CFMOTO is a Chinese manufacturer founded in 1989 that also builds engines and motorcycles for KTM. What you get for the money, where the brand is still young, and how it stacks up against Polaris, Can-Am and Honda, from a dealer that sells all four.
Yes, CFMOTO is a good brand for riders who want the most equipment for the money, and it has earned a place on our lot next to Polaris, Can-Am and Honda. CFMOTO is a Chinese manufacturer founded in 1989 that builds engines and motorcycles for KTM, so it is not a startup. Its side-by-sides and ATVs usually cost less than a comparably equipped machine from the established brands. The trade-off is a shorter track record in the US, which makes the dealer behind the machine matter more.
We sell and service CFMOTO in Ontario, Oregon, alongside the brands it competes with, so this is the same answer we give on the sales floor.
Who Makes CFMOTO?
Zhejiang CFMOTO Power, based in Hangzhou, China. The company started in 1989 as an engine and motorcycle-parts maker and began building complete machines, mostly ATVs, in the early 2000s. It has been listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange since 2017 and sells in more than 100 countries.
CFMOTO also has a long partnership with KTM, the Austrian motorcycle maker. The two began working together in 2011, formed a joint venture in 2017 to build and sell KTM motorcycles in China, and CFMOTO assembles smaller KTM models and builds KTM’s LC8c twin-cylinder engine. A manufacturer KTM trusts with its engines is building to a real standard.
Where Are CFMOTO Machines Made?
In CFMOTO’s own factories in China. Dealers in the US sell and service them through CFMOTO’s US distribution, the same way the Japanese brands work through their US arms.
What Does CFMOTO Do Well?
Value. This is the reason most buyers look. CFMOTO prices its machines below comparable models from the established brands, so the same budget buys a higher trim or more accessories.
A full lineup. CFMOTO covers the same ground as the big brands:
- UFORCE utility side-by-sides for ranch work and hunting
- CFORCE ATVs, from youth-friendly sizes up to full-size work quads
- ZFORCE sport and trail side-by-sides
- Street and adventure motorcycles: the Ibex, NK, Papio and SS lines
Engines. The KTM connection shows in the motorcycles, and the company built engines before it built anything else.
Where Is CFMOTO Still Young?
Track record. Polaris, Honda and Can-Am have decades of US ownership history behind them. CFMOTO has less, so there are fewer high-hour machines out there to judge long-term durability by.
Dealer coverage. CFMOTO has fewer US dealers than the established brands. Parts move through the dealer network, so a buyer with a CFMOTO dealer nearby gets a very different ownership experience from one who has to drive three hours for a part.
Resale. The US used market for CFMOTO is younger, so resale values are harder to predict than they are for a Honda or a Polaris Ranger. If you trade every few years, ask what a CFMOTO is bringing on trade before you buy.
Is CFMOTO as Good as Polaris?
It depends on what “good” means to you. Polaris has the bigger dealer network, the longer history and stronger resale. CFMOTO usually gives you more equipment for the same money. For a working machine you will keep for years, with a dealer close by, CFMOTO is a strong value; if resale or a nationwide dealer network matters most, Polaris has the edge.
Our CFMOTO UFORCE vs Polaris Ranger comparison goes through it model against model. For the motorcycles, we have put the CFMOTO Ibex 450 against the Honda NX500 and Kawasaki KLE500 and the Ibex 800 against the Suzuki V-Strom 800 and Honda Transalp.
Are CFMOTO Parts Hard to Get?
Not through a stocking dealer. CFMOTO parts are sold through its dealers, so availability comes down to the shop you buy from. Our parts counter in Ontario orders genuine CFMOTO parts, and our service department works on CFMOTO in-house.
What Warranty Does CFMOTO Offer?
CFMOTO’s factory coverage and its extended-warranty offers vary by model and by the promotion running that month. Ask for the warranty terms in writing for the exact machine before you sign, and compare them with what the other brands are offering the same week.
Which CFMOTO Should You Buy?
- Ranch, farm and hunting work: a UFORCE.
- One rider, tight trails or chores around the place: a CFORCE ATV.
- Trail riding for fun: a ZFORCE.
- Street and adventure riding: the Ibex adventure bikes, or the NK and SS for the road.
The best way to decide is to ride one against the brand you are comparing it to. We carry CFMOTO, Polaris, Can-Am, Honda and Kawasaki on one lot with an on-site test track, so you can drive them back to back in an afternoon.
Shopping for a CFMOTO Near Boise or Ontario?
Edge Performance Sports is an authorized CFMOTO dealer at 1625 N Oregon St in Ontario, Oregon, about an hour west of Boise on I-84. See CFMOTO in stock, or call sales at 541-903-5438.