2023 · Naked Bike · Buyer's Guide
Sharp Tech, Budget Price
The NK 800 makes you check the price tag twice. It runs a 799 cc liquid-cooled parallel twin making 94 hp and 60 lb-ft, set in a steel trellis frame that keeps wet weight to 410 lb (186 kg). What sets this generation apart is how much comes standard. You get cruise control, an upshift quickshifter, a slipper clutch, keyless ignition, a crisp TFT with smartphone connectivity, and suspension you can adjust at both ends. Few middleweight nakeds give you this much hardware without a single box ticked on the options sheet.
On the road it rides like a smaller bike than it is. The short 57.7 in (1,465 mm) wheelbase and light steering make it quick to flick from one bend to the next and easy to thread through traffic. The twin has real midrange torque and enough pull up top to keep a good rider interested. Fit and finish hold up to a close look, and routine maintenance is simple. The catch is the setup: the suspension is stiff out of the crate and the riding position is compact. This bike is built for hard rides and daily miles, not all-day touring.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 94 hp (70 kW) |
|---|---|
| Torque | 60 lb-ft (81 Nm) |
| Displacement | 799 cc |
| Engine | Parallel twin |
| Cooling | Liquid-cooled |
| Gearbox | 6-speed |
| Fork | Upside-down (USD) |
| Front brake | 320 mm |
| Front tire | 120/70-17 |
| Rear tire | 180/55-17 |
| Wheelbase | 57.7 in (1465 mm) |
| Seat height | 31.3 in (795 mm) |
| Wet weight | 410 lb (186 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 4.0 gal (15 L) |
| Fuel economy | 47 mpg (US) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Connectivity
Drivetrain
Lighting
Safety
I've spent years listening to NK 800 owners: in the paddock, on club nights, over coffee at fuel stops, and in the emails and messages riders send me directly. Their story is remarkably consistent. Owners love what they get for the money and how the bike behaves when pushed. The complaints gather around low-speed manners and the first hour in the saddle.
The praise I hear most often is about value. Owners keep saying how much bike they got for what they paid, and how little of it feels like a compromise once they're moving. Handling comes right behind. Riders describe the chassis as sharp and willing, with an almost supermoto eagerness to change direction, and twisty roads are where they say it makes the most sense. The twin gets the same affection. Owners say it pulls hard from low revs, keeps going to the top, and is a lot of fun to wring out. Several mention clean welds and well-laid paint as a surprise at this price. The display has its fans too, mostly for the way its layout shifts with each ride mode.
The most common gripe is the suspension, and it comes mainly from lighter riders. They describe a harsh ride over bumps and a setup that favors hard cornering over everyday roads. Throttle response is another recurring complaint. At small openings the fueling can be abrupt, and owners say that makes slow maneuvers and city riding less pleasant. The brakes draw similar comments: decent stopping power, but a soft initial bite and vague feedback, so hard stops take a firm squeeze. A few owners also find the gearbox stiff and clunky between the lower gears.
Comfort is the other thread. Owners say the thin seat starts to hurt after about an hour, and the high pegs paired with the low seat fold their legs more than they'd like. Some also wish the cruise control could be set higher, because the speed cap limits it on faster highways.
Where this CFMOTO NK 800 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
Seat height
Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the NK 800 is actually built for.
It runs on gas, not batteries, but the TFT, phone connectivity and keyless start fit your world. It's nimble enough for the city all week and sharp enough for Skyline on Sunday.
Made for Bay Area Ridge Roads · San Francisco / Bay Area · Skyline Boulevard / Alice's Restaurant
Light steering and generous lean clearance make it a willing canyon partner. Set the stiff suspension up for your weight, and remember it's a 94 hp middleweight, not a hyper naked.
Made for Angeles Crest Highway · Coronado Trail / US 191 · Highway 1 / Big Sur
For tight, repetitive curves this is a good tool: light, precise and full of feedback. With the compact riding position, the ride to and from the mountains will be the hard part.
Made for Tail of the Dragon · Back of the Dragon · Blue Ridge Parkway
If this one isn't quite the fit, these are the bikes worth riding back-to-back against it.
