NGC - Opinions on CFMoto IBEX 450?

[SIR REAL ED]

Has anyone ridden, owned, or know anyone who has a CFMoto IBEX 450?

If so, opinions are appreciated.  Thanks in advance.

https://www.cfmotousa.com/inventory/unit/ibex-450

[bronzestar1]

Me personally, I would never own a Chinese-branded motorcycle.  I have a Triumph Scrambler 400X, and it's a hoot to ride, especially with a 15-tooth front sprocket.  Definitely not the best bike for freeway use, but it'll do freeway speeds, just don't expect to pass anyone quickly.  I've done a bunch of mods to mine, and the next one on the list is putting on some hard luggage side racks, and mounting a pair of .30 cal / 7.62 ammo cans. 

[SIR REAL ED]

Me personally, I would never own a Chinese-branded motorcycle.  I have a Triumph Scrambler 400X, and it's a hoot to ride, especially with a 15-tooth front sprocket.  Definitely not the best bike for freeway use, but it'll do freeway speeds, just don't expect to pass anyone quickly.  I've done a bunch of mods to mine, and the next one on the list is putting on some hard luggage side racks, and mounting a pair of .30 cal / 7.62 ammo cans. 

That is an interesting machine.  Very good looking and no doubt highly functional.  I appreciate the suggestion.  I might just have to try one out. 

My first concern, from riding a Suzuki DRZ400SM, does the engine feel anemic on the highway?  Although to be fair, the DRZ400SM only felt anemic after getting off a stock DR650.  Same maximum horsepower, but huge differences in available torque below maximum rpms.

The second concern would be "another single cylinder motorcycle."  Would it be too much like what I already own, and therefore I would miss out on the novelty of being able to ride "something different?"

[Craig in Alabama]

I've had my Ibex 450 since April, 2025. I love it. It's one of the most fun bikes I've ever owned. Haven't had any issues with it at all. It's comfortable, has good wind protection and has a lot of great features that are usually found on more expensive bikes. I'm taking it on my yearly Deals Gap trip in a couple weeks instead of my V85. One of my riding buds bought one as well, and he loves it too. No qualms about owning a Chinese branded bike. If I didn't already have the V85, I'd get an Ibex 800.

Feel free to PM me if you have any specific questions.
Cheers,
Craig

[bronzestar1]

I've had my Ibex 450 since April, 2025. I love it. It's one of the most fun bikes I've ever owned. Haven't had any issues with it at all. It's comfortable, has good wind protection and has a lot of great features that are usually found on more expensive bikes. I'm taking it on my yearly Deals Gap trip in a couple weeks instead of my V85. One of my riding buds bought one as well, and he loves it too. No qualms about owning a Chinese branded bike. If I didn't already have the V85, I'd get an Ibex 800.

Feel free to PM me if you have any specific questions.
Cheers,
Craig

Trying to keep politics out of this discussion, but this is how I look at Chinese-branded motorcycles.  If I was of riding age during WWII, would I have bought a German, Italian, or Japanese motorcycle?  The answer obviously is no, that's how I see Chinese-branded motorcycles today.  Yes we all know there are lot of Chinese PARTS on our vehicles, can't really get around that.  But a Chinese-BRANDED bike, hard pass.

[SIR REAL ED]

Trying to keep politics out of this discussion, but this is how I look at Chinese-branded motorcycles.  If I was of riding age during WWII, would I have bought a German, Italian, or Japanese motorcycle?  The answer obviously is no, that's how I see Chinese-branded motorcycles today.  Yes we all know there are lot of Chinese PARTS on our vehicles, can't really get around that.  But a Chinese-BRANDED bike, hard pass.

That is perfectly understandable, and the option of personal choices is what makes the free market a wonderful thing. 

My deceased father-in-law was a Korean war vet and would not ever consider buying anything from Asia.  Then during a discussion, I mentioned that Honda had a plant in Ohio & Toyota in Tennessee.  He switched from being a die hard American car buyer to life time Honda buyer.  He bought a new Honda Accord, traded it in every 4 years for newer model during the last 20 years of his life.   

I suspect the Chinese companies will do the same, and build plants in the US.

