CFMoto Coming Out of the Gate Swinging

Chase has reviewed all four CFMoto 450-class bikes now: the 450 SS (sport), 450 NK (naked), 450 CLC (cruiser), and now the Ibex 450 (ADV). Same 449cc parallel-twin engine across the lineup, different chassis and tuning for each. The Ibex is the ADV variant, and at $6,499 MSRP, it's the cheapest credible adventure bike on sale in the US.

Chase's honest read from the ride: "There is no excuse. Any company making a motorcycle right now, the vast majority of them are more expensive than this and their dashes aren't as good." The Ibex 450 does not feel like a $6,499 motorcycle. That's the entire review in one sentence.

Performance highlights

449cc parallel-twin, 44 horsepower, 33 lb-ft of torque, 432 lb wet, 4.7-gallon tank, 32.3" seat height. Throttle response scores 6, "a predictable but not really exciting throttle, which is great for new riders." The same engine Chase calls "top five on sale right now," tuned slightly differently for ADV duty.

Acceleration earns 5. The 40-80 pull was acceptable, not quick. This is a 44 hp middleweight ADV. Nobody's buying it to drag race. It'll pull interstate speeds with a little patience on the throttle.

Agility is 6. 432 lb is light for an ADV (most are 500-550 lb). The wide bars give great leverage, but the large 19-inch front wheel (ADV geometry) introduces a steering-input lag Chase specifically called out: "It takes time to actually progress into that direction." Normal for the segment.

Brakes rate 6. Jesuan (Spanish-Brembo) front and rear, soft initial bite progressing to confident stopping power. "They have some good bite. Kind of impressed with them."

Suspension is the standout 9 and is the headline feature of this bike. Fully adjustable KYB front fork. On a $6,499 motorcycle. Chase's reaction mid-ride: "CFMoto is coming out of the gate swinging with this bike. That adjustable KYB front suspension on a bike that cost $6,500 is absolutely insanity." Most sub-$10k ADVs ship with non-adjustable front suspension; the Ibex 450 gets preload, compression, and rebound adjustability. A $400 day at a suspension shop to dial the Ibex for a specific rider's weight and style turns this bike into a far better machine than its sticker price suggests.

Rider experience & tech

Comfort is 5. Upright body position, wide bars, but the stock seat height puts a 5'10" rider's legs at a slightly crunched angle. Chase specifically flagged this and noted CFMoto offers a rally seat accessory that raises the seat height meaningfully. He's installing one for the month-long loaner. For riders 6' and taller, the rally seat is a near-necessity.

Tech scores 5. Simple feature set held up by an unexpectedly excellent dashboard. 5-inch TFT with Ducati-tier visual design: when you toggle traction control off, the rear wheel icon glows red, so you see exactly what's being changed. When you turn rear ABS off, the rear rotor glows red. This is Ducati-S-tier design on a sub-$7k motorcycle. What's missing: cruise control, ride modes, quickshifter, IMU-backed electronics.

Ease of use is 5. Low seat height for flat-footing, simple dash interface, straightforward switchgear (identical to the 450 SS / NK). The only friction is the shift pedal feel. Chase described it as "vague" with subtle engagement feedback that's hard to sense through thick ADV boots.

Versatility is 5. City: excellent (Chase's honest take was it's his favorite CFMoto 450 for city riding). Highway: survivable without cruise, windscreen is small. Light off-road: yes, and this is the bike's real mission. Hard off-road (single-track, rocks): not really a WR450F competitor, but trail-capable. Touring: four-five hours is the practical limit without accessory mods.

Fun-for-the-money is 5. The xlsx scoring is conservative here. Chase's video-scored fun-for-the-money was 9 because the value proposition is so strong. The honest read: at $6,499, this is one of the best-value propositions on the leaderboard.

The Chase Score & final thoughts

With a Chase Score of 57/100, Meh Tier, the Ibex 450 is a bike whose numeric score doesn't fully capture the deal it represents. 32 ride points + 25 usability points = a machine where the suspension hardware (9) and the parallel-twin powerplant do the heavy lifting on the ride side.

Buy it if you want a first ADV on a budget, if you're cross-shopping the KTM 390 Adventure / Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 / Yamaha Ténéré 700, or if you want the same proven CFMoto 450 powerplant in the most adventure-appropriate chassis. Skip it if you're 6'+ and don't want to buy the rally seat accessory, or if feature-rich tech (cruise, ride modes, quickshifter) is on your must-have list. Chase's close: "CFMoto is putting that to bed with this screen. Any company making a motorcycle right now, their dashes aren't as good as this at this price." One of the most quotable reviews on the leaderboard. And an honest endorsement for a bike that's genuinely underpriced.