OTHER ISSUES? One viewer pointed out the headlight is weak and also has 'black spots'. Another mentioned the handguards break very easily and serious ones are needed to withstand crashes. BIKES MISSED IN THE COMPARISON? Similar bikes we missed in the vid? I'm sure some viewers will point out we didn't include the Chinese made Benelli TRK 502. It only has a 17" front wheel and is incredibly heavy at 213kg. I feel this puts it a another class (fat slugs perhaps?). There's also a generic Chinese made 500 being rebranded by heaps of brands: Chongqing Hengjian HJ500-8, Takasaki TKR 500, Dahaidao 500 GS, Rieju Aventura and the HJmoto ADV 500. We see this as potentially being very poor quality and don't intend to mention it until there's evidence for its reliability and quality. MIXED REPORTS ON FUEL ECONOMY Quite a few riders said it isn't good but I wonder if more recent bikes have some some remapping? Others are saying the fuel economy is excellent.... e.g. 3.8L/100KM and potential range of 500km with easy riding. VERY TALL RIDER? Owner of our test bike has now fitted the higher seat and loves it. Could be all you need if you are around six feet tall. Much taller? You've got three options, of course. Higher seat. Bars up and forward with Rox riders. And go down and back with something like Fastway footpegs. I did all three things with my CB500X and still couldn't get comfortable, and the 450MT feels very similar. 🤔 WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR ANTI-CHINA RANT? Regular viewers will know I've discussed in vids the potential issues with supporting a communist government with a poor human rights record by purchasing bikes made there. I won't ram my opinion down throats but think it's worth discussing. I just didn't see the point in raising it yet again in this vid. 🤔
Headlight is not weak, it is very bright on straight, but when you are riding some slower curvy road, it has big black spots. When you are leaning the bike.
I'm curious what you categorize as "freak of nature" levels of height, I'm 196cm tall / 116 kg / 91cm inseam and I really want to fit on this bike! Planning the tall seat, lower pegs, and bar risers if I do pull the trigger. The new Himalayan was fine on a short test-ride but I found the suspension unrefined on-road.
I have one of the first batch in Australia. It was a cancelled order so available immediately - I didn't want to buy one without seeing it/sitting on it. 9,200 Kms on it now, over 170 hours, with an average speed of 53kph. I'm not a hard core off roader, so mainly street use (including commuting) and gravel/dirt roads. Just today I did close on 500kms, with about 120kms of gravel. Height - I'm 170cm, & unsure of my inner leg measurement, but am of typical body to leg distribution. I can get one foot flat, or solidly on the balls of both feet. I agree with Barry that the very tall may find it uncomfortable/cramped, but it's perfect for me. Comfort - as above, it suits my height. I find the seat uncomfortable, but I'm old and with several injuries. Having said that, I find most bike seats uncomfortable - the only bike that I have ridden that I can't say that about is the GL1800 Gold Wing! At highway speeds with the screen at it's top setting it works well at keeping the wind off and there is no buffeting (I wear an Arai XD4). Fuel economy - I've logged and calculated every tank since new. My overall fuel consumption is calc'd at 3.811 l/100k (61.9 imperial mpg). The onboard computer has the average at 3.5 l/100k. The longest between fills was 405kms, with the dash showing a fuel warning, but it only took 14.17 litres to fill it, so almost 3 litres left, with a calc'd distance to actually empty of 500kms, Snatchy throttle - initially yes, but the OTA update worked wonders. Prior to that it was quite hard to ride smoothly, especially when standing. My background is mostly road, so my standing technique is probably poor. Noise - if going any distance (i.e. not commuting) I wear earplugs. You should too! Suspension - too hard off the showroom floor, but lots of adjustment so it's now good enough for me. Wish list - cruise (not fly by wire, so difficult), more comfortable seat (my preference), 15-tooth sprocket as standard. Issues - the previously mentioned snatchy throttle, now fixed, and I may have a slightly weepy countershaft sprocket seal - it could be chain lube though. I'll need to be less anal about lubing the chain and seen if any more oil appears. Overall - I'm very happy with the bike. It suits what I use it for, and the price is great.
