Everyone who has ridden the CFMoto 450MT, or Ibex 450 as it is called in some countries, has been raving about it on the internet. Almost every journalist who has ridden it believes that the value it offers in terms of its overall package, riding experience, and pricing is too good to be true. If that’s indeed the case, it’s downright unfair that India, a land synonymous with adventure and ADVs, stays deprived of this revered all-rounder. Having said that, here’s why we think it’s a strong contender for the Indian entry-level ADV class.
The ever-growing popularity of ADVs
Stemmed by people’s growing hunger to explore new places, the popularity of adventure motorcycles has been on the rise. As a result, more and more manufacturers are penetrating into this space with their offerings. While some of these offerings are just restyled versions of their naked, road-biased siblings, others are actually capable of taking on the treacherous terrain and munching miles while keeping the rider comfortable. It looks like the CFMoto 450MT is quite efficient at carrying out both of these duties.
Compelling package
We say that by looking at the specifications which truly paint a glorious picture! What do you need in a motorcycle for it to be a capable ADV? 21-18-inch spoke wheels? Check. 200mm suspension travel at both ends? Check. High 220mm ground clearance? Check! And in case you’re on the shorter side and wondering about the seat height, it’s just 800mm. One can also opt for a taller 820mm seat. The most surprising aspect is that despite being a seemingly big twin-cylinder motorcycle, it weighs just 175kg (dry)!
In a country like India where the terrain is a mix of good and bad roads, and countless gorgeous trails, the 450MT seems like the perfect bike for new adventure riders. Where the 450MT goes on to impress further is the presence of tubeless spoke wheels which means puncture repair isn’t a big hassle. Moreover, the KYB suspension setup is fully adjustable which means users can tailor the ride to their liking. It also incorporates a 17.5-litre fuel tank, which is 0.5-litre bigger than the Himalayan 450. Other niceties like a TFT screen, navigation, switchable ABS, and switchable traction control are also standard. Not to forget, all of this comes wrapped in a stunning-looking package. We think calling it a mini Yamaha Tenere 700 wouldn’t be wrong. In India, where people are obsessed with big and sturdy-looking machines, the 450MT will strike home.
Positioning advantage
All the above traits have little value if they don’t come with a cracking price tag, especially in a price-sensitive market like India. In that case, let us remind you that CFMoto is from China, a country which has a reputation for making decent products at mouth-watering prices. The 450MT is not just affordable in most countries but also cheaper than the KTM 390 Adventure, one of its closest rivals. Mind you, the 390 Adventure has one cylinder less and is comparatively under-equipped in terms of adventure-centric bits like wheel size and ground clearance. In the US, for instance, the 450MT costs $6,499 while the KTM 390 Adventure is pegged at $7,399.
With similar pricing in India, the CFMoto 450MT can fill the void for an affordable, multi-cylinder adventure motorcycle. As of now, if riders want a twin-cylinder adventure tourer with a displacement similar to the Himalayan and 390 ADV, the Honda NX500 is the only option. The biggest deterrent here is the NX500’s price tag which is around Rs. 2.5-3 lakh more expensive than the RE and KTM offerings. That’s despite the Honda not offering anything extraordinary on paper. This is where the 450MT can come into the picture and become a slightly more premium alternative to the Himalayan 450 and 390 Adventure while being a much more accessible than the Honda NX500.
Challenges
We all are aware of how the story of the CFMoto brand ended in India. It announced its India debut in 2019 with as many as four motorcycles. Despite pricing them quite competitively, the company’s ball never got rolling in terms of sales and eventually, it suspended its operations. The main reason for this was people’s low buying sentiments towards Chinese products, not just due to geographical disputes between the two countries but also because of the skepticism amongst Indians regarding the quality of Chinese products. If CFMoto plans to come back to India with the 450MT, it might face similar hiccups. A mind-blowing marketing campaign can be a counter to that.
KTM connection
For the uninitiated, CFMoto has a two per cent stake in Pierer Mobility, KTM’s parent company. Under this deal, CFMoto manufactures KTM bikes with LC8 engines in China while KTM distributes CFMoto motorcycles in select countries like Germany, Austria, and Spain. This association strengthened last year when Pierer Mobility announced that CFMoto would increase the manufacturing capacity of KTM bikes and both companies are working more collaboratively in terms of product strategy, development, and industrialisation.
Now, this gives us some hope. If we take the liberty to let our imagination run wild, we might see a KTM motorcycle with the CFMoto 450MT’s 449.5cc engine that is said to be extremely potent. In fact, we would love to see the existing 390 Adventure evolve into a 450MT-based twin-cylinder motorcycle!
