As-yet unreleased cruiser gets a self-shifter
Back in May we got the first look at CFMoto’s upcoming 250 CLC-V cruiser when the bike was type-approved in China ahead of its launch. Six months on that launch still hasn’t happened but another version of the bike has been given the nod by authorities with a semi-automatic version of the model making its appearance in November’s type-approval listings.
Visually, there’s little to separate the semi-auto from the conventional version of the CLC-V. Both models are a complete departure from the company’s existing 250 CL-C, replacing that bike’s single-cylinder engine and steel trellis frame with a brand new V-twin that sits in a chassis that combines cast aluminium segments at the rear with a steel front section and engine cradles.
The semi-auto model, however, is given away by the fact it has no gear shifter by the lefthand peg, and that the lever on the lefthand bar is fitted with a hydraulic master cylinder, indicating it operates the rear brake rather than the clutch. The previous, manual version that was approved in May had a cable-operated clutch, not a hydraulic one.
Putting the semi-auto side-by-side with the manual reveals that the exhaust has been redesigned, with pipes from both cylinders routed on the righthand side. That appears to be because the semi-auto has an extra, matte black engine cover behind the lefthand footpeg, no doubt containing the electromechanical servo that shifts the gears. The original bike’s exhaust would have hit that component. Also new is a thumb-and-forefinger shift controller under the lefthand bar, allowing manual gearchanges.
That all means this isn’t simply an electronic clutch model, like the E-Clutch bikes that Honda offers in this segment of the market, but a fully-fledged automated manual transmission. That’s not common on bikes in the 250cc class, even in China where such systems are rapidly gaining traction thanks to way they appeal to riders who’ve cut their teeth on twist-and-go scooters.
The bike wasn’t among CFMoto’s new model launches at the EICMA show, suggesting it’s being held back until early 2027 before an official unveiling.