For me being the short arse trail rider that I am it's just about perfect. Enough power for the road, amazing exhaust note from a stock system there is nothing better especially for the price. I bought one.
I have one on order here in NY, my dealer won't tell me a damn thing as to when they are coming in! Let's hope it's that soon! I think will make a good companion to my 701
@@mikewelti112 the dealer I went to in Ontario told me mid April unfortunately, that was just yesterday and they emailed the import company to confirm which they did.
@@crosstrainingadventureHuge upgrade to my restomod xl185 250cc engine with 15hp and about the same fuel economy. I can understand how experienced riders might view the mt450 as heavy and underpowered. But for a new rider on an RE licence and under 6ft with no interest in single-track enduro. The value for money is undeniable. I'm ok with noise...better than the thumper brop shaking my nerves.
Been riding a Kawasaki Versys X-300 for about 2 years now. I originally bought it just to show my buddies complaining on their KTM 500 EXC's that they need to work on improving their riding skills rather than throwing a ton of money at a bike and custom suspension and still being unhappy while I was able to overcome obstacles on my Versys that they couldn't. Turns out I was having a ton of fun overcoming harder riding on a bike most people wouldn't take off-road. As much as I've had fun on the Versys, I'm ready for something different and the CFM 450 is going to be that bike. Definitely getting the tall seat as I'm 6' 1" and I built my own custom tall seat on my Versys. I've been able to do everything with the little Kawi 300 so I'm sure the power of the 450 will be fine. Really looking forward to having more than 5 inches of suspension travel again 😂
@empiresrikesfat Not really sure what you're trying to say? I've owned a 690 before and it's by no means some mythical perfect machine. The transmission was trash, the suspension mediocre, fuel range terrible, comfort terrible. It's basically just a crappy version of a 500 EXC except the 500 has a way better transmission that doesn't fall neutral all the time and better gear spread than the 690. I wouldn't compare a single cylinder dual sport to a multi cylinder adventure bike if that's what you are implying? The point I was trying to make is people focus so much on the machine but don't take the time to improve their riding skills first.
My thoughts exactly! 😂 You could also argue a 500EXCF is going to eat the 690 off-road. I don't really think singles should be compared to twins really. Very different categories. And the 690 costs almost twice as much here in Australia.
@@crosstrainingadventure Agreed. I've owned both the 500 and 690. The 500 is better in just about every metric except the seat which is easily fixed with a Seat Concepts seat or similar. But either way the point I was trying to make was just that improving your riding skills first is more important than buying an expensive bike.
Really enjoying my own one. For context I've only ever ridden Enduro bikes, but have held a licence for 40 years 😳 It's heavy in proper single track and on technical hills etc, but at least it is low and you can get your feet to the ground if needed. For everything else, it's a riot. Keeps up with my son on his Svartspillen 401 (or Spitsfilling, or Pitsvilian or what ever the hell it is) on the road, and a great way to cover ground on the dirt. Jumped on it yesterday and did 120km out to Imbil and back on the dirt to see a mate. Perfect for that 👌 Ive fitted a tall seat, auxiliary lights, a proper B&B sump guard and Mitas dirt tyres. The rest is stock 👌
Great review. But, after 4 years riding, I’m still in love with my 1st bike, the DR650!!! This channel and its DR MOD series was the reason I chose it over the CB500X. Thanks for that. 🤙
I am tall (192cm) and heavy (135kg) and a moderately fast enduro/Adventure bike rider with 3200km on my 450MT. The ergos are more spacious and suited to tall riders than my KTM 1090 Adventure R. I have been able to make the suspension suitable for my weight and speed without swapping spring rates so far, but I am well outside of the intended weight range of this bike so springs may be necessary down the track. The bike is amazing in its own right, without even factoring the fantastic price.
Nice review, and actually the first one I've ever seen that is not absolutely raving about that bike. I think its still to heavy but im not worried about the power. It is good bang for your buck though.
