My previous motorcycle was a 2018 Kawasaki Z900, which I rode for 6,000 miles.
After taking a 50 mile demo ride with the CLX Sport, these were my first impressions compared to the Z900....Suspension is great. It seemed like I could never get the Z soft enough, way too firm for my lazy fair weather riding style. I haven’t adjusted the suspension yet, as it feels right for my 190 lb. weight and soaks up bumps nicely. I’m not sure what’s going on in the back, if it’s the swingarm design or the KYB shock (or both), but it’s a good one for me. I was specifically riding over manhole covers, RR tracks, known rough road surfaces and never once did I feel the need to raise my butt up off the seat like I did with the Z.
IMO, this is a well-designed bike and the fit and finish is as good as Japanese and European bikes. I did a thorough cleaning of the bike with close inspection of welds, hoses, wiring, cabling, switch gear, and panel attachments. The overall build is excellent.
After riding the CLX Sport for 700 miles, these are my impressions compared to the Z900....When doing high-speed (85 mph) wide sweeping curves, leaning through short radius curves, and doing high-speed straight line runs… I feel more confident on the CLX Sport than I ever did on the Z. It felt light in the front-end compared to the CLX.
I routinely ride a highway that has (5) 90 degree wide-sweeping turns and (4) lesser degree sweeping turns. Very familiar with this road, two summers with the Z on a regular basis. The first time I hit this road with the CLX, I noticed the difference.
What is the reason? Tires (Maxxis MA-ST2), better front-end stability, lower center of gravity, overall suspension package, or a combination of things? I honestly don’t know…it just feels more planted on the road. Thought I had the Z setup as best I could for my weight and rider sag. I tried different settings front and back to get the best ride. Many owners were upgrading the rear shock, and some were upgrading the front forks as well. Will this happen with the CLX? Who knows.
The Z had Dunlop GPR-300 tires, not the crappy OEM D214 tires. But I do believe these Maxxis tires are softer and heat up quicker than the GPR-300.
The seat comfort on the CLX Sport is excellent compared to the Z900 OEM seat, which felt like sitting on a 2x4 board and butt hurt at only 30 minutes. Many owners were trying aftermarket seats or re-doing the foam cushioning. I had both the OEM seat and a Corbin seat for the Z. The Corbin was very good, but the CLX Sport is even more comfortable.
The Brembo braking system is a bit much, but with some riding time, one gets accustomed to it. There is a good review on the CLX Sport at Motorcycle.com with no over-the-top PR language, just a straight-on honest opinion that rings true to this owner's experience.
https://www.motorcycle.com/manufacturer/cfmoto/2022-cfmoto-700cl-x-700cl-x-sport-review-first-ride.htmlComfortable ergonomics, smooth gear box, stable handling, excellent braking, and plenty of get up and go. Brembo brakes, ABS by Continental, fully adjustable KYB forks, smooth non-jerky Bosch ride-by-wire, and a slipper clutch. Easily on-par with other "name brands".
Additional information in my other posts.