CFMoto 450MT / IBEX 450: Best Release of 2024?

The CFMOTO 450MT (IBEX 450 in the USA) was definitely the biggest surprise of 2024 for me. The bike feels very well made and quality of componentry, screen, plastics etc feel comparable to the much more expensive competition on the market.
Even details like on the fly adjustable windscreen feel like the icing on the affordable cake from the brand. Best in class wind protection makes me think why don't every bike have an adjustable windscreen if the most affordable option can do it so well?
I was overall very impressed with this bike. So much so that I'm thinking I should buy it just to have a spare adventurebike for friends to take trips with me :-) Under 10K€ even here in Finland is absolutely CRAZY value for what you are getting.
Bike is missing some of the high end equpment like cruise control and due to the cable throttle there is no third party options. Personally I prefer a cable throttle and cruise even though nice to have is a bit much to ask on this pricepoint.
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🏍️ What is the Quick Ride series meant to be?
Quick Ride collection is not meant to be this rigid "review" style video that most youtubers are making. There is definitely a place for actual reviews but as I don't have access like that to these bikes I thought I would do things a bit differently than just list you a bunch of specs and hilights of these machines.
I make these videos just to bring you along on a test ride of these bikes. Some episodes might be longer if I get access to a bike for more time but mostly these are short test ride style videos where I try to tell you the audience everything I'm feeling from the bike at that moment and maybe do a closing thought at the end if needed.
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Complete series: • Quick Rides
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Aprilia Tuareg 660: • Aprilia Tuareg 660, Re...
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BMW R 1250 GS Adventure: • Gravel Touring King BM...
KTM 690 Enduro R: • Mythical Gravel Unicor...
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CFMoto 450MT / IBEX 450: • CFMoto 450MT / IBEX 45...
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[@PatchedBandit]

Quick Ride Playlist: kzbin.info/aero/PLjuLZY6TnpPlB0U9Qwgfek6l6R6CwIQ21

[@Sargnort]

They are all selling fast across the globe. Loving mine!!!

[@PatchedBandit]

I heard reservations are 3x exceeding the production at least in the beginning.

[@warrenr4]

Fabulous Finland ! My favourite place in the summertime. I’ll reserve judgement on the MT for a couple of years till I’ve seen owners reviews with 30k kms on the clock. Great review 🙏🏻 🙂✌🏻🇬🇧

[@PatchedBandit]

That's smart 😁

[@martyn_g]

The engine has been in production for an awhile now - I think for the powertrain alone its a safe purchase.

[@RichardS-qh8mi]

This is the bike that is going to change the perception of Chinese motorcycles forever.

[@warrenr4]

I doubt it. The subframe already has a problem. It fills up with water. Owners long term reviews will be interesting.

[@RichardS-qh8mi]

@@warrenr4 New models always have the odd snag - I’ll block up the holes on my subframe and suspect the Chinese are already looking at a fix.

[@TwistofWrist]

Wait till you try the Kove 800X. Same weight as this bike but at 95hp. I'm waiting for it to be released in Australia.

[@normananderson2583]

@@TwistofWrist It does sound amazing but will come at a high price of entry...and not many mere mortals have the ridiing skills to take advantage of all that power and light weight...

[@TwistofWrist]

@@normananderson2583 It's the middle weight unicorn we are all waiting for. If it delivers what it promises. So you can have 1 bike instead of 2 or more.

[@miguelprando_959]

Congratulations for the test. For me you managed to convey all the sensations that the bike gave you in a truly excellent way. Greetings from Italy. Ciao

[@PatchedBandit]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@theurbanway10]

CFmoto is here to stay I think. Good review

[@RainnMakerr]

Everyone says Chinese made Chinese made while holding a Chinese assembled iPhone. Apple CEO Tim Cook said that the reason they build iPhones in China is not just for some cost savings but for the amount of advanced and precision tooling skills Apple is able to find in China. 70 to 80% of our products in our homes are probably from China. This bike will make a big statement in the motorcycle industry

[@christopherpekel6096]

Its funny how many people who probably dont even own a passport think that china is a backwards country They have overtaken the west in some respects

[@PatchedBandit]

They need to prove longevity and customer support. A big deal when building a reputable brand and I do hope they can do it.

[@simonjones2645]

Every major bike brand builds in China/Asia now , it shouldn't be an issue really ...

[@SergeyPRKL]

@@simonjones2645 yeah for example, CF moto builds KTM:s and Yamahas. Previously been building Honda CB250:s and 500:s. They have the skills for the best quality. Longievity in own products have always been chinese makers Achilles heel. First they make super good products, and yearly the quality gets lowered. It isn't like that when someone like Honda or Yamaha are inspecting the quality frequently. But when you don't have external guidance... Until now it have been downspiralling.

[@robertdelacruz7920]

Even honda uses Loncin parts which is from china. ​@@PatchedBandit

[@MotoFurka]

Hi! A few days ago, I bought a Honda CRF300Rally for some light off-roading. The CFMoto 450MT was also on the list, but I decided on the Honda because of its weight and reliability. It just seems to fit in better with my Tuareg.