Definitely good value if no long term problems emerge. But I"ve been a bit puzzled by all the rave reviews too. It is good to see CFMoto appear to have escaped the cheap nasty Chinese made stereotype. But to me it's still essentially a bread and butter kind of bike... which is great if that's what you are after!
@crosstrainingadventure yeah it's more a modern klr 650 and less of a unicorn bike. But the suspension is better than almost everything else I've ridden so far. (At least for stock bikes) The only thing that was better was the Aprilia Tuareg, which is in my opinion the best adv bike on the market right now.
@@janniksims5740 It will be a incredibly difficult to make a (mid ADV class) bike lighter with all the mandatory safety and emissions requirements. Granted the Tuareg 660 is a nice bike but it also costs more than 2x the MT450.
Great little wrap up review no BS Honest Pros and Cons. Just depends what you want to do with the bike. Too heavy for my off road usage. Just downsized from T7 to CRF300 Rally (Still have the T7 for more road biased rides) and I'm quietly smirking at every one chasing horsepower and speed. The rally is highly under rated by a lot of people, once of road its all you need, (just upgrade the rear shock).
I enjoyed riding the Honda over in Canada. I must admit I'd love to see a 400cc version but keep the price similar. Just that little bit more oomph for lower revs on the highway.
@@crosstrainingadventure Yeah 400 would be the sweet spot, I just put a D606 on the rear but the height of the 606 is 10mm (20 diam.) more than stock, and has done wonders to freeway revs. Sitting on 110 (GPS) now feels much better, and no flashing the rev indicator. (I know you can adjust flash revs). So I think a 15T countershaft is in my future. First is so low, it makes negligible difference there (Gearing Commander). And hell if 6 is a little tall in some situations, I'll just tap down on the gear lever. 🤣 Some people get so hung up on "It won't pull 6th gear up hill into a westerly . . . Love your reviews very grounded, with humour thrown in. 👍
On paper, it was tempting. It had all the bling. CFmoto had done everything we had been wanting honda to do with the 500x. The local dealer called me when it came in, and I responded with delight. However, one glance, and I responded with a groan. So bulky! Bulky and heavy Don't go bust KTM. I am relying on you to get it right. And thankyou for an honest review.
I'm really hoping that someone makes a truly light 450 to 650 twin soon around the same weight as a DR650 or KTM690. Kove has shown its possible with their 800X at only 185kg with a full tank... but sadly their new 500X is not a lightweight. 😢
Thank you for the long-term review. And thank you for your opinion on how it fits taller riders. There was another reviewer who's about my 6'2 height who said it was great. But je had a paid trip to the Philippines to ride it. Your feedback is more honest, I think. There's more options coming up with that 450 Kawasaki, BMW, and possible KTM. I'm hoping the Kawasaki is something special
Ergos are tricky of course. A tall rider might have relatively short legs so could fit easier on the bike. I have pretty long legs! Certainly once you get benefits of some type to do a review it can be hard to stay impartial. Of course many influencers don't care and will happily sell their souls and credibility lol.
I was googling around to see if any owners were fitting a Decibel Dawg or similar to quieten the exhaust, Leigh. Couldn't find anything though. I assume most owners love it as is.
Thanks for the review! I did not yet consider the 450 MT, but now that you say it's a bit heavy but low, it could be an option. I was going to buy the Honda CRF300L as a second bike to go on mountain passes where the roads are steep and not asphalted and sometimes in very bad condition. I will not take my 170 hp V4 bike on those trails. The CRF300L is super lightweight and more off road capable, but to go there, I'll have 3 to 4 hours highway (and the same distance back). And it is tall, I'm vertically challenged to 1m72 (right below 5f8 I believe). I'm still in shape, swimming, cycling, running... So the 450 MT may make more sense for me, a little bit of weight will be no problem if I can flatfoot both feet. I spotted a dealer 1h hour from where I live, I'll ask for a test drive.
