For that was then and this is now, with today's PTW products from the People's Republic ever more finely engineered, well made, and clothed in fresh and appealing styling. This year's Beijing International Motorcycle Trade Exhibition showcased more than 30 new models from local manufacturers, built to increasingly sophisticated specs.
But while industry giant Qianjiang has been a key player in moving this trend forward since it purchased Benelli in 2006, the true pathfinder in this process of engaging with overseas markets via a range of ever more appealing and well-made models is the much smaller CFMoto company - or CFMOTO as it now likes to be known, for maximum assertiveness!
Currently this has the largest share of any Chinese manufacturer in the European market for products sold under its own name and is well established in other export destinations like Australia and Asia.
CFMOTO was founded in 1989 by then-24-year-old entrepreneur Lai Guogui. In 2007 it opened a 150,000m² plant in Hangzhou, 125 miles south-west of Shanghai, and in 2009 began development entirely in-house of its own liquid-cooled DOHC 650cc parallel-twin engine as a platform for a range of different middleweight models - the first multi-cylinder motorcycles to be manufactured by a Chinese company.
The 650NK Naked model powered by this Kawasaki ER6-inspired powerplant was launched in China in 2011, and reached export markets one year later, since when there's been a proliferation of spin-off models which have sold well all around the world. This engine has been purchased by CFMOTO's close neighbours Zhongneng to power its range of Moto Morini models, and CFMOTO's own 650NK-TT racer has finished fourth in the Isle of Man TT, ridden by Gary Johnson.
Denne historien er fra September 2023-utgaven av Motorcycle Sport & Leisure.
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Denne historien er fra September 2023-utgaven av Motorcycle Sport & Leisure.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Honda CRF1100L ES Africa Twin
Without panniers he was adventuring nowhere - so at least Bertie's got something sorted now
BMW R 12 nineT
Chad gets a track day surprise when BMW's R 12 nineT turns out to be surprisingly fun on track
Test fleet: VOGE 525 DSX
After testing the Voge's abilities on a long ride, it was time to take it to the Cotswolds and see how it would manage on the rougher stuff
Portuguese Perambulations
Nearly over before it had begun, a brief workshop stint allows Spain and Portugal to be explored
Highway to Heaven
Three friends take on the challenge of riding the length of Canada, from Vancouver in the southwest to Inuvik in the north. The road is long, the conditions merciless, and wildfires are tearing through the country. To top it all off, the final leg of the journey is the ultimate test of gravel riding skills, nerves, and courage - it's the legendary Dempster Highway...
Battlaxes at the ready!
We tend to take tyres for granted, never really looking at them in any detail, or at how they work, just hoping that they keep us shiny side up at all times. Even in the wet
Ducati Riding Experience
When I rode the Ducati DesertX to France last year, I did have a bit of an explore on some easy fire roads and gentle green lanes in the wilds of the Médoc area, but was left with the feeling that, had I the experience, the DesertX would have been capable of taking me along some more extreme trails to some even more exciting places. If only there was a way of finding out just how well the Italian adventure bike could cope with some more extreme terrain...
Four pot flyer
Many said that sports bikes, and particularly bikes in the traditional Supersports class that was populated by 600cc inline fours, were dead. Maybe they spoke too soon?...
Eastern adventurer
With an increasing interest in smaller capacity adventure bikes, the market expands with a new entry
First Time Lucky?
It's ironic that the first all-new MV Agusta model to hit the marketplace right after Italy's No.1 trophy brand was acquired by Austrian giant Pierer Mobility, owner of off-road titans KTM, should be the company's first dual-purpose model of the modern era, powered by MV's all-new 931cc three-cylinder engine that's destined to form the basis of a whole series of new models in coming months and years.
