CFMOTO

How was CFMOTO born?

In 1989, in the small city of Wenling, Zhejiang province, an entrepreneur named Lai Guoqiang founded a modest motorcycle parts workshop. The company was initially called Zhejiang Hongqiao Power Co., Ltd. At the time, China’s economy was just opening up and the domestic motorcycle market was flooded with cheap, unreliable two-stroke machines, often copied from Japanese designs. Lai Guoqiang understood early on that differentiation had to come through technology, not just volume.

The company, later renamed Zhejiang Chunfeng Power (“Chunfeng” means “spring breeze” in Chinese — CF comes from this abbreviation), relocated its headquarters to Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang province and a major Chinese tech hub. Throughout the 1990s, CFMOTO transitioned from supplying components to manufacturing complete scooters and motorcycles. The strategy was clear: move upmarket gradually while building a robust industrial base.

From ATVs to motorcycles: strategic diversification

In 2006, CFMOTO made a significant leap by launching its first ATV (all-terrain vehicle), the CF500. This segment, with strong demand in North America and Australia, helped the brand gain international recognition. CFMOTO’s first ATVs reached the United States as early as 2002, positioned as affordable alternatives to Polaris and Can-Am. In 2011, the first side-by-side vehicle (SSV), the CF800, joined the lineup.

Meanwhile, CFMOTO invested heavily in R&D, allocating between 7% and 9% of annual revenue to research and development. The company accumulated over 1,000 patents and opened R&D centers in multiple countries. In 2016, Chunfeng Power was listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange (code 603129), signaling its industrial and financial ambitions.

The KTM partnership: a credibility accelerator

The major turning point in CFMOTO’s history came in 2011 when the Chinese brand entered a commercial partnership with KTM, the Austrian manufacturer renowned for its sportbikes and off-road machines. The deal began with distribution and assembly of KTM models (Duke 200, Duke 390) for the Chinese market.

In 2017, this collaboration became an official joint venture: CFMOTO-KTMR2R, owned 51% by CFMOTO and 49% by KTM. The Hangzhou facility became KTM’s third global production site, alongside Mattighofen (Austria) and Pune (India). CFMOTO produces engines for KTM, including the LC8c parallel twin powering the KTM 790 Adventure, and in return gains access to Austrian technology for developing its own models.

This partnership produced CFMOTO machines that are technically close to certain KTMs but sold at significantly lower prices. The 800MT adventure bike shares core engine architecture with the KTM 790 Duke. The CF1250J, China’s official police motorcycle, uses a 1,278cc V-twin derived from KTM’s LC8, making it the largest-displacement motorcycle ever produced by a Chinese manufacturer (140 hp).

In April 2025, as part of KTM’s financial restructuring (Pierer Mobility AG), the two partners terminated the European distribution agreement for CFMOTO by KTM. Joint production in China continues, however.

CFMOTO in competition: first Chinese manufacturer to win a World Championship

In 2022, CFMOTO debuted in the Moto3 World Championship with the Prustel GP team, fielding KTM RC250GP-based machines rebranded as CFMOTOs. At the Indonesian GP, Carlos Tatay delivered the brand’s first podium. In 2024, the alliance with the prestigious Aspar Team produced spectacular results: Colombian prodigy David Alonso won the Moto3 World Championship with 14 victories in 20 races — an all-time record for the lightweight class, surpassing Valentino Rossi’s previous mark. CFMOTO achieved the historic triple crown: rider championship, constructors’ championship, and teams’ championship. It was the first time a Chinese manufacturer had ever won a motorcycle road racing World Championship. A genuine milestone.

Global expansion and current range

Today, CFMOTO operates in over 100 countries with more than 4,800 employees and a production capacity of approximately 600,000 vehicles and 800,000 engines per year. The Hangzhou headquarters covers 280,000 square meters across two campuses. In 2021, a factory opened in Thailand (capacity: 40,000 units/year), marking CFMOTO’s first production site outside China. In 2024, a plant was inaugurated in Apodaca (Nuevo Leon, Mexico) with a capacity of 100,000 units and a $46 million investment, directly targeting the North American market.

