CFMOTO has launched its Ibex 450 into the US adventure bike market, finally offering the small-bore twin-cylinder ADV that people have been demanding from other manufacturers for years.

We’ve already had peeks at the Ibex 450, aka the 450MT, when it was released in other markets, but now we have the straight dope on the US-market bike’s specs. CFMOTO says the 449 cc liquid-cooled twin (with 270-degree crank) makes 44 hp at 8,500 rpm and 32.5 lb-ft of torque at 6,250 rpm in its US configuration. Roughly the same output as the old 650-class singles (a bit less torque), from a machine weighing 386 lb dry. For the sake of reference, that’s about 25 lb more than the dry weight of a Kawasaki Versys-X 300.

Coming to the US in Zephyr Blue and Tundra Gray (which is, we assume, the color here) for 2024. Photo: CFMOTO

The rest of the bike has some pretty attractive points. Spoked rims with tubeless tires are standard, with 21-inch front and 18-inch rear. Suspension relies on an inverted fork from KYB, with damping adjustment. In back, there’s a linkage-type shock with damping and preload adjustability, and external gas reservoir. The bike has 8 inches of travel front and rear.

CFMOTO went with J Juan brakes, including a four-pot front caliper with opposed-piston design clamping down on a 320 mm disc. In back, a single-pot floating caliper is mated to a 240 mm disc. Dual-channel Bosch ABS is standard, and it’s switchable from the handlebar, in case you want to slide around the rear end in the gravel instead of having the electro-safety features kick in. Traction control is standard as well, and can also be switched off.

The basic configuration on this bike rivals that of big-bore competitors at this point. We just want to know: What’s it all gonna cost? Photo: CFMOTO

There’s also a 5-inch TFT display, and CFMOTO built am 18W USB-C charging port into the dash. Of course the TFT dash is Bluetooth-enabled, connecting to your phone through the CFMOTO’s Ride App

The wheelbase is 59.25 inches, with 26-degree rake. CFMOTO says the chromoly frame was designed to allow easy access to the engine for repairs, while still protecting in a crash. An aluminum skid plate comes standard. CFMOTO says the windshield is one-hand adjustable, too, and the mirrors fold for off-road protection.

Seat height is a very manageable 32.3 inches; fuel capacity is 4.6 gallons. LED lights are standard.

In short: It all looks like exactly the bike that small-bore enthusiasts have been wanting for years. The only questions left at this point are, what does it cost and how does it ride? We hope to get the answers to both those queries soon.