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CFMoto goes all out on creativity for its latest concept bike.
Since the rise in popularity of mid-displacement supersport bikes with Aprilia and Yamaha gaining a hold on this trend with the RS 660 and YZF-R7 respectively. It looks like CFMoto, in partnership with KTM, is planning to launch the next step in this segment with their SR-C21 Concept Bike. The SR-C21 was first seen on a post by CFMotot and received much admiration from motorcycle fans around the world. Later the same month, this bike was spotted on one of CFMoto’s testing tracks in Shanghai City.
This new superbike has been developed by CFMoto R&D Europa Modena 40 design studio and will be launched in the Chinese Republic by 2022 with no news regarding its global launch as of now. By its concept looks, the SR-C21 is easily the best-looking bike from the company so far, with the designers clearly going all out on creativity. Although, the design aesthetics seem quite similar to the new 300SR with identical LED DRLs and major difference-makers being the winglets and single-sided swingarm. The new SR-C21 Concept Bike looks more like an evolved version of the 300cc superbike. The SR-C21 will get a new engine and a new frame, and the front pipe of the new engine design does indicate it as a dual cylinder engine.
The new 2022 CFMoto SR-C21 does hide some of its details with no specifications in regard to the engine, but there are some parallels drawn from the exterior photos released till now. While the engine is covered behind mostly carbon-fiber bodywork, the sports dual SC exhausts indicate the use of KTM’s 799cc parallel-twin engine and building on it. While this engine has been used in the 700CL-X Heritage but with just 74.4PS and 68Nm, this superbike may get a whole new engine or a revision of an existing engine. While CFMoto does have two of its own engines that it can use in this superbike. The 650cc and 700cc engines used in the 650NK, 650 Adventura, and 700CL-X as well as KTM’s 799cc “790” LC8c engines will be good alternatives to draw upon for this concept bike.
The parallel-twin engine doesn’t quite match up to any of the engines found in KTM and CFMoto bikes. The layout does look like the LC8c with the similar placement of major components like the starter motor, water pump, etc. but the castings don’t match. Many fans and auto experts predict that this may be the long-awaited smaller capacity “490” KTM twin. CFMoto is aiming to make quite a statement with the SR-C21 and will include some major components that will take performance to a new level. The suspension will include a fully adjustable Ohlins fork and link-type mono-shock. The bike will come with dual disc brakes up front with Brembo calipers. The discs look MotoGP style with caliper-cooling covers.
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CFMoto does share its design studio with KTM, many fans are expecting the SR-C21 to be the supersport bike expected from the Austrian automaker. The SR-C21 could be the middle ground between KTM’s latest flagship RC8C and RC390. With the components they have, CFMoto could very well make a cheaper and more accessible replica of the RC8C which would be dumbed down. This would be a proper succession from the 300SR which uses a lower displacement version of the RC390 engine.
The SR-C21 could be a revision of the new 700CL-X which comes with 73HP and 68Nm at 6500rpm. This would make the SR-C21 compete with well-established bikes like the Yamaha R7. But if CFMoto manages to come up with an under 9,000$ middleweight sports bike with features similar to the RC8C, there could be some competition for the Yamaha R7 and Aprilia 660. While it would be a long shot for the concept design to make it to production models, the SR-C21 does feature more premium components than the Yamaha R7 or the Aprilia 660. The production concept is scheduled to be launched in the next year with lower-spec components and materials.