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The CFMoto 700 CL-X is a Chinese motorcycle that looks ready to take on any of its European or Japanese competitors.

CFMoto has been making quite a lot of headlines lately due to the brand's arrival in the United States. With multiple motorcycles proposed to be launched in 2022, this Chinese motorcycle manufacturer has managed to strike the chord of motorcycle enthusiasts. Of the motorcycles that are on the docket, the 2022 CFMoto 700 CL-X has managed to reinvigorate the motorcycle enthusiasts due to its neo-retro design language and the value for money factor.

Available for a base MSRP of $6,999, the CFMoto 700 CL-X turned out to be one of the most compelling options of the segment. It gets a 693 cc parallel-twin motor producing a mighty 74 hp and comes mated to a 6-speed gearbox. The tubular steel frame and the inverted front forks coupled with rebound & preload-adjustable mono-shock at the rear take care of the riding dynamics. The brakes and ergonomics are spot-on, too. The 700 CL-X is here to compete with the likes of the Yamaha XSR700, Kawasaki Z650, and the Ducati Scrambler.

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The CFMoto 700 CL-X is one of the best-looking motorcycles to be launched in 2022. The exposed chassis bits that sit around the masculine tank and the beautifully crafted LED headlights with silver accents make the motorcycle stand out. The sharp profile accentuates the modern yet retro design vibes too.

Along with that, gold-colored exhaust headers mated to a stubby exhaust, aluminum alloy swingarm, and alloy wheels make it look like none of the rivals of the middleweight naked segment. The CL-X embossment on the tank and the single seat of the Sport variant are appealing too.

The 693cc DOHC liquid-cooled parallel-twin motor of the CFMoto 700 CL-X is one of the smoothest and punchy motors of the segment. Producing 74 hp and 47.9 lb-ft of torque, the 700 CL-X riders would never feel wanting for more performance. The bottom end torque helps the rider to ample around the city traffic with great ease.

However, it was the mid-range performance that was the highlighting factor of this neo-retro motorcycle. As a result, overtaking the fast-moving traffic on the freeways was an easy and enjoyable process. The top-end is decent too. The light clutch and precise gearshifts make it one of the best beginner bikes of the segment.

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Being a Chinese motorcycle, the CFMoto 700 CL-X is often criticized for its build quality, mainly by people who have never seen the motorcycle in person. In reality, the 700 CL-X is as good as any of its competitors from Japan and Europe. The fit and finish couldn't be faulted anywhere as it gets clean welds, top-notch paint quality, and excellent engineering.

All the touchpoints like switchgear, brake and clutch lever, etc feel solid and build to last. The same goes for the massive tank and other fiber parts, all of which felt solidly put-together, offering no creaks and rattles. All the cables and wires were routed appropriately, too.

The retro design language of the 700 CL-X means that it has a relatively straightforward riding position. The handlebar is mounted quite high, making it a comfortable long-distance cruiser. The slightly offset footpegs, a well-designed tank that help the rider to hold on while doing good speeds around the tight corners and comfortable seats make the ride even better.

This riding position of the CFMoto 700 CL-X adds very little strain to the backbone of the rider. Even wrist and shoulder pain, which are quite common with the motorcycles like the XSR 700 and the Scrambler, is not present in the 700 CL-X. This motorcycle also offers no major vibrations throughout the rev range, too.

Slot the gear to first, release the light clutch, and give some gas to understand how easy and manageable the 700 CL-X is to ride. The newbie riders are going to find it remarkably relaxed to ride around due to the short first gear, not-so-aggressive throttle response, and feather-light clutch & other controls.

Coming with 2 riding modes, namely Eco and Sport, the 700 CL-X rides really smoothly in the Eco mode with a slightly muted throttle response. Even in the Sport mode, the motorcycle is not a rocket ship like the Ducati Scrambler. The short first gear also means that riding through those steep hills is going to be an easy affair. However, because of this, the 700 CL-X requires constant shifts between the first and second gear.

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Offered with the fully adjustable KYB 41 mm inverted forks which have preload and compression adjustability for the left fork and preload and rebound adjustability for the right fork, the 700 CX-Ls front end is precise. The motorcycle tucks in the corners with ease, maintain the position gracefully and remains stable throughout.

The rear end of the 700 CX-L gets the preload-adjustable monoshock which is quite capable too. However, the ride quality turned out to be hard, especially during the slow city riding. As the speed rise during the freeway run, the 700 CX-L felt more sorted out, absorbing most of the bumps and potholes with ease.

Offered with the radial-mounted 4-piston caliper with 320 mm double discs for the front and 2-piston floating caliper with 260 mm single disc for the rear, the CFMoto 700 CL-X has the sharpest brakes for the segment. Along with the impressive braking hardware, the 700 CL-X gets dual-channel ABS as standard, making the ride safer and more predictable.

Squeeze the front brakes and the CFMoto 700 CL-X stops with no hesitation. The initial bite is exemplary and the braking progression needs a special mention too. The brakes are also a two-finger affair, which is an added benefit for the new riders. Even the rear brakes were better than the motorcycles like the Kawasaki Z650 and the Suzuki SV650, both of which come at the same price category.

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Coming with an affordable price tag, we expected the CFMoto 700 CL-X to lose out on all the essential safety tech and features. However, CFMoto managed to shove in all the required tech onboard the 700 CL-X as it gets a fully-digital instrument cluster, slipper clutch, and one-touch cruise control.

The Bosch EFI system, two-channel ABS, and the fully adjustable inverted front forks from KYB are standard too. Along with that, the front end gets the fully LED headlights with LED DRL and the rear silhouette offers an LED taillight setup. All the indicators are LED as well.

Coming for an MSRP of $6,999 for the Sport variant and $6,499 for the Heritage variant, the 2022 CFMoto 700 CX-L is the most bang for the buck motorcycle of the lot. It ticks all the boxes for a capable and fun to ride motorcycle due to the sorted chassis and suspension along with a punchy motor.

Even with such a low cost, CFMoto has managed to include all the features that the rivals come with, all of which are standard across the variant. To top it all off, the exquisite looks and the excellent attention to detail make the motorcycle feel up to par with the European motorcycles out there.

Mohith is our in-house motorcycle mechanic and automotive geek. He loves riding and driving at the limits, and you would frequently notice him on racetracks at the weekends. Mohith is someone who would redline anything that comes with a motor - even our office lawnmower. He often does cross-country road trips in his trusted 300ZX and you could find him riding his CB750 quite often through the streets of Pasadena as well as on the Moore Motorsports racetrack.