Highs and Sighs: 2025 CFMOTO 675SS
With the 675SS, CFMOTO brings to the table an attractive upgrade for those looking to move up from small displacement sportbikes like CF’s own 450SS (or others in that class), or perhaps those looking to move down from bigger, more taxing sportbikes into something more agreeable and easier to ride. A 675cc Triple seems to be an attractive sweetspot, as a few other manufacturers have used similar engine configurations, and now CFMOTO’s crack at it has delivered something we think will resonate with buyers.
We had the chance to test the 675SS on both the street and the track, and came away mostly impressed with the latest middleweight sportbike offering to come out of China. That said, it certainly isn’t perfect. So, let’s get straight into it with three things we liked, and three things we didn’t, with the 2025 CFMOTO 675SS.
Photos by Nic de Sena (Static/Street) and CaliPhotography (Track)
High: Lots of bang for the buck
At $7,999 for the 2025 model year, the 675SS undercuts several members of the competition in the already stacked middleweight “sporty” bike category. For that cash you get a sharp-looking motorcycle with a fun engine and lots of tech that others charge you extra for or don’t provide at all. Not to mention you get fully adjustable suspension in the front and nearly the same adjustability in the rear, and the CFMOTO is an inexpensive platform to further hone your riding skills if you’re coming off a smaller machine like the 450SS.
High: Impressive tech for the money
For less than 8-grand, at least for the 2025 model year, the 675SS offers multi-level traction control, ABS, a TFT display, and an up-only quickshifter. It wasn’t long ago that those were features we’d see on bikes with double the price tag. While the SS doesn’t use more sophisticated IMU-supported systems, they work well enough, and their inclusion at all on a motorcycle meant to be a more streetable sportbike is impressive and definitely a perk for the customer.
High: It looks good, too
Yes, I know looks are subjective, but you certainly can’t describe the CFMOTO aesthetic as boring. CFMOTO’s angular and sharp lines tend to be in style among the younger crowd, and I know I’m no spring chicken anymore, but I think the 675SS looks pretty good, too. Judging by the looks this bike has garnered in the paddock of my local trackday, or at stoplights around town, if getting new blood into this sport is the goal for all manufacturers, then CFMOTO’s design team is on to something here.
Sigh: Top end power is a little lacking
I know the point of this engine isn’t to be a high-strung racer, but I can’t help but wish for more from this engine. Actually, let me specify: I’d like more from this engine once the pace gets spicy. The mellow nature of street riding fits well within the character of this engine. Maybe I’m spoiled from other Triples on the market today, but once the pace picks up, whether in the canyons or especially the racetrack, the 675 Triple leaves me wanting more. The crank feels like it has a heavy flywheel attached to it, which results in revs picking up slower than I’d like. Then once the revs pick up, it falls flat at the top — just when things are getting fun. At least the quickshifter sends off a satisfying “pop” with each upshift.
Sigh: Brakes could be stronger
Initially, after seeing the four-pot J.Juan radial calipers and steel-braided brake lines, I was feeling confident about the 675SS and its ability to scrub speed. There’s even an air scoop attached to the fork to help keep the brakes cool. The reality, however, is a braking system that leaves some to be desired. There’s decent power for normal street riding, but even in those mild conditions I wouldn’t mind more aggressive pads to give more bite. If you’re ripping in the canyons or track, the soft pads really require you to squeeze the lever hard, which then triggers the ABS to kick in, which means it takes even longer to scrub speed. While different pads would be my first upgrade, the brakes would help with a better master cylinder, too.
Sigh: Weird ergonomics
For all its positive aspects, the 675SS suffers from the same fault we’ve experienced on many other CFMOTOS — a funky seating position. The upper body is placed where you’d expect it to be on a sportbike; the clip-on bars hunch you over the top, but it’s not egregious. The oddity comes down below. Traditionally, sportbike pegs are placed slightly rearward and high, tilting the whole body forward. With the 675SS, however, the peg height is fairly neutral, but they’re positioned forward, which makes the rider fold at the waist and causes weird hip discomfort. The more limber may not notice, but those with hip issues, beware. The good news is that, at least in theory, a set of aftermarket rearsets could easily fix this.
