2026 CFMOTO 675SS
Base Price: $ 7,999 Website: CFMOTOusa. com Warranty: 2 yrs., unltd. miles Engine Type: Liquid-cooled, transverse inline-Triple, DOHC w / 4 valves per cyl. Displacement: 675cc Bore x Stroke: 72.0 x 55.2mm Horsepower: 95 hp @ 11,000 rpm( factory claim) Torque: 51.6 lb-ft @ 8,250 rpm( factory claim) Transmission: 6-speed, cable-actuated slip / assist wet clutch Final Drive: Chain Wheelbase: 55.1 in. Rake / Trail: 26 degrees / 4.2 in. Seat Height: 31.9 in. Wet Weight: 429 lb Fuel Capacity: 4.0 gal. Fuel Consumption: 43.5 mpg
The best example of manufacturers cutting corners is typically the suspension, so I leaned down in hopes of locating an unfamiliar brand name on the shock and fork but read a name I was not expecting: Japan’ s KYB. The same stuff that comes on Kawasaki, Suzuki, Yamaha, and Triumph motorcycles. I’ ve been using KYB suspension on my bikes for years, and I love the stuff. Ah, but these were probably nonadjustable old- tech versions with cool new stickers on them. Well, my flathead screwdriver responded with a resounding“ no” as it spun this way and that, enabling fine- tuning adjustments to rebound and compression on the fork and rebound and preload on the shock.
So what if it had quality suspension components on it? Big deal. I didn’ t care at that point, because my new plan was to pick up the speeds on some fast Southern California canyon roads and watch the CFMOTO house of cards come tumbling down.
For this high- intensity task, I squeezed into my Mithos track suit and slammed a lukewarm prune juice. I was ready. The first bit of feedback the CFMOTO gifted me as speeds danced toward triple digits was disheartening, because all I uncovered was a super smooth engine and fueling that revealed no hesitation or odd hit anywhere along the
Don’ t confuse this platform for a mild imitation. It’ s fully capable of pouncing at a moment’ s notice.
Bottom left: Lightweight wheels and swingarm and a pleasing exhaust are some examples of the attention to detail that the 675SS displays. Bottom right: Aerodynamic winglets help generate downforce and maintain better road contact.
journey through six gears on up to the 11,000- rpm hard ceiling. Yes, the rev limiter let me know the fun was over somewhat abruptly, but by then I was heading straight to Xanadu with a huge grin on my face.
Along the way, I noticed a suspicious lack of vibration emanating from the bars, seat, or pegs. This lack of vibes was something I observed almost immediately at freeway speeds a day earlier, but I was hesitant to admit it to myself because it didn’ t fit my world view at the time. Even more frustrating, the up- only quickshifter was rapid and smooth while at half throttle, full throttle, and everywhere in between. At slower speeds it was a little clunky getting from gear to gear if my left toe was lazy, but once I shifted with purpose it was butter, so that was more of a me problem.
Sure, the 675SS had proven to be good up to that point, but what about the brakes? Maybe they’ re the Achilles heel of the CFMOTO. After all I’ ve never heard of J. Juan brakes; who even manufactures them? Excuse me, what’ s that? Brembo makes them? The top- tier Italian brake manufacturer? Crap. Well, I guess that explains why I couldn’ t get them to fade while I hammered them at high speeds about 15 times in a row. In retrospect I guess it makes sense, because these are dual 4- piston calipers squeezing the daylights out of big 300mm discs.
20 / SEPTEMBER 2026 / RIDERMAGAZINE. COM