That's a tough choice. And always a problem if you do big highway miles but then do rough terrain too. If you want a low seat height as well there is virtually no bike that does this well. Kove has shown it's possible to trim a lot of weight off twin cylinder adv bikes with the 800X. It would be great to see a 450 to 500 twin trimmed down to less than 160kg wet weight....
Yes, maybe I'll go with the KTM 890 adventure (non R). It's a bit heavier and higher than the MT-450 but the center of gravity is lower. And it has cruise control... and torque....just waiting to see if KTM is still going to exist in March... the only problem is it's ugly as f... . I'd go for the R but it's too tall for me. Even with the lowering kit.
Ive had my 450MT since late June and I love it. The suspension sag has increased at lot since new and needs to be adjusted and the throttle is a bit choppy when off road and going on and off with light throttle. Other than that I love it.
I’ve done 12,000 klm on mine and had no issues as yet, you get 400klm a tank, I don’t find the throttle snatchy and haven’t had any flame outs I have had the abs and traction stay on after riding in sand so it may have been dirty sensors. The only issue for me is long haul riding and wishing for a little more power.
Thanks Craig. I'd still say the DR650 only because it ticks the most boxes for me. I think if they bored and stroked the DRZ400 to a 550 or 600 I'd be in seventh heaven lol. Going a bit bigger? That Kove 800X would be tempting if it proves to be reliable in the long term.
@@crosstrainingadventure I like that Kove 800 x too but only the future will tell, however I am surprised that you didn't like KTM 690 I never rode one but I think I would like it.
Surprisingly heavy compared to, for example, an adventurised KTM 690 (which of course costs a lot more, even if you buy an older version you spend thousands adventurising it). But I’m really pleased to see new manufacturers in the market even if I won’t be holidaying in China anytime soon (I’ve been there a dozen times before without issue, but wouldn’t want to live there).
I’m still trying to decide between the Ibex 450 or the Honda NX500. Coming from a BMW 1200GS and Husqvarna 701. I’m nearly 76 and need something lighter and lower.
Tough call. I know I'd usually choose the Honda just for the known reliability. But is the suspension good? The earlier CB500X had terrible suspension....
You'd be hard pressed to find a cb500x rider who didn't trade the bike away fairly quickly. It just does it all . . . wrong, that is.. It's not a good tourer, and it's not a good offroad bike either. I constantly found it lacking no matter what I was doing with it. Makes for a terrible experience.
I've had the GS (800), the CB500X and now the 450MT and I must say I am very impressed by the CFmoto. I would recommend it because of all the bikes I've owned over the past 25 years I quite like it the most. I am 1m80, and like to drive off-road but I can't so much because I am Belgian... :)
Throttle response should be already fixed with ecu update, same as water issue- new models have holes in the lowest point of the frame. Also isn't the engine the same as the naked bike thats been on the roads for a few years already without any significant issues?!
For the dirt oriented ADV riders, I’m curious how it stacks up beside the likes of the DRZ400 and CRF450RL which both take some modifications to ADVenturise but seem like great options when suspension travel and off road weight come into it.
You might get different opinions on this. But I'm definitely dirt-oriented and find these twin cylinder bikes a real handful once it gets rough. That extra 50kg is a real disadvantage. Less suspension travel. Less ground clearance. Ergos tend to not work as well for standing. The list goes on.
@ I hear you loud and monotone…I mean clearly. I’ve been considering the 700-900cc twins even the Africa but the crf300 or 450, or dare I say Dr650 are preferable. Maybe I should grab a ktm690 on their fire sale
@crosstrainingadventure my bad. I guess I missed it. Since it is a major key differentiator for many I thought it would stand out in the comparative. Only time will tell where all this will go. I am kind of addicted to traditional japanese reliability and dependability but always remain curious to new possibilities. In any case many thanks for all your great content.
I wrote a longer comment and it was deleted , i don't know why. But as a tall freak - 193 cm, i have no problems with ergo whatsoever . I only have taller seat, and that is it. Multipe days with 500 + kms with no problems, and i have around 5k km on the clock.
