CFMOTO 450MT vs Royal Enfield Himalayan 452 ‖ Design & Features comparison... 

Liking the retro looks of the RE

I tried the RE 450 yesterday. And I was surprised in a positive way. That engine performes well. At low speed, nearly tickover it just rolled on, even up hill. Look forward to the Guerilla!

at the end of the day is what makes you smile. rode them both, liked CF riding position more, ordered the RE, go figure..but at the end of the day is what makes you smile more!

Another big difference is servicing the air filter. On the CF, pull the seat and the air filter is directly available. On the Enfield you have to remove the seat AND tank and then take apart an access panel.

Tried them both today, the twin feels a lot better

Himalayan is ride by wire, not cabled.

I love Royal Enfield, well after all I’ve got 2 of them. However, on this occasion I’ve ordered the CF Moto.

One thing nobody is talking about is service intervals - at least here in Europe himi have 10k km while cf 6k km - one would have to pay almost double for just the oil changes to keep the warranty... no idea why all the Chinese have such short service intervals, maybe to keep the money flowing for the dealer?

Between the two I would pick the Royal Enfield Himalayan as there’s less plastic to damage when on an adventure ride abs you set it to off and that’s it so why have a big switch on the CF Moto it feels like a afterthought to me. What will the availability of the CF MOTOs plastic parts in 5-10 years time? Remember the Lifan 125 road bike correct they have all but disappeared these days RE have been trading since 1901…

I about to chose the RE, just to also buy me into the brand and history. Rode one for two days in the South of France. Excellent motorbike, also for on rode with 34 km per liter, in case that interests you.

Its metal vs plastic😬

Himalayan has a lot better mileage, apparently. Worth mentioning.

The CF450 is what Suzuki could do with their new V-Strom. Suzuki don't have anything between their 125 and 650 models. The Indians and Chinese are going to do very well in this bracket I think.

This is a very detailed introduction. Thank you for your efforts. I personally like the 450MT very much. It has many small details that are better: inward-folding rearview mirrors; one-touch ABS; complete metal guard plate at the bottom of the engine; very nice exhaust sound; because it is a twin-cylinder, its engine vibration suppression is also very good. Very simple, capable, and tough appearance design. I like its TFT instrument UI design very much. The 450MT and 450SR/450NK/450CL-C use the same engine. There are at least 100,000 of this engine running in the world. I have not found any negative news. I think it has withstood the test of a certain mileage. I definitely choose the 450MT.

Royal Enfield provides a centre stand as part of the bike. CFMoto make it available as an optional extra. Thumbs up to both brands for that, plus a good range of bolt on accessories.

Very interesting comparison Sean, and as always, very well presented. CF Moto has come out of nowhere to be a serious contender in today's market.

Himalayan is original. CF is copy of Tenere.

452 is an attractive motorcycle whereas the 450mt is a good looking modern adv , horses and courses

I like both, twin cylinder attracts, low speed chug attracts, have to have a test go!

What RE had with the previous iteration was an iconic design...whereas this one just looks like a lot of other ADVs...and CF Moto actually nailed the retro styling (throwback to the transalp from the late 80s!) So definitely the CF Moto winning this one for me!

The himalayan costs starts in my country 5600$ The cf moto costs 7550$ What would you pick ?

Always enjoy your balanced and measured reviews. well done. Thank you.

I really like these comparison videos you're making, great job of it too. Both have a a lot to offer, but if its my money...at the moment I would still go the Enfield route because I know where I am with them. But its getting a difficult choice. Thanks

I have watched/read every review out there... This is going to be my first bike... What a difficult choice damn... Is it just me? This decision bothers me for 2 months now

Good review, thankyou. I would go for the aesthetic of the RE. Good looking bike.

What a lot of choice! They both look good, (CF moto is nicer in my opinion) but to my eye the CF is on the nail for quality, and it feels really nice to sit on. The Himy looks a little awkward with that elephant head fuel tank, but it looks better in the darker colour. I think if RE had had kept the new shape nearer to the old shape it would be a winner! But not this time RE.

