For those who have been to attract a Venn diagram of the journey motorbike class, CFMoto’s Ibex 450 would sit down within the overlap between long-legged, tech-laden adventuring-touring giants like BMW’s R 1300 GS and lighter weight, much less adventurous choices like Kawasaki’s Versys-X 300, which act as an access into the adventure-touring global. That is recognized within the motorcycling global because the ADV candy spot—a spot the place midsized engines and svelte builds are paired with trendy tech, a extra inexpensive ticket, and no less than some off-road chops. It’s the place adventures develop into extra thrilling, yet no longer but overwhelming.
It’s additionally a spot the place, up till lately, you’d have discovered huge holes in producer lineups. There was once no bridge between larger, multicylinder rippers and more practical, less-refined small-displacement ADVs; you have been both all in or simply feet deep, with a chasm between choices.
Motorcycles like KTM’s 890 Journey, Aprilia’s Tuareg 660, Honda’s Transalp, Yamaha’s Ténéré 700, and Suzuki’s V-Strom 800DE have narrowed the space, proving that much less can in truth be extra in terms of off-road adventures. But when much less is extra, what’s a bit extra much less? Can a 450cc dual slender the space even additional with out falling into the class of low-budget, entry-level ADV? And will a producer in point of fact ship what you want for simply $6,500?
If the pearly whites peaking via our dust-covered grins are evidence of the rest (rather then that it’s dry season within the Philippines), it’s that the Ibex 450 is the rest yet an affordable, low-budget choice.
Similar: CFMoto Ibex 450 First Glance
2025 CFMoto Ibex 450 Engine
Key to the Ibex 450′s less-is-more design is its 449cc parallel dual with 270-degree crank—a changed model of what’s utilized in CFMoto’s 450NK and 450SS on-road motorcycles, with devoted camshaft design, airbox, and exhaust for advanced midrange. In Ibex shape, CFMoto claims 44 hp at 8,500 rpm and 32.5 lb.-ft. of torque at 6,250 rpm, whilst touting a short-but-peaky torque curve in comparison to the NK’s flatter curve.
For higher reference, KTM claims kind of 44 hp and 26 lb.-ft. for its to-be-confirmed 390 Journey, and Royal Enfield 40 hp and 30 lb.-ft. for its 452cc single-cylinder Himalayan. Honda’s current-gen CB500X dual made 42 rear-wheel horsepower and 29 lb.-ft. when strapped to our Dynojet dyno, whilst the Ténéré 700 is a step up with a measured 61 hp and 42 lb.-ft. on that very same dyno. Kove’s FSE 450R Rally is someplace within the heart, with a claimed 52 hp and 31 lb.-ft. of torque.
We point out each and every of those motorcycles since the Ibex may just realistically be regarded as along any; the entire level here’s to bridge gaps.
A part of the 450′s flexibility comes from CFMoto’s beautiful-sounding dual, which makes enough energy for light-to-moderate freeway using yet has a extra tractorlike energy supply in comparison to the 450NK we lately examined, making it higher fitted to off-road using. There’s a slight hesitation from the cable-actuated throttle, yet fueling is crisp past the preliminary opening and clean, tractable energy is laid down from as little as 3,000 rpm. This is helping with lugging via deep sand or up hills with no need to fret the engine, or your self.
To power that time house, CFMoto led us to a close-by off-road park and began layering hindrances on best people. Tight, sandy turns pointed up a steep grade aren’t our definition of amusing when it’s sizzling, humid, and dry, however the Ibex 450 powered during the stuff in some way that in actuality made us giggle. We had no industry getting during the stuff as simply because the Ibex allowed us to—credit score unexpected quantities of traction and clean energy supply.
Is the powertrain highest? No, yet the one actual worry we had was once with the snatch lever, which has a gentle, forearm-friendly pull yet little or no comments on the engagement level. For more recent riders and technical off-road using, extra comments can be most popular to assist to find the friction zone. Despite the fact that it comes on the expense of a somewhat heavier pull. At the plus facet, you get adjustable snatch and brake levers—great touches on a $6,500 motorbike.
2025 CFMoto Ibex 450 Chassis
Extra great options come within the type of a completely adjustable KYB fork and preload/rebound-adjustable surprise, each and every providing 8 inches of commute. Tubeless wheels are a grateful addition for someone who didn’t develop up converting tubes trailside (or doesn’t wish to) and are available 21- and 18-inch sizes, some other nod to the Ibex’s off-road intentions.
The chassis is all-new, CFMoto suggesting that it borrowed no less than some concepts from the KTM 790 Journey, due to its partnership with Pierer Mobility AG, highlighting the cross-pollination between CFMoto and PMG. Very similar to the Ténéré 700, the decrease a part of the Ibex’s body can also be got rid of for when operating at the motorbike or if it was once broken on a experience and must be changed.
Similar: 2024 Royal Enfield Himalayan First Experience Evaluation UPDATED w/Pricing
There are a few different tips in the back of the Ibex’s fairings, together with a two-position surprise linkage, which lets you decrease the rear of the motorbike and drop the seat peak from 32.3 to 31.5 inches. A taller accent seat raises seat peak to 34.3 inches.
