ADV Rider #65 issue

‘explore’ Proposition

Ilike travel. Particularly the immersion motorcycling brings when there’s a gap in my traffic. Additive? No! I simply enjoy escaping and are hugely grateful to have met many with similar and greater experience. Like Paul Bray, instructor and owner of Safe-2-Ride whose passion and patience to help riders better themselves is infectious. Together with his reminder that we as riders have an enormity of choice. A proposition that compelled me to ask. I wonder what CFMOTO’s latest 800 MT Explore might be like as a Traveller’s companion?

The answer after 4 days and plenty of Kilometres. A resounding it’s impossible to dismiss CFMOTO’s Explore as nothing less than an exceptional proposition for anyone seeking to tour and or feel the size of an affordable dual sport bike. Particularly one that affords a level of comfort plus ability to handle blasting over unsealed secondary gravel and dirt forestry roads when not chasing tarmac.

The Explore thanks to a re-tuned KTM sourced 799cc parallel-twin engine is quite the ticket. Its lightweight chromium-molybdenum alloy steel frame and sub-frame paired with aluminium swingarm. Sprung with adjustable 43mm KYB inverted front forks and single KYB rear shock affording no less than 150mm of travel with adjustable spring pre-load and rebound damping. Bosch’s 9.1 MP corning anti-lock

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Words & Pictures by Graeme Sedgwick

Left: Great Ocean Road. Right: Rider & CFMoto (Beechworth/Dusk).

brake system that affords braking force to be optimised based upon bike speed and inclination to aid cornering lines. Is a realworld sum that’s a cracker to ride that also screams - ‘Let’s travel now!’

Add pannier racks and rear rack, that can be fitted with CFMOTO’s seemingly bullet-proof pannier boxes with removable inside liners, heated grips and seating. The latter boasting a firm comfort that’s made for touring. Plus, a long list of tech features that includes a new larger 8-inch multi-Media screen interface display

compared to 7-inch TFT display on Sport, Touring and Touring L.E models with functionality features: Apple CarPlay and Android.

The new touchscreen display supports multi-media interaction, Bluetooth, voice control and provides navigational directions. Along with fuel range, track lap times, ride history, remote vehicle status, the ability to conduct over-theair software updates, a security feature including movement sensors and bike location together with a virtual fence

set-up to alert the owner of their bike’s movement or theft! As well as time of day, ambient temperature, trip meters and trye-pressure monitoring. More on-board info than I had imagined.

Also Explore riders can choose between six different ride-modes. Each offering a unique combination of torque outputs

Above: Streetscape CF Moto ‘Passers buy attention grabber’.

Below left: Sign: Wymah Ferry. Below right: Wymah Ferry to across into NSW.

and traction control (TC) intervention to complement different riding conditions, abilities and preferred rider desires.

SPORT: Provides the sharpest throttle response and maximum torque output with a low level of TC intervention. Perfect for experienced riders seeking a spirited tarmac run. OFF-ROAD: Enables a softer throttle with lowest level of TC intervention. OFF-ROAD +: Deactivates rear wheel ABS. ALL-TERRAIN: Provides a softer

throttle response than Off Road with no TC intervention with rear wheel’s ABS also deactivated. ALL-TERRAIN +: Deactivates front and rear ABS. And RAIN: Gives the softest throttle and gentlest power curve with the lowest maximum output and the highest level of TC intervention to best meet wet and slippery conditions.

On-the-move safety features are eye opening. Explore being CFMOTO’s first motorcycle to feature rearward-facing

radar technology with its Behind Radar System encompassing: ‘Blind Spot Detection’ monitoring blind areas within the rider’s field of vision and provides a warning signal. ‘Lane Change Assist’ monitors other road users from both sides and the motorcycle’s rear at a broader range to inform the rider of risk. Plus

Above left: Pub Chalk Board along the Way.

Above: Beechworth on Dusk u

‘Rear Collision Warning’ – providing distance between the nearest behind with signalling in the event of a collision. ‘Cruise’ control is easily set and adjusted via buttons on the left switch-block. Whilst USB port and 12Volt socket are standard and perfect for charging devices including smartphones and when off-grid. Speaking of which, if adventure riding implies coping with the unknown or unexpected. It is relevant to acknowledge the other side of CFMOTO’s 800MT Explore. As it’s a fair size when fuelled at 231 kg or around 212 kg without fuel. Even-so Explore’s

weight fits within the general ball-park of a broad competitor segment. This understood it is useful to know if you choose to point it, or for that matter some other similar weighted bikes toward more challenging circumstances All need a very good rider to remain master of the situation. Before the sheer mass of bike and situation can quickly reverse who is the master! Unless, that is, you are someone with the instinctive talent and experience the likes of Paul Bray have.

