CFMoto 450MT Review in the Motorcycle Paradise of Gran Canaria

Gran Canaria, located off the coast of Morocco, entices with its diverse landscapes, mild temperatures, and unbelievably awesome routes for motorcycling. It's no wonder the island is called "the little continent," as depending on the region, you can traverse barren rocky deserts, lush grasslands, cactus-filled valleys, steep ravines, and even cool pine forests. Geographically, the Canary Islands belong to Africa, but as part of Spain, they are on a European level in terms of currency and infrastructure. We took advantage of Gran Canaria for an early winter escape to kick off the 2025 season and tested some exciting motorcycles, including the BMW R 1300 GS Adventure, Moto Guzzi Stelvio, and Yamaha Tracer 9 GT+, in spectacular and challenging surroundings.

Our starting point for this journey was Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, where we rented motorcycles from Canary Ride. The rental service offers an impressive selection of over 70 motorcycles at its locations on Gran Canaria and Tenerife. This range includes large machines like the brand-new BMW R 1300 GS Adventure, as well as smaller, nimble bikes like the Ducati Scrambler or the Honda CL 500. During our week-long tour, we tried various motorcycles and for the last day, we opted for an interesting mix: alongside the BMW R 1300 GS ADV and the Moto Guzzi Stelvio, we also chose the CFMoto 450MT. Why this choice?

Gran Canaria is renowned for its rugged landscapes, winding roads, and narrow passages. Often, the roads are single-lane or barely two-lane, with patches of poor road quality and blind curves. During peak season, this is further complicated by numerous tourist vehicles that often appear unexpectedly in the middle of the road. In such challenging terrain, opting for a lighter motorcycle pays off. A nimble, small bike makes it significantly easier to navigate tight roads, stay safely within your lane, and react swiftly in critical situations. Turning on the steep mountain roads of Gran Canaria is also far less strenuous with a lighter motorcycle.

The CFMoto 450MT is a lightweight adventure touring bike, weighing in at 196.5 kg in our test. With a bit over 40 horsepower, it offers a balanced blend of agility and comfort, particularly beneficial on longer rides. While there are lighter machines in other segments, the 450MT remains a full-fledged adventure tourer—a crucial advantage when it comes to long-distance comfort or fitting luggage bags. Unlike smaller naked bikes, the CFMoto 450MT allows for luggage carrying while still providing the agility that's highly useful in Gran Canaria's mountainous terrain.

Before tackling the winding roads of Gran Canaria, the journey to get there must be conquered. Our starting point—and the location of Canary Ride—is in the island's capital, Las Palmas. From there, the route initially navigates through dense city traffic, followed by a short stretch on the highway heading towards the mountains. Gran Canaria, the third-largest of the Canary Islands, is compact enough to explore all regions on a day trip, yet it offers tremendous variety due to its topography. A highway runs almost entirely along the coast, while the island's interior is accessed primarily through winding roads that climb into the island's higher regions.

The CFMoto 450MT proved to be an extremely approachable motorcycle right from the journey's start. With a seat height of 800 mm, it is relatively low for an adventure bike, which is particularly advantageous for shorter riders. Its typical adventure bike geometry with a high front gives it a mature appearance, and the adjustable windscreen can be fine-tuned even while riding to optimize wind protection. The 17.5-liter fuel tank provides enough range to reach all destinations on Gran Canaria without needing a fuel stop. For our tour, Canary Ride also outfitted the bike with a practical top case, making it easy to carry luggage. The first leg to the winding roads in the mountains took about 45 minutes—a pleasant and smooth ride. However, the true character of the CFMoto 450MT only revealed itself once we hit the island's intricate interior roads...

After the highway, you dive into what Gran Canaria is famous for: a true paradise for lovers of twisty roads. You immediately find yourself in a maze of countless bends that define the island. The extremely tight corners often feature almost racetrack-quality asphalt, inviting you to glide through at steep lean angles. In the higher regions, the asphalt becomes rougher due to frost and weather conditions, but the majority of the roads are in excellent condition—perfect for indulging in the joy of riding. Here, the CFMoto 450MT showcased what it has to offer in terms of handling.

The CFMoto initially requires slightly more force through its wide handlebars to get the large 21-inch front wheel leaned over. However, after a slight tip into the curves, it remains consistently stable. The long suspension travel of 200 mm at both the front and rear provides comfort, smoothing out bumps and staying composed even with sporty riding. To achieve even more stability, we adjusted the suspension to a firmer setting, which proved advantageous at higher speeds and in turns. However, the Chinese adventure tourer also reveals a significant weakness in tight corners.

The heart of the CFMoto 450MT is a twin-cylinder engine with a displacement of 449.5 cc. It delivers 42 hp at 8500 rpm and produces a maximum torque of 42 Nm at 6500 rpm. Unlike many bikes in this displacement class that rely on single-cylinder engines, CFMoto's twin offers a higher rev range. It demands revs when you want to pick up the pace: 6000 to 7000 rpm are necessary, especially when trying to keep up with more powerful machines. However, thanks to its predictable power delivery and low vibrations, the engine performs well even at higher revs. The issue doesn't lie here.

