Bike Review | 2026 CFMOTO 800MT-ES, Electronic Suspension

Packed with advanced electronics, intelligent electronic suspension and serious touring credentials, the CFMOTO 800MT-ES delivers impressive comfort, performance and technology at a surprisingly affordable price, as we find out over a two week test…

The factory-fitted three-piece aluminium luggage makes the 800MT-ES ready for serious touring.

You probably weren’t around when power steering for cars came in. I was, and my mates and I thought it was the silliest thing we’d seen for quite a while, ever since, perhaps, automatic transmissions were introduced. None of us would have a bar of either. Automatic transmissions slowed you down, and both they and power steering diluted your relationship with the car. Today, while I still prefer a manual gearbox, I am actually surprised to find one when I get into a car. As for power steering, I wouldn’t buy a car without it.

The 8-inch TFT touchscreen features built-in navigation and smartphone connectivity.

Heated grips are standard, with controls conveniently positioned on the left switchblock.

The adjustable windscreen provides extra protection on longer touring rides.

Four riding modes and three electronic suspension settings are accessible through the TFT display.

That’s my not-so-subtle way of suggesting that all the ‘gadgets’ we are finding on new bikes will one day become not only common, but expected. Some of my friends shake their heads at novelties such as cornering ABS, radar-assisted safety systems and the various automatic gearboxes we are beginning to see on motorcycles, but it seems inevitable that eventually it will be difficult to find new bikes without them. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

“Yes, electronic suspension on an adventure bike priced at $18,490 ride away.”

With that in mind, let’s take a look at CFMOTO’s 800MT-ES, the latest addition to the firm’s middleweight adventure-touring range. And right up front, let me hit you with something the bike does for you, automatically and unasked: it adjusts its suspension as you ride, responding to changing conditions without requiring you to stop and reach for a spanner or screwdriver. Yes, electronic suspension on an adventure bike priced at $18,490 ride away. There was a time when that would have sounded like science fiction.

The 800MT-ES stands for Electronic Suspension, with CFMOTO calling its system the Intelligent Suspension System, or ISS. It uses electronically controlled front forks and a rear shock to adapt damping to road conditions, rider input and load, helping the bike remain composed whether you are cruising on the highway, negotiating rough backroads or carrying a passenger and luggage. The idea is simple: less time fiddling with suspension settings and more time enjoying the ride.

The Intelligent Suspension System automatically adjusts damping to suit changing road conditions.

The system offers three damping settings, Comfort, Standard and Sport, along with four-stage preload adjustment. It also incorporates speed-sensitive and road-adaptive damping, with anti-wheelie and anti-recoil functions. Rather than relying solely on a fixed suspension setting, the electronics work to keep the bike settled as conditions change. On the relatively poor gravel and particularly poor tar I tackled during the test, I found the system pleasantly reactive, taking some of the sting out of rough surfaces and making the ride more comfortable. My back was grateful for all that.

The rear 260mm disc is paired with a J.Juan caliper and Bosch ABS.

Heated seats are standard, adding comfort for winter touring.

The protected 19L fuel tank provides useful range for extended touring.

Twin 320mm front discs feature radial calipers and cornering ABS.

It is worth remembering that this is an adventure tourer rather than a hardcore off-road machine. The Australian-spec 800MT-ES uses 19-inch front and 17-inch rear alloy wheels, fitted with Michelin tyres, rather than the larger 21-inch and 18-inch combination found on the more dirt-focused 800MT-X. That makes sense for the ES, which is aimed at riders who spend plenty of time on sealed roads and touring routes, while still wanting the freedom to explore gravel roads when the opportunity arises.

“It is aimed at riders who spend plenty of time on sealed roads and touring routes, while still wanting the freedom to explore gravel roads.”

The chassis is built around a tubular steel frame, with an alloy swingarm, and a steering damper helps maintain stability. Ground clearance and suspension travel are more road-oriented than the X model, but the ES still has the ability to handle the sort of rough surfaces adventure riders regularly encounter.

