Motorcycles CFMOTO. Three Chinese friends

The Chinese brand CFMOTO is known in Russia for its relatively inexpensive and fairly high-quality ATVs. And already in September of this year the company will begin supplying its motorcycles to the Russian Federation.

Natalya Umnova
Why are the Chinese only now coming to us with motorcycles? After all, CFMOTO two-wheeled vehicles have existed for a long time and are successfully sold in other markets. However, according to the official distributor of Chinese equipment, there were no models interesting for Russia in the CFMOTO line. But then they appeared: the 650NK streetfighter, the Jet Max 250 maxi-scooter and the classic Leader 150 - and we immediately rushed to check them out at the race track near St. Petersburg.

650NK

Before the start of the test, they decided to test our driving skills ourselves: they asked us to go through the “eight” on a 650. It turned out to be not so simple: the device is quite compact (length - 2120 mm, wheelbase - 1415 mm) and lightweight - 193 kg, but at low speeds it lacked traction, and when gas was applied it jerked sharply, getting out of the trajectory.

650NK © Photo: CFMOTO

With penalty points, I moved on to the next round - to the race track. There was nowhere to reach the maximum declared speed of 180 km/h - special limits on journalistic agility were installed on the track. Nevertheless, on the straights left to us, the 650 showed good dynamics. The brakes were adequate, although the rear calipers began to smoke after a few times of hard use. But the suspension did not respond to the engine power: it was rigid in itself, and the front fork was also lame, not fully compressing and not pressing the front wheel tightly to the surface. And the stock tires were clearly not enough. So, after purchasing a motorcycle, you either need to immediately change the tires and fork filling if you are going to race on the track, or use the device exclusively for its intended purpose: ride around the city, easily maneuvering between cars and observing the speed limit.

A bright red Italian-style frame peeks out from under the modest fairings © Photo: CFMOTO

The instrument panel is modern, analog-digital © Photo: CFMOTO

The general appearance raises almost no complaints, but the plastic “plow” from below will fly off after the first hit on the curb © Photo: CFMOTO

Maxiscooters with engine capacity up to 450 cm3.

5CFMOTO 250 JETMAX

Optimal price-quality ratio Country: China Average price: RUB 199,900 You can experience all the delights of riding a maxiscooter on the most affordable model from China, the CFMOTO 250 JETMAX. This specimen is especially good in city traffic, when high maneuverability and powerful dynamics are required. Comfortable motor vehicles are easy to operate; a small (for a maxi-scooter) 0.25 liter engine develops 22 hp. With. For safety and convenience, the manufacturer has done everything necessary. This includes adjustable warm air supply depending on the season and weather, a built-in audio system with 4 waterproof speakers. The design of the scooter is quite simple; many domestic owners prefer to maintain the equipment on their own. Russian motorcycle enthusiasts in their reviews highlight such advantages of the CFMOTO 250 JETMAX maxiscooter as affordable price, modern appearance, practicality, and good dynamics. The model has no particular drawbacks; many people are only dissatisfied with the stiff suspension.

4PIAGGIO MP3 YOURBAN 300 SPORT LT E4

Best three-wheeled maxi scooter Country: Italy Average price: RUB 649,000

This three-wheeled maxi-scooter is not as common in Russia as its two-wheeled counterparts. In many ways, this neglect is caused by the cost, comparable to the price of a new domestic car. However, those owners who dared to purchase a Piaggio MP3 Yourban did not regret their choice for a second - it is for this reason that the model is among the best in our rating. Their reviews completely debunk the created myths about the inconvenience of the model in urban conditions, instability in ruts, etc. Owners talk more about the reliability, energy-intensive suspension and excellent handling of this model.

This maxi scooter easily accelerates to 110 km/h and the maximum speed it can reach is 120 km/h. With such dynamics, he is able to make intercity trips to nearby populated areas. The Piaggio MP3 Yourban has the heaviest weight - 212 kg, but this does not affect the ease of control and cross-country ability at all, but the stability on the road, including difficult areas, is simply excellent. The ability to stand at traffic lights without putting your feet down is an undeniable advantage of the model, especially in rainy weather - to do this, just turn on the front suspension lock. Despite the limited supply of three-wheeled models, they are in stable demand, especially in the secondary market.