Been looking for this comparison thanks 😊

Himalayan is ride by wire , please read the spec before a review. 👍

Thanks for the in depth honest review. I like both bikes but I’m leaning slightly towards the MT. Gonna test ride both next week in Australia.

7:35 on the seat hight of the RE isn't it adjustable under the seat by a bar system

Ridden both and I can't see anywhere the RE is better. I found the RE very vibey and engine flat. Cf moto has tubeless tyres as standard too.

Great video buddy 👍...just for your information someone has stolen yr hair!!

The comparison that we are waiting for, well done

No one ever mentions luggage ....wish they'd not put the exhausts so high like on the CF ! How many people cross rivers ? Really ? No point in losing half a case for the exhaust !

I tried Himalayan over the weekend, and it was great. Just looks very old style

Both are great and a bargain. RE just wins out over CF on looks and fact its a single. Tough choice to be honest!

Great video ! but 100 mph is 160 km/h not 190. Love the MT looks.

I find it so hard to choose between them that I've decided I'll stick with my ZZR1400

Very Major difference is tubeless tyres.

I tried both and very much enjoyed the riding position of the CFMOTO against the RE where I felt perched on the seat. The exhaust tone on the CF was phenomenal 😮

Nice job buddy... love from India❤

The cfmoto 450 looks like quite the little unicorn.

i love the design of the RE 450 simplicity at its best

Had anyone tried removing the tyres from The CF? those rim lips that the spokes sit into look awkward for getting a lever under, especially at the side of the road... shouldn't be needed as often if they don't have tubes but airing the tyres down won't really be an option?!

Glad I don't have to make the choice between the two, they both look very good, the numbers are very similar, but probably the fact i'd find an Enfield dealer quicker, would swing my choice to the Himmy, plus the fact I tend to lean towards the classic names anyway. PS. looks like you've bought yourself a new Lawn mower?

A very reasonable account of both bikes and my own personal thoughts are that the Himalayan is likely better suited to green laning, with a dual sport style, whilst the 450MT is more adventure bike style for touring with some gnarly bits thrown in. Ultimately they will both do the same thing, which probably means that style is what will decide for the individual. My inside leg is 29” and seat height is probably the main focus for me, at 61 I do not want to be going off road (only just starting to do this) on something too tall, which is why I never really took my Tiger rally pro off road. I would have taken my CRF250 rally off road but some low life nicked it. So I purchased the Himalayan the day before the ABR festival and did my first bit of trail on the Bridgestone trail, where I also had my first OFF, so now has some battle scars, although I will add that I loved it and will be looking for places to gain experience off road. I actually chatted with one of the designers at the show and made some design options to rectify the side stand issue, to which end he said that the stand issue was created due to the requirements in the American market, so perhaps they can create an alternative for the UK. Strangely the CRF250 was the opposite issue with the stand being so long it was nearly vertical and created issues of a possible topple if on a slope. Anyway this is starting to look like a dissitation, so I will say buy which one you like the look of and I am sure you will not be disappointed. PS my other bike is a speedmaster

Himalayan actually has the adjustable seat so you can adjust the seat according to your height

Endless comparisons, yet to choose for one self, then an aesthetic appeal to the person choosing. One is not better as you said, and the sooner we realise it's not things or specs that bring contentment in being.

What is a shame is that this 490 KTM platform has been scrapped. Imagine a Norden 501 on this. The looks, the features and I'm guessing it probably would have been amazing to ride.

big difference is the weight & how heavy they feel. For me the Himalayan feels very heavy.Himalayan is also taller-wider & longer than the 411 so it's almost become a middleweight segment bike instead of the lite middleweight bike. Air cleaner for hImalayan under the tank so you actually have to remove the tank to change the air cleaner. CF is under the seat towards the back of tank.I think Royal Enfield probably could have improved on what they had by installing a alloy swing arm & lighter tank. I think the 450 MT is a better all round bike but it depends on support from after market suppliers-depends on parts availability & depends when the bikes actually become available in the show room as well as reliability over time.