[@monsterboomer8051]

best combo

[@walterhaumaier9137]

I love my rally as long as you don’t expect it to have gobs of power it is really fun

[@MtbPoland]

smart

[@davidmatthews3093]

I decided against the CRF 300:and bought the Voge 300 Rally because for a second bike to use on tracks and trails it was not only better straight out of the showroom it was also a bargain compared to the Honda. A year on I know I made a great decision. My other bike is a Honda as most of my previous bikes have been but in this case the Chinese had done more than enough to replace them.

[@normananderson2583]

I wait somewhat impatiently for my Oregon, USA dealer to receive their first Ibex 450's. I am already collecting my necessary add-ons for a bike I have never seen....I am 185 cm's so ordered the tall seat (2"" taller) and a taller windscreen by about 4 inches...brilliant and very informative review...I have unloaded 3 bikes, some bigger, some smaller and this is going to be it.

[@sadnessinside123]

Exciting. I'm waiting on them to arrive in NA as well.

[@leca66]

Great bike. I was also struggling between Tuareg 660 and CRF300L (as we spoke here, when you were on your way to TTM Factory for Tuareg forks tuning), Kove 450 (also Kove 800x) first two I tried before I got on opportunity to ride CFMoto. Just under two months ago I'd bought my 450mt. Now "all" the nearby gravel roads have been ridden. 2300 exiting km with the new one behind.

[@PatchedBandit]

450MT is not any easier to ride offroad than Tuareg. Even though I didn't say this in the video at least in my opinion people seem to take it that MT450 is somehow comparable to enduro and dualsport bikes which it definitely is not. I just don't want anyone to think that swapping from a Tuareg to MT450 is going to make offroading drastically better 😁 It might be 2% easier to handle with the 9kg less weight but they are both still heavy twin cyl adventurebikes. CRF300L and KOVE 450 will always be drastically easier to do proper offroad stuff 😄

[@djangounhinged7634]

yeah threw a 15T front sprocket on mine - couldn't handle the 110Km/h buzz..... so much nicer now and no loss down low really.

[@PatchedBandit]

Thanks for confirming! 🙌

[@augustbrante8117]

Did your bike have a twitchyness to the throttle? I have had mine for 4 days now and every crack I hit on the road it a little rough but it goes to the hans and then i is jerky. I adjusted the suspension the other day and that took about half of the feepiings of hitting bump away. Again I am going through the break in period still. Will that go away? Thanks in advance!

[@djangounhinged7634]

@@augustbrante8117 it's weird - I read and see a lot of YT's about the twitchy throttle, but mine seems fine. I know what it is like - I had a Vulcan S that had that really bad until I added a Booster Plug. I do have Grip Puppies but that shouldn't make any difference. So either my ECU tune is later than most people with that issue or it's air temp/humidity or something here in the tropics .....

[@simonjones2645]

Slack in the throttle cable mate

[@slakk5093]

@@djangounhinged7634it’s not all bikes that are affected. I’d say about half. There’s guys in the fb groups that have ridden two bikes back to back. One fine, one with jerkiness, and no before someone says adjust the slack in the throttle cable, that doesn’t fix the issue on the bikes with this problem. It does improve bikes that don’t have this problem though, leading to a confirmation bias with owners that improved their throttle response by removing slack. Then they go around telling everyone this problem doesn’t exist, when it actually does 🤦‍♂️

[@markcousens8504]

Hello from New Zealand, I picked up my new MT 450 2 weeks ago and it’s living up to expectations, I’ve gone with the 15 tooth front sprocket and taller seat ( I’m 191cm) and soft luggage T7 LIGHT would describe it best . In NZ it’s exactly 1/2 the price of a new T7

[@PatchedBandit]

1/2 price for 4/5'th the bike 😁 Price is insanely good!

[@SololaneMvlog]

What do you thune about thé soft luggage?!

[@constantinosschinas4503]

Very interesting there are original extra fuel tanks that mount on the rear sides.

[@jamesvalpuesta]

Nice appreciation of the bike. An inexpensive Tenere style bike for short guys. Just what I need . There is an optional 870mm seat. The bike also has a lowering link that can bring it down to 800 mm from the standard 820mm height. A 15 minute job to move the link.

[@kleitosaliagas5668]

I think the bike has an adjustable seat to make it 800m. More like a one minute job.

[@slakk5093]

@@kleitosaliagas5668it has both. Low seat option and a built in lowering link on the bottom of the shock (same like the dr650).

[@constantinosschinas4503]

If you are that small, get a scooter. Life is already complicated enough.

[@tieoneon1614]

Interesting fact : This "light" Ibex is only 3-4 lbs lighter than a "heavy" KLR 650 in the same base model trim. They both feel light offroad cuz of the low mounted engine. The extra 2.5 gallons of gas it holds and tool kit on the KLR takes it up to 456 lbs.

[@istvanfarkas3044]

Lovely review as usual thank you very much. As far as I know you can switch ABS on and off on the fly no problem. A couple of mates of mine have already bought this 450MT, experienced riders like 20-30 years of riding and they just love it. However I will buy a CRF300L next month hopefully 😬to put it in my garage next to my Sherco and meanwhile looking forward to buy this CFMoto to be ready for big adventures. Many thx again mate.

[@PatchedBandit]

Thats a great duo. I still absolutely LOVE my CRF. It needs quite a bit of modding to be what I need it to be but it’s well worth doing.

