Single-sided screamer! CFMoto introduce racier 450SR S A2 sportsbike

CFMoto have launched a new 450SR S A2 compliant sportsbike for 2024 – and it’s very clear that they mean business.

Powered by a 46.3bhp, 449.5cc parallel twin engine complete with a rumbling 270-degree firing order, and equipped with a single-sided swingarm, winglets, and full colour TFT dash – it’s far from a cheap Chinese alternative and could well snatch the class win from the established competition.

Lining up alongside the £6699 Honda CBR500R, £TBC Aprilia RS457, £5999 Kawasaki Ninja 500, and £6505 Yamaha R3, the £6499 CFMoto builds on the existing 450SR platform that arrived in 2023 and will be available in dealers from March. From this point, only the SR S will be available in the UK.

Sharing the same underpinnings as the SR, updates to the new CFMoto model further include an underslung exhaust, winglets, a bigger 240mm rear brake disc, and beefier 37mm upside down forks with damping adjustment.

With gentle winglets flanking the twin LED headlights, indicators built into the mirrors, and a single sided swingarm sitting below a small tail section (that’s clearly inspired by the Ducati Panigale V2), the 450SR S looks far more than a cheap relation to the established competition.

Although still breaking through into the UK market, the competitive pricing and performance is likely to turn the heads of plenty of youngsters.

The standard £5599 SR shares a similar silhouette, however there’s a twin sided swingarm, no winglets, and a bulky right side exit for the exhaust.

Furthermore, with distribution and parts backed up in Europe by Pierer Mobility (the owners of KTM, Husqvarna, GasGas, and 25% of MV Agusta) there should be decent support should anything go wrong.

CFMoto are claiming a kerb weight of 179kg, with the bike capable of carrying 14 litres of fuel. The Chinese brand say this should mean up to 186 miles between trips to the pumps, with the engine featuring dual balancer shafts to limit irritating vibrations. As before, that motor is housed in a Chro-Moly chassis, which weighs just 11kg when combined with the subframe.

Up front, braking is provided by Brembo, with the single disc and caliper set-up equipped with ABS as per Euro5+ requirements. At the rear, the new larger rotor works in partnership with a dual piston caliper, again featuring ABS.

Anti-lock brakes aren’t the only electric intervention on the 450 either, with a five inch curved TFT dash allowing you to control the traction control, and mobile connectivity. There’s also automatic headlights and an ESS emergency braking feature, which flashes the rear stop light to alert other road users of deceleration.

You’ll also find an onboard USB charging socket, with the bike available in either a black or grey design. Visit cfmoto-motorcycle.eu for more.