I wouldn't delete a comment unless it was really offensive in some way. 😊 Chances are Yotube put it in the 'on hold' folder for my approval. They do this for weird reasons sometimes. If so I probably approved it yesterday.
Thanks for reviewing this bike mate i've been looking at this bike for a while now. I took one for a quick test ride and the himi 450 on the same day . I found the gear box a bit strange on the mt like it wouldnt click into gear very well and it neturaled twice! Not sure if that is a break in thing or what? how did you find the gears ? and i thought the clutch felt bad too light and right at the top of the lever and not at the start like the bite of it. I really want one but unsure of the reliability and all my mates keep giving me shit and tell me to get a DR lol.
@crosstrainingadventure fair comment, though it's pretty smooth and not far off the cf in power and torque specs. And it actually does include a centrestand!
Not a long term or credible opinion from me, but I took the CF Moto 450 on a reasonable test ride and had a good look over the machine... not for me... but a respectable package right out the box. Many of us here have many miles and years under our belts and have the options to pick and choose. Those starting out with little options have a great starting and learning platform here for little coin....Bang for buck they've delivered.
I've put just over 7k klm on mine so far. Overall I'm happy with it. Ive been ridind bikes for nearly 60 years,all make and models..British..German and Italian.. sports..sports tourers..big and small dual sport bike as well as Enduro and moto x..done some RR and short circuit stuff as well as Enduro and moto x..so I think I'm qualified to give a assessment of this bike. I still ride around Europe..UK and Ireland. I do find the throttle response VERY snatchy off idle and from a closed throttle when changing gear etc..its especially not nice on wet roundabouts and slippery adverse camber bends. The rear damping is way to harsh even with it set to minimum. Its a really great all round bike..EXCEPT for the snatchy throttle response and the rear damping. And yes I did take up the slack in the cables.
Would you recommend the ibex 450 for someone who has zero experience off roading, 5’4” with a 30 inch inseam? I’ve been wanting to learn off roading, but majority of trails are ~1 hour US Freeway from where I live.
I have just over 500km of mileage on one. Of that about 80% off road. Honestly, love the bike, yet it is heavy on some of the tracks I ride. I am coming from MX bikes, so I knew it would be, but was not really ready for how heavy it can be when it starts to go wrong. Although now I am getting to understand the bike I am having a ball. Stock routes, forestry road and sandy tracks are where this thing shines. Yet, I can still take on the tougher single track, just needs a lot more commitment and does not carry the same pace as to my CR. When compared to my CR it is not great off-road, but on the road, well it is so damn comfy for me.
On a different subject: I was at a place called Basket Swamp falls yesterday (near Tenterfield) on my 1200 Scrambler and got taking to an old bloke who mentioned he was mad about DR650's. He said he did some pretty big miles on it and we got talking about RUclipsrs and I said have you watched Cross Training Adventure and was about to say "How cool is it he wheelies everywhere' and he says "he's a fucken idiot, he just wheelstands everywhere.' Have a good one
Small world lol. Some awesome riding around Tenterfield hey? I should mention I only ever pop wheelies where I can only hurt myself e.g. remote dirt roads. I can't stand seeing guys do them on public roads where the bike could cartwheel into oncoming traffic if they bugger it up.
Owner of our test bike has now fitted the higher seat and loves it. I'm taller than you. You've got three options, of course. Higher seat. Bars up and forward with Rox riders. And go down and back with something like Fastway footpegs. I did all three things with my CB500X and still couldn't get comfortable, and the 450MT feels very similar. 🤔
I've tried all of them this year : the MT450, the new Himalayan and the NX500. If I had to choose, I would take one of the two first. Well, Honda is nice, reliable and can do anything but just a bit and without fun as the others. I think I even didn't try it on small paths as the MT and the Himy. The MT didn't use as many fuel as some comments on the net, not a lot more as the Indian actually. I know the MT have for 2025 a new exhaust, less expressive as I see the vidéos and the screen should have the navigation too, as the Indian. On the Indian, I find the black color too mate, it looks as an old bike and the test bike had only 8000 kms.