[@nevillegreg1]

15T front sprocket makes it much more comfortable from a revving perspective at highway speeds and while you do feel a little power/torque loss, it's so very negligible. I agree with all your comments about this bike.

[@SergeyPRKL]

I bet the 15t sprocket will be standard

[@multiadventure]

Also 100% agree on everything, would probably go 15 aswell, if having it as adv bike. Going Africa, or rural rtw, I would keep the original sprocket

[@nevillegreg1]

​@SergeyPRKL I'm not sure about that. One factor that got me over the line in buying the 450MT over the 450 Himi was that the MT is more spirited. The 15T front sprocket would compromise that feel to potential buyers who are comparing to other makes.

[@ROLISS]

finaly this bike is in Latvia and I try too test this bike. but my first impresion when i saw - it is wide (around fuel tank is a lot plastic)

[@constantinosschinas4503]

If they went minimal with plastics (awfully wide indeed and a lot of useless plastics on the tower plus it sides) and was at least 15kg lighter, it would be really something. Riding position too much in the bike for me as well.

[@Mejfkl]

If its thin there will be no wind protection for highway. I like it as is.

[@biko055]

Great review. Did you notice a lot less heat vs. the tuareg? I own a tuareg and love it except for the heat. I'd really appreciate any thoughts on the subject. Cheers. BTW, I am only partially through the video, so if you touch on the subject, my apologies.

[@MichaelShaw206]

Great question! I am also curious. The Tuareg definitely put off heat on the right side.

[@PatchedBandit]

Unfortunately I have to disappoint in this as a year ago I had a similar test ride with the Tuareg and dindn't notice the heat on that bike either. So I cant definitively say that there is no heat on the MT450 the ride is just too short to feel it. Now that I have owned the Tuareg I have absolutely noticed the heat on hotter days and especially in city riding.

[@biko055]

@@PatchedBandit No worries. I appreciate your replying. I figure it probably isn't possible for it to throw out more heat than the Tuareg without melting but what the hell do I know. At any rate, thanks for the answer. Cheers!

[@williamrae9954]

Arrow header pipes, sort the fuelling (too lean),heat gone...Euro guff!

[@enduromotorradtouren]

Technical data not too different from a 40 year old Transalp 600 ;-) But real life is your sensations in the saddle. The CF Moto 450 MT will be a success, because it's priced sensibly and it has a low seat. The only (!) adv bike perfect for small-medium sized riders. Happy days, Günter/Nürnberg

[@PatchedBandit]

Very true! Quick Rides is all about the sensations while riding. I was VERY sceptical about this one but it’s a winner for sure if the reliability is descent and the brand can stand behind its products 😊

[@AccidentalEnduro]

That’s it! When even my most trusted KZbinr (that being you) praises and describes this bike like you just did… well, I believe I’m gonna have to get me one of these. After my parental leave. Right now money is down on zero 😅 Thank you patched for all the great content! 🙌

[@PatchedBandit]

I appreciate that! I hope you can get one as the demand far exceeds the fist batch they can manufacture (I heard). The bike itself is not "better" than for example Tuareg 660 but considering the value proposition and the differences between those bikes being very small its hard not to like the MT450 for what it offers. Even thinking about getting one for myself as the pricepoint is just crazy good.

[@SergeyPRKL]

I tried to buy one yesterday, but nobody have them in Finland.

[@stephanematis]

Looking forward to this bike's launch in Canada as a 2025. It is so popular everywhere, that I wonder if they'll get enough :P

[@PatchedBandit]

Heard from a credible source that the demand far exceeds the initial production numbers at the moment. My guess is that this bike is going to be hard to get for a while.

[@normananderson2583]

@@PatchedBandit None of their motorcycles to date have received anywhere near the interest that the 450MT has achieved. I would agree they will be in short supply for awhile. Suppliers will have to catch up...I am concerned about dealer markups....

[@SergeyPRKL]

@@normananderson2583 I had mild interest on the street cafe racey looking ones, but they are so tiny, my big nordic frame just doesn't fit on them. I stick to my custom built CX500 honda

[@SergeyPRKL]

Went to store yesterday to buy one, nobody have one here in Northern finland. Internet sales all called through. nobody can deliver. Not before next year. Propably need to wait for some used ones to emerge.

[@PatchedBandit]

Yep. Availability is going to be rough at the start. But this was also true for Tenere in the beginning.

[@Al.j.Vasquez]

If this bike stayed the same but it was sold under the Husqvarna brand, journalists would be calling it the best bike of the year already.

[@PatchedBandit]

Same could be said with the Kove 450. But I think this is the way it should be. Every brand needs to show longevity of tech, customer support and parts availability to show everyone that they are here to stay and not just grab a buck off the hot market segment. This takes years.

[@Al.j.Vasquez]

@@PatchedBandit I agree with that, they deserve the chance to be judged independently, not just thrown under the "Chinese crap" bin just becase.

[@appslagu4704]

people still judging china build all crap stuff?.. in this modern and technological era?

[@ardyghorbani5910]

@PatchedBandit How does it compare to the BMW Sertao you owned? I have a Sertao and wondering your thoughts....

