CFMOTO 450MT / IBEX 450 FINAL REVIEW

[@je7647]

even if you dont like CFMOTO, other manufactures are going to have to change their strategy and thats going to positively influence you as a consumer.

[@nevillegreg1]

Mate, it may be relatively heavy (compared to an enduro) but you just don't really feel it, it's not top heavy at all. You didn't mention that you also get fold-in gear shifter and fold-in foot brake as standard. Also, you can do software updates from home and wirelessly (don't have to take it to the dealer), noting that CFMoto actually sends a message to you via the phone app regarding updates. Also, the thing has some kind of GPS on board so you know if someone is moving it not under power and then you can locate it should it get stolen - and more. It's the unicorn.

[@charliequach6399]

It's just a SIM card for connectivity. Cars have been having this feature since around 2004.

[@drbrown7051]

​@@charliequach6399but we are talking axbout bikes here

[@Merc399]

It's too heavy though. Can they get it under if they can get it under 400lbs id be interested. My bike is 80hp, 350 pounds and is just as good for off road as on road. I feel like that should be the standard.

[@braedenparsons6068]

@@Merc399what bike do you have?

[@Merc399]

@@braedenparsons6068 modded 701 supermoto with Michelin snake wilds for the tires. Good for everything down to single track fr tons of fun

[@pawelwolski1316]

450mt owner, 1500km. Biggest issue is the super short final gearing. 120 kmh the engine sits at 7000 rpm (1500 below red line). I bought this as dirt oriented adv, sometimes I need that 120kmh. There is plenty power, taller 6th should have been fitted. I installed 15t up front, it helps but it's a compromise. The gear box is ok, but it's nothing to write home about. My 150cc Honda or 250 Vstrom are way nicer. I am 75kgs, the front springs are too stiff. The initial factory fueling off idle is very choppy. Going slow on technical or even street riding requires lots of clutch work. There is an update, I have not done that yet. When taking off the skid plate, the down tubes spread by 2cm. Strap is required to bring them in before reinstalling the skid plate. It seems like most of the fasteners are tighten to max or max plus torque. This seems to be a Chinese thing. Exhaust is on the loud side. So these are my cons, not the fact that the bike has a plastic fearing, they all do. It's my 2nd CFMOTO, it's an awesome proposition. I am glad I have one. Its not a "Honda", but honda refuses to make one. The above comments are from a lifelong rider.

[@Dominique_Oliveira]

if you feel so, you can put one or two more teeth on the front spoket, and reduce 1000-1500rpm on 120km/h speed. :)

[@drd3816]

NX500 owner here 4500km--i set mine up as a street bike with Road 6 tires to start with but i am curious have you tried the NX/CBX and if so what is the difference they seem to be spec'ed fairly closely. I love my Honda but its my first twin i have been riding dirt or dual sport bikes for 40+ years. Nice review btw very helpful points. I just wonder how big of a difference the suspension makes over the Showa on my NX. I dod the usual seat concepts seat and windscreen lip and my NX runs smoothy at 120km-150km .Both bikes weigh the same ands approx the same HP

[@pawelwolski1316]

@drd3816 For me it's not only the suspension, it's the entire package. I want a dirt capable adv bike. The NX500 most likely would have done the job, but I do at times go into some "harder" dirt. For me the MT450 fits my "mission" better because: 21 front wheel Suspension Tubeless spoked wheel 450 twin (for road riding) Comfort (178cm, 75kg) Looks All the adjustments, folding foot controls, USB, the nice dash, over air ecu updates, one button front abs/traction off, comes with rear shock pre load adj tool........ This bike after first oil change, is ready for the "around the world" trip. Sure I will put a better skid plate, barkbusters and light, soft bags rack system. But that is all. I do have the Rally 300. I have $3000 or more in it. I had to fix the bubble gum suspension. I had to fix the super restricted airbox, including inner snorkel. Ecu tunes, full exhaust, fat bar, rear rack, metal skid plate, USB........Still I have no passing light switch (I ride it in Asia, u need one here, all my other bikes have them). Like I stated in my original post, Honda refuses to make our unicorn. I with my money said, ok thx but no thx Honda. I hope the MT450 will be reliable, time will tell.

