CFMoto ST Papio

The concept of ‘monkey bikes’, which refers to motorcycles with short stances and compact dimensions, is nicely executed by CFMoto ST Papio. The motorcycle looks small but is worth noticing due to its aggressive design language, which makes it an attention magnet.

At the front, the CFMoto ST Papio has an edgy-looking front fascia, comprising of an angular halogen headlamp flanked by body-coloured sharp and slim panels. Above the headlamp, the motorcycle has a tiny black cowl, which has slim LED turn indicators attached to its sides. This entire front fascia adds some muscle to the otherwise short stance of the motorcycle, which is compete with a short front wheel with a full fender above it.

While the small 12-inch wheels and low ground clearance make the CFMoto ST Papio look diminutive, the motorcycle has muscular aggression in the design of its fuel tank and side body panels. While the sharp knee recesses make the fuel tank look brawny, they are not that good enough to make taller riders feel accommodating on the motorcycle. There are a lot of sharp creases and corners on the side body panels of the CFMoto ST Papio, which add even more aggression to its look.

Towards the rear, the CFMoto ST Papio has wide-looking panels on either side of the long and slanted single seat. These body panels end up with a tiny LED tail lamp at the back. A stubby rear fender is attached to this tail section, which has mounts for license plates and LED turn indicators, though the tail section misses out on proper pillion grab rails. The 3-spoke 12-inch wheels and stubby exhaust pipe look proportionate concerning the overall stance and size of the motorcycle. The CFMoto ST Papio also gets aluminium panels for the footrest mounts.

The CFMoto ST Papio comes equipped with a nice, wide-looking handlebar, which comes equipped with premium switchgear on both sides and a compact fully-digital instrument console in the middle. This LCD unit displays vehicle speed, odometer, trip meter, and fuel gauge.

Due to its short stance and nicely-positioned handlebar, the CFMoto ST Papio feels agile and on its toes at all speeds and on all corners. Shod with 120/70-12 front and 130/70-12 rear tyres over 12-inch alloy wheels, the ST Papio has premium upside-down telescopic forks at the front and cantilever-type mono-shock at the rear for suspension duties. Despite it being an entry-level motorcycle, the ST Papio doesn’t showcase any compromise in its mechanical hardware. A combination of single-disc brakes at the front and rear completes the mechanical setup of the CFMoto ST Papio.

The CFMoto ST Papio sources its power from a compact four-stroke, single-cylinder, air-cooled, 124.5cc engine, which happens to be the smallest motorcycle engine in the CFMoto family. Paired with a 6-speed gearbox, this engine produces a maximum power output of 9.5 PS and a peak torque output of 8.3 Nm. These figures are decent enough to make the small-sized motorcycle feel zippy, especially at lower RPMs.

The CFMoto ST Papio is an entry-level 125cc compact commuter, so expecting premium safety features from such an affordable motorcycle might not be justifiable. However, it gets disc brakes for a safer and quicker braking experience.

With its edgy styling and agile handling, the CFMoto ST Papio is one apt commuter for those who are new to motorcycles and want an affordable entry-level motorcycle which is easy to ride and handle. Covering all the essential grounds, the CFMoto ST Papio could have had more modern features to make it even more lucrative.