[@PatchedBandit]

MT450 definitely feels more modern and sophisticated with better dash, suspension, travel comfort, even ergonomically I think the MT450 is better as the bike is thinner and getting a comfortable standing and/or sitting position is better on the MT450. Sertao was a bit weird erognomically for me at least and required lowered footpegs etc. to get correct. No such issues with the MT450. Vibrations are clearly almost gone with the MT450 compared to the BMW and this makes traveling with the bike much more enjoyable. Also I'm pretty sure the highway legs are slightly better on the MT450. I don't remember the BMW liking to travel around 110-120kph that much. I would definitely prefer traveling with the MT450 even though both bikes can do it. Parallel twin also gives the MT450 a much improved soundtrack compared to the big thumper but this is juts a personal preference on my part. Reliability on these CfMoto's is still a questionmark. I would like to see a few units being driven around 50 000 to even 100 000 km before we can start saying that its a reliable machine.

[@keepitreal1547]

Fantastic review of this bike, new subscriber 👍

[@keepitreal1547]

Excellent English spoken, especially when it's not your first language 👏

[@PatchedBandit]

Far from first 😅 but I try my best so that these would not be too annoying to listen to 🙏

[@Adventurous_noob]

Tried one the other day. Absolutely shocked with the lightness and capability. The bike is designed to a very good standard. Also own a Tuareg 660.

[@Itchybite]

Does the 450mt feel a lot lighter than the toureg 660? It's only about 10kgs on paper.

[@Adventurous_noob]

@@Itchybite yes it feels noticeably lighter! The difference on the paper is more likely to be 20kg.

[@PatchedBandit]

Difference is under 10kg. Anyone buying this just because it’s ”noticeably lighter” is going to be disappointed. These two bikes feel extremely similar.

[@nockianlifter661]

Got mine on order, but I’m struggling to answer the question “why not buy a used 790 as they are the same weight, but more power, or a 690 with less weight” ? If you take price out of the equation, it’s a difficult one to answer.

[@PatchedBandit]

790 and 890 platforms are struggling with a bad reputation by eating camshafts. This is not a good look for KTM or the bikes and this is the reason I'm staying away from those models at least for now. It's not only the issue itself but the brands response to it that doesn't look good. 690 is an interesting platform but the engine being a single cyl brings other issues that I don't love on a travel oriented machine. My ideal would be a light twin cyl for traveling mega distances on & offroad. Also the 690 is super expensive in Finland (16286 €) and needs rally tower and seat and other mods to be really travel ready. It ends up costing close to 20 000 € for me at the end.

[@nockianlifter661]

@@PatchedBandit Yes, they didn’t do themselves any favours by their behaviour, now at least they are covering the concerns. Removing that as an issue and the price, but just machine to machine, how do you justify the 450 ? I’ve ridden the 790 off road and it’s damned good, a lot better than it should be and very smooth. Ive had the 690 engine in a Vitpilen and it didn’t suit the bike with high gearing and clip ons, it’s also a horribly noisy lump which sounds like a bag of spanners-also too tall for me. The smaller, competition motors are much nicer, but they have short service intervals and the bikes have zero comfort for any distance, but are fantastic off road. The only other bike is the Honda 300 rally, but poor suspension and gutless motor mean it needs work to make it desirable to me. The CF is a compromise at a price in my view, at present the only option, but a flawed one if you need to tackle some level of technical off road.

[@istra70]

Why would you go on motorways - with the bike designed for secondary ( rural ) roads and off road ? Kove 450 is brilliant and so is AJP PR7 , but this one is the winner for sure when you consider the price and fun factor. Great review , thanks for posting .

[@PatchedBandit]

Most people ride these twin cyl bikes as an all purpose motorcycle. It should do everything descrently well and I think the MT450 is pretty good as an all purpose bike.

[@multiadventure]

CF is ADV and better on highway than Kove, (Adv=multipurpose) Kove is outstanding on gravel, due to it's design for rally, not the same segment... it's ok on highway, but it's a shame to ride K450R on tarmac 🤙😉👊

[@istra70]

@@multiadventure I am getting MT 450 anyway ...it is great for off road and i think best bike for TET ...

[@multiadventure]

@@istra70 cf is awesome bike 🤙 as the test show, will do better eating tarmac between more technical singel track part on TET. Just don't compare Kove as the same🙏 big difference 👊 have fun 🤙

[@davidmatthews3093]

The trouble is a lot of people but the bike that the influencers have persuaded them to have without taking their actual needs into consideration. This is a great travel bike for people who ride it on the roads where it belongs but it will never be a good bike for people who love driving on fast straight roads. Pretending it can be is simply a lie.

[@ziruk-king4466]

What about water in frame and owners having to drill a hole to release water??😮

[@PatchedBandit]

All's I'm gonna say that if this is the only problem with this bike it's amazing! But we will see over the next couple of years what comes up when people get some more mileage on these.

[@aldearadu5219]

well... you can t beat that price ... its 6000 euros here. it s a lot of bike for that money

[@PatchedBandit]

It's an incredible value. I didn't see or feel any 'cost cutting' on the bike either. Crazy really.

[@SergeyPRKL]

Where? It is 8600€ here in Finland.

[@oldguy8078]

@@SergeyPRKL Call the police. You're being robbed.