As for time aboard CFMOTO’s Explore? I seized the opportunity to travel as many passages typical of the type of

escapism I enjoy. Beginning with a charge along Victoria’s Great Ocean Road before turning north selecting Sport-mode to enjoy a great twisty run over the Otway Ranges. At once it wasn’t hard to feel at one with the flagship variant of CFMOTO’s Adventure range. Explore’s paralleltwin power allowing one to quickly indulge their best and imagine how much more greater riders might screw from this sucker.

Above: Upon CFMoto 800MT Explore. Below left: Extra Lights. Below: Brake Peddle.

Onward skirting the Lakes flanking the postage-stamp sized locality Beeac toward Lethbridge Explore’s responsive sport-mode amped up fun and reward. Before zigging to Steiglitz to pick a variety of meandering gravel and dirt minors through the Brisbane Ranges veering

Above: Different Worlds Different Objectives: 1250RS (right) CFMOTO 800MT (left).

Below: BIG Screen Display.

Below right: CFMOTO 800MT Big Bash Plate.

westerly via Mt Egerton. Then arcing northerly into Wombat State Forest via Hocking Road toward Leonard’s Hill. Great terrain to get a feel for Explore’s Off-road plus mode which didn’t disappoint. Next toward Baynton skipping through the scrub country that’s around Pyalong and Glenaroua generally south of the Defence Force’s Puckapunyal Training precinct switching between ride modes. Keen to get as far north as daylight allowed without running the Hume. I took

one of ‘The Bear’ Aka Peter Thoeming (author of Hema’s atlas for motorcyclists) suggestions onboard. Taking the Old Hume Highway away from Seymour, through Mangalore, Avenel, Locksley and Longwood. Then over the Hume via Tatong, Edi, Whorouly and Stanley calling it a day into Beechworth upon dusk Motivated by the enjoyment that had proceeded. I was eager to get cracking after an enjoyable stuffing of eggs and bacon washed down with a creamy mug

And the fun wasn’t about to end quickly. As I’d suggested to a Newcastle mate ‘Trev’ we ought to catch up in Coolamon. Day still young the forestry country between Batlow and Tumut beckoned as a further chance to sample Explore’s Off-road plus and All-terrain plus modes before pointing westward.

Day’s end as usual Trev had checked-in-first and introduced himself to the local’s and a character named ‘Wombat’ at the Pub. Who recommended we dine at the Golf Club. So, we did and weren’t disappointed.

Free of pressures to be anywhere next day a lazy breakfast ensued. Away, Trev didn’t require encouragement to throttle-on the 1250RS’s impressive performance.

So, providing further opportunity to contrast Explore’s touring pace. As we crabbed our way south west along secondary passages via: The Rock, Henty, Walbundrie, Corowa, Mulwala to day’s end in the river-Boat border township of Echuca. Where we enjoyed a more bibulous evening of liquification waxing lyrical about all and anything mates can.

What impressed: Explore’s very sharp distinctive livery, power-assisted ‘slipper’ clutch which certainly keep things steady when punching sharp shifts that can sometimes cause the rear to hop and lock-up when requiring the exact opposite. Rear view mirrors, adjustable windscreen and for mine the brake pedal’s positioning, because like to position the arch of my boot over the footpeg to activate without having to move my foot back and forth. Coupled with the bike’s overall general capability for let’s face it, an escalating crowd of new-to and riders who simply want to travel.

In short with a suggested retail price of $16,990 RideAway inclusive of 3 years warranty coupled with growing retail / service representation nationally. CFMOTO’s 800MT Explore ticks a lot of boxes. Especially when you come back to a standard equipment list that has to rank upon a dollar-for-dollar count as comprehensive when shopping.

CFMOTO’s 800MT Explore offers eye watering value in terms of what comes standard complemented by a level of performance that’s hard to dismiss and leave plenty of your hard-earned over to travel further more often.

More broadly, there’s no doubt CFMOTO are here for the long haul with this added dual-sport range option and the Brand’s further addition of the 450MT Adventure. Yes, Paul was right. We are blessed to have such choice and countryside that has something for everyone, no matter what you seek.