Enjoy casual city and off-road riding. That's the concept behind the CFLITE 230 Dual. Developed for use in Asia, Africa, Central and South America, this bike offers a different appeal than current domestically produced bikes.
A new brand called CFLITE
CFLITE is a separate brand launched by the rapidly growing Chinese company CF MOTO. They offer bikes that can be enjoyed casually. The 230 Dual introduced here is one that was born from that concept.
Despite being a full-size off-road bike, it is priced at just under 400,000 yen, which is quite reasonable. In terms of vehicle price alone, it is cheaper than the Super Cub C125. It has attracted a lot of attention overseas since its release as a bike with great value for money.
This model is not targeted at Japan, the United States, or EU countries. It is aimed at Western Asia, Central and Southern Africa, and ASEAN countries, where there is a high demand for motorcycles. Its design and pricing are suited to the road conditions and usage in developing countries experiencing economic growth.
To understand this machine, you need to understand that it is a little different from the mainstream off-road bikes in Japan. It aims for high cost performance by eliminating unnecessary performance and decoration.
Although it is a full-size off-road model, the design is simple because they prioritize costs. It’s not a luxurious build, but that doesn’t mean it looks cheap. The exterior design that covers the body and the vivid coloring give it a unique presence. It’s an appearance that is likely to be popular in the UK. The engine is an air-cooled SOHC, and the fuel supply system is a carburetor, an outdated mechanism.
As you can see from the stepped seat that provides a good hold rather than a flat seat designed for weight transfer and the handlebars without a bridge, this is not a machine designed for serious off-road riding, but it does have enough performance for driving through crowded city streets and on unpaved roads that are not well maintained. The simple air-cooled SOHC mechanism was adopted not only for ease of handling on the street, but also to balance cost and maintainability. This is because ease of maintenance is also important in developing countries where the maintenance network is not well organized.
Fresh carb feeling
What I was curious about was the feel of the carbureted, air-cooled 230cc engine. I understood the concept of the bike, so I wasn’t particularly expecting anything, but when I started the engine, it felt unexpectedly lively. In addition to the engine characteristics that emphasize low- and mid-range torque, the carburetor gives it a power and liveliness that injection-fueled engines, which emphasize ease of handling, don’t have. It felt really fresh to ride a carbureted bike after such a long time. I didn’t notice any issues with ease of handling either.
Its characteristics are such that it has given up on high-speed power and is fully focused on low and mid-speed, so it feels a bit difficult to rev, but it is extremely easy to handle in practical ranges. It is powerful and tenacious even at low speeds, making it very easy to handle when trekking off-road. I can imagine that it would be able to run briskly in urban areas, and would also be suitable for enjoying leisurely touring. There is little vibration or noise. I think the engine is well-developed.
Necessary and sufficient suspension
The front fork’s damping isn’t very effective, but it moves quite smoothly. On the other hand, the rear shock has weak damping and a stiff spring, likely designed with two-seater and luggage in mind.
Although I didn’t feel the weight of the 155kg body, the handling felt sluggish and heavy with the front end sluggish. The fact that I was using off-road tires with low air pressure may have had some effect, but it’s probably the nature of the machine itself. I can say that the car has a sense of stability, but I think it would be easier to drive if it felt a little more nimble.
As mentioned above, the suspension means that even when you’re not going very fast, the bike will bottom out when going over large gaps, but the intended users of this bike probably don’t need that kind of performance. If you just keep your foot on the pedal, the engine’s strong torque at low and mid-range speeds will help you move forward, which is a reliable feeling. Personally, I think it would have been better to lower the bike a little more to improve foot reach. This would have made it easier to handle on the street and on light off-road terrain, and it would have differentiated it from the CFLITE 250Dual, which comes in the same category.
If you dig into the details, you’ll find a lot of issues, but it should meet the performance requirements for a commuter and light off-roader in the target countries. So what about Japan? Riders who are serious about off-road riding or those looking for a finish on par with domestically produced bikes will likely be dissatisfied, but there are surely many riders who don’t need that much. It may be a good choice for riders who are looking for a bike that meets the minimum required performance at an affordable price.
Position & foot reach (height 178cm, weight 76kg)
The riding position is relaxed with the upper body upright, and the stepped seat supports the lower back.
The seat height is 840mm. Because the body is slim and the suspension sinks, both heels touch the ground and the knees bend slightly. It feels like the feet can reach the ground better than the numbers suggest.
Detailed explanation
The front brake is a two-pot disc with no ABS.
The front rim is 1.85 x 21. Since it was used in an off-road event, the tire was changed to an IRC VE-35.
Air-cooled single-cylinder SOHC engine. Displacement: 229.5cc. Bore x stroke: 67 x 65mm. Compression ratio: 8.7:1.
The steps are designed for off-road use, and although they have been removed in the photo for off-road riding, rubber has been installed.
The seat is stepped, which is unusual for an off-road model, likely due to consideration of street use.
A sturdy carrier is included as standard, which is essential if the bike is to support people’s lives as a commuter vehicle.
The seat can be removed with one touch and houses the battery and other electrical equipment.
The rear shock is attached directly to the swing arm without a link, and only the initial setting can be adjusted.
The power output is 14.5ps/7000rpm and 16.5Nm/9500rpm. The specs are not high, but the torque is strong in the practical range and it is easy to handle.
The carburetor uses a round-type throttle valve. It is not a CV type that opens and closes the throttle valve using intake vacuum, but rather a wire that moves the throttle valve directly, so the throttle response is direct and easy to use.
The rear rim is 2.5×18. The swingarm has a square cross section, reminiscent of Japanese cars from the 1980s.
The raised silencer creates a sporty impression.
The headlights are halogen, and the light cowl adds an accent to the design.
Taillights and turn signals. Standard light bulbs are used for the lights. No LEDs are used.
The left switch box has switches for turning the lights on and off (red button), switching between high and low beams, the horn, and the turn signals.
The switch box on the right has a simple configuration with only a kill switch and starter button.
The handlebars have a relaxed position. There is no bridge on the handlebars and weights are placed at the ends of the bars, so the rigidity is low. However, there is also less vibration in the handlebars.
Simple meters with a dot-display tachometer, digital speedometer, fuel gauge, neutral, and distance and totalizer.
Main specifications
Screenshot
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