[@JRClaybrook1]

Great review! Do you find the throttle choppy or twitchy at all? I've heard from several people now that they've had throttle issues and some even after the over-the-air update.

[@PatchedBandit]

I've heard that too but in this short ride I didn't notice that. More time in town might have revealed it though so can't be sure.

[@slakk5093]

Yup, the update doesn’t completely fix the throttle problems. You need to get an ecu flash if you want it to be fixed properly

[@simonjones2645]

Slack throttle cable

[@soumyananda2528]

I think pricing is the issue here . In india re Himalayan 450 sells for 4297 USD. IF CF MOTO 450 launches in india the pricing probably would be around 6500 considering its a twin cylinder but RE is also going to launch Himalayan 650 or 800 , which will be priced between 6500 USD to 7500 USD. So even if Indian scenario for RE it may look like good pricing for other countries it depends on taxation

[@PatchedBandit]

True. This is exactly why I rarely speak about prices in my videos. They vary a lot country to country and almost nowhere are these as expensive as in Finland 😄

[@porkshank13]

I know they are somewhat different creatures but since you have taken both out for a spin, how does it feel compared to the Kove 450? Ergonomics? Power? How much better is the Kove off road vs how much better is the CFMOTO on road? Thanks!

[@PatchedBandit]

450MT is VERY close to the Tenere 700 and Tuareg 660 in everything else but peak power. Kove on the other hand is a lightweight enduro bike more closely resembling CRF300/450 category of bikes. Pretty hard to even do that comparison. Kove is miles ahead offroad and same can be said about MT450 on asphalt. Kove 450 feels much lighter and nimbler compared to even the ktm 690 so any comparison to the MT450 is a bit far fetched 🙂

[@porkshank13]

@@PatchedBandit Thank you! That is still very helpful. I am interested in both these bikes for doing things like the BDR's and the TAT here in the States and trying to decide where I want to make my compromise.

[@PatchedBandit]

If I would know you as a rider better it would be a bit easier to suggest should you go twin or single cyl route and maybe the history of bikes you have owned. But If you want to have some more in depth chat about the different options I'm happy to help in my discord or whatsapp groups! linktr.ee/patchedbandit

[@porkshank13]

@@PatchedBandit That's awesome. Thank you! I might take you up on that eventually. The reality is for me if I am to purchase a new motorcycle it won't happen until next riding season. I currently own a CRF300L Rally that I have dropped a pretty penny into upgrading. I love it, but already feeling the call of more power, but also hesitant to make the leap given the money I have put into the Rally. Thanks again!

[@PatchedBandit]

I can highly recommend going a bit deeper and doing the Level 1.0 tune with a bit quieter exhaust like Yoshimura full racing pipe. kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y6PHpZl-jZicbM0 The bike get's some really needed PEP with this done.

[@joepopes7923]

It covers a wide range of riding and a slower bike riding fast so so much more fun than riding a fast bike slow.

[@PatchedBandit]

Truth!! One of the best rides of 2024 for me this one. Great bike.

[@spileh]

Do we get the acceleration numbers into table some day?

[@PatchedBandit]

Some day. I couldn't do the test in this event but I'm gonna try to do one later.

[@Itchybite]

If i buy a Toureg 660 over the 450MT (yes, i know its more than double the price) will i regret it?

[@PatchedBandit]

I have a 10K review out this week (friday).. that video will share some of my experiences. But very hard to answer without knowing you 😅

[@williamrae9954]

I can buy an ex-demo Suzuki V-Strom 800DE for £7000...you know it'll still be running in 10-15yrs...Cycle World just did the Baja1000 on one,reliability, albeit a fried clutch! Best of the bunch!

[@davidmatthews3093]

It’s a completely different motorcycle. Which one suits your needs?

[@Joseph-ds4zs]

I have been looking at this bike what really kinda leans more into it is the fact that that 450 engine has been around for quite some time and is proven reliable. It’s used across several different bikes. Also see if Moto from what I heard bought a huge steak in KTM, so basically the CF Moto is a KTM they make the 790 and people are still buying those.

[@PatchedBandit]

As far as I know the MT450 engine is new and doesn't have a proven reliability as of now. What bikes do you say the engine has been in before?

[@Joseph-ds4zs]

@@PatchedBandit the bike is but cfmoto has been using the engine for a few years in their 450 naked bikes

[@NaughtyPandaOvO]

春风摩托450👍👍👍

[@Motolover123]

Would you take that bike or your modded CRF300L to the TET. Btw love your channel

[@PatchedBandit]

To the TET Norway trip I just came from I would definitely take the 450MT any day. Most of TET is very rideable on these mid size adv bikes so comfort on a long journey is highly valuable for me. But there are places I would be more comfortable being on the CRF300 for sure. I was just on an event called MAD here in Finland and rode the tracks marked 'black' the whole weekend. CRF was a much better tool for that task in my opinion 😁 Thanks 🙏

[@davidmatthews3093]

The TET comes in all shapes and sizes. The CF Moto would cover a lot if it easily but struggle in other parts. That struggle will become harder if the gearing is altered to suit road work.

[@endo800]

I wonder how it will stack up vs Kove 800x which weighs similar

[@PatchedBandit]

Would be interesting to test the 800x. But I don't believe the weight figures until someone puts it on to a scale.

