2025 CFMOTO IBEX 450 Review (Updated With Video)

You can add CFMOTO to the growing list of manufacturers that are offering a smaller and lighter-weight ADV bike to the market. BMW arguably created the adventure-motorcycle category with its GS line, and several other manufacturers joined the party. ADV bikes kept growing in size and displacement over the years to well over 1000cc and those big bikes dominated the category until a lot of midsized ADV models like the KTM 790 (and now 890), Yamaha Tenere 700, Aprilia Tuareg and even BMW’s own F 900 GS proved that you could have great on-road performance and far better off-road performance with smaller bikes. The 601-900cc ADV category has had more brands/models and sales than those bigger bikes over the past five-plus years, and now several manufacturers are throwing another option into the market. The sub-600cc ADV category includes the KTM 390 Adventure R and Adventure X (new for 2025), Royal Enfield Himalayan 450, BMW F 450 GS (which looks a lot more ADV-ready than the BMW G 310 GS) and the CFMOTO IBEX 450 among others. These smaller and lighter ADV bikes blur the lines a little with the dual sport category and offer another alternative to people who want a smaller and lighter ADV option.

Photography by Miguel Santana and Sean Finley

UPDATE May 29, 2025: Scroll down to view the video

You may not have heard of CFMOTO yet, but the Chinese manufacturer is regarded as one of the premium motorcycle brands in its home market. They also produce engines and complete bikes for some well-known brands, including KTM. In fact, CFMOTO has manufactured and sold several KTM models in the Chinese market branded as KTMR2R since 2017 and announced a similar joint venture with Yamaha in 2023. CFMOTO has even ventured into MotoGP, competing with rebranded KTMs in the Moto3 division. CFMOTO has maintained a U.S. office in Minnesota since 2007 and has steadily increased sales of motorcycles, UTVs and ATVs. They have around 700 dealers, with 425 of those selling motorcycles. We picked up our bike from D&K Service Cycle in Cottonwood, Arizona. If this dealer is any indication of the customer service and product knowledge at other locations, I can highly recommend them.

The 2025 IBEX 450 created considerable excitement when it was teased in 2024, thanks to its specifications and attractive design. It is now available in the U.S. and features a 450cc parallel-twin engine with a 270-degree crankshaft that generates a claimed 44 horsepower at 8500 rpm and 32.5 lb-ft of torque at 6250 rpm. Power is transferred to the six-speed transmission through a wet, multi-plate CF-SC slipper clutch. It has a redline of 8500 rpm and reaches a top speed of approximately 90 mph with the standard gearing. A cable throttle operates a pair of 34mm Bosch throttle bodies. There are standard and off-road ride modes, with the only difference being the activation of traction control in the standard setting.

The steel chassis features a steel subframe and employs 41-millimeter KYB inverted forks equipped with adjustable preload, compression, and rebound clickers. At the rear, a KYB shock provides preload and rebound adjustability and is attached to the cast aluminum swingarm via a linkage system. Both ends offer 7.9 inches of travel. The bike rides on 18-inch rear and 21-inch front tubeless wheels and is fitted with CST tires. We replaced those with a set of Dunlop Trailmax Raid tires that we knew would perform well.

For stopping, the IBEX 450 uses J.Juan brakes: a single 320mm disc with a dual-piston caliper in the front and a 240mm disc with a single piston caliper in the rear. A Bosch dual-channel ABS system is used, and the rear ABS and traction control can be easily deactivated on the fly with a dedicated handlebar-mounted button (no fumbling through the dash navigation needed).

Creature comforts include a five-inch TFT display with all the necessary data found on far more expensive bikes, and the positioning and angle provide good visibility. You can also use the CFMOTO RideSync app, which allows you to connect your phone and activate it via the handlebar-mounted buttons. There is a standard USB and USB-C plug for power on the dash. An easily adjustable windscreen is a nice touch. The standard aluminum handlebars are comfortable, and the clutch and brake levers have adjustable reach. Typically, we wouldn’t even mention the mirrors, but the IBEX 450 comes with dual-sport style mirrors that can be folded in for serious off-road riding. LED lighting is used to enhance visibility at night.

A relatively low seat height of 32.3 inches will be very attractive to a lot of riders. You can make it even lower by using the alternative shock mounting point on the linkage. CFMOTO offers a taller rally seat for those who want a more stretched-out ride.

The ready-to-ride bike with a full tank of 4.6 gallons of fuel weighed 440 pounds on our scales with the optional CFMOTO crash bars, skid plate and soft bags installed. Compared to other standard models, the IBEX weighs about 432 pounds wet without the accessories. That is about 38 pounds less than a Yamaha Tenere 700, which is among the lightest of the popular midsize adventure bikes on the market.

In addition to the noted CFMOTO crash bars and skid plate, we opted for the taller, flatter rally seat.

Time to Ride | 2025 CFMOTO IBEX 450 Review

We got our hands on a CFMOTO IBEX 450 just before Scot Harden’s second annual Nevada Rally Experience in Caliente. After a few short rides in the Arizona desert, we headed to Nevada for two days and 350 miles exploring a wide range of desert roads, two-track dirt roads and mountain passes. We followed that up with a few more days of riding mountain roads in northern Arizona, and we are impressed with the performance.