3INNOCENTI RADIUM 300I

The most stylish. Best price Country: Italy Average price: 140,000 rubles. The maneuverable and ergonomic Italian-made maxi-scooter INNOCENTI Radium 300i has a bright design and the most affordable price among maxi-scooters in this category. Curb weight is 176 kg. The vehicle's power is sufficient to accelerate to 140 km/h when fully loaded (360 kg). This efficiency is achieved due to the high torque of 27 N*m. The fuel injection system ensures not only the flexibility of the engine in different modes, but also attractive consumption. To cover 100 km, the maxiscooter will need 3.4 liters of AI-92. Owners highly appreciate the driving characteristics of the INNOCENTI Radium 300i. 16-inch wheels provide excellent maneuverability, not much inferior to sports bikes. A shortened wheelbase and reinforced front suspension shock absorber provide excellent stability when braking and in high-speed corners. The reviews also positively evaluate the practicality and endurance of the model. The reliability of the motor and the build quality do not cause any complaints, even the slightest. An additional advantage is the seller's warranty, which is valid for two years.

2SYM MAXSYM 400I

The most popular maxiscooter in Russia Country: Taiwan Average price: 349,990 rubles. In recent years, Sym Maxsym 400i maxiscooters have become extremely popular in our country. Experts call attractive design, high-quality manufacturing and affordable price the components of success. The motorcycle has a convenient and roomy trunk, which can easily accommodate both the driver’s and passenger’s belongings. The maxiscooter is a full-fledged vehicle with a powerful engine (34 hp). Even long trips on it will not be a burden thanks to comfortable seats with backrests and windproof glass. The model is equipped with large headlights that perfectly illuminate the road in the dark. Owners of the Sym Maxsym 400i maxiscooter in reviews admire the appearance of the equipment, affordable price and good dynamics. There are no obvious weaknesses in the model, but users note many minor flaws that they have to fix on their own.

Summary table of ratings

1HONDA PCX-150

High practicality and reliability Country: Japan Average price: 285,000 rubles. This model became a real bestseller in the European maxi-scooter market in 2011, and has not lost its relevance today. The Honda PCX-150 has everything you need for comfortable movement in city traffic and on suburban routes. The two-cylinder engine is economical and has low noise levels during operation. We can talk endlessly about the reliability of the engines of these vehicles - these are some of the most durable and unpretentious units. Reviews from owners are full of positive ratings. Among other things, the elegant design of the maxiscooter, its presentability and dynamism are noted. Electronic injection provides quite economical fuel consumption - only 2.25 l/100 km in city traffic conditions is a real gift. The presence of an electric starter determines ease and ease of operation. If you purchase additional options such as a windshield and leg covers, this economical bike can become a vehicle for many office workers who do not want to waste their time in city traffic jams. Moreover, the Honda PCX-150 maxi-scooter is the simplest and most intuitive to operate.

Jet Max 250

The Maxik looks and feels like it meets the standards: a comfortable seat, a spacious trunk, a large front fairing that protects from splashes and wind, a glove compartment with a hidden USB connector. I would like it to immediately be at least 400, but what it is is: 250 cm3, 22.5 l. With. at 21 Nm, injector (!), maximum speed - 130 km/h and, of course, a CVT.

Jet Max 250 © Photo: CFMOTO

Jet Max accelerates impressively, there is no need to talk about dynamics or any special maneuverability. When turning, it strikes either the footrest or the bolt of the clamp holding the muffler. The windshield is slightly irregular in shape - already at 60 km/h it begins to blow. And shaking and lifting your butt in turns - even earlier. In theory, warm air from the radiator should flow through the deflectors under the steering wheel, but most likely it will mix with cold air penetrating from under the muzzle. But the idea itself is sound. In general, there are some non-critical defects that, I think, will be eliminated in the next modification of the device. The rear passenger can sit comfortably and will be even more comfortable with a backrest trunk. Jet Max is a good base for tuning. A little customization and you can go to distant lands: they say someone has already driven a similar Maxi around Europe - and successfully.

The decoration is made of cheap plastic, the dashboard lacks a radio station indicator © Photo: CFMOTO

Two half-helmets or one full helmet plus a small handbag fit into the trunk © Photo: CFMOTO

Alex Motors 1136 units sold. You can trust us!