The 800MT-ES combines road-biased 19-inch front and 17-inch rear wheels with Michelin Anakee Adventure tyres.

It comes equipped with factory-fitted aluminium luggage – a three-piece pannier and top-box arrangement, making it ready for touring straight out of the showroom. Heated grips and a heated seat are also standard, along with cruise control, a centre-stand, handguards and an alloy bash plate. There is also tyre pressure monitoring, LED lighting and a slipper clutch, while a bi-directional quick-shifter allows clutchless changes both up and down the gearbox.

The adjustable windscreen helps tailor wind protection to the rider.

Removable aluminium panniers mount to sturdy frames on either side.

The riding position is upright and comfortable, with wide handlebars and a seat height of 825mm. The fuel tank holds 19 litres, giving the bike useful touring range, while the adjustable windscreen helps keep wind pressure under control. The claimed wet weight is 231kg, so it is no featherweight, particularly once the luggage is loaded, but the layout and ergonomics are designed to make it manageable on long days in the saddle. The factory luggage also saves the expense of sourcing a touring setup separately.

“The claimed wet weight is 231kg, so it is no featherweight, particularly once the luggage is loaded.”

Then there is the electronics package, which is becoming an increasingly important part of modern motorcycle design. A Bosch six-axis IMU supports cornering ABS and traction control, while drag torque control and wheelie control help manage the bike’s behaviour when conditions or rider inputs change. Four riding modes, Sport, Rain, Off-road and All-terrain, allow the rider to tailor the response to the circumstances. The 8-inch TFT touchscreen provides the main interface, with connectivity through the CFMOTO RIDE app.

Radar Detection System (RDS) adds an extra layer of awareness by helping alert the rider to vehicles approaching in adjacent lanes. I can imagine some traditionalists questioning whether this sort of technology belongs on a motorcycle, but it is precisely the sort of safety assistance that may eventually become commonplace. Whether you embrace it or not, it is impressive to see it included in a middleweight adventure tourer.

The 800MT-ES features radar-assisted blind-spot detection, adding another layer of safety when touring.

In the go department, the 800MT-ES features CFMOTO’s 799cc, liquid-cooled, DOHC parallel-twin engine, the same basic capacity as its 800MT siblings. It produces a claimed 70kW at 9250rpm and 77Nm of torque at 6500rpm, with a six-speed gearbox and slipper clutch. There is plenty of performance for an adventure tourer, whether you are overtaking on the highway, climbing through the hills or heading out for a weekend away with the panniers packed.

The 799cc parallel twin produces 70kW at 9250rpm and 77Nm at 6500rpm.

A bi-directional quick-shifter allows clutchless gear changes in both directions.

Serrated footpegs provide extra grip when riding on loose surfaces.

Side-laced spokes allow the wheels to run tubeless tyres.

I particularly like the 800 to 900cc capacity range, which generally offers a useful balance between performance, manageable weight and touring practicality. The 800MT-ES has enough punch to make progress enjoyable without feeling excessive, and the engine is well suited to the bike’s broad range of duties. It is not a giant-capacity adventure machine, nor does it need to be. For many riders, this middleweight class offers all the performance they are likely to need.

“The engine is well suited to the bike’s broad range of duties.”

Of the mentioned modes, Rain mode provides a more conservative response, while Sport sharpens things up. Off-road and All-terrain modes offer alternative settings for changing surfaces and riding conditions. The electronics are there to assist rather than dominate the experience, and once you have selected the appropriate mode, you can concentrate on the road ahead.

The 800MT-ES is more road-biased than the 800MT-X, but handles gravel roads comfortably.

As with many modern parallel twins, I would still like the fuelling to feel as polished as possible at low engine speeds, particularly when trickling through traffic or negotiating tight, uneven sections of road. Nevertheless, the 799cc engine offers a useful spread of performance, and the overall package makes sense for the intended role. It is a versatile engine in a versatile motorcycle, and that is really the point.

