A lightweight, high-powered electric motorcycle that can be used on and off the road | CAOFEN F80 Test Ride

CAOFEN F80 STREET…678,000 yen

Motorcycles are also beginning to appear that take advantage of the benefits of electric vehicles. The CAOFEN F80 introduced here is an off-road bike registered as a Class 2 moped. It has become popular around the world as a model that allows you to enjoy off-road riding with ease.

The popular electric off-roader arrives in Japan

The CAOFEN F80 is an electric off-road motorcycle manufactured by Chongqing Huanghe Group in Chongqing, China. It has been sold in the US, Europe, Latin America and Asia and has quickly become popular, with 15,000 units sold in the first year.

The model I test rode this time was a street model that can be registered as a Class 2 moped (there is also a model for competitions).

The estimated actual mileage is 70 to 100 km, which is sufficient for everyday use such as commuting to work or school or going shopping in the neighborhood.

If you’re going off-road in remote areas, you might have to load it onto a transporter, but its slim and lightweight construction makes it easy to load and unload.

According to the published data, the maximum speed is 85km/h. The rear wheel torque is 250Nm. The climbing ability is 40 degrees. The vehicle weight is light at 78kg.

The appeal of the CAOFEN F80 lies in its light weight and slim body, smooth electric power delivery, and the ease of not needing to operate a clutch or transmission.

The lightness and ease of electric driving are outstanding.

The body is very slim and lightweight. It feels more like a slightly larger electric-assist mountain bike than a motorcycle. To start, you first need to press and hold the battery switch on the main unit until you hear an operating sound. Then, when you turn on the remote control key, the meter will light up. At this point, you can start riding by selecting D with the N/D button.

There are three power modes, but if you’re riding on the street, you’ll be fine with mode 3, which provides the most power. Modes 1 and 2 should only be used when you want to conserve battery power, when riding off-road on extremely slippery surfaces, or when trying off-road riding for the first time.

The starting acceleration with the motor is very powerful. It allows for brisk driving on the street. The starting acceleration is clearly stronger than that of engine cars in the same class, but once the vehicle speed reaches about 20km/h, the power feels like it drops to about 80%, so when it comes to overtaking acceleration once the vehicle is up to speed, the engine car seems to be superior. I guess it’s set to only produce strong torque at low speeds.

The regenerative braking can be switched on and off with a switch, and you can see that the deceleration force is stronger when it is activated. However, if you set the regenerative braking to a strong level (you can switch between off, weak, and strong), you can hear the generator operating and feel a slight vibration.

The tires are thin, and the body is light, so handling is light and the movement is agile. You can drive on the street comfortably. The brakes are not particularly good in terms of touch or stopping power, but they have enough stopping power for this body and performance.

Off-road freedom

It’s light and easy to operate, so it’s a lot of fun off-roading. What’s more, the speed range is low, so you can ride at the motor’s best. When you open the throttle from fully closed, the response is slow up to about one-eighth, and then the torque suddenly comes on, so depending on where you’re riding, you may need to use the rear brake as well. When doing this, it’s important to keep the wing icon on, because if it’s off, you won’t get any power even when you hold the rear brake.

The suspension movement isn’t particularly high quality, but the lightness of the body and the ease of handling of the electric power make up for it. Even beginners can ride off-road without hesitation, and veterans can take advantage of this lightness and characteristics to try new riding styles. It will show unbeatable off-road performance on rough and rugged roads.

After a half-day test ride, I found it to be a very interesting vehicle. Its ease of use gives it a toy-like feel. It seems like it could open up a new lifestyle, different from traditional motorcycles.

A long time ago, when I interviewed an overseas engineer, he said, “Vehicles that combine motocross bikes and MTBs will appear,” and he may have had in mind a motorcycle like the CAOFEN F80. The number of machines in this category is gradually increasing, so it will be exciting to watch it grow in the future.

Position & foot grounding (height 178cm, weight 76kg)

With the tester’s weight, the front and rear suspensions sunk quite a bit when straddling the bike. The body is slim, making it easy to control off-road. The rear brake is on the left lever, so it’s convenient to be able to control it with both feet on the ground.

The foot reach is very good, and because the body is light, even small people and beginners will feel much less anxious when enjoying off-road riding.

Detailed explanation

Main specifications