I’ll start from the beginning... In the spring, this maxi-scooter, produced by the company CF MOTO, arrived at us, namely at the Splav-Kaluga motorcycle dealership (www.motokaluga.ru). If it is clear about the ATV equipment of this manufacturer, the model range, starting with the basic CF MOTO 500A quad bike and ending with the Side-by-Side 800 cc engine with injection injection, has taken a strong place in the class of touring all-terrain vehicles, namely the price-quality ratio. It is quality that is certainly improving every year. I'll digress a little from the topic. The quality is really increasing, and the rejection rate is so tiny, again, I’m talking about a specific region, such as Kaluga, since ours (www.motokaluga.ru) is the official dealer of CF MOTO in this area. So, we would divide the percentage of customer requests regarding warranty issues into two categories. Certain people, whether out of ignorance or not wanting to know, or perhaps simply out of sloppiness, think that by purchasing an ATV, they have for their use a “submariner’s armored personnel carrier with a vertical take-off function.” It seems to them that he is obliged to break trees, swim underwater and fly over ravines. Yes, there are such people, but they are still few. The main part are conscientious customers who carry out technical work in a timely manner and know almost all the operational characteristics of these ATVs. And as a result, the long service life of this equipment does not matter that it comes from China. By the way, not many famous Japanese, European and American brands can boast of a two-year warranty, unlike CF MOTO. So we sorted out the quads, which cannot be said about the two-wheeled vehicles of this manufacturer. What is this CF MOTO Jet Max 250? What kind of Asian? Ours (www.motokaluga.ru) decided to conduct their own investigation and test this Chinese maxi-scooter. Specifically, I, being the head of the sales department of our company in the Kaluga region, having some experience in motorcycle tourism, took up this matter. I must know what I’m selling... So, no pompous farewells on the road, without any kind of accompaniment, just me, a Jet Max 250 maxi-scooter, a credit card and the road. The route was chosen suddenly, like the trip itself. The route is planned as follows: Kaluga - Dnepropetrovsk - Yalta - Odessa - Kyiv - Kaluga. The circle is about 4000 kilometers. The departure took place on the eve of the holiday, specifically the third of November this year at 12-00. In Kaluga on this day the weather was “whispering” - rain and temperature +3. What wonderful conditions to test myself and my Chinese friend. “How well will he perform, will he fail along the way, is it worth relying on him and will he survive...” these were the questions I asked myself. After all, there are a lot of unflattering statements going around. And it’s true, there are a lot of manufacturers of consumer goods, but I wouldn’t risk it on these “fly-by-nights.” The CF MOTO company is truly a brand that has representatives in Europe, America, the CIS republics and Asia. Until recently, I personally owned a quad from this manufacturer, on which the mileage was more than 15,000 kilometers.

And now I’m already rushing towards the south. I’ll get ahead a little, today, namely November 4, I have already reached a wonderful place on the shore of the South Coast. This is truly a pearl, and not a city, how beautiful it looks at night, especially when you come out of the turn signal and there it is, right in the palm of your hand - Yalta...))) Well, let's start in order... In general, the run was conceived to solve several problems, namely : to dispel the myth that supposedly the most important thing for traveling is having a lot of money and some expensive branded equipment, so here you go, here it is Jet Max 250, costing just over 4,000 US dollars with a consumption of three liters per hundred, at the same time, this “Asian” runs at 120 kmA per hour, it’s already blowing away... No, I’m not advertising this equipment, I’m just interested in what the CF MOTO Jet Max 250 is, but this is my main task, and more specifically, to test this Asian... and so far he’s coping... and not bad at all...

Having traveled 1600 kilometers in two steps, I wouldn’t say that I was very tired or that this Chinese let me down in some way, although there is still a way home, but still... As I said, its consumption is three liters, which is very nice when you go on a tank free 350 kmA, while paying at the gas station is very pleasing with its minimal expenditure of money. In general, to be honest, I even thought about a maxi scooter for traveling, so far there are only advantages: low consumption, you go slowly, it’s convenient to take photos, you can do it without getting off, again it’s lightweight, so it’s very interesting... So I quietly made my way to Orel.