One of the engine's biggest weaknesses becomes apparent in more demanding riding situations. The throttle response is extremely jerky when initially applying the gas. This issue frequently arises at the apex of tight corners or steep hairpins, where you need precise acceleration out of the deceleration phase while at low revs. Even with experienced throttle control, it's hard to avoid the jolt when opening the throttle. This jolt can have negative effects in critical moments, such as when there's oncoming traffic or the road is particularly narrow and challenging. A sudden burst of power at the wrong time can disrupt your line and push you out of the curve. Although using the easy clutch and riding with foresight can somewhat mitigate this issue, the constant load changes over the course of navigating possibly over 1,000 curves on a riding day in Gran Canaria can be quite annoying. This is not a mere trifle but an aspect that urgently needs improvement in future model updates.

Another contentious issue is the engine sound. It's impressive that the engine, despite its small displacement, produces a mature and almost aggressive sound—even with a stock exhaust. For fans of a sporty soundtrack, this might be a plus, but the constant noise level is subjective. Even at low revs, the sound remains loud and penetrating. Those who prefer a quieter engine during a relaxed ride, with more sound only at higher revs, might find this high noise level bothersome over time.

Aside from these criticisms, there are positives to report, particularly in the interplay between the gearbox and clutch. The gearbox can be shifted smoothly and precisely, both with and without the clutch. The assist clutch is especially smooth, allowing for relaxed handling even in demanding riding situations.

Our tour took us higher and higher, up to the Picos de las Nieves—the so-called "Snow-Capped Peaks." Although the name is somewhat misleading, as snow is rare here, we found ourselves at nearly 2000 meters above sea level. This elevation not only offers fantastic views but also noticeable climatic differences. A key rule of thumb applies: for every 100 meters of altitude gain, the temperature drops by about 1 degree Celsius. This means that on Gran Canaria, you can quickly transition from summer temperatures well over 20 degrees at the coast to the cool mountain air with single-digit temperatures.

For motorcyclists, this is a crucial factor to consider when planning their gear. This year, we relied on Ixs products, which have made the layering system with multiple layers the core of their philosophy from 2025 onwards. All materials are stretchable, and various layers can be quickly added or removed as needed. This concept proved perfect for the changing temperatures on Gran Canaria. Thanks to the versatile layers, we were able to adapt flexibly to the conditions: from warm 30 degrees at the coast to just 5 degrees in the highlands, we were always well-prepared.

Those who climb the heights of Gran Canaria must be prepared for just as many descents. The island is crisscrossed by a network of ravines and mountain ranges that appear interlocked. This results in nearly constant alternation between ascents and descents, often with extremely steep sections that are more challenging than the Alpine passes—a feature made possible by the absence of snow and ice. These conditions require a motorcycle that offers safety and control both uphill and downhill. The CFMoto 450MT generally handles this well but also reveals weaknesses, particularly for taller riders and in braking performance.

The seating position on the CFMoto is generally relaxed, and the seat offers good comfort with its pleasant contour. However, taller riders may find themselves at a disadvantage: at 1.85 meters tall, my knees often hit the wider part of the tank on descents and no longer fit into the intended side recesses. To avoid this, I have to slide back, which results in being noticeably disconnected from the front and my arms stretching almost straight to the handlebars. These ergonomic compromises become particularly apparent on longer descents and can become somewhat uncomfortable for riders over 1.85 meters in the long run.

When descending, the front brake of the CFMoto stands out—not necessarily in a positive way. It appears to be designed for off-road capability, resulting in a soft lever feel and a somewhat vague pressure point. While the brake can be modulated, on winding roads with steep gradients, one might wish for more braking power and more precise feedback. In contrast, the rear brake impresses: although positioned a bit high, requiring the foot to be slightly lifted, it offers strong and well-modulated deceleration. Its strength compensates for the weaknesses of the front brake and ensures that the braking performance of the CFMoto 450MT is overall solid—provided that both front and rear brakes are used in conjunction.

After about 250 kilometers full of curves and conquered altitudes, our day tour on Gran Canaria comes to an end. The CFMoto 450MT did show some weaknesses throughout the day, but the riding fun remains superb overall. With its solid handling, pleasant ergonomics, comfort, and long-distance capability, it is a reliable companion—and it certainly brought joy in the twists and turns. The biggest downside is the unavoidable load change reaction when accelerating in tight corners and hairpins. The constant roar of the exhaust also stands out negatively to me, but that might be a matter of taste. Over time, you learn to live with these quirks, and the breathtaking scenery of Gran Canaria makes up for a lot.

Whether it's the Roque Nublo, the island's iconic landmark glowing in the sunlight, or the rugged cliffs of the Valley of Tears in the island's center with their raw, spectacular beauty—Gran Canaria offers an incredible number of great spots, sights, and routes in a relatively small area. Among the many numbered roads of Gran Canaria, we found the GC-65, a fantastic route with flowing curves and excellent racetrack-quality asphalt, the GC-130, which offers stunning views and fun curves, and the famous GC-210 through the Valley of Tears, from which the rougher but breathtaking GC-606 branches off, to be particularly recommended.

The spectacular mix of riding fun, breathtaking landscapes, and exciting roads makes Gran Canaria a true paradise for motorcyclists. We recorded our routes with Calimoto, and you can easily follow them using the following links:

• NastyNils' Favorite Tour on Gran Canaria
• Narrow Paths, Dead Ends, and Secret Roads
• The Tour with a View of the Atlantic. Tour in the West