CFMOTO 1000MT-X (2026 – ) review

We’ve seen top-quality specifications at a bargain price from Chinese brands before but the 1000MT-X combines that with tech even the established brands can’t match in a package that looks the part and lives up to the promise. Visually, the 1000MT-X has a confident, aggressive style all its own that is bang up to date for a 1,000cc adventure bike of this type. CFMoto has then gone one step further by offering the 1000MT-X in two guises – a more road-orientated version with shorter travel suspension and a lower seat and the taller, more off-road focused option you see here. Both get the monster TFT touch-screen dash, adjustable screen and standard heated grips and seat. No, the 1000MT-X isn’t perfect and, for some, its Chinese roots carry some emotional baggage. But overall, it’s brilliantly executed and compelling.

The 1000MT-X is essentially an off-road friendly, 1,000cc class adventure bike, with the suspension and 21-inch/18-inch wheels associated to match. Its most obvious rivals are the BMW F 900 GS,  KTM 890 Adventure, Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro and, inevitably, Honda’s all-conquering Africa Twin. As such the 1000MT-X gets a fairly tall, narrow and hard seat, upright riding position with enduro pegs, wide bars and a small cowling with an adjustable screen. This is limited in its effectiveness, so we’d recommend the taller option if this matters to you. The seat isn’t bad but you should probably choose wisely between the low and high versions and, overall, it’s a little limited over distance although the heated grips and seat are a bonus.

Depends a little on your personal definition of practicality! From the outset, the 1000MT-X is one of those adventure bikes with genuine off-road ability, even if we didn’t really get to test that in our time with it. But we have no reason to doubt its talents on that score. As a road bike it’s effective, lively and entertaining. If you can cope with the tall seat it’s also nimble and manageable around town and viable for long distances if you can live with the standard screen and hard seat. If that doesn’t add to being practical, especially at this price, we don’t know what is. Saying that, if you’re unlikely to get its tyres muddy there may be more comfortable alternatives, with better provision for weather protection, pillions and possibly luggage.

Thanks to CFMoto’s long history with KTM – up to and including building bikes and engines for the Austrian brand – the 1000MT-X’s 946cc parallel-twin is essentially the same as the LC8c unit powering the 990 Duke roadster. It’s reined in a little at 113 horsepower and 105Nm of torque but those figures are still impressive in this class and the performance is conspicuously punchy and exciting when you need it to be yet also calm enough for long distances and commuting. Electronic riding aids from Bosch in the form of four switchable riding modes, three-way traction control, cornering ABS all help the cause while the radial-mount Brembos up front deliver best-in-class stopping power.

Quality counts, and that can certainly be said as far as the 1000MT-X’s suspension set-up, forks and shock both coming from KYB. Up front is a pair of beefy, 48mm USD forks fully adjustable for preload, rebound and compression. While at the rear is a matching monoshock, which is also fully adjustable. Wheels are quality alloy-rimmed wires in enduro-style 21-inch front/18-inch rear sizes, again wearing quality Pirelli rubber. In terms of on-paper specification it’s among the best you’ll find anywhere, and certainly so at this price. It’s also well set up. But it’s also worth repeating the 1000MT-X is very much a dual-purpose adventure bike, with the inevitable trade-off of road performance against off-road ability, though the adjustable steering damper does help. With all of that said, the CFMoto remains a sporty and fun road bike that’s plenty secure enough considering its tyres.

A launch price of just under nine grand is simply game-changing given the spec and its abilities, especially given all its serious rivals are literally thousands more to buy. Running costs-wise, the 1000MT-X shouldn’t be much different than any of those, with a similar hunger for consumables, insurance and fuel. The only real unknown is the CFMoto’s future residual values. But then, considering the low initial outlay, how much does that matter?

True, the 1000MT-X is an all-new machine, and a sophisticated one at that. If there is any residual snobbery against Chinese manufacturers CFMoto is a step ahead, thanks in part to its relationship with KTM and its very obvious build quality. Time will tell but first impressions are promising.

Impressively, the 1000MT-X comes with a standard, manufacturer backed four-year warranty. Its recommended service intervals are also better than we have come to expect from some Chinese manufacturers, again doubtless thanks to those KTM connections. Once past the initial 500-mile break-in once-over regular servicing every 9,000 miles or annually, whichever comes first.

We’ve already listed much of the 1000MT-X’s equipment but, once more from the top, there’s the top quality KYB suspension, class-standard Brembo brakes, credible off-road wheels and Pirelli tyres and … then you get into the other stuff. This includes the adjustable screen, heated grips and seat, massive 8.0-inch TFT touchscreen dash with Bluetooth connectivity, four riding modes, three-way traction control, cornering ABS and more. There’s even what CFMoto calls ‘T-Box’ offering enhanced connectivity, security and navigation features through your smartphone and for which you pay a subscription, although the first year is included. All this for less than £9,000!

There used to be plenty of reasons not to buy a cut-price Chinese machine, whether that be dynamics, reliability or the lack of after-sales support in terms of dealer coverage, warranties or service intervals. With the CFMoto 1000MT-X it’s safe to say those days have gone. Whether this style of bike floats your boat or not the important point here is a Chinese bike at least the equal of establishment rivals in spec, dynamics, tech and performance but at a price literally thousands less.