Packaging and total dimensions are extra just like the full-size Ténéré 700 than the smaller KTM 390 Journey, with dealing with someplace in between. The motorbike is light-weight, impartial, and clean to influence via ruts or slick, dusty corners, with lots in reserve to make fast line adjustments when a rock (or stray canine) all at once emerges from the grime. Each common occurrences within the hills outdoor El Nido. In technical, slow-speed using, the motorbike is balanced and clean to stick on best of. It’s amusing and full of life, yet no longer in an on-edge method.
Alternatively, inventory suspension isn’t subtle and is just too stiff within the preliminary a part of the stroke, inflicting the motorbike to deflect off rocks and sharp-edged bumps. This lessens because the tempo selections up and you set extra load into the suspension, yet you by no means eliminate the “busy” sensation brought about via the fork. Be expecting to spend time getting the suspension dialed in in case you plan on doing a lot off-road using.
The tale is just about the similar at the avenue; the motorbike is agile and able to being ridden all day with out dressed in your frame out, yet rides low within the rear and is a couple of suspension tweaks clear of supplying you with the front-end self belief had to rail via corners. The broken-up asphalt sprinkled round El Nido, Palawan, didn’t inspire competitive using, and we with politeness obliged.
An added good thing about the mellow speeds we toured El Nido at is that the using by no means crushed the J.Juan brakes, which encompass a unmarried four-piston caliper and 320mm disc up entrance, and single-piston caliper biting on a 240mm disc out again. Braking energy is lots excellent for informal using, yet a numbness during the preliminary a part of the lever pull zaps some self belief throughout spirited using.
2025 CFMoto Ibex 450 Electronics and Different Options
Rider aids come with switchable ABS and traction keep an eye on, either one of which can also be grew to become off by way of an easy-to-reach transfer at the left facet of the handlebar or adjusted independently of each other during the 5-inch TFT. There are not any experience modes or cruise keep an eye on, that means fine-tuned efficiency comes down for your throttle hand. ABS intervention leans towards competitive, however the traction keep an eye on device is sweet in that it reacts temporarily and successfully as soon as the tire breaks free. Those are issues you need to get proper in 2024, and for essentially the most section CFMoto has, although there aren’t layers of settings for both device.
Similar: 2024 Yamaha Ténéré 700 First Experience Evaluation
Kudos additionally pass to the simply adjustable windscreen and folding mirrors, which can also be circled inward in order that your hands don’t hit them whilst status up. Doing so is if truth be told inspired, it sort of feels; while the rider triangle for many entry-level and on-road journey motorcycles makes status up really feel awkward, the Ibex’s pegs and handlebar are well situated for any form of using.
The one ergonomic-related drawback was once that for us, at 6-foot-3, our knees have been in consistent touch with the far-reaching (and sharp) edges of the extensive, 4.6-gallon tank. Transferring again within the saddle was once a Band-Assist, yet clean sufficient to get used to, and in each wrong way we preferred the gap and structure of the Ibex’s cockpit. Convenience, are compatible and end, and styling go beyond the fee.
Ultimate Ideas
CFMoto’s Ibex 450 has extra going for it than simply a good looking ticket. It’s a amusing and succesful bike—length—having the ability to make journey using extra obtainable to extra other folks.
Is the motorbike highest? No, however the engine is entertaining and the chassis fairly excellent, with only some {hardware} tweaks wanted for the motorbike to move from filling a void within the class to totally disrupting the gap. Already, it sits nearer to the bigger and costlier middleweight journey motorcycles than chances are you’ll be expecting, with sufficient personality and function to stay you entertained for for much longer than much less adventurous, entry-level machines.
That proper there may be the wonderful thing about a smaller motorbike enjoying within the ADV candy spot.
2025 CFMoto Ibex 450 Specifications
| MSRP: | $6,500 |
|---|---|
| Engine: | DOHC, liquid-cooled, four-stroke parallel-twin; 4 valves/cyl. |
| Displacement: | 449cc |
| Bore x Stroke: | 72.0 x 55.2mm |
| Compression Ratio: | N/A |
| Transmission/Ultimate Pressure: | Guide 6-speed/chain |
| Claimed Horsepower: | 44.0 hp @ 8,500 rpm |
| Claimed Torque: | 32.5 lb.-ft. @ 6,250 rpm |
| Gas Machine: | N/A |
| Snatch: | Rainy, multiplate slipper |
| Body: | Metal tube |
| Entrance Suspension: | USD KYB fork, totally adjustable; 8.0 in. commute |
| Rear Suspension: | Multi-link, KYB monoshock, spring preload and rebound damping adjustable; 8.0 in. commute |
| Entrance Brake: | 4-piston J.Juan caliper, 320mm disc w/ Bosch ABS |
| Rear Brake: | 1-piston J.Juan caliper, 244mm disc w/ Bosch ABS (switchable) |
| Wheels, Entrance/Rear: | 21 in./18. in. |
| Tires, Entrance/Rear: | CST Experience Ambro A4; 90/90-21 / 140/70-18 |
| Rake/Path: | 26.0°/4.2 in. |
| Wheelbase: | 59.3 in. |
| Flooring Clearance: | 8.7 in. |
| Seat Top: | 32.3 in. / 31.5 in. (decrease linkage mount) |
| Gas Capability: | 4.6 gal. |
| Claimed Dry Weight: | 386 lb. |
| Touch: | cfmotousa.com |
Gearbox
Helmet: Arai XD4
Jacket: Rev’It Twister 2
Pants: Rev’It Twister 2
Gloves: Spidi X-Drive
Boots: Alpinestars Tech 7 Enduro Drystar