Getting mixed reports about the fuel economy of the 450MT, more recent owners are claiming its great. Perhaps the factory has been tweaking the mapping?
@@crosstrainingadventure During my week test, on a bike with some kms already I was below the 5 L/100 kms with a mix of street, highway and paths. Version 2024 of course.
As a fellow thumper tragic, do you think your critique of the engine is related to the layout? I do a decent amount of street riding and dual sporting and am lucky enough to have different bikes fit for purpose. After numerous bikes, i've honestly yet to find a 2cy in under a 1000cc capacity that I think is fun like the way even a humble 125 single makes me giggle. This even includes the critically acclaimed CP2 - having spent a decent amount of time on an MT07 I like the powerplant it's great for the job of riding, just doesn't get me going tho. Strangely I do find that this doesn't extend to 3/4 cy bikes, 250-1000 in those configurations are always a riot and full of character or pants color changing power.
Id have trouble stepping down from my tenere 700 to something like this but it would be a great adv bike for new riders, most of us experienced riders will want more power.
I have had 450km from the stock tank with more fuel left to burn, what's wrong with that? Cheng sheng tyre Co is maxxis. I wouldn't call that a bicycle tyre. Frame rails were pre drilled from the factory as of November last year. Centre stands are not supplied standard.
It's kinda normal that a 500cc bike feels underpowered compared to 1000cc bike. What is not normal is that they weigh the same. That being said, I believe that the MT450 needs a tall 6th gear. Heck, I think that every bike should have a tall 6th gear, allowing for reduced fuel consumption / CO2 emission / save the planet (TM) 🤨
Definetely a taller 6th gear, it hits limiter very easily. Bike would be excellent for the price us lighter, less bulky and not A2 compliant. This motor could easily push 60hp.
Here in the states... Possible tarrifs could impact price and parts availability.... 60% tarrif would kill it here.. Too bad. Definitely a consideration unfortunately.... good review!!,,,,
i ride a Tenere 700, i hate the weight, i love the mid range power but I think a few more horses at the top of the rev range would be great. I think a KOVE800X would be the next step.
It also has very bad head light if you ride on curvy road at night, very big black angles. I wouldn't even mention handguards because those are made of cardboard. Only thing which is few levels under everything else on this bike.
Verdict-A cheap(ish) useful adv bike if you are into basic off road riding I like bikes that are exciting,hard to keep and unpredictable ....the same with women😀
Centre stand? I’ve Never known of one coming on the bike as standard! I fitted metzlers from new and my bike came with the snatchy throttle improvement, but it was still kinda on/off so I pulled the clutch switch wires and connected them together (with a short wire ) seems great now
Manufacturer's must think making small displacement bikes for adults, that's why you don't get proper on power and weight, the A2 licence power/weight racio it's killing this bikes, but at least now they are in the market.
I highly doubt A2 holders are more than 10% of the total buyers of A2 bikes. They have destroyed all models of the best class in motorcycling (low weight/mid cc) for practically no reason. Manufacturers must earn a ton of money due to the A2 excuse, no other explanation.
I don't know how the hell they manage to give all that bling for that price, I wish my t7 had that light clutch, kyb suspension and a display with google maps :(
The centre stand isn't standard fitment but everything genuine for this bike is cheap. After the crash I had Saturday you guys are insane given the lack of gear you're wearing.
Yep, we posted corrections about the centre stand in the vid and the pinned first comment already. We guys are insane? I was wearing AA rated gear so not sure how you saw what I was wearing. But yeah it was 38C so Jody went light on the gear.
At last an adventure bike made for normal height people....I am 171 cm short and can flat foot both legs....However, the MT does look the part but check the CF Moto parts availability and most are labeled for back order....