[@drd3816]

@@pawelwolski1316 All great points and yes i have thrown money at Japanese bikes right off the get go too which i never recoup when i sell them. Thanks for the synopsis. I live in Asia too but we dont have the CFMoto's available in TH. They only sell the CFMoto quads here. I am hoping that changes. Ya its a specced out bike thats a nice and honestly expensive list of farkles that all take time to buy and add on your bike very nice. My NX500 is a street touring bike but i want a gravel road dirt twin in Canada. I dont see the CFMoto 450 listed yet there only the 800 cc bike not sure why i do hope they bring it to Canada. I would be ok with buying another CRF300 Rally for Canada and setting it up i do love that bike it was good to me but yup right out of the box the CF Moto would be much better for logging roads and backroad travel in Canada. Congrats on your bike i guess i need to be patient and wait for the countries i live live in to get this unicorn. I weigh 95kg and 185cm so the NX is a touch small rider triangle wise but i fixed that with bar risers and a seat and with the Michelin Road 6's its a fun twisty road carving bike but yup i need a bike that can go off road too. I do prefer these mid cc bikes they are great in tight spaces in town here in traffic and dont break the bank either...in fact i can buy a few purpose oriented mid cc bikes which i would prefer over one large 'do it all " bike...Cheers

[@pawelwolski1316]

@drd3816 U seem very reasonable, now I know why. Yes western riders are brainwashed to belive they need 100hp plus, active this and that, cruise control......Here I have 6 bikes, from awesome 150s, the Rally and just got Suzuki vstrom 250, great bike for my roads here. The MT450 is coming to North America. If you are not planning lots of highways, if 100-110 is good enough for you, the MT450 might be the right choice. With the short gearing (I ride the MT450 in Europe), a fixed up Rally is still a very valid option in my opinion. It's 155 kg vs 195 for the MT450. Why, why cfmoto didn't put a tall "overdrive" 6th gear???

[@Sargnort]

One thing ill mention is the high beam switch is always knocked while changing gears. Otherwise i love it!

[@MrKdr500]

i trimmed mine with a file.

[@Danger_mouse]

6:22 Looking up the part numbers, plastic side panels and decals aren't terribly expensive. Actually that's true of most of the fast moving parts that I looked up. A big plus 👍

[@Al.j.Vasquez]

That bike is also $9.990 in Costa Rica, but USD 🥲. A Tenere T7 is at around 21.000 USD.

[@OnThrottle]

😳

[@WildBikerBill]

Ouch! Those import duties/tariffs must be amazingly high.

[@Al.j.Vasquez]

@@WildBikerBill Not as much as you think, but ot does affect, that and the overall offer / demand here, brands try to squeeze as much as possible per customer, 10.000$ is approximately 10 to 12 months of salary for someone with a well paid job. Still, they sell.

[@radadventure2606]

Can I mention the tubeless, spoked tyres ...

[@davidskaggs9914]

Hasn't hit the states yet...dealer told me November here in Texas. $6500 can't wait to ride it to see if it's worth the hope. My Honda Transalp is 750cc and around the same weight 90 hp

[@MrKdr500]

i own both bikes and while they are similar weight the 450 carry's it's weight a lot lower with far better suspension and brakes... also don't need to remove front body panel to change the air filter.

[@leonrawls892]

90hp on Transalp? I don't think so

[@jonwoodworker]

The Talp is a street bike. The MT450 can actually adventure. So, having both is a good option.

[@WildBikerBill]

1. I found a tuner on youtube who put the Transalp on a dyno and got ~75 HP at the rear wheel. 2. According to available specs, the Transalp is 39 pounds heavier.

[@Ezrasideas]

Why does no one do a review with the high fender version. It fits the bike better IMO

[@OnThrottle]

It’s an optional part afaik and the press demo bikes are all stock standard here in New Zealand. It does look cool though.

[@Pebbzor]

I think it looks better with the low fender.

[@MrKdr500]

low fender stops more crap hitting the engine.

[@wesleyjames.]

Nice review Mat! Still need to ride one myself

[@OnThrottle]

Thanks, Wes! Yeah man definitely take one for a spin if you can and explore some of those braided rivers down your way

[@rustystarfishadventures]

What’s the castings like and the longevity like. What materials do they use. As an adventure bike these better be good. For the cost I can’t see it being that strong or atleast durable.

[@MrKdr500]

castings are as good as Japanese made bikes, far better than Thailand/India made bikes.

[@royaldanfield]

check the video from @adventurist he gave that bike a good beating and it holds up pretty well

[@twowheelin7361]

Bikes awesome, loving mine✌🏽

[@crj7218]

Saludos desde España 🇪🇦🇪🇦, una repro y un piñón de 15?

[@davidmallia628]

So why would you choose this 450, and not the Kove 800. Same weight! But you get double the horse power in the Kove 800. Maybe price!???

