CFMOTO 450SS / 450SR Simplified Maintenance Schedule and Service Intervals
This is the maintenance schedule and service intervals for the CFMOTO 450SS / 450SR, the entry-level (but riotous!) sport / road bike from CFMOTO.
The CFMOTO 450SS / SR is a parallel twin-engined everyday sport bike powered by a 450 cc parallel twin with a 270-degree crank, which gives it a bit more bark than your average small bike. In US trim, it makes 50 hp / 37 kW at 9500 rpm, though in other markets it’s very slightly de-tuned to make it A2 / LAMS compliant.
Final drive is through a 6-speed transmission and slipper clutch.
The CFMOTO 450SS is known as the 450SS only in the US. In every other country in the world, e.g. Australia and Europe, it’s the 450SR. Unfortunately, this means I have to refer to it as the 450SS / 450SR throughout this article, just to make sure people know I’m talking about their motorcycle.
From 2024, CFMOTO has also released the adventure-ready CFMOTO 450MT, based on the same engine platform.
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CFMOTO 450SS / 450SR Sport Service Intervals
The CFMOTO 450SS/SR has service intervals of 3000 miles / 5000 kilometers or six months between oil changes — quite a bit shorter than most of the competition in this class, other than the Kawasaki Ninja 400 which has 3750 miles / 6000 km or annual service intervals.
At every service, do a full inspection. There are a number of items to do every second service, including changing the spark plugs, plus inspecting some items like the air filter.
On the other hand, the valve service interval is a healthy 24000 mi / 40000 km, on the long end for most motorcycles (which tend to be around 16000 miles / 25000 km, other than for Yamaha motorcycles).
As the engine in the 450SS / 450SR is liquid-cooled, you have to keep the coolant fresh, as well as keep the brake fluid fresh — schedule a liquid replacement every two years.
What you need to service a CFMOTO 450SS / 450SR
Below is a list of the items CFMOTO suggests you get to service your 450SS/SR.
These are from the manual as well as the service manual.
| Part | CFMOTO 450SS/SR spec |
|---|---|
| Engine oil | CFMOTO recommends SAE 10W-40 SJ / JASO MA2 grade engine oil, e.g. Mobil 1 10W-40. |
| Oil filter | The CFMOTO part for the oil filter is 0700-070200. You can get them from Aliexpress for about $10 shipped. |
| Spark plugs | Use type BN8RTI, a Chinese spark plug you can get from Aliexpress, too. |
| Brake fluid | Use a DOT 4 brake fluid, like Castrol DOT 4. |
| Coolant | The manual specifies “green”-coloured ethylene glycol-based coolant suitable for aluminium engines. Most coolants meet this spec, so something common like Zerex G05 should fit the bill. |
| Brake pads | The CFMOTO 450SS/SR uses a Brembo M40 radial caliper at the front. |
CFMOTO 450SS / 450SR Sport Maintenance Schedule
Maintaining the 450SS / 450SR is quite easy, given it’s a parallel twin-powered sport bike, but the maintenance schedule in the manual for the CFMOTO 450SS / 450SR motorcycles is presented in a complicated format (see the screenshots at the end).
The manual has lists of items with different time and distance maintenance intervals, and the layout of the table is quite confusing.
To simplify it, we’ve broken out maintenance into the following sections:
- The standard service inspection checklist
- The regular maintenance schedule
CFMOTO 450SS / 450SR — Maintenance Schedule
Below is the full maintenance schedule for the CFMOTO 450SS / 450SR.
