Motorcycle Reviews

First Ride Review: CFMoto 800MT Explore 2026 — We Spent Six Days on Tarmac and Trail to See If This Budget Adventure Tourer Can Genuinely Compete With the Established Mid-Range Field

We spent six days aboard the 2026 CFMoto 800MT Explore, covering everything from motorway slabs to rocky forest trails, to find out whether this Chinese-built adventure tourer has what it takes to genuinely challenge the Honda Africa Twin, Yamaha Ténéré 700, and Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 in the hotly contested mid-range segment. The 800MT has always shown promise, but CFMoto's 2026 revision brings sharper electronics, a retuned chassis, and a more aggressive price point — so does it finally deliver the complete package? Read on for our full first ride verdict.