I really struggle with this bike as it ticks all of my boxes. But it being Chinese is big red flag for me. I made the mistake of buying an SWM Super dual X and while it was a fantastic bike when it ran well enough. I had several rubber parts rot within a year of owning it. And they discontinued those parts well before I purchase the bike. It just doesn't seem like Chinese companies truly care about their customers or their product.
Bummer about the SWM. Over the years I've been tempted by some of their models but was deterred by the eventual Chinese investment and then more of the engine parts (if not whole engines) being made in China. It does look as though CFMoto is putting some serious effort into quality control. But I won't be convinced until we see hundreds of owners with positive reports on all their models with high mileage...
I'd love to see some lighter twin engines developed for adventure bikes. As far as I can remember the only attempt was the Aprilia 550 which had a lot of mechanical failures. 😢
@@crosstrainingadventure I miss when thumpers were still cool. Seems like everybody prefers the twins now. I have a few different bikes now, and my 650L is still my most overall capable machine. Enough power to get out of it's own way, suspension to get over most obstacles, and a manageable weight.
Motor is a KTM and made in China. I believe the tires are made in Taiwan. Incidentally, a lot of the larger adventure bikes run with 19 inch front wheels. I owned a 22 CB500X, other than it was geared too low, only rear was preload adjustable, and it had a seat from hell, it was good on the road, fair off road until I totaled it on dirt/gravel road. Owners of CB500Xs posted pics of their displays with over 386,000 km on them with minor repairs. I now own a Transalp 750 lacks some bling, but comes with 21/18 wheels, less top heavy and 10 KG then my CB500X or the CFMotor 450. I had the TA750 ECM USA dyno tuned and it now produces a bit over 100 hp. If possible you may want to do a review of the TA 750. I would be interested in your thoughts.
The engine is a CFMOTO only design and not shared with any other brand. It's a 270° offset crank, all of the KTM engines are 165° offset. The CFMOTO 800 is a shared engine out of the 790, which KTM build.
Also i think jerky throttle is a Europe thing, because of EURO5 norms, your bike shouldn't have that problem, and should be slightly stronger, isn't it so ?
As per the pinned first comment I figured the engine capacity puts it in a different category, at least for this vid. But if you don't mind the 150cc les then it's definitely worth a look!
Ah yes 1 company selling bikes and the other with chocolate cams, horrible customer support and going bankrupt and probably using the other company parts to stay in business.
I though I was the only one who didn't care about the CB500X or whatever it’s called now. Too heavy and bare, but also under powered….. the CF Moto seems to fall along those lines, but the loud exhaust seems like a big downside If you want a road going bike get something more confortable, with more power.
Im 176cm and the footpegs are too close to the seat for me, also when you really look closely at the bike I think its cheaply made, I know its a cheap bike but in comparison the Himmy 460 feels much better put together
I expected it to be cheaply made but seemed pretty good. Till will tell for sure. The owner is a bike mechanic with decades of working on bikes and he's been really impressed. I don't know how good the Himalayan is now but remember it had plenty of issues for quite a few years when it came out... which were slowly rectified with the threat of legal action by owners. Quote from a petition: We the owners of Royal Enfield Himalayan are facing a lot of problems with our bikes. ... Almost every Himalayan has a manufacturing defect of the magnetic coil, T-stem, gear and clutch issue, Oil Leakage, engine noise among other issues which is frustrating because the owners spend a majority of their time in the service centers. Many biker brothers have had a close save from accidents because the bike has a unique ability to shut off at any time. One rider was going on a highway at 90 KMPH and was about to overtake a vehicle and the bike's engine shut off at this point. Imagine this scenario. He barely got saved from a major accident. And this is not one isolated incident, many people have suffered the same and they have documented it on youtube as well. We have sent various letters to Mr. Siddhartha Lal the CEO of Eicher Motors which owns Royal Enfield. But the response of the company towards its customers is just pathetic....
No thanks. I will continue to do all I can to avoid supporting Chinese companies...especially products associated with hobbies I hold near and dear to my heart.
