Recipe for a fun weekend: on the CFMoto Z8 all-terrain vehicle - into the mud

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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Recipe for a fun weekend: on the CFMoto Z8 all-terrain vehicle - into the mud

Z8, BMW sports car? To a certain extent, sport and even car. But instead of fireproof overalls, it’s better to wear waterproof ones. The apex of a turn may be a swamp toad, and after returning to the asphalt they will refuse to accept you for five car washes in a row.

I don't like ATVs. All these gas triggers, brake levers... And the unnatural controls completely baffle me. If I see a bicycle or motorcycle handlebar, then at the level of reflexes I try to turn using countersteering, as on a two-wheeled vehicle. That is, in front of the left arc, I pull the right handle towards me - and vice versa. But the ATV has completely different physics of movement! And every time I go into the forest or someone’s fence instead of the road.

Therefore, when I signed up to participate in the CFMoto owners club ride, I asked for a Z8. In such a side-by-side all-terrain vehicle, the driver and passenger sit side by side, and not behind each other. I turned out to be the only person on the “side” among four dozen quads! Moreover, the majority were sure that the “car,” as strawberries affectionately call the Z8, would turn out to be an anchor and would not be able to complete the route.

The main advantage of the interior is that it can be washed with water directly from a hose. The digital instrument panel in the center is difficult to read, but otherwise everything is fine. The landing is good, the steering wheel is height adjustable, there is a glove compartment and even a pair of bottle holders. Doors, roof and windshield - options

But in my opinion, it’s the other way around: classic all-wheel drive ATVs have a lot of disadvantages. The small suspension travel and narrow track every now and then lead to the danger of a coup. To ride aggressively, with slides, you literally need to dance on the pegs. And if you fall, all your hope is in your equipment and in the fact that the four-hundred-kilogram all-terrain vehicle will not plop down on you.

The variator selector pleased with soft and clear switching, unlike most ATVs and buggies

Side-by-side buggies are another matter. The Z8 has a steel space frame, double-wishbone suspension all around, a V-shaped two-cylinder engine with a volume of 800 cm³ (63 hp) located in front of the rear wheels, a V-belt variator and an all-wheel drive transmission with a range control. Automotive silhouette, familiar controls, comfortable seating – and a roof over your head. You only need to obtain a tractor driver’s license from the Gostekhnadzor department.

The pedals are shifted to the right, there is a hole in the floor under the accelerator for draining water

It's a pity that everything has become more expensive these days. For example, the BFR Condor, which I liked so much last year, now costs 900 thousand rubles. And this despite the fact that it is not subject to recycling fees, since it is produced in Russia. And the price for the Chinese CFMoto Z8 increased from 500 thousand to 940! Whereas an ATV with the same engine can be bought for 630 thousand.

It is not surprising that sales are counted in single units. After all, for this money you can build an excellent “rogue”, using a used UAZ as a basis. Alas, instead of becoming a mass tool for outdoor activities, the side turned into a toy for the wealthy. Fortunately, there is a small selection of used devices, prices start at 500 thousand rubles. And it looks like I’m ready to go for it: the Z8 has me hooked!

The Z8 has double wishbone front and rear suspension. The stated travel is 180mm at the front and 200mm at the rear. This is half the size of the BFR Condor buggy, but is sufficient in most situations. Pay attention to the solid thickness of the levers. The V-shaped “twin” is located in front of the rear axle. Consumption in difficult conditions easily reaches 15 liters per “hundred”

Standard wheels with an outer diameter of 26 inches are not much; the vast majority of ATVs have three inches larger

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There are few alternatives: the BRP Maverick or Polaris RZR (the Z8 is very similar in appearance) cost two million rubles each. Moreover, the Z8 immediately has a good landing: higher than in the Condor, but noticeably lower than the Maverick. The steering wheel is adjustable in height, the pedal assembly is cramped and shifted to the right - it is inconvenient to slow down with your left foot. The V-shaped “two” starts noisily and rumbles annoyingly throughout the entire speed range. The variator lever moves softly, but the first response to the gas pedal is too sharp. The jamming accelerator cable also had its effect, making it difficult to accurately control traction on soft soils.

On asphalt, the Z8 reaches 80 km/h with relative comfort and calm. Of course, there are no bumps or speed bumps for him. Although the Elka tuning shock absorbers seemed a bit harsh to me, they were clearly tuned for serious loading.

A classic picture for an ATV: short suspension travel, narrow track and danger of overturning on a side slope. Z8 is safer in such areas

Dirt roads and bumpy country roads are the Z8’s home. Does it allow you to ride aggressively? In most situations - yes! There is enough stability, the electric power steering does a great job of absorbing shocks and providing good feedback, and the chassis balance is surprisingly good. Without the excessive arrogance characteristic of Condor, and with much greater stability than Maverick. On dense ground, even a 63-horsepower engine is enough for pleasure: the Z8 accelerates briskly to 70 km/h. But in sand or on serious terrain the power is not enough. The CFMoto does not have a rear differential, which means you have to learn to drive in constant slips. It’s a pity that riding in a convoy doesn’t encourage quick grabs.