In general, I didn’t manage to take any photos that day due to the “crappy” weather, no, I’m not complaining, I seem to be used to surprises, but somehow the day didn’t go well. Also this Kursk region, with tractors leaving the fields and dragging these very fields onto the highway. The road was turned into a dirt road, and it was all mixed with the rain. My visor is now in the trash, it has scars from rubbing with a glove. And the road is excellent, the asphalt coverage is almost flawless, which cannot be said about Ukraine, but this also has a plus, you can find out the behavior of this scooter in different conditions. And here are the first impressions: it holds the road perfectly, even on stock tires (by the way, no improvements were made before the trip with this Chinese, as it comes from the factory - so it is), while the asphalt was wet and sometimes heavily polluted. Yes, I had to work with my hands when braking with the front and rear brake handles, sometimes alternately, sometimes simultaneously, due to the lack of ABS. Still, in the future I would like to see this braking function available for sale as an additional option, since this scooter does an excellent job in terms of comfort and speed for travel. Ergonomics are also at a high level, nothing superfluous, the speed indicator is clearly visible, as well as other sensors and meters. When overtaking, the view of the mirrors was quite enough, so there was no need to turn back. The distance I covered on the first day yesterday was 910 kilometers and took eleven hours. It’s not even bad, considering my stops at gas stations with a coffee break and crossing two borders, namely the Russian-Ukrainian one. And now I’m already in the city on the Dnieper...

According to the regulations, it is necessary to tighten and change the oil and filter in this maxi-scooter, which was successfully done at the official representative office of one foreign brand. I took the oil filter with me from home, but there were no problems with the oil; it can always be found in a large city. It turns out that there is also an official CF MOTO dealer in Dnepropetrovsk. And what’s interesting is that the line of this manufacturer is very poorly provided on the Ukrainian market. They haven’t heard of two-wheeled vehicles at all, but the line of quads starts with the CF MOTO 500-2A, i.e. They don’t know about Basik 500A; they are not available for sale.

But it’s time and honor to know, as they say, it’s time to go to sea…. On the way I stopped for a photo shoot with my Chinese friend. So there were kilometers behind us, the landscape quietly made it clear that the direction was heading south.

And then in the evening I found myself on the Crimean peninsula.

So after some time I found myself in this heavenly place called Yalta. I don’t know why I am so attracted to Crimea and this city, but I really like coming here, especially in the autumn and spring, when there are no crowds of vacationers and the stinking smells of fast food.

Today is already night, and tomorrow there will be a spa treatment and a photo shoot of my Chinese “konik” in the vastness of the South Coast, especially since he deserves it...)))

These were wonderful days spent in Yalta, which quickly flew by, but will remain in my memory. Yalta was very welcoming to me, which surprised me with its pleasantly warm weather, the absence of “scurrying” crowds of tourists, and it so happened that at that moment my teammate was here. He has his own business here, namely a very high-level hotel, but the cuisine is beyond praise. By the way, it is located right on the embankment, so I highly recommend it.

These are the views from this wonderful vacation spot “VILLA SOFIA”

Well, let's get back to the main task of my run, namely testing my “Chinese friend”.

Now I can say I fell in love with him. I think this technique is great for traveling. It is especially convenient for sightseeing and stunning views of the coast and mountain ranges. It is easy to control, “boldly” picks up speed, economical, and will fit into any “crack”. It seems like it was made for any weather. Getting ready to take a ride along the coastal paths, I dressed very lightly, taking only a camera with me. Sometimes the air temperature changed depending on the ascents or descents. High glass that does not interfere with the view, excellent air protection of the front part of the maxi-scooter CF MOTO Jet Max 250, all this in combination with the removed heating deflectors do not allow the driver to freeze and help him feel comfortable throughout the entire driving journey.

Now about the minuses of this maxi-scooter CF MOTO Jet Max 250. More precisely, I hope for one thing for now, but this is no longer a minus, but rather a design feature of this technology. The fact is that when going through turns of mountain serpentines, the lower part of the footrest clings to the asphalt, which makes a “grinding” sound and leaves you a little confused. At first it was annoying, but then I even deliberately provoked this “symphony”; it looks especially impressive at night, when sparks “jump out” from under the bottom of the scooter when turning. This scooter arouses interest among local residents, and while conducting a photo shoot on the Yalta embankment, our compatriots from Russia, who came here on vacation, asked for a ride and were very surprised that equipment from China could get to Crimea under its own power. So the promotion of the CF MOTO brand is bearing fruit, and there will be additions to our ranks. And why not, when he behaves very well on the road.