Audi did not invent sequential turn signals. Ford offered them on the 1964 Thunderbird.

I'll go for a single piston. Easy to maintain.

How many owners will take either off road? I have lots of unsurfaced roads were I live, but thankfully very little rain, so no mud. The Himalayan is a great road bike, and on the twisty mountain roads it handles and brakes well, belying the 21 inch front wheel. The sidestand lean you get used to quickly, and no chance of it being blown over like my 411 was-twice. Oddly the CFMoto does not appear to be available anywhere in Spain.

CF Moto is certainly more modern and very Tenere like in looks.

Himalayan anyday ❤

Himalayan do have ride by wire here in INDIA

RE Himalayan 450 have a center stand which is a big plus

How can we argue with the price tags/specs of the cfmoto??? It's a good looking bike. Seems well built and with quality components. I believe it has alarm built in and a movement sensor also. Royal Enfield has history, capabilitiy and that vintage look but CFMOTO and other "chinese" manufacturers are steping up to the demand. I say chinese in spite all bikes are using chinese componentes and chinese built engines (a few at least). And we all now that japanese bikes these days aren't as reliable as they were 30 years ago. Mt450 are selling as hot bread over half world and the other half is begging for them to come. I have to be honest... i testdrived booth and mt450 surprised me for the positive. Wasn't expecting to be in love of road and in road. Have a fx650 honda and when i sat on her it just it me... What a crappy old bike i own!!! If they haven't told me it had chinese tyres i wouldn't believed. The 450 engine has proofs on the other models... so my question is... How long can i hold my HONDA?!?

I will stick with my t7. Bought new £8349. Although i have just ridden a rented 450 himalayan up to 5800 metres (umling la in the himalayas) and the 450 was epic on sand, dirt, gravel, river crossings, tarmac and altitude.

I've tried both, I found the himalayan motor more fun(torque is available very soon), but sound very meeehh compare to the twin of the 450mt(very linear feeling at acceleration)

Do buy a CF Moto and I wish you the best of luck finding spare parts and services.

If you like the retro look, go for the Himalayan. But for everything else, the 450MT is levels ahaed

450MT looks so cool

Himalayan All day..🙏🫡❣️

Love retro, but i like 450mt.

Enfield engine is durable ❤❤।।। I have himalyan in india । It's very durable and affordable also।।।

Having now ridden both….I really wanted to like the Himi over the CF….but I just didn’t. The vibes on the Himi plus the top heavy weight, fit and finish, wind management plus tubed tires has put me off. Above all though the motor is just a peach on the MT….not just smooth but more tractable and alive….much more fun. Where the Himi wins for me is ride quality out of the box (but fully adjustable on the MT but not had the opportunity to change), service intervals and dealer choice. Ordered the MT.

CF is twin and better for travel.

I've heard horror stories about after sales with the CFMoto range.

Himalayan has a lot of vibration, mt 450 is like butter smoooth! Also I could not feel the weight on the Mt 450 but found it a bit difficult to handle the hymalayan offroad!

I doubt we'll be getting the CF Moto 450 MT, it looks like they're pushing a bigger adventure bike, the Ibex 800 here in the US. The Himalayan 450 hasn't arrived yet, and I've heard nothing so far. We still have the Kawasaki Versys-X 300 as an ongoing model here. Very much in the same class as these. I've been looking into that one lately, and would probably gravitate towards that, even over the Enfield. The RE bikes always appeal to me, but I think my desire to try out other brands wins out when I stop and think about it.

Very good comparison, make sure you do a side by side ride then you get a chance.

Isn’t there a 805 seat for the Himalayan never seen one fitted I’m a shorter rider

himalayan also ride by wire

To me how a bike looks is so important and the CF looks like it's been beaten by an ugly stick. The RE is far more to my taste and is the one I'd buy. Did Suze attack you head with some scissors while you were asleep quite a different look you've got there.