The drive to the front wheels is connected rigidly, you can engage a downshift with a coefficient of 2.53 and lock the front differential. By the way, as soon as the speed drops to 10-15 km/h, it is better to immediately activate the range-shifter so as not to set fire to the variator belt (this is, in fact, the only possible breakdown of the unit of the Canadian company CVTech). Despite having almost the smallest wheels among all participants and a modest 24 cm of ground clearance, I only got stuck twice. Moreover, it was my own fault: I fell into a rut and did not have time to gain momentum, and then I was dragged into the sticky peat substance. And both times the Z8 was pulled out without the help of winches.

I was especially struck by the second episode: I tried to jump out with a jump, but I could only move downwards. Evgeniy, who accompanied me on this trip and who ate the dog in quad-driving, used a different tactic. Standing on the street, he literally stroked the gas pedal and stirred the side in this slurry, centimeter by centimeter at a time. Skidding on angry tires is harmful - so when you watch videos of a stuck quad being rocked as the wheels spin wildly, know that people don't really know what they're doing. Give even, slight gas and the device will move out on its own.

Windbreaks, deep puddles, frightening side slopes - almost the first time I found myself in such a situation, I drove everywhere without problems. And this driving passion to get through where others are stuck! This constant uncertainty when plunging into another deep puddle... Driving in a flooded cabin when the water level is approaching the seat cushion is a special pleasure. In my SUV, I try to stay in shallow water so as not to dry out the carpets, but here, on the contrary, the thrill is where it’s deeper! Yes, in some places it was a bit crowded, we had to look for detours, but the Condor is much wider, it would have been very difficult for him in this forest. And on the Z8 you can keep up with the pace of quads on off-road roads - and take the lead on dirt roads. With a much greater level of comfort.

Behind the passenger compartment is an open storage compartment designed for 100 kg of luggage

Although you shouldn’t think that you will be cleaner in this machine than in a quad. Without optional doors, dirt and water from under the front wheels fly directly onto the back of the seat, splashes from puddles settle on the helmet, and in the trunk along with your things you will bring half a hundredweight of clay. Then all this needs to be washed somewhere, loaded onto a trailer and taken to the parking lot.

Alas, owning such a buggy is troublesome. By the way, service intervals are not automotive: change the oil in the engine and gearboxes every 3,000 kilometers, the air filter needs to be changed twice as often. At the same time, the prices for spare parts are wow. For example, tiny brake pads, which can be killed in one ride in the mud, cost almost two thousand rubles! Experienced quad drivers have long learned to rivet linings from clutch discs from Russian cars. The complete drive unit costs 12 thousand, and its boot, which is easily cut by the not very successful protection of the steering rods, costs almost a thousand. The engine life with aggressive driving is only about 15 thousand kilometers: the liners are returned. Major repairs will now cost sixty thousand rubles. And this is the safety margin not only for CFMoto, but for almost all all-terrain vehicles! In addition, owners of expensive BRP or Polaris rarely use original spare parts, further reducing the reliability of their vehicles.

And for the Z8, Chinese spare parts are original. Yes, the Condor is good if you don't plan on riding in tight woods on ATV trails, but the Z8 is more versatile. Of the relatively affordable alternatives, there is only the FunCruiser Lite buggy with a VAZ sixteen-valve engine. But it is rear-wheel drive, and the Light is not suitable for serious off-road use. But it costs 650 thousand rubles. It seems to me that a good company will gather for the next “dirty” test!

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.

Reviews

1. I didn’t like the CF MOTO CF 800 X8 ATV, for many reasons. The model is very heavy, unfinished, the iron elements are weak, prone to overturns, and if you tilt it on its side and the engine is still running, you will have to spend money on engine repairs, since the liners turn very easily. Because of its features, the crankshaft itself cannot be sharpened; you have to buy a new one, and its cost is 44 thousand rubles. The connecting rods are also not cheap; you need to pay 7 thousand rubles for a pair. In general, the engine has many shortcomings. There is no guarantee, although they do provide one, but if something happens they will find any reason to refuse repairs. It cost me 5 thousand rubles for routine maintenance, which I consider expensive. There are also unfinished brakes, which only work properly for the first 500 kilometers; later the pads need to be changed.
2. The model is very cool. During the first 600 kilometers, I didn’t even think that the ATV was capable of much more. Having removed the restriction, I was surprised for a long time. The vehicle pulls perfectly over almost the entire range, is very dynamic and fast. I especially liked the design of the model, which really came out original and memorable. The cladding is quite high quality, and the plastic itself is impact-resistant and durable. In winter, I traveled almost all day on weekends. In mild frosts the engine starts quite easily. I had a chance to ride other models, but this one, in my opinion, is much better, both in terms of control and dynamics. Still, it’s not for nothing that the CF 800 X8 is considered a flagship model.