Well, it’s time to say goodbye to Yalta and Crimea, it’s not even a little sad. But there is still a road ahead of me, with an intermediate point in the glorious city of Odessa...

Today a Gazelle driver named Petro told a very “funny” story. He himself comes from near Poltava (as he himself said: “precisely from near Poltava”), but he got married and has been living for thirty years in Crimea in the not without famous city of Krasnoperekopsk. The main characters of his story turned out to be us, that is, me and my scooter. To be honest, I haven't laughed so much in a long time. You have to imagine him, a mustachioed, elderly man, somewhat similar to the wonderful actor of yesteryear, Zinovy Gerdt. Here is an almost verbatim retelling of it:

“I mean, I’m going from Simferopol to Zhinka’s house, the weather is God damned. I turned back to Gvardeysky, yesterday at my godfather’s place. So I’m driving and pushing forward, deftly, turning my head out the window aaaand…. holy... holy... holy... yakis moped overtakes me, tilki wine overtakes me while lying down, and behind him the boy has his eyes wide open and rides on his ass and waves his hand at me like that. I close my eyes, maybe after yesterday’s conversation with my godfather, it seemed... but it didn’t seem, if I closed my eyes...”

To say that I just laughed is to say nothing. This Petro told it so sincerely and with such shock that I had to calm him down, almost drink a glass with him, just so that he wouldn’t worry so much.

Of course, all's well that ends well... If you imagine it this way, then the guardian angel at that moment was really next to me. Suddenly there was an oncoming traffic and I don’t know who would have written what here... That’s how my Chinese friend suddenly crash-tested... Having sent Petro on his way, I remembered the words from someone’s song: “we fell, but got up”, examined the scooter, shook out the fear from his pants and continued on his way to the Black Sea place of Odessa...

And where a lonely traveler in this glorious city can lick his wounds. Of course this place is Gambrinus...

These are the things... well, never mind, tomorrow will come and my Chinese friend, whom I “slipped” today, will check in with minor scars in the glorious city of Odessa...

So... Thanks to this Black Sea city of Odessa, it cheered me up and distracted me after yesterday’s “crash test”. True, in the morning my body didn’t let me down much, so to speak, it reminded me of itself and “creaked” a little... But enough “snot”, it’s time to move on, and ahead of me was a promenade along the ageless places where Utesov and Ilf walked, where Founding fathers Potemkin and Deribas fought for this land, the place that is the center of humor... yes, yes... this is Odessa.

Odessa loves it when they promise to return, which I sincerely swore, I am in love with these cities. Therefore, the weather today was on my side, the warm sun and dry asphalt allowed me to drive towards Kyiv...

What is SALO for Ukraine... it is more than a product... In honor of it, poems are written, dishes are prepared, there is even chocolate-covered dessert. And it’s not surprising when buildings are named after him...

But let me return to my mission, namely getting to know the CF MOTO Jet Max 250 maxi-scooter. Its plastic is durable, considering the braking distance in a horizontal position is just over thirty steps. Yes, we slid around for quite a long time... If we take into account the damage, then we need to replace the muffler lining and paint two plastic parts, nothing more. He continues to move vigorously, as if nothing had happened. It also causes surprise among traffic participants; drivers come up, are interested and ask about this equipment. This is how the kilometers “ran”, with Odessa, Kirovograd and Cherkasy regions behind us. Kyiv was ahead.

In this area, namely in a settlement called “White Church”, there is a monument to the dead bikers. The place where a candle always burns in memory of them, those who so unexpectedly “drove off” into another world on their bikes.

To be honest, I didn’t plan to stop here, because I was passing through often and already knew the whole story about it, but some force made me pause. And it was not in vain. In my scooter, because I applied it, the muffler protection came off and was held on by one bolt. With vibration from the road, it did not move much and slowly began to pinch the disk and rub against the tire. Only when I took a photo did I notice it and eliminated, perhaps, a future problem... This is how it happens...

Kyiv... Ancient Kyiv... a lot is connected with him... the beginning of Russian history... how much he endured and survived... they fought for him to the death and were shrouded in intrigue, you can’t say everything. Generations pass, time passes, but he stands and amazes us all with his greatness...

