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The 300SS is CFMoto’s sportier entry into the small-displacement sportbike category.
The 300SS is CFMoto’s sportier entry into the small-displacement sportbike category. (CFMoto/)

Ups

Aggressive stylingStandard 5-inch TFT displayAffordable MSRP

Downs

Uncomfortable riding positionAwkward mirror placementSmaller-displacement engine compared to some competitors

Verdict

As far as entry-level sportbikes go, CFMoto’s 300SS is a powerhouse of value and performance. With a range of features and attractive styling, the 300SS is a worthy competitor in the US market, especially considering the bike’s modest $4,299 price tag.

The 300SS is available in Nebula White and Nebula Black color options. Not only is it an affordable entry into the sportbike category, but it also looks good, with a modern and stylish design.
The 300SS is available in Nebula White and Nebula Black color options. Not only is it an affordable entry into the sportbike category, but it also looks good, with a modern and stylish design. (CFMoto/)

Overview

Chinese manufacturing has historically been clouded by such things as poor-quality metals, imprecise castings and engine tolerances, poor quality control, and lackluster reliability, but even in 2022, is that still the case? If CFMoto’s new lineup of motorcycles is any indicator, it’s safe to say that these once-plausible claims are more of a fallacy in the current day and age.

Hailing from Hangzhou, China, CFMoto opened the doors to its Plymouth, Minnesota–based US headquarters in 2007 and hasn’t looked back. The brand originally specialized in ATVs and side-by-sides. However, upon noticing a massive gap in the motorcycle market that’s been long dominated by the Japanese Big Four and European manufacturers, CFMoto launched its line of bikes, including the top-selling 300SS.

This entry-level 300SS sportbike is nothing short of impressive, especially when considering the low price tag, peppy 292cc single-cylinder DOHC engine, standard TFT display, and stout build quality. Time will tell if the company has what it takes to change the market’s perception of Chinese motorcycles, but bikes like the 300SS have certainly started a shift in opinion.

There might be more performance-oriented models in the small-displacement sportbike category, but that doesn’t mean the 300SS isn’t capable of fun days in the canyons.
There might be more performance-oriented models in the small-displacement sportbike category, but that doesn’t mean the 300SS isn’t capable of fun days in the canyons. (CFMoto/)

Updates for 2022

As this is the first year of production for the 300SS, there are no updates to be found.

Pricing and Variants

The 300SS is offered alongside CFMoto’s similarly spec’d 300NK naked bike, which could be considered a variation of the platform. However, for those looking for a fully faired, small-displacement sportbike the 300SS is CFMoto’s sole option. Colors are the only notable options, the 300SS being offered in Nebula White and Nebula Black.

There is a slight cost increase over the 300NK thanks likely to the added costs of bodywork. While the NK is priced at $3,999, the 300SS crosses the $4,000 mark with an MSRP of $4,299.

Competition

There are no shortage of options in the small-displacement sportbike category, with nearly every manufacturer offering a beginner-friendly entry into the world of motorcycling.

Options include the Honda CBR300R ($4,899), Yamaha YZF-R3 ($5,499), Kawasaki Ninja 400 ($5,299), Suzuki GSX250R ($4,999), and KTM RC 390 ($5,799). If BMW’s G 310 RR comes to the US, that will be part of the competition as well.

With similar specifications and a significantly lower price tag, CFMoto’s 300 series isn’t designed to just compete in the current market but to undercut other bikes in its class. After all, why spend an extra $1,000 on a bike with similar features and a warranty? That’s CFMoto’s concept.

One thing to keep in mind is that each manufacturer takes a slightly different approach to the category, with bikes like the KTM RC 390 and Kawasaki Ninja 400 designed to offer a little extra performance for riders who may want to hit the racetrack.

The 292cc <p><a href=Read More

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By: Ron Lieback
Title: 2022 CFMoto 300SS
Sourced From: www.motorcyclistonline.com/story/buyers-guide/cfmoto-300ss-2022/
Published Date: Thu, 08 Dec 2022 23:00:47 +0000

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The latest motorcycle news, customs and classics
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By: Ben Pilatti
Title: Speed Read: A custom Kawasaki ER-6N from the future and more
Sourced From: www.bikeexif.com/custom-motorcycle-news-december-10-2023
Published Date: Sun, 10 Dec 2023 18:04:24 +0000

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Yamaha XS650 chopper by Purpose Built Moto
They say that perfect is the enemy of good. But when it comes to high-end custom motorcycles, shouldn’t perfection be the goal? Having never built a custom motorcycle in this style before, that’s the standard that Purpose Built Moto set for themselves with this Yamaha XS650 chopper.

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Yamaha XS650 chopper by Purpose Built Moto

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By: Ben Pilatti
Title: Master Stroke: Purpose Built Moto’s svelte Yamaha XS650 chopper
Sourced From: www.bikeexif.com/yamaha-xs650-chopper
Published Date: Tue, 05 Dec 2023 17:19:56 +0000

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1990 Norton 588 cc F1 Amid tough financial times in the 1980s, Norton was clinging to utilitarian rotary-powered roadsters like the Interpol 2, the Classic and the Commander to weather the coming years. There was a surprising amount of potential hidden in the humble 588 cc twin-rotor Wankel, though, and the engine would eventually form the basis of the British F1-winning RCW588. Never one to waste an opportunity, Norton debuted a street-legal version of RCW in 1989 dubbed the F1.

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By: Dean Larson
Title: EXIF Picks: Favorites from Bonhams December 2023 Sale
Sourced From: www.bikeexif.com/bonhams-december-2023-sale
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