[@TwistofWrist]

​@PatchedBandit MCN did weight the Kove 800X a few weeks back: 196kg and Kove claimed 185kg.

[@advseeker]

Need to test that bike... but probably too small for me and my family members 😅 Kove was higher?

[@PatchedBandit]

Kove is way higher. But the rally seat for the MT450 is +5cm taller and straight. That might be nice on this.

[@joshdoddadbod]

This bike doesn't look very good to me, but seems like a fantastic budget option to get into an offroad oriented twin.

[@martygriffith2135]

My only wish would be that more people knew about them and that they had a better reputation for quality and resale. I’m in the Philippines and honestly prefer this bike due to the specs and all the praise but I will most likely buy the Honda CB500X because I also will be leaving next year and will need to sell it. People here do not trust the Chinese brands! Although the market here is flooded with them they are the last to sell and at the worst prices.

[@PatchedBandit]

Subscribe to see my upcoming series about the Honda NX500 :) It is a real contender in this class for sure.

[@anthonyperkins6364]

No release date for when they will be in the USA ? ! ?

[@PatchedBandit]

Don't know but I heard that the initial reservations about 3x the supply. I'm afraid this is going to be one of those releases that doesn't have a very good availability at start.

[@constantinosschinas4503]

Really hoped they made this bike less bulky. It could also be 10kg+ lighter.

[@PatchedBandit]

Yep. Would definitely differentiate it more from the competition if it was under 190 wet.

[@davidmatthews3093]

It’s a compromise built to a price. You want something from another, more expensive class.

[@constantinosschinas4503]

@@davidmatthews3093 Not sure it is only the price. There are restrictions due to A2 euro diploma. Like max weight and max weight/power ratio. Bulk and low seat was added to match that audience, as well...

[@2Gales]

For all the people trying to compare this to the Kove…😂 They are radically different bikes. The Kove is not a street oriented bike,although you can register it 7:20 and it would be “street legal”, it is a racing bike for competition, rallies, and for extreme high speed off road in general. Very high maintenance, very high seat, probably high ;consumption, knobby tyres, no comfort, and so on. If you plan ro ride the bike in the street and do not plan on racing it, the NT is your bike. Easy choice!😊

[@jonwoodworker]

I agree they are different. The Kove is a clown bike that had to pay youtubers millions of dollars to sell a handful of bikes. The MT450 is just a good bike,

[@antonisr827]

How is it compared to Himalayan 450?

[@PatchedBandit]

I have only sat on the new Himalayan so I can't say anything about it yet. I know people are comparing the 2 a lot so I want to test it out soon.

[@alozborne]

These small displacement twin cylinder engines are designed to do highway speeds alll day long at fairly high rpms. My 2022 Honda CB500X is very similar that way. It's really not something that bothers me, it just takes some getting used to. About the only downside of that is that fuel economy definitely suffer at speeds over 110 kph. Personally, i wouldn't change the front sprocket

[@PatchedBandit]

More rpm usually equals a more buzzy bike so it's a matter of taste and what the bike is mainly used for. If it's 90% offroad hooligan the gearing is proabably just right. But if it's mainly used for commuting and only like 10% offroad it might be ok to swap to some taller legs. Might also lower the consumption a bit.

[@alozborne]

@@PatchedBandit Yeah, I just don't understand though why someone would buy a 450 MT for commuting - there are better choices for doing that (NX500, 450 NK, many others). An ADV bike should do it all decently, so compromises are unavoidable.

[@PatchedBandit]

Some people can only own one bike. If I would commute with my only bike I would still like to take it on some offroad adventures on the weekend. MT450 is much more cabaple out the box than NX500.

[@alozborne]

@PatchedBandit Agreed, the 450MT is the bike the NX500 should have been, if Honda was paying attention. When I replace my CB500X with a 450 MT (hopefully used), I won't touch the gearing as many CB500X riders changed the 15 tooth front sprocket to a 16 tooth and regretted doing so because it negatively impacted hill climbs when off roading. These smaller displacement motors don't really have the torque at lower rpms - I wouldn't hesitate to swap the front sprocket on a 650cc bike

[@davidmatthews3093]

I am with you 100%. I love my 500X and tend to use it on the roads where it belongs. The standard gearing is spot on because it makes the bike much more lively than the specs suggest and that liveliness is accessible even when the bike is loaded and in the mountains. If I wanted something to sit on motorways at 120kmh I would have bought a diesel hatchback.

[@jimtitt3571]

Feeling light is very subjective but the weight itself isn't, try lifting it out of a mudhole and you'll know what I mean. I test rode the MT offroad and you feel every kilogram braking, over bumps, in turns and making quick corrections. I was interested in buying one but for my off-road riding style it is just 40kg or so too heavy. I'll stick with my ancient EXC.

[@PatchedBandit]

Feeling light and nimble during riding is something every viewer should understand what I mean by saying that and I stated also that it's still a heavy twin cyl adventurebike. NOT an enduro bike. When I talk about these bikes during rides I consider the segment they are sitting in. If I start comparing it to 100kg enduro bikes all the way to big GS it makes it pretty confusing for everyone. This bike is in the mid size ADV category no question about that. Thinking this is somehow a direct replacement for a KTM EXC is crazy.

