CF Moto X5 HO EPS ATV - more power

The CF MOTO X5 HO EPS ATV is a new product for 2015, which subsequently gained wide popularity among extreme recreation enthusiasts. This model has an electric power steering EPS (Electric Power Steering), which plays an important role in comfort when driving off-road and beyond. This booster makes it easy to maneuver, both at speed and in difficult conditions. In addition, thanks to it, the shock loads on the steering wheel have been significantly reduced. The ATV also has excellent driving characteristics, thoughtful ergonomics and an original appearance. The model name contains the abbreviation HO, which stands for High Output. This means that the power plant used in the model has an increased power rating.

Almost all the advantages were retained from the standard ATV, but some changes were made. The vehicle's suspension received durable arms made of aluminum, light alloy wheels, a powerful winch, as well as special hand protection mounted on the steering wheel.

This ATV can also be classified as a utilitarian vehicle. To achieve this, the manufacturer offers the installation of a towbar and spacious cargo platforms placed in the front and rear of the structure. The seat is designed for two people, and a comfortable backrest is provided for the passenger.

High technical performance is largely due to the new 191R brand power plant. This engine has a displacement of 500 cubic meters and a rated output power of 38 horsepower at 6800 crankshaft revolutions. The maximum torque is 43 newtons per meter at 6000 crankshaft revolutions, which is a pretty good indicator for such motorcycles. The engine has an electronic fuel injection system (aka EFI) and BOSCH electronic control.

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The front bumper is made of durable steel and can withstand very strong collisions. The headlights have lens reflectors that provide dense light dispersion and excellent visibility.

To increase cross-country ability, special wheels were installed, namely alloy wheels and off-road tires 26?? ANCLA with increased tread.

The variator is equipped with new working pulleys (drive and driven), which allow you to fully realize all the capabilities of the power plant. In addition, the CVTech variator itself (developed in Canada) was calibrated specifically for use in Russian territories, which ensures increased reliability of this element.

Additional advantages of the SF Moto X5 ATV are:

1. Availability of spacious luggage compartments at the rear of the structure.
2. The presence of a plastic heat-protective lining of the variator cover.
3. The presence of durable aluminum arms front and rear suspension.
4. The presence of an electric power steering mechanism.
5. The battery installed in this model has a 30 Amp-hour capacity.
6. The front shock absorber struts have progressive spring rates.
7. All drives were equipped with anthers made of elastic and durable materials.
8. The brake system has been significantly modernized.
9. There are no crosses on the rear propeller shaft; instead, there are movable splined joints.
10. The dashboard displays all the necessary parameters about the state of the ATV at the current time of operation.
11. The ATV can be equipped with a quick-release hitch.

Test drive CF MotoX5 CF500-5C

Despite the fact that lately I have been open-minded about Chinese technology, the very impressive price tag for a 500 cc product from the Middle Kingdom surprised me. Well, then we will conduct the test without any discounts or concessions.

I don’t like to start test drives with unpleasant moments, but this time I have to. The disappointment for me was that the test quad turned out to be... rental. And how our people feel about something with four wheels, but with dimensions smaller than a car, you can probably guess. In other words, the long-suffering equipment was not in the best condition, as evidenced by repeatedly darned plastic and chipped body kit elements. Therefore, I present the chronology of my thoughts and feelings about a specific specimen. If the ATV were newer, perhaps my opinion would be different.

The ATV has an ambiguity in its name. The test organizers call it the CFmoto X5 Max XT EFI, while the X5 CF500-5C is displayed in large font on the board. If we talk about classification, the X5 belongs to the tourist quads. It is a full two-seater, and is also equipped with a backrest for the passenger as standard. The platform footrests of the “second number” are raised on the “podiums” so that the person sitting behind does not make frantic attempts to touch something hard with his toes, and cannot “anchor” in order not to fly out of the saddle. But the driver’s footrests, in my opinion, are not very well made. Instead of making metal “toothed” sections framed by a plastic platform, the manufacturer preferred plastic alone, and only strengthened the structure from below with metal beams. The result is low grip of the soles of the motorcycle boots with the support.

Walking around the sample provided for testing and touching the edges of the “bitten” body kit, I thought about “two-part wings made of durable and elastic plastic” - this is exactly the wording that was used in the description of the X5. However, during operation the wings became not two, but “multi-component”. Apparently because the plastic turned out to be not as durable and elastic as marketers assumed.