Notes:
- The break-in schedule below is basically an oil/filter change plus a full inspection (above)
- At the end of the schedule, keep following it in the pattern shown
| mi x 1000 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 12 | 15 | 18 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km x 1000 | 5 | 10 | 15 | 20 | 25 | 30 | Every |
| Full inspection checklist (see below) — Perform | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year | |||
| Engine oil — Replace SAE 10W-40 Jaso MA2, e.g. Mobil 1 10W-40 Oil drain bolt torque: 25 Nm / 17 lb-ft | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 6 months |
| Coarse oil filter — clean | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 6 months |
| Spark plugs — Check/adjust | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||||
| Spark plugs – replace Type BN8RTI Tighten to 15 Nm / 11 ft-lb | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||||
| Valve clearances — Check / adjust | 24000 mi / 40000 km | ||||||
| Throttle — Inspect and adjust if necessary. Clean throttle body (except at break-in) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Air filter — Clean. Replace if necessary | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Air filter — Replace | ✓ | 2 years | |||||
| Battery – check charge state, and recharge if necessary | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 6 months |
| Suspension system — Inspect and repair/replace as necessary | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 6 months |
| Idle speed – check, adjust Target: 1400 rpm, +/-10% | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Suspension system — Inspect and repair / replace as necessary | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Clutch – Inspect, adjust free play, and replace clutch pack if necessary Free play: 10-20mm / 0.4-0.8 in | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Electrical parts (lights, horn, and switches) — Check function | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 12 months | |||
| Wheel bearings – check condition, repair or replace if necessary | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | – | |||
| Brake fluid – replace (Castrol DOT 4) | 2 years | ||||||
| Frame — Inspect for damage, repair or replace as necessary | ✓ |
CFMOTO 450SS / 450SR — Annual Inspection Checklist
Below is the annual inspection checklist for the CFMOTO 450SS / 450SR. This is the basic checklist of things to look over every time you service your bike, per the schedule above
| CFMOTO 450SS / 450SR Sport annual inspection checklist |
|---|
| Tyre pressure – Inspect/adjust (See below table) |
| Throttle body — Clean |
| Electrical parts (lights, horn, and switches) — Check function |
| Fuses and circuit breakers — Check |
| Cables and wires – inspect for damage, bending, and routing |
| Wheel condition — Inspect and repair or replace if necessary |
| Front and rear braking systems — Check correct function |
| Front and rear brake pads and disc — inspect condition and thickness |
| Brake lever – inspect free play, smooth operation Free play: ~7mm +/-2mm (0.27 in +/0 0.08 in) |
| Brake fluid – inspect level (between upper and lower). Note that the level changes as the brake pads wear out. |
| Brake hoses — Check condition and sealing |
| Brake pedals — Inspect free play |
| Gear shift pedal — Inspect free play. (Range: 5mm) |
| Front fork and rear shock — Inspect for oil leakage and general condition |
| Steering bearings — Inspect for looseness, notchiness |
| Coolant level — Inspect and replenish if necessary |
| Radiator fan function — Inspect |
| Cooling hoses — Check condition |
| Chain, rear sprocket, and engine sprocket — Check wear |
| Fault control memory — Check with PDA |
| Movable parts — Lubricate and inspect flexibility |
| Bolts and nuts — Inspect tightness |
| Cables — Check for damage, bending, and seating |
| Pipes, ducts, hoses, and sleeves — Inspect for cracks, seals, and proper placement |
CFMOTO 450SS /SR Chain Maintenance
Clean and lubricate the chain often, especially after riding on rainy days.
Here is the chain maintenance schedule for the 450 SS / 450 SR.
| Chain maintenance task | Every |
|---|---|
| Check chain condition. Clean and lubricate with a high-quality chain lubricant (e.g. Motul chain lubricant) | – 400 miles / 600 km – Or after riding in rain/mud, or after washing the motorcycle |
| Check chain tension and elongation, and adjust if necessary See notes below | 600 mi / 1000 km |
Checking chain tension/slack and elongation
To check chain tension and elongation on the 450 SS, do the following tests, and adjust as necessary.
To check chain tension:
- Put the shifter into neutral.
- Find the tightest point of the chain, rolling the motorcycle around until you see the chain move to its loosest position.
- Take all the load off the bike and put it on its side stand on a flat surface.
- Push the chain up and measure the total deflection. This is the chain slack.
- Do the same for the chain in its tightest position.
Target chain slack for the CFMOTO 450SS / 450SR: 25-35 mm (1-1.4 in)
In both positions, measure elongation (stretch) in the chain.
- Hang a standard 10 kg / 22 lb object from the chain in the middle point
- Use a ruler to measure length between 20 links.
Target chain stretch for the CFMOTO 450SS / 450SR: 320.7 mm / 12.6 in
If the chain is over-stretched, you should replace it. But if it’s not, you can tighten it to within spec, using the following procedure.
- Loosen the rear axle (use a breaker bar) and the adjuster lock nuts on either side of the axle.
- Turn the adjuster nuts to tighten (or loosen) the chain. Keep checking the chain tension to see if it has come within spec.
- Keep an eye on the adjuster alignment marks on either side of the axle. Make sure that the adjustment is to the same point.