[@OnThrottle]

Why are you trying to compare a 450 to an 800? The Kove isn’t available in New Zealand for a start. If you are going to compare it to anything it makes sense to compare that to similar capacity and specced bikes like a T7 or 890 Adv and not an entry level sub-500cc bike. Of course the Kove makes nearly twice the power compared to the 450MT, it’s got nearly twice the engine capacity.

[@davidmallia628]

@@OnThrottle I am comparing from a value point of view. They are both Chinese, and if the price is. Ot do different, I, for one, would go for the Kove 800. Same weight, both parallel twin engines, but Kove has more power. Adventure bikes, to me, are virtuous by way of their weight. Having more power, with the same weight, and same price is a bonus.

[@Perturab0o]

@@davidmallia628 The 800X is much more expensive than the 450MT, but that is common knowledge after a short google search, so I have no idea what you are talking about.

[@davidmallia628]

@@Perturab0o Price counts, but is the price difference enough to go for a less powerful bike with the same weight. That was my query. Of course, the answer is different for different people.

[@Perturab0o]

@@davidmallia628 the Kove is in the same price range with CFMoto's own 800MT. And if you have that kind of money, perhaps it's better to take a T7 or something else if there's a discount available. The entire appeal of the 450MT is it's price versus the things it has for the money. Kove is not /that/ good compared to how much it costs. At that price range you have competition.

[@metalsadman]

mine still have stalling issue, had 3 stalls on today's ride, dealer is so useless still no word it's been 3 weeks since I reported this, bike had this issue since day 2 and was more common after break in. can't do on the air firmware update(which I think would've fixed it) as our units doesn't have tbox zzz.

[@charliequach6399]

I've been watching lots of reviews on this bike and Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 but just recently learnt of the Kove 500X and 800X. I think I'll wait for Kove to arrive in Australia, hopefully in 1 or 2 years.

[@wesleyjames.]

Kove looks great but don't think we're getting it in N.Z any time soon unfortunately!

[@charliequach6399]

Oh RIP. 😢

[@fcalin21]

@9:57 "Utter disappointment" let me help you, ALL OF THE OTHER MANUFACTURERS.

[@viracocha3125]

My only problem is that this motorcycle is made for people 165-175 cm tall

[@twowheelin7361]

Buy the optional high seat!

[@OnThrottle]

☝️this is you are taller, or low seat/lowering link if you’re shorter.

[@twowheelin7361]

@@viracocha3125 similar size bikes besides the engine. You’d be looking at an older model GS for that money

[@orwellianyoutube8978]

This was the comment I was searching for. Thank you. I am 185cm (6’1) and was wondering how small this bike is. Real shame, or I would have really went for it. This is the best bang for your buck in its category it seems

[@mikefreitas1331]

not it isn't... i am 183cm tall... i ride the bike pefectly but i had the seat reupholster 5cm and i will see the diference after that...

[@javierc2726]

Tin thousand dollars

[@drbrown7051]

trimindis

[@MtbPoland]

Well, finał will be in a Yera when engines will blow up...

[@EddyOtway]

Don't see the 450NK blowing up and they have been around for awhile, same motor.

[@slakk5093]

@@EddyOtway theres a lot of 450ss and 450nk engines blowing up. Dont have to look far, reddit and forums etc. I am looking in to getting a 450mt so i have been researching them, and lots of head gasket, and water pump failures. There was one that was leaking oil everywhere and if ended up being a bad block cast and engine had to be replaced under warranty.Lucky they have a good warranty, because the quality control is nowhere near Japanese level yet

[@Diirko]

@@slakk5093 Honestly though, you would have to look pretty far to find enough instances of that happening that would give a cause to worry. And as far as I can tell, all of these issues have been taken care of by CF Moto in a satisfactory/ customer oriented way.

[@jacopobassanini8551]

@@slakk5093there will be plenty of other japanese/EU bikes/cars with issues

[@christopherpekel6096]

​​@@slakk5093let me guess: you joined CFmoto groups and saw issues but you didn't join groups for other brands Am I right?

[@acegear]

if only cfmoto can shave off more fat on the bike would be better and fix the on those lower bar letting water in

[@scottaubrey8392]

I can’t see many of these going on proper adventures…

[@Rossamus]

Mine will 😁

[@mikefreitas1331]

But they already done some proper offroad adventures... enduro races and 5000km cross europe

[@KevinDaken]

Is KZbin not working where you are at ?

[@stephenwisner4993]

I just rode one of the American press bikes over 3200km of dirt, gravel and pavement. It was fantastic and had no issues.

[@jackfry9123]

@@KevinDaken Exactly! I've seen several videos of this bike tearing up trails quite competently on KZbin.

[@robbieandbeckie]

Empty Looking