The design of the ATV is something acceptable-average. That is, the cladding does not give the impression of a futuristic openwork-faceted heap of forms, but at the same time it does not at all resemble the Soviet CFmoto tractor.

Second round of bypass. A more detailed inspection showed that this ATV, already in its standard configuration, can overcome fairly deep fords. The air intakes of the engine and variator are placed almost at the height of the steering column, which protects the engine CPG from the effects of harmful H2O mixed with half of the periodic table. In addition, there is a towbar at the rear, installed as standard. It’s nice, of course, but it’s unlikely that anyone will seriously use the X5 to tow a trailer.

Going into the third lap, I noted that there was enough space behind the passenger backrest to install the most spacious luggage case - for example, a 110-liter SHAD, and the front trunk would comfortably fit gasoline cans and a tent. Well, not bad for an off-road tourist.

Once upon a time they tried to convince me that the X5 was an excellent quad for the most difficult conditions and “kneading mud”. I argued then, and I will argue now. If on steep slopes, thanks to the long wheelbase, the X5 holds up well, then its way into the “wild” is barred. Large dimensions, considerable weight (as for a “five hundred”), and modest steering eversion make it unsuitable for truly difficult conditions. And believe me, I’ve seen a lot of them.

This ATV is equipped from the factory with a full set of lighting equipment and, in theory, is suitable for use on public roads. But this is in theory. In practice, the absence of a rear differential, soft long-travel suspension and low-pressure tires will turn the process of driving on hard surfaces into a rather tedious and nerve-wracking experience. Well, about like tying your shoelaces and talking on your cell phone at the same time.

Driven by curiosity, I looked into the seat area. But, unlike typical horror movie plots, I didn’t see anything scary. The electronic “guts” available there are laid out quite neatly, and all connectors are well protected from moisture. In addition, if you have well-developed spatial thinking, you can stuff a lot of useful things under the seat.

After swapping my ski cap for a motocross helmet, I turned the ignition key and pressed the starter button. From the depths of a single-cylinder liquid-cooled power unit equipped with fuel injection, the most natural sound of a “bucket of bolts” was heard. I remember that some Ducati also have similar “soundtracks” in an “arrangement”. But, if the product of the Italian motorcycle industry makes you think of a good-quality bucket with several kilograms of selected nails, then the sound of the X5 bolts is so... zhmenka. And the bucket is clearly worse.

After starting, all the “iron” sounds disappeared and the ATV spread a soft, pleasant muttering throughout the area. However, after that it immediately stalled. I press the starter button again. The story is the same: crunch, roar of the engine starting, reaching idle speed and... silence. For the third time after starting, I began to apply the gas a little to prevent the engine from shutting down again. They explained to me at the same time that it was supposedly not warmed up, so it was stalling. Injection motor. Yes of course. By that time, I had already formed my own version: the degree of damage to this rental copy at the time of the test was such that it affected vital systems.

But the dashboard deserves admiration. Of all the ATVs that I have tested, the panel on the X5 is the most readable and informative. Apparently, this was achieved by color differentiation of different groups of indicators.

Taking a look at the controls, I was very pleased with the quality of their workmanship and the overall placement of the buttons. On the right remote control there are switches for 2WD/4WD and front differential locks, on the left - everything else is collected. In addition, under the right hand there is a “petal” of the parking brake. In the activated position, it blocks direct access to the throttle trigger. In other words, “fool resistance” is at its best. Not all Japanese and European ATVs are as protected from the mistakes of a novice “user”.

I was also pleased with the transmission mode selector lever. In addition to the aesthetic function, it also has a practical function, because it can only be moved to another position by pressing a button on one of the ends of the handle. This eliminates the possibility of accidental switching on the move and, as a consequence, transmission breakdown.

I turn on the all-wheel drive, move the selector to “H” mode and press the gas trigger. The 500 cc engine abruptly takes the ATV off the ground, but... after the first ten meters of movement you understand that it is difficult for it to drag the 360 ​​kg X5 through the snow with an 85 kg test pilot and a slightly lighter photographer as a passenger. Here's a "tourist" for you...

