Picked this up from the local dealer last Friday for my partner Wendy to ride. She was having trouble with being in the right gear with the Virago that I had bought for her a couple of years ago, and we talked about a scooter for her. I was uncomfortable with the small wheels of the scooter on the crap roads around here, and when I came across the V5 with its motorcycle size wheels and frame I thought we might be better off with it. Specs ; 244cc OHC 2 valve fuel injected single water cooled 14.9Kw (copy of a Honda CH250), full auto transmission, large (300mm f, 250mm r) disc 4 piston brakes, 18" f and 16"r billet alloy wheels, 17Lt tank (over 400Km), 166Kg wet. Very quiet with the huge muffler, can hear the fuel pump running. I got a special deal being the first one in town, came with the panniers, top box and windshield for no extra cost. Is quite pleasant to ride (although I am still getting used to not changing gears) and although it will 'not pull your arms out of the sockets' is does gather speed quickly. The seating position is very good with the footboards being in just the right place for comfortable knee bends. It is very well finished with thick chrome and deep paintwork. The plastics and frame welds are as good as any Japanese bike I ever had. Only time will tell how good it is, but for a cheap run about (3.1Lt/100) it will be ok.
CVT with a rubber belt. Same drive unit as used in the Jet max scooter but in a proper bike type frame.
I didn't even think to search for this bike on this forum. Thought it would be a little outside the "norm". I bought my wife the V3 version of this bike. It was released in 2007 and I bought one in 2009. I have attached a review of said bike as well as the specification of the V3. Personally, I loved it. My wife didn't ride it too much because, while it had a low seat height, it was also very heavy for her 50kg frame. I ended up using it to go to work, the shops and even coffee with the boys (to thunderous laughter from all concerned). It is literally the easiest bike you'll even ride. Just like a scooter, but with a full bike frame and feel. It was a bit of a gimmick bike in that it had a radio (?) and a cassette player with builtin speakers...really? who thinks of these things? I got rid of a bit of weight by ripping all that rubbish out. you could also get an aftermarket intake for much better airflow and by going up a jet size, much better performance. After market CDI and a few other bits would have made the bike really nice to ride, because in it's standard form with 100kg of ballast on board (me) it couldn't pull the skin of a rice pudding! Good comfortable riding position and good handling made travelling a pleasant experience. Would have been perfect if they dropped a 650cc in there like they suggested they would do, but that never eventuated. Enjoy
It is certainly 'outside the norm', but as you said it is so easy to ride it just puts a grin on my face as I breeze past the traffic. This one is injected (euro 3 compliant) and CF Moto now use the same injection systems as Ducati, and I believe it would tear the skin off pudding. To give it a fistful from the lights, it hooks in and drives and I am doing 50Km/h by the time I get across the intersection. To do 110Km/h on the highway is not a problem for it with the 'ballast' on board. I find the brakes are tops, good feel and plenty powerful for the weight. Mine does not have the radio, but the speaker grills are still there and usb plug is under the seat. Have seen u tubes of the Chinese cops using them in the cities. Be perfect bike for that job. The only problem we had was the water pump leaking, replaced under warranty and no more problems, so all good. I have three CF Moto's now (500 quad, V5 and a 150 Leader) and would be happy to buy more if required.
I tell you Murdo, the older I get the more I think this is the right bike for me to have. I didn't know they went with EFI...makes sense and it would help heaps. Ours was always pretty frugal and easy to ride. The build quality of those early bikes was awful. Its frame looked like they gave a child a welder and said "just do your best"! Reminded me of the welding on the T34 tanks! I sold the thing after I got my wife (Deb) an SRX250 and customised it a little for her. Much lighter and seat height wasn't a problem. When you put the 2 bikes side by side you can accept there's a substantial volume/size difference! I'm sure if the SRX was automatic she would still have it. Cheers Frank
Can you tour on a 250? Of course you can, and last weekend I did. Loaded my tool bag, a change of clothes, checked the coolant, oil, tyre pressures, filled with fuel and headed north. I went through Manilla, Barraba to Bingara where I booked into the only motel in town. I travelled around to look at things I had seen when passing through but never stopped to inspect. I great feed and a couple of drinks at the local RSL club and in for the night. Light breakfast at motel, packed and back on road. I sometimes have a habit of wondering 'what is down this road' and then going to find out, so a few side detours on the way home. Wee stop before Barraba. From Bingara lookout looking west to the Nandewar ranges. Remains of the gold mine stamper that was the reason for the location of the town. Top of the ranges (and the steepest hill). Checking the dam had water in it (but not much). From Manilla looking back to Tamworth (over the hills). I sat on 100Km/h along the flats, but hills knock the speed down (one particular 1Km long fairly steep hill I started at 105Km/h at the bottom and was back to 75Km/h at the top but still chugging along as the pulleys changed the ratio to keep the engine at the best revs) and I was 'stretching the throttle cable' a few times. It did well to carry me and gear with it's mighty 14.9Kw, and used 13.4Lt (from 17lt tank)for 417Km travelled (=3.2Lt/100 or 85mpg for older folks). Only 'breakdown' (if you can call it that) was the left side mirror coming loose a few Km from home which required a stop to tighten. The weather was great and the empty roads a delight. I am impressed with how well the little bike coped with the load and the hills and would be happy to go on an even longer trip sometime.