This is a case where the spec sheet translates directly to how the bike feels in the real world. Our first ride started on some chunky dirt roads, and the IBEX 450 felt predictable and stable. The motor has enough low-end power to break the rear tire loose for some fun slides and wheelies over small obstacles. The suspension is tuned well for semi-aggressive dirt riding, and our first ride inadvertently ended up in some sandy and rocky desert washes that would challenge any ADV bike. Navigating into and out of the washes with some large rocks was a great test of the low-speed balance, clutch performance and throttle control. The little IBEX proved to be a lot less of a handful than any larger ADV bike would have been.

Our two days in Nevada involved numerous high-speed dirt roads with varying degrees of chunk, some challenging sand washes, and plenty of two-track roads. There were also some highway miles that connected all the exciting dirt sections. While much of the terrain was easy for a full-sized ADV bike, like most great rides, it is impossible to cover a lot of ground without encountering more challenging routes. There were several instances when a small dual sport bike would have been the preferred option, but then you might feel bored and uncomfortable on the easier sections. Again, the IBEX 450 was enjoyable to ride and very capable.

The suspension performance is good compared to most stock ADV motorcycles. It is stiff enough for experienced riders to have fun, but not so stiff that less experienced riders will hate the harsh ride. The forks have full adjustability to fine-tune the ride, and the rear shock has good stock settings, which is a relief since it only has preload and rebound adjustability. Many ADV bikes have suspensions that need aftermarket tuning for any aggressive off-road riding, and that is not the case with the IBEX 450.

The only drawback to the IBEX 450 in the dirt is the relatively low ground clearance of 8.7 inches, which is more than some ADV bikes but a lot less than a dual-sport bike. We compounded the ground clearance issue a little by adding the CFMOTO aftermarket skid plate and lower engine guards, which are not any lower, but they stick out about four inches on each side. We hit quite a few rocks, but the guards did their job. Again, the ground clearance is less than some dual sports but more than some ADV bikes. On the durability front, it is worth noting that the IBEX 450 comes standard with folding tips on the shifter and brake lever.

The riding position on the IBEX 450 was comfortable for everyone who threw a leg over our bike. We were happy with the optional Rally seat, as it added to the comfort, but even shorter riders could still touch the ground comfortably. And the bike is comfortable for both sitting and standing for long periods. The adjustable windshield is a bonus and very easy to use, even with one hand while riding. The TFT dash is great and offers excellent visibility even in the sun and dusty conditions. The handlebar-mounted button to switch from standard to off-road is better than most ADV bikes because you can change the setting while riding.

The twin-cylinder motor is incredibly smooth with almost no noticeable vibration, and this is really appreciated on the highway. With only 44 horsepower, it is not the most thrilling ride on the pavement, and if going fast is how you enjoy riding, this is not the bike for you. It will get you from point A to point B comfortably, but it hits the rev-limiter at about 90 mph with the stock gearing. The bike seems capable of taller gearing to make it more highway-friendly without negatively affecting the dirt performance much, but it will never be capable of comfortably riding at 90-plus mph all day long. Riding with other riders on small bikes is a blast, but if you want to keep up with your buddies on bigger, more powerful bikes, you would be better off getting your own bigger bike. But if you do take the IBEX 450 into the dirt with your buddies on bigger ADV bikes, you will likely have the last laugh.

The braking performance is good with no issues on or off-road. It has a single disc on the front compared to dual front discs on most of the larger ADV bikes, but even on the road, it performs just fine. Remember, this bike weighs a lot less than most of the bigger ADV bikes and does not have the same acceleration or top speed, so you don’t have as much speed to scrub off when entering corners. Removing one of the front discs to reduce weight is a common hack for riders trying to emulate Pol Tarres on their ADV bikes.

Most people agree that the IBEX 450 is a nice-looking motorcycle, which is secondary to performance in terms of importance, but we all want a cool-looking bike in the garage.

In terms of riding range, we were able to get around 50 mpg on the highway and as high as 60 mpg when we were riding slower dirt roads and trails. So, the 4.6 gallons of fuel will get you well over 200 miles of riding time in mixed street/dirt conditions. That is plenty for most ADV riding in our view.

That’s A Wrap | 2025 CFMOTO IBEX 450 Review

If you think a smaller, lighter-weight ADV bike is just the ticket for you and you are not opposed to buying a bike made in China, the CFMOTO IBEX 450 has the performance to put it high on your consideration list. This is a great adventure bike at any price point, and it will outperform many bikes that cost more. So, the $6499 MSRP seems almost too good to be true.

Our only question marks are the long-term durability and whether the IBEX 450 is better than some of the other bikes in this growing sub-600cc ADV category. We have not had enough experience with CFMOTO bikes yet to answer the first question, but we have not heard any horror stories, and they do have a two-year limited warranty. We are working on getting our hands on some of those other sub-600cc ADV bikes to answer the second question about how it compares. In the meantime, we are going to keep riding the IBEX 450 as much as possible until we reluctantly have to give it back.CN

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We’ve been living with the CFMOTO IBEX 450 Rally Bike for a few months now and have logged over 800 miles on it. Hear our thoughts on this Chinese made rally bike in the video below:

VIDEO | 2025 CFMOTO IBEX 450 Long-Term Test

 

 

 

2025 CFMOTO IBEX 450 Specifications

 

Click here to read the 2025 CFMOTO IBEX 450 Review in the Cycle News Digital Edition Magazine.

 

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