In theory, the engine produces 45 Nm and 35 hp “at the mountain”. Considering its volume, these are quite acceptable indicators for a utilitarian quad. But competing ATVs (close in price and engine type) like the Honda TRX500 Foreman or Yamaha YFM450 Grizzly weigh 75-80 kilograms less. Of course, they are “single-seater type”, but who seriously cares about this issue?

However, the feeling of weak acceleration dynamics could also be caused by the fact that the CF-Moto provided was a rental one. And, as a result, very “used”. He was too reluctant to go into a power drift, and the engine was lazily picking up speed. A similar effect would occur if the throttle trigger was connected to the throttle valve not with a metal cable, but with a panty elastic band. I even suspected that the ardor of this quad was tempered with various “stranglers,” but the test organizers assured me that this X5 is full-powered.

Perhaps the dear reader is already quite tired of my caustic remarks - after all, things can’t be that bad? This is true. Can not.

So let's talk about the really good stuff - the suspension. The X5's wheels swing on double A-arms, which are paired with shock absorbers that have stepwise spring preload settings. Standard calibrations are as close to ideal as possible. If there were screws for adjusting the rebound and compression hydraulics, then even an experienced rider would not turn them. In addition, in addition to the long wheelbase, the ATV has a fairly wide track, which makes it stable on high-speed off-road conditions and in turns. In my memory, this is the first time that I did not find any shortcomings in the suspension of Chinese equipment. It is also worth mentioning that the basic package includes plastic protection for the levers.

The brake system is made no worse. The front wheels have 220 mm disc brakes with single-piston calipers. The rear multi-disc brake is located inside the rear axle housing and operates in an oil bath - there it is perfectly protected from water, dirt and other “charms”. Some of the brake lines are laid with a reinforced hose, which adds information to the system.

However, the hardware of the braking system plays a secondary role on an ATV. Much more important is what its alloy wheels are shod with. In stock, the X5 has traditional wide low-pressure “bast shoes” with developed lugs. Thanks to them, the quad confidently overcomes snow-covered slopes and does not get stuck on relatively deep virgin soil.

The ground clearance of the X5 is 275 mm - this is enough to “make” even the most sophisticated jeep off-road, although this quad will fail in front of “all-climbers” such as the Kawasaki 750 Brute Force or Suzuki KingQuad. A dry weight of 358 kg, a long wheelbase and a wide track will not allow it to pass where they could effortlessly pass, thanks to its lower weight and dimensions. However, the X5 has an “ace up its sleeve” - the presence of a front electric winch with a traction force of 1130 kg, which is installed as standard. She will be able to pull the quad out of any off-road trouble! Of course, if the rider has time to use it.

Just for fun, I tried different transmission modes: 2WD, 4WD, low, with and without front differential lock. With frequent switching, the selector becomes your friend - it changes modes very softly and clearly. (I remember there were problems with it on the previous modification of the 500). But, apparently, here this knot also suffered at the hands of the loitering public. During some shifts, the sounds of grinding mechanisms were heard from the bowels of the ATV. Fortunately, the sound remained sound throughout the test, and the X5, contrary to expectations, did not begin to fight in agony after that.

The head optics of the X5 consist of two slanted headlights with halogen lamps. The level of illumination of the area at night corresponds to a certain average indicator. That is, you can get out of the thicket at night, but “trotting” is not recommended - a tree “crossing” a forest road can appear in the headlights quite unexpectedly.

Some might say that I'm being too picky about CF-Moto. In this case, I advise you to look at the price tag of the model and figure out what else you can buy for that kind of money in the ATV segment. As it turns out, a lot. These are new Japanese quads with 350-400 cc engines, as well as used medium- and large-capacity “Japanese” in half with “Americans”.

The bottom line is something like this: the X5 occupies the segment of the most affordable two-seater ATVs with medium-sized engines. Fuel injection, a convenient selector, good suspension and a generally well-thought-out design make it attractive to a certain group of buyers. Well, the fact is that after a long stay in rentals, this copy of CFmoto still has many intact parts left, and the device itself is fully functional, which is a good confirmation of the fairly high Chinese quality.

Text: Sergey Kuznetsov

Photo: Alexander Bobrakov, Irina Kobenko

thank you for your cooperation

Equipment for testing is provided.

