To screw up a potential buyer’s brain
is the sacred duty of any “salesman.” The main thing is to convince the “walking wallet” that he simply must buy the best and most technically advanced product on the market. And it doesn’t matter what is offered to the gullible store visitor: nano toilet paper or sanitary pads with the smell of yogurt and strawberries (although what idiot would specifically smell this hygiene item?) or magnificent and modern cars made in Togliatti.
But personally, I really don’t like it when they try to hang loose PR noodles on my protruding ears. The specifics of the profession, an innate hypertrophied sense of justice, youthful maximalism... but you never know the reasons? That is why I have always been very skeptical about the CF Moto technology. Or rather, not to the technology, but to those people who tried to promote this brand in Russia. Over the past few years I have seen enough. In my opinion, there was everything: threats and abuse on the forums, pointless and funny performances designed to show everyone the clear advantage of CF Moto over other brands. And the apotheosis of idiocy is the concept launched to the masses: “...CF is like BRP only much cheaper...”. Yes, yes, I didn’t come up with this myself! I heard similar things in Yekaterinburg, Khibiny, Salekhard and other cities of our vast country from many adults, intelligent and highly respected people.
Well, God bless him, with “PR in Russian.” Now let's talk about something else. Thanks to the Grizzly motorcycle center, the day before yesterday a new “sports” side CF800-Z8 EFI fell into our dirty and mediocre hands. Personally, I was very, very curious. After all, what appeared before me was not a purely “Russian” (hahahaha) all-terrain vehicle and not a product assembled and produced in the world transmecca - Thailand! No! Purebred and, according to assurances, very high quality China
And guess what? An external inspection showed that the “side” was made of very, very high quality! No seriously! I didn’t find any external flaws. No gaps in panels, no hanging wires, no chemical smells of a new calico notebook. Honestly? Surprised!
The all-terrain vehicle itself is small in size. Its looks say hello to all the existing continental manufacturers, but without too much blatant borrowing. The cabin is quite comfortable, of course there is not enough space, but, as they say, you can live.
Impressions, as usual, are brief.
Of the minuses of CFMOTO Z8
- VERY ROTTEN ENGINE! Perhaps this fat flaw, like a State Duma deputy, cancels out all the advantages of a generally good car. There is no uncompromising ride or superior dynamics here. The car is slow and sad, like an old woman in a magnetic storm. True, if there are ready-made ways to invigorate a two-cylinder V-engine with a power of 63 hp. then this Chinese will begin to give way to more titled and branded classmates.
In general, the all-terrain vehicle made a double impression: interesting appearance, excellent workmanship, stability on the highway and a soft and even child-friendly engine. A potential hormonal injection of superspinach into the crankcase of the powerplant will make the CF800-Z8 EFI a very, very peppy, strong and competitive Popeye sailor. But so far, in my opinion, the “side” doesn’t suit sports at all!
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CF Moto Z8 800 – a “charged” truck with sporty habits
Thanks to this, in most sports competitions, separate classes for such cars appeared, and their most modern counterparts received liter power plants and standard turbocharging systems. But all this technical splendor usually cost exorbitant amounts of money, and Chinese manufacturers, due to the specifics of their technical production, were in no hurry to copy such seriously trained athletes. So far, one of the largest Asian motorcycle brands, the CF Moto company, has not bothered with this issue. Having appeared in 2013, the Z8 all-terrain vehicle immediately generated a lot of rumors among the global ATV community. It was called the first Chinese sports SSV, and was accused of being overweight, and was called a real alternative to “branded” cars, and was criticized for its dull power plant. To understand the intricacies of these rumors, we took the controversial “Chinese” to the legendary X-Arena track near Moscow, where we tried to place the main accents.
CONCEPT In terms of its size and general design concept, the Z8 is by and large a classmate of the legendary Polaris RZR. The car has a space frame made of steel pipes and a rigid independent suspension with anti-roll bars for the front and rear axles. And also full-fledged all-wheel drive with the possibility of forced hard differential locking. The all-terrain vehicle is equipped with a two-cylinder V-shaped power plant with a volume of 800 cubic meters. cm. But its power output for such a volume, it must be said, is very modest: only 63 horsepower, achieved at 6700 rpm. Nevertheless, this power is quite enough for comfortable movement on any type of surface. The overall dimensions of the CF Moto are 2870 mm in length, 1510 mm in width and 1830 mm in height. As you understand, they are practically no different from the Polaris RZR – 2616x1270x1752 mm. But the Chinese car has a higher ground clearance and wheelbase. I think this makes the Z8 very stable, just like its American counterpart. Of the minuses, I would like to note the considerable weight of the SSV - as much as 545 kg in dry condition. His overseas counterpart weighs a full 100 kg less.
Despite its combat appearance, the power supply of the all-terrain vehicle leaves much to be desired. Although it is quite enough for utilitarian tasks
The all-terrain vehicle is assembled to a very high quality, which is completely atypical for Chinese equipment! And if not for the classic Asian design mistakes, it could easily be confused with some more branded product. No clumsy gaps, no protruding web of wires - performance at a high quality level. True, some ergonomic flaws bother me: the steering wheel and pedal assembly are too close to the driver, and the bend of the small windshield completely blocks the line of sight of a driver of average height. But overall, the Z8's cockpit makes a very good impression. It’s nice that the steering column is adjustable for tilt, and the clarity of the gearshift lever will be the envy of other more titled cars.
