These are the two best-selling A2 adventure bikes of their generation, and they aren't quite aiming at the same thing. The CFMoto 450 MT is a genuine trail bike on a budget: 21-inch front wheel, 200 mm of travel, spoked rims. The Honda NX500 is a road-biased adventure bike: 19 and 17-inch wheels, cast rims and a twin known for its frugality. Both are A2-legal without a restrictor. Which one, and what will each really cost you?
Prices below are French list and dealer prices, our most complete reference; UK prices differ, so check your dealer.
Specs side by side
| Item | CFMoto 450 MT | Honda NX500 |
|---|---|---|
| New price (France) | Launched at €6,490 (2024); listed around €5,999 new at dealers in 2026 | €6,799; €7,299 with E-Clutch (prices since February 2026) |
| Engine | 449.5 cc twin, 270° crank | 471 cc twin, 180° crank |
| Power | 42 hp (31 kW) at 8,500 rpm | 47 hp (35 kW) at 8,500 rpm |
| Torque | 42 Nm at 6,500 rpm | 43 Nm at 6,500 rpm |
| Weight | 175 kg dry | 196 kg wet |
| Tank | 17.5 litres | 17.5 litres |
| Seat height | 820 mm | 830 mm |
| Wheels | 21 / 18 inch, spoked | 19 / 17 inch, cast |
| Suspension | 41 mm KYB USD fork, 200 mm travel | 41 mm Showa USD fork, 150 mm travel |
| Front brake | 1 x 320 mm disc, 4-piston caliper | 2 x 296 mm discs, 2-piston Nissin calipers |
| Equipment | 5-inch TFT, Bluetooth, traction control, switchable ABS | 5-inch TFT, Bluetooth, traction control, E-Clutch option |
| Warranty (France) | 2 years announced at launch | 6 years if serviced in the Honda network |
Watch the weights: 175 kg dry for the CFMoto, 196 kg wet for the Honda. Once 17.5 litres of fuel and the oil are in, the real gap shrinks to a handful of kilos. Some 2026 dealer sheets quote 44 hp for the 450 MT; your V5C is what counts.
On the road and off it: what the tests say
Published tests (1000PS, French and English-language press) agree on a few points:
- The 450 MT is the more capable off-road. Its 21-inch wheel and 200 mm of travel set it apart in the class: it goes where the NX500 starts to struggle. Testers praise a linear, easy-to-meter engine and an accessible riding position. The weak point often noted: a front brake judged a little short next to the Honda's twin discs.
- The NX500 is the nicer bike on tarmac. Five more horsepower, a road-focused chassis, twin discs and low fuel consumption that, with the same 17.5-litre tank, gives comfortable range. Off-road, it sticks to easy tracks.
- Honda's E-Clutch (€500 extra in France) lets you pull away, stop and change gear without touching the clutch lever, while keeping the lever for those who want it. For an A2 rider in town it's real comfort; the CFMoto has no equivalent.
To place both against the rest of the class, read the best A2 motorcycles of 2026.
Servicing: this is where the real gap is
| Job | CFMoto 450 MT | Honda NX500 |
|---|---|---|
| Oil + filter | 5,000 km or 6 months | 12,000 km or 1 year (European schedule) |
| Valve clearances | 40,000 km | About 24,000 km (every other service) |
| Oil | 10W-40 JASO MA2 | 10W-30 JASO MA |
The CFMoto's oil change interval is half as long. At 10,000 km a year, that's two visits a year instead of one. Out of warranty, a DIY oil change is about fifty euros in parts; at a dealer, with labour, it's considerably more. Valve checks, on the other hand, are further apart on the CFMoto. The full servicing detail is in CFMoto 450 MT: reliability, servicing and problems, and the how-to in our oil change guide.
The warranty changes the whole sum. In France, Honda covers the NX500 for 6 years with unlimited mileage, provided it's serviced in its network. The 450 MT launched with 2 years. UK terms are set by the UK importers: check the current conditions before you sign.
