CFMoto 250 Dual could be the lightweight green lane bike UK riders have been waiting for
CFMoto has launched its new 250 Dual in Malaysia, and while there's no word on a UK arrival, its lightweight spec and bargain price make it an intriguing prospect.
CFMoto has pulled the wraps off its first new model of 2026, and while it's currently only destined for the Malaysian market, the new 250 Dual looks like exactly the sort of lightweight trail bike many UK riders have been asking for.
Small capacity dual sport bikes have become something of a rarity in Europe. Honda's CRF300L has long been the default choice for riders wanting an affordable green lane machine, while Kawasaki's KLX300 remains absent from UK showrooms. That leaves a gap in the market that CFMoto could be well placed to fill, should it decide to bring this little bike to Europe.
The 250 Dual has launched in Malaysia priced at RM9,888, which works out at around £1,700 at current exchange rates. Of course, that figure shouldn't be taken as any indication of what it would cost here. Taxes, shipping, homologation and local pricing strategies would all push the price higher, assuming the bike ever makes it to the UK in the first place.
Even so, the specification suggests this isn't simply another budget commuter wearing adventure styling. Power comes from a 249cc liquid-cooled, single-cylinder engine producing 24bhp (18kW) at 8,000rpm and 16.6lb-ft (22.5Nm) of torque at 7,000rpm. Fuel injection is standard, and the bike gains a six-speed gearbox with chain final drive.
The chassis is built around a steel tube frame with upside-down front forks and a rear monoshock. CFMoto claims 160mm of front suspension travel, while the bike rides on proper off-road sized wire-spoked wheels, measuring 21 inches at the front and 18 inches at the rear, shod with an 80/100 front and 120/80 rear tyre.
Ground clearance stands at a healthy 245mm, while the seat height is a manageable 840mm. Wet weight is quoted at 154kg, putting it in the same ballpark as its established rivals and making it light enough to inspire confidence once the tarmac ends.
Braking comes courtesy of single discs front and rear, backed up by dual-channel ABS, while equipment includes full LED lighting, a digital dash, a USB charging socket and a side stand safety switch.
A 13-litre fuel tank should also give the little single decent range between fill-ups, making it just as suitable for back-road exploring as it is for weekday commuting.
The styling is refreshingly honest too. Rather than trying to mimic a full-size adventure bike, the 250 Dual looks every inch a traditional trail bike, with slim bodywork, high-mounted mudguards and plenty of room to move around when riding off road.
Whether it ever reaches British dealers remains the big question. CFMoto has been expanding aggressively across Europe over the past few years, and its range now covers everything from learner bikes to 1,000cc adventure machines. A lightweight dual sport would make plenty of sense alongside those models, particularly as interest in green laning and lightweight adventure riding continues to grow.
For now, though, the 250 Dual remains a Malaysia-only model. If CFMoto does decide to bring it to the UK (and manages to keep the pricing competitive), it could become one of the most interesting entry-level trail bikes on sale.
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Simon (AKA Toad) has been working within the motorcycle industry for more than twelve years, and a member of the motorcyclist family since birth. Growing up around British-built single and twins, it was inevitable that a life on two wheels was on the cards, from a very early age!