[@aluminiumsloep]

30% less fuel efficient then the Himalyan(1;20 v 1;30)....going places with less fuel pumps around that makes a difference...big difference....and for my commute that's € 400,-- less on fuell each year add some weekend travels to that and you reach an easy € 900,-- each year...so after 10 years......i have the money spared out for a brand new one.... Now that's economics...

[@PatchedBandit]

I don't count fuel I put in my therapy machines (anything with 2 wheels).. You are not wrong though 😁✌️

[@PatchedBandit]

⭐ You can support my work for only €0.99/month 😊👍 ⭐ kzbin.info/door/6hGP2VIz2D_m4ZTpKGmLPAjoin ⭐ Membership perks: ⭐ ▸ Early access to new videos ⭐ ▸ Loyalty badges ⭐ ▸ Custom Emojis in comments ⭐ ▸ Member perks on Discord

[@tolgaayyldz6841]

my height is 1.85 cm. if i buy this motorcycle with lifted seat. what do you think its can be okay right ?

[@PatchedBandit]

My educated guess is you would be ok with the ergos but try to have a sit if you can before buying :)

[@tolgaayyldz6841]

​@@PatchedBandit i hope i can drive this thing . i dont get my license yet . gonna get it after 2 days they giving us 150cc motorcycle for the license test. if i can get the license this motorcycle gonna be my first motorcycle

[@PatchedBandit]

Very nice first rider. Don't be too hasty on upgrading it either. Big power definitely doesn't help anyone when going off pavement. It's exciting but doesn't really do much. This also seems to behave very well on the road so it's a very nice option for anyone that want's to do both.

[@theodorstravels]

How would you feel this bike is to a complete offroad noobie? Would you recommend this, over say Honda CRF300L Rally? Also taking in to consideration that the bike should be ok, for riding several hundred km a day, on highway.

[@PatchedBandit]

CfMoto is definitely more fun on the highway but both can do it. In my opinion its much more fun and easier to learn on a lighter bike. Riding the CRF you will most likely improve faster on the offroad stuff. Honda also keeps its value very well so its very easy to upgrade after a while. Do all the mods I have on mine and you might ride it for years and years 😄 I have 10K on mine and still no plans to sell it. Honda CRF300L kzbin.info/aero/PLjuLZY6TnpPnQWrKL7vgN6eCmeAY5Ea4Z

[@davidmatthews3093]

This is the compromise. Where is your preference, off-road ability or road comfort. The CRF covers the first and a lot of bikes cover the second. The 450 tries to do both but will always be a compromise.

[@bdkima9847]

Cost in India? If only if it gives more Mileage 🤩

[@PatchedBandit]

No idea 🤷‍♂️ Ask the local Reseller: www.cfmotoindia.com/cfmoto-india-dealers.php

[@nscott26]

Would you replace your Tuareg with this CF Moto 450? I own a Tuareg but want something lighter and rhe weight savings on paper doesn't seem like enough. I also own a Kove 450 which is great off road but riding on road to get to the off road stuff isnt very good. I also own a Honda 300 rally which is great off road and a little better on road than the Kove but its a little underpowered in my opinion. If the Honda had 40-45hp it would be a great all around bike!

[@PatchedBandit]

Doing the Level 1.0 tune to my CRF really made a big difference to how it picks up and gets going. I would not switch to the MT450 due to weight. Weight differences alone are so small that any issue you have with the Tuareg offroad is going to be there with the MT450 also. Tuareg is a very well balanced and easy to control 200kg bike and the same can be said about the MT450 but the differences between these two are mainly the price.

[@vaerenbergh]

I would take the new himi. Longer service intervals, less harch yet great suspension and no CCP connection

[@christopherpekel6096]

It's not as good.

[@vaerenbergh]

@@christopherpekel6096 i beg to differ

[@slakk5093]

The longer service intervals are attractive. As is the much better fuel economy. To keep the warranty with CFMoto you need to get the bike serviced every 5000km at a dealership

[@PRu701]

Kove 450 or this ?

[@MichaelShaw206]

That would be my question as well.

[@PatchedBandit]

Kove 450 could replace my CRF300. MT450 is far closer to my Tuareg 660 than Kove. So the question can't be answered without knowing who is buying and where the bike is going to be used 😁 But if the question is for me and I could only own 1 bike... That's a different story and a very hard one to answer. I would probably take the MT450 to be my 1 and only bike if those were the choises I have. But tomorrow I might say the Kove 😂 Kove is far better offroad no 2 ways about it. But MT450 is a much more comfortable touring bike.

[@MichaelShaw206]

@@PatchedBandit Makes total sense to me. Thanks for your insight.

[@normananderson2583]

@@PatchedBandit Here in the states with the BDR's you may need to ride for 500 miles or more to get to the start of a ride..so the 450MT would be the ticket...once on the more challenging BDR,s you would want, ideally, the CRFl/Rally. I am thinking/hoping that the 450 from CF will be the best compromise. Will find out next summer..hope to do 2 BDR's....gotta ride well I can...

[@constantinosschinas4503]

Kove 450 can't handle a second person and is a rally bike. 450MT is a street bike that can also do well on dirt.