I would like to separately highlight some advantages of the CF MOTO Jet Max 250 maxi-scooter. The point is that on any trip you need to take certain things with you. It varies from person to person, but for me, as a rule, it’s a camera, of significant size, also a laptop, tools, spare gloves, tire repair products, rain shoe covers, a 5 liter jerry can. for gasoline, a “litrushka” of oil and luggage associated with personal belongings and hygiene products. All this takes a certain place and quite a lot. So, all of the above easily fit into my maxi-scooter.

Well, the maintenance, namely the oil change and inspection, was completed, although it took some time, today is Saturday and a day off, many motorcycle dealerships are open only in sales mode. I managed to leave this city only after lunch, which I didn’t regret at all, because I didn’t really want to leave at night, and together with my Chinese friend, the maxi-scooter CF MOTO Jet Max 250, we decided to “throw the dice” in the glorious city of Nizhyn. A lot of people close to me live in this city, and I simply couldn’t help but stay there.

Well, what roads can do without their guardians. This post is located on one of the main “arteries” of our countries. It stands like a “corn” on the Kyiv-Moscow highway and sometimes unexpectedly reminds of itself. So this time it was not possible to just pass it...

And finally, the final line. It remains to make two gas stations for my maxi-scooter, and this is just enough for a period of 550 km. from Nezhin to Kaluga. The weather was excellent, my CF MOTO Jet Max 250 was taking me towards home, the kilometers just clicking behind me. This section of the road in Ukraine is of excellent quality, and is not even a bit boring, because there are very few settlements. Driving on such surfaces was especially comfortable, the speed lulled me to sleep, and sometimes I even wanted to doze off. This sleepy state was interrupted by local traffic cops “sniffing” in the back and in front. They use interesting tactics in search of an intruder (victim), namely, they move in the general flow without attracting attention to themselves and catch oncoming traffic for speeding and crossing solid roads. By the way, all this is recorded by the camera installed in their car. And as soon as someone disturbs, they immediately turn on the siren with flashing lights and begin the chase. But all this did not threaten me; my maxi-scooter was in no hurry. We rode and enjoyed the warm day and felt a little sad at the end of our shared route with the maxi-scooter.

If we take the entire route of the run, then this turned out to be the darkest day. The reason for this is aggression from people in uniform at customs crossings, both from Ukraine and Russia. For some reason, a lot of traffic accumulated in different directions. Trucks, minibuses and even passenger cars participated in a large queue, each in its own row. What caused such a traffic jam? Summer is over, why so much transport? It’s not clear... Well, one of the reasons was not very clear. It seemed that the customs workers, together with the border guards, were deliberately delaying time and creating nervousness among the masses of people who were madly dreaming of leaving this place of the borders of the two countries. My documents were taken away for processing and were not issued for a long time. The reason for such a detention was not explained to me, but they were simply dragging their feet and this happened to every driver. They were not interested in people’s outrage; they pretended to be “important” and simply remained silent. The bottom line is that my time loss was about three hours, even taking into account the fact that I was moving on a two-wheeled vehicle, and this gave some advantage in moving between standing cars.

Well, finally all the customs barriers were passed and we (me and my maxi-scooter) became even closer to home. By the way, on the Russian side in the direction of Moscow from customs, road repairs are underway at an accelerated pace. Moreover, this is not just a replacement of asphalt, but a complete reconstruction with the installation of bridges and recreation areas. Soon it will be a European-level highway connecting the two capitals.

Having stopped in the Kaluga region, I decided to conduct a small experiment with my maxi-scooter “CF MOTO Jet Max 250”. I became interested: how many kilometers can this equipment travel with a blinking light bulb. In general, this “experience” does not have much of a risky note, because gasoline can run out even when overtaking, which is what happened to me (I don’t advise anyone to tempt fate like that.) Everything worked out well for me, without an incident, and the result was 93 kilometers to complete drying of the tank. The speed limit was 90-110 km/h.

And here is my finishing point, the city of Kaluga. That's it, my maxi-scooter delivered me safely. The circle is closed... Roads of varying quality were “conquered” by this Chinese. Its wheels have been on asphalt and off-road, seen mountain serpentines and sea pebbles, and made their way in any weather, be it rain, wind or sun. To say that I felt sorry for him, no, I simply used him for its intended purpose, his task was to carry me and at the same time efficiently, without any breakdowns or “surprises.” And he dealt with it. He showed himself confidently and never let me down, even when we fell together. A sudden and unplanned “crash test” could not stop this Chinese fighter.

