Let me not mince words here: CFMOTO’s 450 CL-C is a shot across the bow of Honda and Kawasaki and their LAMS cruiser bikes. The CL-C is substantially cheaper, the fit and finish are as good as the machines from the Japanese manufacturers, and in my opinion, the CL-C offers a sportier and more accessible ride. With that said, this is probably CFMOTO going for the throat rather than just taking a shot across the bow.

The first thing that struck me—and probably you—about the CL-C is its stature. The CL-C is low and small! The seat height is a very squat 690mm, and the bike is very narrow and overall, extremely compact. As I surveyed the mini-cruiser, I thought this might be an issue for a gent like me who stands at 186cm tall. But no, despite its small size, I was comfortable and didn’t feel scrunched up at all. I did look like a beanbag draped over a pushbike, but it’s a comfortable ride even for bigger folks. The CL-C weighs in at 181kg, dripping wet, so all things considered, it’s a great rig for new and/or shorter riders—it’s very accessible.

The centrepiece of the CL-C, like all cruisers, is the engine. The CL-C uses the 449.5cc parallel-twin engine that you’ll find in the 450SR and the wildly popular 450MT adventure bike. This donk is an undisputable ripper! Its 270-degree crank gives the CL-C the performance characteristics of a V-twin—think low-down grunt—yet it still loves to rev, so playtime is taken care of. You can really get this thing ripping, and it’s fun to do so. This spirited performance is also accompanied by a soundtrack that is very, very cool, even with the standard exhaust. The water-cooled engine has the grunt to win the green light race against all but the fastest tin tops. It’ll cruise the highway at 100km/h without revving its freckle off, and there’s plenty of punch for overtaking duties out on the freeway. It may be LAMS-approved, but there’s enough poke to get yourself in or out of trouble.

Handling is predictable, stable, and on the excellent side of the cruiser sector. It turns in very quickly with just a slight push of the bars, and it took me a few corners to get accustomed to just how nimble the CL-C is. This agility, however, isn’t at the expense of stability, and it is sure-footed whether the CL-C is tracking straight or pitched over. So energetic is its cornering prowess that you’ll find the footpegs touching down during enthusiastic cornering manoeuvres, making you look like a hero.

Braking is handled by a set of J. Juan stoppers—Brembo’s entry-level brand—and you’ll not be looking for more stopping power. The brakes are on point!

Now, let’s address the elephant in the room that some people might see. Yes, it is a Chinese-made bike, but no, this doesn’t mean you’re buying an inferior product. CFMOTO has improved in leaps and bounds over the years, and the fit and finish are as good as anything you’ll find from competitors in the LAMS cruiser segment, including offerings from Honda or Kawasaki. The engine in the CL-C, as I mentioned, is fitted to several models that have been around for a few years now, and despite scanning the forums and Facebook pages, there doesn’t appear to be ANY inherent reliability issue with the powerplant. On top of this, CFMOTO appears to be standing by the quality of its product by offering a three-year warranty, which is comforting.

I was genuinely impressed with the 450 CL-C. For the money, you really can’t fault it. It looks great, the build quality is excellent, and most importantly, it’s a bloody fun ride—and that’s why we ride, isn’t it? Because it’s fun. If you’re considering a LAMS cruiser, I implore you to go and take a ride on the CL-C. I guarantee you’ll be impressed, especially considering you’ll get change from $9,000!

See the video review below