- When you’re done, tighten the axle to 105-110 Nm / 77-81 lb-ft.
- Re-check the chain slack again to make sure it’s still within spec.
CFMOTO 450SS/SR Sport Tire and Wheel Specs
Below are the tire sizes and recommended tire pressures for the 450SS / SR.
| Wheel | Tire size | Tire pressure (cold) |
|---|---|---|
| Front | 110/70R17 | 32.6 psi / 225 kPa |
| Rear | 150/60R17 | 35.5 psi / 245 kPa |
These are baseline recommended pressures, meant for an average rider doing everyday riding.
You can adjust the tire pressures for how you ride your bike.
About the CFMOTO 450SS / 450SR
The CFMOTO 450SS is Chinese company CFMOTO’s entrant into the entry-level sportbike category. It’s a competitor to Kawasaki Ninja 400 in many ways — but the CFMOTO is not a clone, neither visually, nor in terms of its engine.
Before the Kawasaki Ninja 500, which Kawasaki released shortly afterwards, and the Aprilia RS 457, the CFMOTO was the only sport bike in the “450” class.
The engine in the 450SS / SR is a 449-cc parallel twin with a 270-degree crank, which gives it a bit more bark (or, with the stock exhaust, at least a snarl) than your average small bike. In US trim, it makes 50 hp / 37 kW at 9500 rpm, though in other markets it’s very slightly de-tuned to make it A2 / LAMS compliant.
It’s a brighter 450 than the Honda CBR500R, whose 471 cc parallel twin has a square bore/stroke ratio, and which is designed to be a lower revving, more reliable unit.
Here’s how the engine specs for a few similar motorcycles compare, for reference.
| Item | Aprilia RS 457 | CFMOTO 450SS/SR | Honda CBR500R | Kawasaki Ninja 500 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | Parallel twin, 270-degree crank | Parallel twin, 270-degree crank | Parallel twin, 180-degree crank | Parallel twin, 180-degree crank |
| Capacity | 457 cc | 449 cc | 471 cc | 451 |
| Bore x Stroke (mm) | 69 x 61.1 mm | 72 x 55.2 mm | 67 x 66.8 mm | 70 x 58.6 |
| Bore / Stroke ratio | 1.13 | 1.3 | 1.0 | 1.19 |
| Compression ratio | 13.5:1 | 11.5:1 | 10.7:1 | 11.3:1 |
| Peak power rpm | 9400 | 9500 | 8500 | 9000 |
As you can see, the CFMOTO has a surprisingly high bore:stroke ratio for a small bike.
What’s interesting about the CFMOTO 450SS/SR is, like with many CFMOTO motorcycles, the relatively high spec level.
The fork is an inverted unit, though it’s of course non-adjustable. The front brake is a single disc radially mounted caliper, and not just any caliper — it’s a Brembo M40 unit.
The clutch is a “CF-SC” (which I think stands for “CFMOTO Slipper Clutch”) slipper clutch, a relatively rarity in the class. And the display is a 5-inch TFT unit with Bluetooth connectivity. The display even has a navigation option that shows the next turn on the screen.
The ride of the CFMOTO 450SS is surprisingly sporty. The clip-on handlebars are bolted under the triple tree and don’t rise much — so you’re leaned forward. It’s not uncomfortable, but nor is it as comfortable for an everyday commuter as some might expect.
The CFMOTO exudes quality. Put it this way — if you didn’t know it was a Chinese motorcycle, and were looking for evidence that its quality would match some miscellaneous knick-knack you got off Alibaba, then you’d be disappointed. You wouldn’t assume that this were Chinese. It’s not to say that it’s built like a steel tool like something out of Milwaukee, but it rather matches anything entry-level from the other brands — which these days are built in Thailand, India, or elsewhere in China anyway. The CFMOTO 450SS / SR definitely pulls its weight in the entry-level class in terms of quality.
The only fly in the ointment of ownership of the 450SS / 450SR is the too-frequent service intervals. Changing the oil every 3000 miles / 5000 km is more frequent than any other brand. At least the valve service doesn’t come up often.
Reference — Manual screenshots for the 450SS (450SR)
The above information came from the manual for the CFMOTO 450SS.
You can see screenshots from the manual as references below.
You can download manuals for CFMOTO motorcycles from the CFMOTO USA website.