Last night, I was talking to a friend who has been in the motorcycle industry for the last 50 years.  He thinks we on at the start of the invasion of motorcycles from China and India.  He said "I think we are going to see China and India do to the motorcycle industry what Japan did in the late 1960's."  As you have noted, the manufacturers are already buying components from wherever they see fit without considering national loyalty.  My buddy said one of his friend went to China and there is a KTM plant and a CFMoto plant are right next to each other.

I think the CFMoto 800 has a KTM 790 engine or vice versa.  Supposedly the IBEX 450 engine was going to power a KTM 490 but then KTM dropped the project.

Interesting times for sure.

[Dr. Enzo Toma]

I had though that Kawasaki's Versys series felt a bit cheap and clunky, but also very thrifty on price, and that's what I would most compare the Ibex 450 to from my brief impression of test riding one. It felt cheap and clunky, but could get the job done. In some situations it's desirable to have an inexpensive, though less refined, machine. It's often the test of an ADV bike that you should be able to push it off the side stand and onto the ground without wincing, shedding a tear, or clutching your wallet, otherwise you bought the wrong bike for truly rough terrain where it's likely to take some dirt naps and scrape rocks and brush.

A friend in AZ has ridden all over the USA and much of South America on his and enjoys the unpaved adventures in the desert on the Ibex, while keeping a collection of antique Harleys and Indians for riding on roads and surfaces more resembling of roads.
Here it is a Bear Butte in SD.

[tommy2cyl]

Sir Real Ed:
I bought a Triumph 400 X in March 2024 and CF Moto 450 Ibex in March 2025.
I have 3000 miles on the Triumph and 3700 miles on the Ibex.
Triumph:  Love this motor.  Pulls well.  Nice stock exhaust sound.  Fit and finish on a $5,500 motorcycle is excellent.  Shifts well.  Suspension a little lacking for
               a scrambler type moto, but does loosen up over time.  This is my "going out for 40 minutes  at the end of the day ride."  Certainly capable of long,
               leisurely day trips.  I will say again, the motor is a blast.

CF Moto:  Knew I would buy this bike 50 yards out of the parking lot on the test ride.  I knew it would  be capable of touring on and doing off-road as well.
               I (and most of moto press) don't find this bike to be cheap, clunky or less refined.  Bike shifts easily and sure, clutch pull is light.  The motor, again,
               is smooth for a parallel twin and can cruise at 75 mph all day with no vibes and can easily ramp up to 85 to pass.  Everyone who is interested in this
               motorcycle knows what an incredible list of features it comes with.  This is a bike I have been waiting for a long time and so far am well pleased.
My other motorcycle is a 2020 V 85, which I love.  But I am finding it heavier by the year, which is why I have migrated to smaller bikes.  I can see it leaving
the garage and just ending up with the other two.  I am turning 74 and most of us in this demographic migrate to the smaller bikes because of weight.
If I had to only own one, the CF Moto would take care of all my needs at this point.  Test ride both the Triumph and the CF Moto.  They are different and
fill different roles in my opinion.   You can feel free to email personally and I can go deeper on these if you wish. 
             
             

[slopokes]

I am getting older and weaker—traded my v85 in for a Himalayan 450 last year and last week traded that for a versys 300–am loving the crap out of it— smooth as silk and light as a feather—I do mostly single lane roads and it’s very happy there..

[SIR REAL ED]

Sir Real Ed:
I bought a Triumph 400 X in March 2024 and CF Moto 450 Ibex in March 2025.
I have 3000 miles on the Triumph and 3700 miles on the Ibex.
Triumph:  Love this motor.  Pulls well.  Nice stock exhaust sound.  Fit and finish on a $5,500 motorcycle is excellent.  Shifts well.  Suspension a little lacking for
               a scrambler type moto, but does loosen up over time.  This is my "going out for 40 minutes  at the end of the day ride."  Certainly capable of long,
               leisurely day trips.  I will say again, the motor is a blast.