Only a physically strong person can adjust seat belts
The ease of switching driving modes will honor any more branded car
The cockpit decoration is not Chinese-style, well thought out and ergonomic
TESTING FOR STRENGTH But while driving the all-terrain vehicle frankly upset me. Still, 63 Chinese undersized “horses” for 545 kilograms of full weight is catastrophically small. Competitors extract at least 70 hp from similar power plants. With. with significantly less weight. “Side” simply refuses to go fast; an untested car is dull and boring. Of course, after the end of the run-in, the situation changes for the better, but not dramatically. No, of course, the Z8 drives quite well, especially compared to its “yellow-faced” colleagues in the shop. But there is no need to talk about any sports use in the stock version! This is just the most ordinary Asian all-terrain vehicle, which does not amaze with its tactical and technical characteristics. True, we managed to find out one very interesting fact: a specialist has already appeared in Moscow, who in his workshop, through specialized surgical intervention, adds a considerable amount of horsepower to the CF Moto V-shaped power plant. And the Chinese “side”, according to the master, quite calmly begins to compete on equal terms with its American and Canadian colleagues. We hope that in the very near future we will be able to test such a “pumped up” device and share our feelings with readers.
Front independent suspension travel – only 180 mm
The rear suspension handles all the unevenness under the wheels quite well
The clumsy scattering of keys on the dashboard immediately gives away Chinese technology
In general, the CF Moto Z8 is a very, very controversial and ambiguous car. But with the financial crisis looming, it could be a well-reasoned purchase. Judge for yourself: with some reservations, the all-terrain vehicle looks very modern and attractive. Thanks to the “golden ratio” of its overall dimensions, it is not prone to capsizing and is very stable in turns. The machine is manufactured and assembled to a very high quality. And general reviews of reliability are also usually positive. And modest power indicators, as it turned out, can be corrected with the help of engine tuning. And even taking into account the fact that the Z8 has risen in price from 430,000 to 695,000 rubles, it can become a good alternative to any more branded equipment. If the potential buyer, of course, is satisfied with the fact that CF Moto is a purebred “Chinese”!
grizzly.ru, for providing the equipment for testing.
CF MOTO ATVs: model range
Among all the motor vehicles of the Zhejiang CFMOTO Power CO., Ltd concern, there are four main areas in which the company operates:
- Scooters.
- Motorcycles.
- ATVs.
- All-terrain vehicles.
The last two are widespread in the Russian Federation. Due to the peculiarities of the location of production facilities, it is beneficial for the client to produce products that are manufactured specifically from the plant in Gangzhou (China), where the main focus of work is engines, CF MOTO ATVs and all-terrain vehicles.
In general, you can find more than 10 models from official representatives:
- ATV CF MOTO X5 Basic and Classic.
- CF MOTO X6 EFI, SF MOTO 500 2A
- ATVs with power steering: X8 EFI and Basic, X5 HO EPS.
- Sports ATVs CF MOTO Z6, Z10 EPS.
- All-terrain vehicles: CF moto X8, U8 EPS, Z8 EFI, Z8 EPS and others.
Thanks to high reliability and cross-country ability, as well as an excellent balance of engine power, relative to dimensions, weight and wheelbase, CF MOTO motor vehicles annually participate in international and all-Russian expeditions and are presented at exhibitions.
It is also worth noting that not all CF MOTO models are represented in the Russian Federation. The country of the manufacturer, or rather the manufacturing plant, plays an important role in most cases. In Russia you can find Chinese-made products. Due to the low cost of transport, its delivery from Africa, Australia or Korea will have a detrimental effect on the main component (the final cost), which is the signature feature of CF MOTO ATVs.
Analogues and direct competitors
No matter how strange it may sound, CF MOTO ATVs have no direct competitors in the sales market, except perhaps the domestic Stels. After the jump in the value of foreign currency, many imported vehicles increased in price, and prices for CF MOTO ATVs also increased. For this reason, Russian Stels and Chinese CF MOTOs have become comparable in cost, but not in build quality and consumer convenience.
As ATV owners note, the Chinese have some minor shortcomings, but in terms of technical equipment, ease of use and repair, any CFMOTO will give a head start to the domestic auto industry. At the same time, most of the basic Chinese models have an easy-to-access assembly system. There is no need to pull out half of the internals if one spare part breaks slightly, but Russian Stels cannot boast of the same result in the arrangement of parts.
Although for most Russian consumers Chinese equipment falls into the “taboo” section, true connoisseurs of off-road motor vehicle travel understand that this rule should not always be followed. The equipment of the CF MOTO concern itself shows only its best side. There is no need to compare the company’s ATVs with analogues, because they are unique in their kind. Although they cannot boast of such parameters as purebred Americans or Canadians, this is not necessary, because it is in the Chinese motorcycle equipment from CF MOTO that the price-quality parameter is met in the best ratio.