The aluminium panniers feature protective lining to help prevent damage to your belongings.

The padded interior extends to the lids of the factory-fitted luggage.

What impressed me most was how the electronic suspension took the effort out of finding a comfortable setting for changing surfaces. On rough tar and gravel, the bike felt pleasantly composed, and the ability to choose between Comfort, Standard and Sport gives the rider a useful degree of control over the overall feel.

”The 799cc engine offers a useful spread of performance, and the overall package makes sense for the intended role.”

The system is not a substitute for good suspension design, of course, but it adds another layer of adaptability to a motorcycle that may be asked to cover hundreds of kilometres in a day. For someone who regularly changes between solo riding, carrying a passenger and travelling with luggage, the promise of suspension that adapts to the conditions without manual adjustment is appealing.

The ISS electronic suspension adapts damping to rough surfaces, making gravel-road touring more comfortable.

Considering the amount of equipment CFMOTO has packed into the 800MT-ES, it is a compelling proposition in the middleweight adventure-touring market. The Australian ride-away price is $18,490, backed by CFMOTO’s three-year factory warranty program, subject to its service conditions. That puts the ES above the more basic 800MT variants, but the electronic suspension and extensive standard equipment help explain the difference.

“Considering the amount of equipment CFMOTO has packed into the 800MT-ES, it is a compelling proposition in the middleweight market.”

As for me, I started this story by talking about power steering and automatic transmissions. I still prefer a manual gearbox, but I have learned that technology can earn its place when it makes a machine better to use. The 800MT-ES has certainly given me food for thought. At $18,490 ride away, I can tell you one thing: I’d have one.

The Bear was impressed enough with the 800MT-ES to declare, ‘I’d have one.’

2026 CFMOTO 800MT-ES Specifications

cfmoto.com.au

Price: $18,490 ride away
Colours: Neptune Blue, Glacier White
Claimed power: 70kW @ 9250rpm
Claimed torque: 77Nm @ 6500rpm
Wet weight: 231kg
Fuel capacity: 19L

Engine: Twin-cylinder inline, liquid-cooled, DOHC, 8-valve, 799cc, 88 x 65.7mm bore x stroke, electronic fuel injection, 12.7:1 compression ratio. Gearbox: 6-speed Clutch: Slipper

Chassis: Chrome molybdenum steel trellis frame, aluminium alloy swingarm
Rake: N/A Trail: N/A
Suspension: 41mm USD forks, fully adjustable electronic Intelligent Suspension System (ISS), 160mm travel (f); fully adjustable electronic monoshock, 150mm travel (r). Three damping settings (Comfort, Standard, Sport), four-stage preload adjustment, speed-sensitive and road-adaptive damping.
Brakes: Dual 320mm discs, J.Juan radial calipers, Bosch cornering ABS (f); 260mm disc, J.Juan caliper, Bosch ABS (r). Wheels & Tyres: Michelin Anakee Adventure tubeless tyres, 110/80 R19 (f), 150/70 R17 (r), cast-alloy wheels.

Dimensions:
Length: 2234mm
Width: 853mm
Height: 1277mm
Wheelbase: 1531mm
Seat height: 825mm
Ground clearance: N/A

Instruments & Electronics: 8-inch TFT touchscreen display, four riding modes (Sport, Rain, Off-road, All-terrain), ride-by-wire throttle, cruise control, Bosch six-axis IMU, cornering ABS, traction control, drag torque control, wheelie control, bi-directional quick-shifter, Radar Detection System (RDS), tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS), LED lighting, CFMOTO RIDE app connectivity, electronically adjustable front and rear suspension, heated grips, heated seat and steering stabiliser.
Extras: Three-piece aluminium luggage set, alloy bash plate and centre-stand.

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