CF Moto:  Knew I would buy this bike 50 yards out of the parking lot on the test ride.  I knew it would  be capable of touring on and doing off-road as well.
               I (and most of moto press) don't find this bike to be cheap, clunky or less refined.  Bike shifts easily and sure, clutch pull is light.  The motor, again,
               is smooth for a parallel twin and can cruise at 75 mph all day with no vibes and can easily ramp up to 85 to pass.  Everyone who is interested in this
               motorcycle knows what an incredible list of features it comes with.  This is a bike I have been waiting for a long time and so far am well pleased.
My other motorcycle is a 2020 V 85, which I love.  But I am finding it heavier by the year, which is why I have migrated to smaller bikes.  I can see it leaving
the garage and just ending up with the other two.  I am turning 74 and most of us in this demographic migrate to the smaller bikes because of weight.
If I had to only own one, the CF Moto would take care of all my needs at this point.  Test ride both the Triumph and the CF Moto.  They are different and
fill different roles in my opinion.   You can feel free to email personally and I can go deeper on these if you wish. 
             
             

Thank you!  Your opinion of the IBEX sounds like a very common experience.  My buddy who is the sales manager at a large multi-brand (including Kawasaki, but not CFMoto) motorcycle dealer thinks the IBEX has a much higher quality of build than one of it's competitors, the Kawasaki KLE500.  The tube type tires and non-adjustable suspension on the KLE500 would kill my consideration of buying the KLE500.

[SIR REAL ED]

I am getting older and weaker—traded my v85 in for a Himalayan 450 last year and last week traded that for a versys 300–am loving the crap out of it— smooth as silk and light as a feather—I do mostly single lane roads and it’s very happy there..

Funny that you should post this.  On Friday i went for a 100 mile backroad, forestry service road ride with my long time motorcycling buddy.  I on my DR790, he on his VerSys300.  Of course we swapped bikes.  What a difference in power delivery!  Great fun in two different flavors.

My buddy also owns two VerSys650's (also a great bike).  It was my first ride on a VerSys300.  Super smooth (almost no) power below 4000 RPM, and a revy roadracer feel as the RPM's ride.  You can feel like you are going fast while going slow.

The VerSys is 25 pound heavier than the DR, but still feels light.

Kawasaki is insane if they don't put the 451cc version of this motor in a 300 VerSys platform, but I doubt they will as it would be direct competition for the KLE500.

[michaell32]

I want to ride someone's dr790 someday. Does yours have the stock carb?  I put a wossner piston and a FCR39 on mine and it feels like a different bike when it comes to power delivery.

[Rons]

I had the opportunity to work with CF Moto on a project. Visited their MN headquarters and warehouse. I’m not sure how I feel about buying a motorcycle from a Chinese company, but I can tell you that the US team is full of real enthusiasts. The Ibex 450 is a well built bike. CF Moto has some really good value in the side by side market. They also treat their dealers much better than the Euro brands. Less restrictions and rules, more “how can we help you sell more units”.

Country of origin is a tough subject these days. As someone said, a lot of parts come from all over the world no matter why brand you buy.

My Triumph Speed Twin 1200 was built in Thailand, as are most Triumphs and most Ducati Scramblers.

Let’s be happy that Moto Guzzi/Piaggio are still building Guzzis in Italy.

[SIR REAL ED]

I want to ride someone's dr790 someday. Does yours have the stock carb?  I put a wossner piston and a FCR39 on mine and it feels like a different bike when it comes to power delivery.

I have a Mikuni TM40 carb, and a Suzuki GSXR1000 muffler. 

From the magazine tests, stock torque at 3000 rpm was 27 ft-lbs. 
I dyno tested mine, torque at 3000 rpm was 40 ft-lbs.  Horsepower went from stock 35 to 44 with the 790 kit. 
Dyno tech said my jetting was a bit rich on top, he expected 48 horsepower with a smaller main jet. 
I drilled three 1" diameter holes in the airbox instead of reducing the main jet.  So i could richen it back up with duct tape if I wanted to.   

Get the 790cc kit.  You will not be disappointed!  Pro-Cycle is a great company to deal with!!

[SIR REAL ED]

I am getting older and weaker—traded my v85 in for a Himalayan 450 last year and last week traded that for a versys 300–am loving the crap out of it— smooth as silk and light as a feather—I do mostly single lane roads and it’s very happy there.

I would like to hear more of your opinions comparing the Himalayan 450 to the Ibex450.

[DenverSteve]

..... In some situations it's desirable to have an inexpensive, though less refined, machine. It's often the test of an ADV bike that you should be able to push it off the side stand and onto the ground without wincing, shedding a tear, or clutching your wallet, otherwise you bought the wrong bike for truly rough terrain where it's likely to take some dirt naps and scrape rocks and brush.

