OZ ATV :: The Australian ATV Forum

[skidw500]

Hi all, Has anyone had any experience with CF Moto quads? I am interested in any feedback, good or bad, as they seem quite cheap. They seem to have a few extras you only get by paying a lot more with the known brands. Im in the market for a new 4WD quaddie!
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Canam Outlander 500
Garmin CSX60

[Dino]

I've had a CF500A for over 3 years. Trail riding, hunting and soon to be used mustering quads. ( see events section for the quad muster @ Townsville.) Also used around some farm work I do, + some touring .

Plus is it's a 2 seater on a longer wheel base, stable and comfortable, good on juice. Good range. Decent racks. Real 4wd and front difflock. Service items are cheap. Good brakes. Already fitted with the needed lighting and mirrors for limited road use. The company has excellent credentials having been Original Equipment suppliers for major components of several big brand names since 1988.

Minus is brand name owners trying to justify why their bikes are 5,6 and 7 grand dearer. Engine braking not real flash because it hasn't a one way bearing in the clutch. ( fixed on later models) Brake wear is lousy in muddy conditions. Rear seat passenger doesn't have a elevated seating position.

Overall, I believe they are a honest bike at a fair price. Set the toe-in correctly and adjust the preloads on the suspension for your requirements and they are very good to ride.
If your not a brand snob, you're unlikely to be dissapointed. Well suited to first timers, general quad work and trail riding IMHO.

Some dodgey "dealers", like any brand, don't help with lousy pre-delivery and service, although the current official importer is appearing to do a better job selecting resellers.

Would I buy another? Yes, and will be adding a 800cc job to the stable. I'll be keeping this bike for a lot of jobs for a while yet!
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Remember. We elect politicians, but we have to deal with bureaucracy.
Notice that crazy in the bureaucrats.

[skidw500]

Thanks Dino, sounds like you have had a good run with your 500
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Canam Outlander 500
Garmin CSX60

[DarwinTerra]

Adding my 2cents.

The bike is brilliant. For the money you get a hell of a lot of bike.

My only qualm would be fuel consumption of my 800cc TERRALANDER. Driving it kindly and not caning it I'm only getting 100ks to a 23 liter tank. The supplier for cf moto up here is a good mate so we are in the process of trying to figure out its so thirsty. Still waiting for the main importer to give us some figures as to why it's so stupidly thirsty.

[Dino]

DarwinTerra wrote:

Adding my 2cents. The bike is brilliant. For the money you get a hell of a lot of bike. My only qualm would be fuel consumption of my 800cc TERRALANDER. Driving it kindly and not caning it I'm only getting 100ks to a 23 liter tank. The supplier for cf moto up here is a good mate so we are in the process of trying to figure out its so thirsty. Still waiting for the main importer to give us some figures as to why it's so stupidly thirsty.

Fuel consumption. Funny thing that.
My 500 has been regularly using about 2 litres an hour trail riding and putting about the paddocks. We did a odometer check once and two up it came in at a tad better than 7km/l, while on the same trip, a TGB 550, brand new and still running in pulled about the same and a re-clutched 700 Grizzly did 5km/l neat.
However, my fuel gauge has always shown empty when it got down to half a tank, as have many other CF Moto's I've been in contact with.
So probably keep track of actual litres for km/hours to gauge consumtion.

We just got back from a 200km road ride between Mingella and Herveys range return.
Sitting on about 65km/h, which it's always been happy doing, the road consumtion was a pleasantly surprising >10km/l, while the return was at a much quicker pace ( somewhere between flat out and nearly that. ) it was exactly the same!
The earlier mentioned TGB was slightly better, with most bikes using less than anticipated. A Can Am 800 Outy took the honours though, using 7 litres of fuel for the first leg riding solo. On the return leg, riding two-up and finding the rev limiter, that was about doubled.

So yeah, funny thing that fuel consumtion.......deposit on a new Terralander will go ahead just the same after riding same at the quad muster. Seem like a good tourer to me.
_________________
Remember. We elect politicians, but we have to deal with bureaucracy.
Notice that crazy in the bureaucrats.

[DarwinTerra]

Yeah I thought the guage may have been a bit how ya going however filling it up at the pump confirmed its usage. 4.3 k's/l driving it at less then 50km/h. Only put 300km on it do far and owned it since new.

[Dino]

DarwinTerra wrote:

Yeah I thought the guage may have been a bit how ya going however filling it up at the pump confirmed its usage. 4.3 k's/l driving it at less then 50km/h. Only put 300km on it do far and owned it since new.

My early fuel consumption was not as good as now. Hopefully once run in your figures will improve. Mine didn't "loosen up" fully until about 900kms passed......
Mates in FNQ tell me that 4.3km/l is on parr with many other similar bikes such as Polaris Sortsman 800 and Can Am 650 & 800cc though that is very dependant on the riding conditions.
I only run Premium in mine now though. The bike starts and pulls better with it.
_________________
Remember. We elect politicians, but we have to deal with bureaucracy.
Notice that crazy in the bureaucrats.