- MotoSR Suspension in Taupo specialises in adventure bike suspension.
- A few tweaks and changes make significant differences to the affordable 450 MT.
- Tested in Taupo and the South Island
So you’ve bought yourself the most popular adventure bike in NZ (CFMoto registered 257 450MTs in 2024, the next biggest was the Royal Enfield Himalayan at 153) and you’re enjoying owning an affordable, manageable machine to go exploring on.
You’ve probably added a bit of luggage, maybe some protection and, if you tend to go further on your rides, upped the gearing. But what else is there you can do to make the 450MT a really exceptional adventure bike? After speaking with “Mr 450MT”, Michael Hood, who has put 19,000 serious adventure kilometres on his MT, a suspension upgrade has given him the best bang for buck. And, unsurprisingly, it’s MotoSR in Taupo who has come up with a solution to improve the CFMoto’s springy bits, with owner Scotty Brooker, an avid adventure rider who really knows what he’s doing.
What’s The Standard Suspension Like
Well, after we tested one recently and also according to many owners, not too bad. The front especially is acceptable to live with for general adventure duties – we’ve not talking about laps of an enduro loop or MX track here – with the KYB items actually quite rideable. But can it be better? Absolutely!
With Michael Hood dropping his CFMoto off with MotoSR after his first trip to the South Island, Scotty set to work taking the suspension to bits and working out what was going and what could be improved. Checking out the stock suspension he discovered that while it is KYB suspension, it’s the basic version. So not the sort of leading KYB components that you see on, say, a Yamaha dirt bike.
Night & Day
Pulling the forks out and taking a look inside, Scotty discovered the KYBs featured progressive springs, with the soft section being that soft it falls right into the harder rate section of the spring under the bike’s own weight. Scotty prefers a linear feel to the forks and removed the progressive part of the spring (the more tightly coiled section of the spring) and then reinserted the springs with a new spacer. Fitting the forks back to the CFMoto revealed a much better action of the forks with consistent damping through the stroke. MotoSR will have stock of linear fork springs soon….
But it was the rear where the MotoSR team felt they made the biggest advancement in the CFMoto’s performance, with a dialled in setting making the difference in the rear of the bike feel like night and day! Again, Scotty pulled the shock out of the bike and set to work improving the set-up of the standard item, with a few valving upgrades all that was really required to get the action of the rear shock sorted after going through and altering the settings once it was back in the bike and the rider (with all their regular gear) was on board. For some riders, it might also mean changing the spring for a different weight if they are heavier or carry lots of gear, but for Michael’s 450 MT he was able to get away with the standard spring.
So What’s It Like?
After riding the newly improved CFMoto, Scotty was amped with the results. “The shock is so much better. It holds up in the stroke, doesn’t blow through on bumps big or small and produces way better traction from the rear tyre – the shock now pushes the tyre into the ground and stays connected to the surface. The bike now feels playful, lighter and nimble. The shock is so much plusher!”
Scotty also enlisted the help of another 450 MT owners to ride the CFMoto he has transformed who also offered some feedback on their experiences of riding with the new, uprated suspension.
Steve Maxton 2024 CF Moto 450 MT
Cruisy Intermediate NZ adventure rider
“I immediately felt the difference. The uprated bike felt much more plush in the shock, and even the front was a little more compliant as well. So I felt like I could ride this bike quite a lot harder than I could my own bike with the stock suspension. It has definitely made an improvement over what I have stock, and I thought mine was pretty good! But I could feel the difference straight away.”
Michael Hood 2024 CF Moto 450 MT
Int/Exp Vet NZ adventure rider
“Awesome, predictable. Night & day. My 450 MT is now using the full travel of the suspension. I can feel the rear wheel connecting to the ground, and it holds traction so much better. The bike is now confidence-inspiring, and I want to go faster because I know the bike can handle it. I now just want to keep riding!”
For further details and to get hold of Scotty at MotoSR, check this:
https://www.motosr.co.nz/workshopsuspensionservices/cf-moto-450-mt/
To watch a video of the uprated CFMoto 450 MT in action, click on this:
WHAT CAN MOTOSR OFFER?
Suspension servicing – Keep it fresh & working to its full potential (Recommended every 10 to 15 thousand km).
Springs to suit rider weight and luggage.
Custom re-valve to suit your personal preference, riding style & different terrains.
Suspension lowering. Internally lowered to suit your requirements.
Rear shock Re-valve Service 450 MT $299 NZD
(Plus parts, spring & freight if needed) Just send them your rear shock
RIDER BENEFITS
Improved traction and rider comfort. Noticeably on gravel and corrugations.
Feels lighter, more nimble. Way more fun to ride.
More compliant and easier to ride.