Only if.  They aren't half the price of comparable Euro and Japanese bikes though.  They are actually more expensive than some Euro comps.

[Dr. Enzo Toma]

Well, which Euro bikes are you comparing it to? Most of the ones I can think of are the next class up from Aprilia or BMW.

The closest competitor that comes to mind for me is the Kawasaki KLE500, similar price and also not a well refined feeling machine in my opinion.

[tommy2cyl]

I would like to hear more of your opinions comparing the Himalayan 450 to the Ibex450.

There is a guy on YT that goes by Fuzzy biker, name is Keith Walther, who owns a RE 450 Himalayan. He  put 50,000 miles on it the first year and
traveled I think through 48 states including Alaska.  He currently has 68,000 miles on it and it less than 2 years old.  Bike has been pretty much
bullet proof.  You can look him up and see what issues he has had during this time. This guy is in constant motion on two wheels and he loves this
motorcycle.  If you are not familiar with him and his videos, you should check him out.  He is associated with a multiline dealer in Marne, Iowa.
Can't think of a better source on RE bikes, he owns several.

I test rode one the same day as I did my 450 Ibex.  Again, the CF Moto was exactly what I was looking for and the single biggest differentiator for me
is the twin verses single cylinder engine.  The Himalayn just felt heavy and vibey to me, not as refined with less adjustable components.  However, I
only did a 15 minute ride on the bike and I really think it is one of those bikes that you appreciate the more you ride and live with it.  It has high marks
for being very ridable at slower speeds off road with a well sorted suspension (non adjustable I think) and the motor is supposed to be quite capable
at highway speeds.  Comes pretty much ready to go afar with stock crash bars and can come with luggage and the dealer network is substantial. 
RE really has done an amazing job at bringing pretty cool dependable bikes to market at very affordable pricies.     

While the RE 450 and CF 450 are competing with each other I think they go at it from a different perspective.  NathanthePostman is another YT source
who runs an adventure  motorcycle touring company out of England.  He has both of these bikes and has done several rides and reviews on them.

[SIR REAL ED]

Well, which Euro bikes are you comparing it to? Most of the ones I can think of are the next class up from Aprilia or BMW.

The closest competitor that comes to mind for me is the Kawasaki KLE500, similar price and also not a well refined feeling machine in my opinion.

Well said.  I would suspect the "European" competitor that first comes to mind in a KTM 390 Adventure.  I'm not sure many KTM aficionados would consider that bike to be more European than Indian though.

The days of being able to accurately describe motorcycle and most complex manufactured items by nationality seem to be coming to an end.

Being "well refined" and beating one's competitors to the market are two very different manufacturing goals.  The former might be a less successful business plan than the later.  Many humans are fickle and like novelty.

[tommy2cyl]

There are going to be more bikes coming into this segment.  The BMW 450 GS will be the priciest.   From what I have seen so far, the base price
is supposed to be around $9,300....but this is speculation so far.  I did talk to my long time friend/sales manager at a BMW dealership and he said it would
be the price leader in this segment.   I think the base model comes with cast wheels and I also think it is a 19/17 wheel combo but not completely sure.   I am guessing it will be easy to dump $11 to $12 K into this bike.....time will tell.  Aprilia is supposed to be coming with their Tuareg 457.   It will certainly be pricier than the Ibex or Himalayan 450.  China has another offering coming in the form of QJMotor  SRT 450 Rx.  Video on this bike is amazing what is comes with for a price around $6500.00 (I think it comes with full luggage and possibly heated grips)  From my current perspective, the Ibex 450 is hard to beat for price/value
offering.   This is the class of bike that those of us who ride in this segment have been asking for a long time.  Exciting times to see what is available and what is coming. I personally feel Kawasaki KLE 500 have somewhat missed the mark, and where is Honda, Yamaha and Suzuki with an offering in this 400 to 550 cc range?  Even without them, there are some pretty good choices to be had.

[SIR REAL ED]

Hopefully, those new bikes coming from China won't be made with any parts from Italy!!!!

That would really tick off the Moto Guzzi faithful.....

