Compass Expeditions

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PICK YOUR WEAPON: CFMOTO 800MT EXPLORE VS 800MT-X

CFMOTO’s 800MT Explore and 800MT-X might share DNA, but out on the road and dirt they reveal two very different personalities. If you’ve been trying to decide between the CFMOTO 800MT Explore and the 800MT-X without riding them back-to-back, it’s easy to assume the differences are fairly minor. Same engine platform, same family name, similar pricing.
How different can they really be? Quite different, as Compass Expeditions' Pete Vorst found out...

While both bikes sit under the same 800MT umbrella, they approach adventure riding from opposite ends of the spectrum. One leans heavily toward adventure touring comfort and road tech, while the other feels purpose-built for riders who want to spend a lot more time standing on the pegs with dirt launched off the rear tyre.

At their core, both bikes are powered by CFMOTO’s KTM-derived 799cc LC8c parallel twin, and the two MT models share a significant amount of hardware. Bosch electronics feature heavily on both bikes, along with a six-speed gearbox, power-assisted slipper clutch and a very good bi-directional quickshifter that works cleanly whether you’re riding hard on bitumen or bouncing through rough terrain.

But despite the shared platform, the engines don’t feel identical.

The CFMOTO 800MT-X produces 95hp (70kW) at 8500rpm and 87Nm at 6750rpm, while the 800MT Explore makes 91hp (67kW) at 9250rpm and 75Nm at 8000rpm. On paper the horsepower difference looks negligible, but the extra torque and lower delivery point on the MT-X change the character of the bike noticeably. It feels punchier, stronger off the bottom and more eager driving out of corners or climbing loose terrain. The Explore counters with a smoother, more relaxed highway feel that suits long-distance touring better.

CFMOTO has also gone out of its way to separate the two bikes electronically.

The 800MT Explore is clearly the technology-heavy touring flagship of the pair, loaded with rider aids and road-focused convenience systems. It features six ride modes including Sport, Rain, Off-Road, Off-Road+, All-Terrain and All-Terrain+, allowing extensive adjustment of throttle response, traction control and ABS intervention depending on the terrain.

The more aggressive dirt-oriented settings even allow traction control reduction or deactivation, while All-Terrain+ can disable both front and rear ABS entirely.

The MT-X keeps things deliberately simpler. It runs just three ride modes — Standard, Rain and Off-Road — and the overall feel is less about menu-diving and more about riding. Rear ABS and traction control can be disengaged, although front ABS remains active, which is a slightly odd limitation considering the Explore allows full ABS deactivation front and rear.

Both bikes use Bosch cornering ABS and traction control supported by a six-axis IMU, but again the focus differs. The Explore prioritises touring safety and refinement, while the MT-X feels tuned to stay out of the way once conditions get rough.

So how do they compare on tech, suspension, off-road handling and price?
Read the full CFMOTO review + more pics here:

https://compassexpeditions.com/blog/cfmoto-800mt-explore-800mtx-review-price/
CFMOTO Motorcycles Australia ARIA TeamMoto Motorcycles Cassons Australia Motorcycle Pete Vorst