2 cracking bikes Sean. Like everything else, there be likes/dislikes on each. The CF really seem to be coming into the Limelight. The black n Gold Himmy, looks fantastic, for sure. Unfortunately not for me….only cause of my 27 inch, inside leggies.😢 Lovely back drop.😊

Be interested to compare the vibration from both and which one would be more fatiguing on a longer trip?

Sean, would you care to comment on Usernamekate's assertion that the BSA's exhaust sounds like "dirty, wet farts"? 🤣 Congratulations on this video, by the way, it seems to have gained some serious traction!

Great review I did look at both bikes yesterday and was taken a back how difficult the Royal Enfield was to move of the side stand on uneven ground this would be a deal breaker for me personally I know you could fix this but the cf moto just appeared more upmarket.i was comparing the cf moto to my Honda cb500x and it would appear a suitable replacement .back in 2020 I had to buy hand guards and power outlet which all come as standard on the cf moto but still don’t on the cb500x or the nx500. I also am considering going for a different bike looked the Royal Enfield shotgun but my wife commented on the 650 logo and the paint schemes are not as nice as the other Royal Enfield range, the shotgun could looked more retro I don’t mean like a classic 650 if they release it but more like a triumph bobber paint scheme.maybe more premium.

the 1960's mercury cougar [mustang ] had those indicators in the 60's

I have ridden and owned REs all my life and one consistent problem has been the reliability, specially with first few lots of a new model. I bought the 450MT over Himalayan just because it’s far superior for outdoors and the engine is much more refined. It’s been 3 weeks 😃and it doesn’t feel like it’s only 450.

I really like the colour of the RE and those wheels and the CF is also very nice I think in the end I would probably plum for the CF as it is a twin as I have never really been into singles but both are very good bikes .👌👍

I would find it odd that the Himalayan is more road bias seeing as it's supposed to be a rugged off road/adv, whereas the MT looks more road bias and the front wheel looks too big in proportion. Just my opinion obviously. Loving the screen on the RE but am looking forward to what else they will churn out with that engine. Perhaps channels such as yourself could put a call out to CFMoto owners of say 5 years to review and see what their longevity is, might put pay to the negative comments or not. I joined the ER6F/N Facebook group, kinda wished I hadn't, because you see posts about issues all the time, but no one ever brings them up in big brand reviews unless it's a recall and it's soon forgotten anyway.

I’ve done 1,000 kilometres on my 450MT and love it. It’s miles ahead in quality over the Himalayan imo

Audi didn't invent sequentially lighting turn signals. My 1966 Mercury had them from the factory.

What about the price ? I believe There is a huge price difference

There was an interesting video taken at the ABR festival containing an interview with the RE guy who designed the nylon bash plate. 5AUkqo8Mwq0

Ride by wire? MT450? Pls read before doing reviews.

@3:23 why make a point of using your phone for a close up and then not show what you explained?

Another excellent video

The Himalayan is more beautiful bike and more different from the others. And you forgot to say the Himalayan has and side stand and main stand.this is why the extra weight.

By specs alone obviously MT is far better but I will never buy a Chinese automobile. Just my personal opinion.

Himalaya ❤

Do you think, like has been mentioned for Chinese cars, that there might be a government subsidy lowering the price as it seems to me you are getting more bike for your money with a CF? Can’t see, is there a rear hugger on the CF? Look forward to your next review👍

Definitely RE for and peace in mind without a doubt , for two week smile moto

Not keen on either, although the RE is a single which is what I like in the sub-500cc category. It's a bit heavy, though. In summary: the RE for the dash; MT for the adjustable screen; RE for the headlight and high mudguard; MT for the cross spoke wheels; a tie for the profile. They're just different. As I've said elsewhere, I want to see the Guerrilla, but I'll probably stick with the 390.

I have a Hima411, im looking for the 450, BUT, it should has been twin!!!!

It's a tie! 1.4billion people supporting each side

Good review very !

What is price difference between both of them