CFMOTO’s 500SR Gets an Electronic Clutch and Ride-by-Wire in China

Automatic-clutch technology is spreading fast, and CFMOTO has its own version. The Chinese maker now lists a 500SR electronic-clutch version on its official Chinese site, at RMB 33,980. It pairs an automated clutch with ride-by-wire, cruise control and three ride modes on its 500cc sport bike.

It isn't on sale in the U.S., and CFMOTO hasn't said it will be. But CFMOTO sells motorcycles here, and the system works much like Honda's E-Clutch, which is now on several U.S. models.

The short version

• What it is: a 500SR sport bike with an electronic clutch that handles starts, shifts and stops.
• You still shift: gears are selected with your foot; you can grab the lever to take over any time.
• Options: the electronic clutch can be turned off in the dash menu, and shift-lever effort has three settings.
• Also standard: ride-by-wire, cruise control, and Sport, Street and Rain modes.
• Output: CFMOTO lists 58 kW at 12,500 rpm and 49 Nm at 10,000 rpm.
• Price: RMB 33,980 in China. No U.S. price or plans announced.

How CFMOTO's electronic clutch works

CFMOTO says the system "liberates the left hand" by managing the clutch automatically when you pull away, change gears and come to a stop. Like Honda's E-Clutch, it's not an automatic transmission:

• You choose the gears with the shift lever.
• Squeeze the lever and you're in manual control; release it and the system takes back over.
• Turn it off completely through the instrument menu if you'd rather ride a conventional clutch.
• Adjust shift effort to soft, medium or hard.

That combination is meant to make stop-and-go traffic easier and help newer riders avoid stalls, while letting experienced riders use the lever when they want to.

The rest of the package

The electronic-clutch 500SR also gets:

• Electronic throttle, which CFMOTO says gives fast, precise response
• Cruise control
• Three ride modes: Sport, Street and Rain

CFMOTO lists 58 kW (about 78 hp) at 12,500 rpm and 49 Nm (about 36 lb-ft) at 10,000 rpm. It also claims a ram-air effect adds about 3.5% more peak power above 120 km/h. Those are maker figures.

The official owner's manual identifies the bike as the CF500-18. This version shouldn't be confused with the retro-styled 500SR Voom or the base 500SR, which have different equipment.

Why U.S. riders should notice

Honda's E-Clutch has made automated clutches a mainstream option on U.S. showroom floors. A Chinese maker with a U.S. dealer network offering its own system on a mid-size sport bike suggests the feature won't stay a Honda exclusive for long.

If CFMOTO brings this version to the U.S., the questions to ask will be the usual ones: U.S. price, warranty, dealer support and parts availability.

What we don't know

• U.S. availability or pricing
• Exact launch date in China
• Independent testing of the system

Bottom line

CFMOTO's 500SR electronic-clutch version, listed in China at RMB 33,980, adds an automated clutch with manual override and an off switch, plus ride-by-wire, cruise control and three ride modes. CFMOTO hasn't announced it for the U.S.