2023–2025 · Naked Bike · Buyer's Guide
Budget Parts, Real Handling
The 700CL-X Sport is CFMOTO's neo-retro middleweight in café racer clothes, and it rides with more polish than its price suggests. The 693 cc liquid-cooled parallel twin uses fuel injection to build power in a clean, linear line, then pull harder above 7,000 rpm on the way to 69 hp at 8,500 rpm. Peak torque is 48 lb-ft at 6,500 rpm. Around it sit a steel trellis frame, an adjustable upside-down fork, an adjustable shock, a slipper clutch and cruise control, all standard. ABS and ride modes make up the electronics. The components and finish are a step above what this money usually buys.
On the road it's approachable first and sporty second. At 452 lb (205 kg) wet with a 31.3 in (795 mm) seat, it never intimidates. It changes direction with very little input and has plenty of lean clearance before anything touches down, and at speed it stays settled. It suits a rider who wants a stylish, easy middleweight for back roads and the daily commute, and at 49 mpg it's cheap to run. The honest caveat: rider aids stop at ABS and ride modes, with no traction control. This generation also has an ABS software recall, so confirm the fix was done before you buy.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 69 hp (51 kW) @ 8,500 rpm |
|---|---|
| Torque | 48 lb-ft (65 Nm) @ 6,500 rpm |
| Displacement | 693 cc |
| Engine | Parallel twin |
| Cooling | Liquid-cooled |
| Gearbox | 6-speed |
| Final drive | Chain |
| Fork | Upside-down (USD) |
| Front brake | 300 mm |
| Front tire | 120/70-17 |
| Rear tire | 180/55-17 |
| Seat height | 31.3 in (795 mm) |
| Wet weight | 452 lb (205 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 3.4 gal (13 L) |
| Top speed | 112 mph (180 km/h) |
| Fuel economy | 49 mpg (US) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Drivetrain
Safety
What follows comes from years of listening to owners: paddock talk, club-night chatter, and the emails and messages riders send me directly. The picture is consistent. People love how this bike revs and how hard it stops for the money, and the few gripes come from those same two places.
The strongest praise goes to the twin's character. Owners call it fun and eager to rev, smooth in how it builds, and several say it feels almost as quick as an MT-07 once it's wound up. Some owners see the flip side. Below 5,000 rpm it can feel a bit flat, and for a quick roll-on pass they miss the instant punch of an MT-07 or Z650.
Riders keep bringing up the hardware. The KYB fork, link-type rear shock and Brembo front brake get credit for precise, controlled handling and more stopping power than owners expected at this price. Some say the bike undercuts Japanese rivals without giving up quality. That front brake splits opinion in traffic, though. A few owners find it too aggressive day to day and say it takes a delicate touch to avoid abrupt stops.
ABS software may delay braking on rapid lever pumping
A software flaw in the ABS control module can delay brake application by 0.3 seconds when the hand brake lever is squeezed twice or more in quick succession (e.g., panic braking). This can increase stopping distance and pose a safety risk. A free software update resolves the issue (NHTSA recall 23V‑779).
Where this CFMOTO 700CL-X Sport pulls ahead of — or falls behind — its rivals on the numbers, and the typical bike in its class on character.
Power
Torque
Displacement
Wet weight
Top speed
Seat height
Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the 700CL-X Sport is actually built for.
If you ride the Dragon and Cherohala to get better, not faster, this fits. It turns in with little effort, has lean clearance to spare and has a friendly twin that lets you focus on your lines.
Made for Tail of the Dragon · Back of the Dragon · Blue Ridge Parkway
It looks the part at Alice's and it's easy in city traffic during the week. Just know it's a gas bike with a small tank, and its charm is the style and easy manners, not tech gadgets.
Made for Bay Area Ridge Roads · San Francisco / Bay Area · Skyline Boulevard / Alice's Restaurant
On the Crest it's playful and stable, and it has a lot more lean clearance than the price suggests. If you're coming off a big-power bike, 69 hp will feel modest, but it's more fun than it has any right to be.
Made for Angeles Crest Highway · Coronado Trail / US 191 · Highway 1 / Big Sur
If this one isn't quite the fit, these are the bikes worth riding back-to-back against it.