Specifications

Power point:

1. Number of cylinders – 1.
2. Working volume – 500 cubic meters.
3. Rated output power is 38 horsepower/28 kilowatts (at 6800 rpm).
4. The highest torque is 43 newtons per meter (at 6000 rpm).
5. Number of camshafts – 1.
6. The camshaft location is overhead (SOHC).
7. Number of valves – 4.
8. Type of cooling system – liquid.
9. Type of lubrication system - oil sump.
10. Fuel system type – EFI electronic injection system.
11. Recommended fuel is AI-92.
12. Ignition system type - ECU.
13. Starting system type: electric starter.

Chassis:

1. Drive type – full.
2. Transmission system type – variator with V-belt drive (CVT).
3. Frame type: tubular steel.
4. Clutch type – centrifugal automatic.
5. Front suspension type: independent with double transverse A-arms and hydraulic shock absorbers.
6. Rear suspension type: independent with double wishbone H-shaped arms and hydraulic shock absorbers.
7. Front suspension travel is 170 millimeters.
8. Rear suspension travel is 225 millimeters.
9. Front wheel tires – AT26x9-12.
10. Rear tires – AT26x11-12.
11. Front disc type: light alloy.
12. The type of rear discs is light alloy.
13. Type of brake system – dual-circuit, hydraulic.
14. Front brake type: hydraulic double disc.
15. Rear brake type: single disc transmission.
16. Parking brake type: transmission.

Dimensions:

1. Construction length – 2350 millimeters.
2. Structural width – 1160 millimeters.
3. Structural height – 1400 millimeters.
4. The height of the seat back is 880 millimeters.
5. Wheelbase length -1480 millimeters.
6. The lowest ground clearance is 270 millimeters.
7. The smallest turning radius is 4000 millimeters.

Other characteristics:

1. The capacity of the fuel tank is 18.5 liters.
2. The maximum developed speed is 90 kilometers per hour.
3. The maximum weight of cargo transported on the front trunk is 20 kilograms.
4. The maximum weight of cargo transported on the rear trunk is 40 kilograms.
5. The curb weight of the ATV is 377 kilograms.

Price

The CF MOTO X5 HO EPS ATV is currently in the price segment from 415 thousand rubles to 610 thousand Russian rubles. The price varies depending on the year of production and configuration. It is also worth noting that a recycling fee is added to the price, which for this model is 105 thousand rubles.

A used car will now cost between 260 thousand rubles and up to 470 thousand Russian rubles, taking into account the year of manufacture, condition and mileage at the time of sale.

Chassis

To create this ATV, the manufacturer used the same suspension that it used for other models. At the rear and front there are A-shaped levers protected by plastic overlays, as well as powerful shock absorbers with preload adjustment.

The CFMoto X5 suspension is made very well, as they say, conscientiously. Reviews extremely rarely contain any hints about its unreliability. It is convenient that the driver has the opportunity to choose whether to use all-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive.

In general, the design of the SUV looks solid. This vehicle seems impressive and reliable. Many believe that it is somewhat reminiscent of the RM-500 “Russian Mechanics” ATV.

Reviews

1. I recently purchased this ATV. I bought a used one with a mileage of 1000 kilometers. The only additional equipment it received was protection. It cost me 335 thousand rubles. Having ridden it for the first time, I got a lot of positive impressions (previously there was another model, and it had little power in comparison with this one). The traction throughout the entire range is simply excellent; during sharp acceleration, the quadric even squats a little. We tried driving with a passenger, so he doesn’t feel the additional load at all and also confidently accelerates. However, I noticed one drawback, namely the steering wheel plays up and down. Out of interest, I turned to dealers, and there, even on new cars, a similar problem is observed. It feels like the steering is hanging loose on the universal joint, as if it wasn't tightened.
2. I have been using this ATV for riding in the forest for quite a long time. During all this time of operation, there were practically no serious breakdowns, although the model still requires some improvements in the technical part. The electric power steering still evokes some vague feelings. It seems that he copes with his task well, his hands do not get tired, but on the other hand, he is somehow uninformative. But still, I think you can get used to it. Compared to the X8, this one flies less dirt, that is, if it was almost completely covered with dirt during active off-road driving, then the X5 still has clean areas. It seems like a small thing, but it’s nice.