On our route there were such large cities: Kaluga - Tula - Orel - Kursk - Belgorod - Kharkov - Dnepropetrovsk - Zaporozhye - Simferopol - Yalta - Kherson - Nikolaev - Odessa - Kiev - and again Kaluga.

The result is this: The distance that was covered was 3870 kilometers. It took exactly a week (from Sunday to Sunday). About 130 liters of fuel were used. But the main indicator for me is that this maxi-scooter “CF MOTO Jet Max 250” coped with its task. You can describe a lot of its pros or look for cons, but the main indicator is that it did a great job!

Leader 150

This absolutely household device, due to its small capacity and simplicity, should become a bestseller and will replace old Soviet devices in regions, villages and dachas, in motorcycle schools and for beginners. In a city with good roads, it will give way to fifty-kopeck scooters, which (yet) do not require a license, but where the coverage is worse or absent altogether, it will give them a head start. The manufacturer just needs to do something about the vibration, which is noticeable even when the motorcycle is standing, and at a speed of 50 km/h makes you want to immediately get off the ground. It is completely toy-like to drive: soft, obedient, lightweight. With its 13.6 “horses” it can carry up to 150 kg.

Clip-ons on such a motorcycle are cool! There is even a gear sensor, but it is not visible behind the ignition key © Photo: CFMOTO

I bought it new in April 2021, no one in the Volga region had this. I decided to lower the cubic capacity and take something more maneuverable, lightweight and piercing the plugs. Plus, my confidence never returned after the accident in 2015, I couldn’t overcome myself and start driving fast. I looked closely for a long time, I wanted a new motorcycle, because I was tired of always fixing my previous Kawasaki. I initially looked at KTM, but didn’t get the price. Then I saw a review of 250Nk in English on YouTube, then I started searching the entire YouTube and found several more videos from different parts of the world, but there was nothing intelligible. I found a dealer in Kazan, they didn’t even have a motorcycle in person, only quads. In the end, interest overcame the unknown and I decided to take it. Mileage for 2 seasons - a little more than 3000 km. I can say that the moto is good for its purposes: city, traffic jams, you are alone and want to get from point A to B faster, safely and quickly. I go to the country, it’s also not bad for rural roads if you drive carefully. Pros: It is light as a jack, maneuverable, and forgives all mistakes. The plugs are stitched perfectly. The stock tires are soft and pleasant to drive. ABS on both wheels is great, it actually saved me several times. The light is good, LEDs, you can see everything. It can be easily maintained, all components are in adequate places, filters are standard, does not eat oil. A very informative screen that accurately shows all the data. Beautiful appearance. Consumption is very small, a 12.5 liter plastic tank is used up in 2 weeks if you drive in the “work-to-home” cycle. High ground clearance, you can drive carefully off-road. There is a regular place for a mini-frame and a mini-number.

Cons: Acceleration is a little slow, after 60 hp - 26.5 hp seems not enough, but it makes an ordinary car from an intersection. The maximum speed is 137 km/h, on a downhill highway. There are comments on the box: 5th gear doesn’t get into gear 2 times a month, but it’s not critical and it’s rare (and it’s more likely that I accidentally “under-switch” it). Too quiet. There are no stock bells and whistles, such as arches, mounts and other things. I had to contact a welder and they made custom ones. According to the girl, the seat in the back is very hard and uncomfortable, I’m thinking of upgrading it with a softer filling. They seem to say that there is a long wait for spare parts, but I haven’t needed to order anything yet. There is no center stand, only a side stand.

Interesting things: From time to time the motor battalion stopped just to “feel” the new product, even without checking the docks. All the adherents of “the old Japanese is the best” will make a face with displeasure. All the school kids will take pictures with the motorcycle, but the girls are not interested in it.

If you have questions about custom arches and fastenings (all photos of manufacturing and installation have been preserved) or just general questions about operation, write to me in direct message, I will answer.

Equipment

The Arai helmet and clothes from Spidi: the Gara Leather Lady jacket, Teker Lady pants and Zeta Lady gloves - perform well at temperatures up to +20C. Knee protection in trousers is adjustable according to height; in a jacket, the protection fits tightly when the zippers are fastened. The gloves have good ventilation. The helmet gives excellent visibility, but gets a bit noisy at speed.