I still don't know why they never did this with a bigger engine? It goes fine with a 250cc single cylinder, imagine one of those big scooter donks (Burgman) in that setup/configuration...you'd never get off it!
Hey guys, I recently bought a CF Moto V5 and I'm interested in just about any mods possible, in particular, I'd like longer front forks and more forwards protruding foot rests if possible or if they exist? perhaps a windshield, a more noisy exhaust and any performance related mods anyone is aware of? thanks guys
Hey Silvo, I'm not sure about the V5 as I had a V3 which was before they imposed changes to the exhaust system. I got all my go faster bits from Scrappy Dog Scooters ... http://www.scrappydogscooters.com/250cc_Performance.html Cheers Frank
With the sun showing its head for the first time in a couple of weeks I went to visit my son (the long way) today. The V5 needed to have a long run and once out of town it was so good to see all the farm dams full and water lying in paddocks with the grass covering hills and dales alike. Big difference from the last couple of years. Stopped at the Loomberah hall for a photo of the little country church my parents used to visit back in the mid 1940's. Still used today. Looked at how much water we still don't have (13% left now) even though we have had more rain in the last month than ALL of last year. Stopped at the Woolomin shop for a quick lunch before finally making my way to son's house to drop off an oil filter for his SWM. Home after a pleasant 145Km ride.
With other peoples stuff out of my shed it was time to give the V5 some love. The waterpump gasket has been having a slight weep, so lifted off the bodywork and drained the coolant (I use waterless coolant) and removed the pump outer. Gasket looked ok but put some sealer on it anyway. Tightened the drain plug on the radiator which had also been having a weep and refilled the coolant. I lifted the belt cover for a cleanout and measured the belt. It has only worn 0.3mm in nearly 5,000km (limit is 2mm) so I think it will see me out.
Murdo..... If you still around, i need you help... please message me. I need help with a red flashing light just above the P indicator
Or does anyone here have knowledge of what the red light above the Park indicator is. My model is the 2014 model so I am guessing its the EFI variant and maybe the light is a fault indicator. If this is the case, it seems to be error 23 but I cant find anywhere that explains what this is
Russell, it is only the service reminder. Hold throttle fully open, turn on key and wait until red light stops flashing, turn off key and close throttle. Ride as normal. How many Km on yours?
Took the V5 to visit my sister in Gunnedah today, taking the back roads and a few stops along the way. First stop was to visit my great, great, great grandparents graves at Carroll. They came to Tamworth in '49 (that's 1849) and were school teachers at the first Tamworth school. They later moved to Carroll and ran the post office and school. Good to see the cemetery being looked after. Stopped at the lookout to check out the farming on the Breeza Plains but is still a bit early for cotton harvest. After lunch with my sister I traveled the Wean road to the junction with the Boggabri to Manilla road. Our local member is campaining to get this road sealed all the way but wish he would hurry up. Still, the V5 handles the dirt quite well and after about 25Km we came back to the tar again. Good ride on a sunny day is always a pleasure that makes washing the dust off the bike a bit easier to bare.
After 8 years of use I have had my first breakdown problem. When out with the bike club last Sunday we stoped at Somerton pub for lunch, and I found coolant over the back wheel and dripping onto the ground below the engine. I checked the reservoir and it still had some in it, so after lunch came home the short way. Yesterday I put the bike up on the bench and took off the left side panels. This gave me access to the rad cap and overflow bottle. The plastic bottle had weep stains around it near one of the mounting tabs, and after cleaning off found a small crack. Out with the soldering iron and abs sticks for a repair. Dipped in soapy water and applied air pressure to opening and no bubbles. Fitted back on bike with rubber washers so there was no pressure on the mounting tabs to cause it to crack again. Filled with more coolant and just home from a 50Km ride and all dry.
