike that relies on cheap and nasty electronic components, they don’t like getting their feet wet and are already obsolete, a smiths clock will work for 80 years, this screen etc won’t outlast the bike and will be the death of it when it fails, watch this space.
The past and Chinese bikes were not urban myths. What you are talking about is today's Chinese bikes which are so much improved. Yes they are good bikes but that does not mean owners from many years ago are all telling lies. What it means is that you have limited experience so stop calling what you know nothing about "urban myth"
@@thebingleywheeler If you had once said "Chinese bikes of the past appear to have often been crap" that would be fine because that was the truth. It would be a shame to dishearten a young rider who's gets a first bike that is an old Chinese model. God help them....they will give up and get a car! You have influence and therefore a responsibility not to mislead others by omission
@xtc2v your omission is to assume that the young have not the wit to intuit that which is obvious from the fabric upon which the narrative is weaved. Personally I have more faith in their intelligence and so I have no responsibility beyond that
Mate bought a new Transalp this year and it started going wrong within 6 weeks of collecting it, as far as i know it was something to do with fuel and after 4 visits back to the shop with it they have given him another bike now....he said the engine cut out while overtaking a truck on M62 not a nice experience he's very experienced rider with 40+ years riding everything but said it was first time he's had one do that. Touch wood the replacement is doing fine.
