CFMoto and KTM have enjoyed a close relationship since 2013. During that time, the Chinese brand leveraged Austrian engines to power models such as the 800 MT, 700 CL-X platform and 1250 TR-G grand tourer . Now offering adventure, touring and neo-retro models in the catalog, CFMoto has set its sights on sports cars in recent times.
The company not only debuted in the Moto3 World Championship in 2022, but also revealed its SR-C21 concept in November 2021. In April 2022, CFMoto opened reservations for the resulting production model, the 450SR . It seems that the company also has other ambitions in the coming years.
According to German media Motorrad, CFMoto filed a patent application for a 4 cc V1000-powered superbike in June 2022. This machine could potentially hold its own against today's top contenders thanks to its 204 hp. Yet the question remains: is CFMoto developing this engine in-house or sourcing it from a manufacturer? A concept that most renowned manufacturers have abandoned – with the exception of Ducati and Aprilia – given the cost and complexity of this type of engine.
Based on the drawings in this patent, the engine is a V4 with an angle that appears to be 75°, like the twin that KTM uses in its Super Duke and Super Adventure, despite the fact that on the current MotoGP prototype the Austrians use a 4° V90 (until 2017, the angle was 75°). But it is possible that the Chinese manufacturer based itself on Austrian engine technology to create its V4, sharing this know-how with its Chinese partner. On the other hand, the Mattighofen factory does not offer a V4 engine model in its catalog.
The drawings show two separate coolant lines for each cylinder block.
Short cams indicate that the engine is designed to move at high revs. Indeed, in the patent application, 150 kW is declared, or 204 hp.
At the moment it is only a patent registration, but everything indicates that we will see it in production. Remember that this had already happened with the 450 SR, the production motorcycle based on the SR-C21 prototype.
