KTM-powered naked bike makes its debut in China
The CFMoto 800NK, which first attracted attention late last year as the NK-C22 concept bike, has now been officially unveiled in China and impresses with an amazingly low price. As previously reported, the company has unveiled two variants of the bike, both with the same 99 PS (73 kW, 100 hp) KTM-developed 799 cc parallel-twin engine and chrome-molybdenum tubular steel frame, but different equipment and technology.
Unbeatable price and well equipped
In China, both versions are remarkably affordable and offer a higher level of standard equipment than their competitors. The base price is the equivalent of about $6,800 (about €6,158), while the top trim is around $7,200 (about €6,521). Although these figures are difficult to compare due to taxes, shipping costs and other factors in different countries, the bikes are about half the price of a KTM Duke with the same engine in their home country. In China, a KTM 790 Duke, which is made at CFMoto along with the 800NK and uses the same engine, costs the equivalent of $13,000 (about €11,783).
Performance data and equipment compared to the KTM 790 Duke
The CFMoto 800NK is only slightly inferior to the KTM in terms of performance: 99 PS (73 kW, 100 hp) at 9,000 rpm instead of 105 PS (78 kW, 104 hp) and 81 Nm of torque at 8,000 rpm, compared to 87 Nm of the 790 Duke. Despite the lower price, the equipment and materials used are by no means inferior. The base weight of the 800NK is an impressive 410 pounds (186 kg), while the top-of-the-line version tips the scales at 417 pounds (189 kg) – both very close to the 414-pound (188 kg) 790 Duke.
Both versions use the same KYB 43-mm upside-down fork, which is fully adjustable, as well as a KYB monoshock and ABS-supported J.Juan Radial four-piston calipers with 320-mm brake discs. Even in the base version, the equipment is extensive: cruise control, a 5-inch TFT display with smartphone mirroring for navigation and music control are on board as standard.
The top version offers even more extras
In the top version, the display is replaced by a huge 8-inch TFT in portrait format with dual-core processor that enables a split-screen layout. Motorcycle-related information such as speed and RPM is displayed at the top, while the bottom half is reserved for apps, navigation, calls and media controls. This high-end display also features integrated wireless Apple CarPlay. But the top version’s equipment list doesn’t end there. It offers keyless ignition, a standard bidirectional quickshifter, meaning it can be used to upshift and downshift without using the clutch, and a steering damper. Both versions of the 800NK feature an anti-hopping clutch and offer three riding modes: sport, street and rain.
Market launch outside China only a matter of time
So far, there is no official announcement as to when the 800NK will be available outside of China. However, it is more a question of “when” than “if.” In the U.S., the CFMoto Ibex 800 S and Ibex 800 T Adventure bikes are already available with the same KTM-based engine as in the 800NK. In addition, CFMoto unveiled the original NK-C22 concept bike, which anticipated the 800NK, at EICMA in Milan in November, clearly showing that the company is targeting the Western market.
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