[@tuanoful]

Someone said at highway speed the front wobbles. big no no

[@PatchedBandit]

A lot of bikes have had this issue due to tires. Like Motorcycle adventures with his Tenere 700. I'm 99% sure it's not the bike and this was table as it should be.

[@tuanoful]

@@PatchedBandit I had it happen to me with a vstrom, almost died. So if that's a known issue, or suspected issue, hell nah. I was very close to buying this motorcycle, but I'm going to give it time. Hopefully China starts making good bikes, because the two others I've own were like throwaway toys.

[@tuanoful]

I love that there are not, seemingly good bikes (RE, Triumph and MF moto) making more accesible bikes. ADV touring is a passon of mine, but having to shell out 30k is just insane (for the big boys)

[@PatchedBandit]

Tankslappers (if that's what you meant) are rare with adventurebikes in general because the geometry is totally different. I've had many with my roadbikes back in the day but never had one with any adventurebike. I havent' seen any postings about this being a reason to avoid this bike. Most small vobbles are tire issues in individual bikes and tankslappers I haven't seen reported with this or other adventurebikes. It can happen but... I've ridden about 100 000km with adventurebikes and never had that issue with these kind of bikes.

[@tuanoful]

@@PatchedBandit I know it is not common, I probably caused it by lifting the back and changing the geometry of the bike.Rising the back shortened the wheel to wheel length. Vstrom is kind of low, so I did it to do some harder trails. And it was totally fine except over 120kph. I fell down at 130, thanfully no one was on the road with me. Broke a lot of stuff and ended up in a wheelchair for a while. I might be a little irrational about the issue, I understand that, the fear is still there. The wobble on the MF 450 mt I saw in one of the millions of videos I've seen about this bike.

[@Onceuponatimejotaele]

Hopefully long established Japanese brands are taking account of this. They have been resting on their laurels for too long.

[@PatchedBandit]

Absolutely. We need competition in the 160-200kg bike segment. Lighter the better. These 1100 africatwins etc. are touring bikes more than offroad tools. We also need more bikes like the Kove 450 with reasonable pricing.

[@williamrae9954]

New Suzuki DRZ400 imminent 2025

[@fatmaninatincan9239]

I like What i'm seeing and hearing , but until they can prove they can last as long as a Honda I'll keep my money in my pocket. But I the bike does show promise.

[@davidmatthews3093]

Your comment about changing the front sprocket is well intentioned but nowhere near as straightforward as you suggest. The bike feels lively because of its gearing but it does not have the power nor the torque to stay lively with a higher overall gearing, by changing the gearing you might well ruin one o& the things that made the motorcycle so good. If someone wants a motorcycle to travel hundreds of miles at 110kmh on highways this is not the motorcycle for them. I saw an interesting 10,000km report on this very bike and in that he said he shared your thoughts at first but as time went in and the mileage increased he came to realise that the standard gearing was spot on. This idea that low powered bikes can be ‘improved’ by changing the gearing is little more than a fashion peddled by KZbin influencers like yourself. The real world says otherwise.

[@PatchedBandit]

Only thing I said is that IF you want to lower the highway rpm maybe consider changing the sprocket. Everyone and their mother knows this is always a compromise in one direction or the other as sprocket chages affect the whole rev range with all gears. People use these bikes differently. You cant say one way is better than the other.

[@MERMBRAMA]

Try to ride kove 800x...twice the amount of horsepower and 5 kg lighter

[@PatchedBandit]

Someone needs to put that thing on a scale. I will believe it when I see it weighed by someone 😄

[@MERMBRAMA]

@@PatchedBandit been weighted by many journalists, and owners..the results are between 190 and 191,5kg,fully fueled.

[@PatchedBandit]

Thats impressive! Thanks for the info. Need to try and get one for a ride.

[@PatchedBandit]

I asked around about this and it seems they are not coming to the Finnish market at least not soon. Probably can't get my hands on one.

[@g4joe]

👍🇬🇧👍

[@TraciKaminski-n4f]

Lee James Lee Elizabeth Hernandez Kevin

[@EdmundDwight-i8o]

Thompson Angela Martin Eric Hall Brian

[@koma7252]

impressive propaganda campaign from CF Moto, every motovlogger rambles about this bike, it's really fascinating to me how quickly people sell out for saving a few pennies....enjoy your future Chinese bikes, thank yo uboomers

[@PatchedBandit]

Nobody is paying me to say anything. If I like a bike I like a bike. If I dont I will tell you so. If you dont like it watch something else. Many channels to pick from.

[@williamrae9954]

Would you trust a KTM (dodgy reliability),then,would you trust a KTM made in China?

[@PatchedBandit]

For me personally the "made in China" part is not as it used to be back in the 90's. Some of the best quality comes from China today so they can definitely do even better than europeans on what comes to production quality. Question is .. is the CfMoto that? Time will tell and I am following with great interest. I'm afraid that the prices are going to go up the next few years. I doubt we can even buy the MT450 with the current price in 2025.

[@williamrae9954]

@@PatchedBandit On the plus side...the engine configuration Honda should have put in the CB500X and the NX500...270 crank,not a 180...used to own a Transalp, it was lackluster!

[@siurdna]

jerky throttle

[@PatchedBandit]

Didn't notice that but I have heard it from multiple sources. I didn't do much in town riding so maybe that's why I did't notice it myself.