In September 2023, CFMOTO launched a joint venture with Yamaha — Zhuzhou CF Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd., based in Zhuzhou, China — opening further opportunities in technology and market access.

The 2025-2026 motorcycle range is remarkably comprehensive: the 700CL-X (neo-retro and Heritage), the 450SS and 675SS (sportbikes), the 450NK, 675NK and 800NK (naked streetfighters), the 450CL-C (accessible cruiser), the full adventure/touring family of 450MT, 700MT, 800MT and 800MT-X, the Papio mini bike, and even the Zeeho electric scooter brand. CFMOTO ranks as the third-largest provider of off-road vehicles and motorcycles in the United States, with over 700 dealerships and a new headquarters in Plymouth, Minnesota.

In summary

CFMOTO has gone from a spare parts workshop to a publicly traded global powersports player in just 35 years. Its partnership with KTM provided access to cutting-edge technology and international credibility. The 2024 Moto3 World Championship title sent a powerful signal: China is no longer merely a subcontractor — it’s a manufacturer capable of competing at the highest level. The aggressive value proposition and breadth of the range make CFMOTO a formidable competitor to established Japanese and European brands. Challenges remain — brand perception, after-sales networks, geopolitical tensions — but the trajectory is undeniably impressive.

700CL-X (2020)

The 700CL-X is the model that changed how the world perceives CFMOTO. This neo-retro roadster, powered by an in-house developed 693cc parallel twin producing 74 hp, impressed reviewers with its build quality, ultralight chromoly frame (just 16.5 kg), and standard equipment that shames many European rivals: ride-by-wire throttle, slipper clutch, cruise control, TFT dash, adjustable KYB suspension, and J.Juan brakes. All for around $7,000 in the U.S. — roughly half the price of some European competitors. Available in Sport and Heritage (scrambler) variants, the 700CL-X embodies the CFMOTO promise: premium content at Chinese pricing.

800MT (2022)

CFMOTO’s entry into the mid-displacement adventure segment. The 800MT (sold as the Ibex 800 in the U.S.) shares its 799cc twin-cylinder engine architecture with the KTM 790 platform. Available in Sport, Explore, and the hardcore 800MT-X variant (60% off-road orientation, 230mm suspension travel, Bosch cornering ABS, quickshifter), it competes against the Yamaha Tenere 700 and Honda Transalp 750 with a starting price around $7,500 — approximately $3,000 less than the KTM 790 Adventure. The 800MT proved CFMOTO could build a technically credible adventure bike.

450SS (2023)

This compact sportbike powered by a 449cc parallel twin producing 51 hp has won over young riders and A2-license holders worldwide. Brembo M40 brakes, Bosch ABS, traction control, and a 5-inch TFT RideSync display make it a direct rival to the Kawasaki Ninja 400 and Yamaha YZF-R3, at a significantly lower price point (around $5,700 in the U.S.). The 450SS demonstrates CFMOTO’s ability to crack the crucial entry-level sportbike segment.

CF1250J (2021)

The largest-displacement motorcycle ever produced by a Chinese manufacturer. This 1,278cc V-twin producing 140 hp is derived from KTM’s famous LC8 engine, manufactured under license and heavily re-engineered by CFMOTO. Designed as the official police motorcycle for Chinese law enforcement, the CF1250J isn’t sold to the public, but it represents a crucial technological milestone: proof that CFMOTO can master high-performance, large-displacement engine production.

675NK and 675SS (2025)

CFMOTO’s first-ever triple-cylinder motorcycles. With a 675cc inline three-cylinder engine producing 94 hp and weighing just 189 kg, these models (naked and sportbike) compete directly with the Triumph Trident 660 and Yamaha MT-07. At approximately $6,300 for the NK and $6,800 for the faired SR-R, they deliver an outstanding power-to-weight ratio of around 500 hp per ton. Full LED lighting, ABS, traction control, and a modern TFT display come standard. They represent a major offensive in the middleweight segment and signal CFMOTO’s growing independence from KTM-derived technology, using an entirely proprietary powertrain.