[Irishflyer]

Trying to keep politics out of this discussion, but this is how I look at Chinese-branded motorcycles.  If I was of riding age during WWII, would I have bought a German, Italian, or Japanese motorcycle?  The answer obviously is no, that's how I see Chinese-branded motorcycles today.  Yes we all know there are lot of Chinese PARTS on our vehicles, can't really get around that.  But a Chinese-BRANDED bike, hard pass.

A side story that doesnt help the OP any, but the mother of a girl I dated in high school always admired BMW cars.  So I told her, "If you like them, buy one?".  "Oh, I couldn't do that, they started WWII".  Me, with a puzzled look on my face.."Don't you drive a Nissan??"..lol.  She was a hoot.

On Chinese bikes, I have test ridden the Moto Morini 650 Scrambler, and it was a blast to ride.  It has a CFMoto engine, which itself is a copy of the Kawasaki ER6N.  If they developed their own designs, and they were good, then so be it, but I am not a fan of the intellectual property theft, which sucks because the Moto Morini 650 is a fun bike to ride, and Im hoping it will get some new riders into the fold.

 

[tommy2cyl]

Hopefully, those new bikes coming from China won't be made with any parts from Italy!!!!

That would really tick off the Moto Guzzi faithful.....

Maybe not parts but design input from Italy is a bike I forgot to mention in earlier post.  Moto Morini Vettore.  It uses the CF 450 engine with many
elements of the Ibex with a few add ons like a center stand I believe.  I like the look of it. 
 

[SIR REAL ED]

Maybe not parts but design input from Italy is a bike I forgot to mention in earlier post.  Moto Morini Vettore.  It uses the CF 450 engine with many
elements of the Ibex with a few add ons like a center stand I believe.  I like the look of it.

Oh No!

I looked it up, the QJMotor SRT 450 Rx features "fully adjustable Marzocchi suspension!!"

I have no idea if Marzocchi is "really" an Italian company or not!

[tommy2cyl]

Oh No!

I looked it up, the QJMotor SRT 450 Rx features "fully adjustable Marzocchi suspension!!"

I have no idea if Marzocchi is "really" an Italian company or not!

OK, now you've gone and sent me down the rabbit hole.  Per the wonders of the internet, Marzocchi sold out to an Italian manufacturer VRM in I think 2015.
Then in 2022 , VRM formed a production partnership with QJ Motors establishing a production facility in Zhejiang Province.  Fox Factory Holding Corp.
then bought the Marzochhi line from VRM and is under Fox's Powered Vehicle Group.   The design is still in Bologna, Italy.  Some suspensions are still
manufactured in Italy, but that is for European brands/premium models and off road applications.  The suspension for the QJ 450 SRT are manufactured in
China.  I have to go mow now.

[ridingron]

Can you get parts? Especially from the homeland.  I needed a Guzzi part. More than 4 months later, AF1 received it and forwarded it to me. 4 days later I'm looking at the little plastic bag it came in. Manufactured date was Oct 2017. Do they only have 1 old guy pulling parts in the warehouse? Thankfully I have more than 1 bike.

Some dealers are more responsive than others when you have a not so common problem. Sound familiar?

[bad Chad]

This example of thread drift is over the top. 85% of the responses have no relevance to the OP question.  But hey, instead of real information, there’s all the xenophobia one could ask for!

[jacksonracingcomau]

This example of thread drift is over the top. 85% of the responses have no relevance to the OP question.  But hey, instead of real information, there’s all the xenophobia one could ask for!

Maybe true
But I’ve leaned from this thread that this 450 cfmoto engine is now the generic 450 twin — in at least 3 different brands and many many models.
The motor of the 20’s ?

The Morini version for those that don’t like Chinese brand names, brilliant
If Guzzi use it , would people buy it ?

[tommy2cyl]

This example of thread drift is over the top. 85% of the responses have no relevance to the OP question.  But hey, instead of real information, there’s all the xenophobia one could ask for!

To a degree yes.  But the OP asked different questions throughout the thread and for my part I tried to respond to those questions.   Also, my take is that
there is some interest in this class and size of motorcycle and I responded with other options that would be comparable to the CF Moto 450 Ibex.   Over 2000
people have followed the thread so there is that. 

[tommy2cyl]

Modify:  I meant there have been 2000 views, not people viewing.  There may be only 20 of us following this but the point remains, there is
interest in this topic and I think people are learning new info which is why I am involved.  I own one and I am just trying to pass on my experience.