I tend to agree, as per the pinned first comment.... 'Regular viewers will know I've discussed in vids the potential issues with supporting a communist government with a poor human rights record by purchasing bikes made there. I won't ram my opinion down throats but think it's worth discussing. I just didn't see the point in raising it yet again in this vid.'
Except I suspect the Kove will be close to double the price...at least here in Australia? It would be great to see the 450MT get down to at least the weight of the Kove, if not more.
Here’s the thing about 450 bikes they are HP restricted to meet license constraints, they could tune them up but that will cut out a huge amount of the market they are aiming for. If you want 700 power in a 450 at a reasonable price - good luck with that, not going to happen. If u want 700 power buy the Yamaha T7. The MT is what it is? There is no such thing in real life as a unicorn. If u want a unicorn go to the movies & fantasize. Or build your own unique bike from say an MT450 & tune it up etc. most motorbike manufacturers are struggling economically to stay afloat. Why because designing, testing, manufacturing marketing, dealerships are every expensive propositions. There are not enough customers. The age demographics is getting older & older. Most customers as in 80% are happy with a pretty good standard bike. These bikes are often way more capable than the riders are. The MT is fine so are most modern bikes. Customer test ride a range of bikes, ride what u love. Other peoples opinions are ok but that’s all they are opinions take them with a grain of salt. Accumulate a full range of ideas then ride a range of bikes. Enjoy.
I agree, if they wanted more HP they would need to do it as a separate model. And it's hard to guage if they'd really get the sales numbers to justify it. And you do point out the demographics could work against it. Price? It shouldn't cost more if the manufacturer already has a 450 or 500 road model putting out, say, 60hp.
I was really interested in one here in the USA and its delay after delay getting them here.. and after finding out they are only slightly less than a t7 and have steel wheels not to mention mapping issues.. now you say the frame fills up with water.. THATS A HARD NO.. sounding more and more like the Chinese junk it is.. i mean 430+ pounds (us) for a 450??? I will pay the little extra cash for proven Japanese quality
I reckon a lot of riders will pay a bit more for the Honda NX500 for that Japanese reliability... it's made in Thailand but Honda seem to have very good quality control in their factory there. The weight is pretty standard for a 450 twin. But it would be good to see it shed weight. The Kove 800 is an example of what CAN be done when they put their mind to it!
that weight shouldnt be the norm 4 a 450cc...........shit my buell s1 is 1200cc and weighs the same heheh, funny how on newer bike they cant keep weight down and older bikes were much lighter.
yeh just under dry.......but that's what I'm saying, gassed up its about the same weight as my Buell dry. An off road bike 450cc with only 50hp should be made a lot lighter, its all about that power 2 weight ratio.
0:29 why the photo of the kove MV500 ? 😂 on my test ride of this CF Moto 450 MT, i had an excess of heat coming on my left leg and crotch, unbearable heat
Fair review, Cheng Shin have made motorcycle tyres since 1969, I had a 450 K2 Honda twin in 70's that had a Cheng Shin tyre on it. Wear ear protection, the exhaust will be a non event... I find it hilarious complaining about the power of the 450, especially seeing you are older. I did 100's of thousands of miles on CB750 Honda's, over weight and underpowered by modern standards , and NEVER once did it ever effect or bother me, thousands of miles on dirt too....
Older riders shouldn't want some power? Now that's hilarious. 😂 Like the vid said, it was only my personal opinion. Trying to wheelie the 450MT takes way too much effort, give me the grunt of a DR650 for that any day.
A Chinese Honda is better than anything other than a real Honda ;) and EVERYONE knows it. Even something as simple as a lawn mower, the cheapest ones use trash engines, like Briggs and Stratton. The next level up is stuff like Kawasaki and Subaru. You have to pay more, almost as much as a Honda, for the Chinese options like Loncin, that is how good the Honda clones are ;)
The 450cc platform from CFMOTO has been out there for years, almost a decade now. I had been used on the 450SR, the 450NK, and 450CL-C. Now it is used on the adventure 450MT, with a heavily detuned specs, lower rpm, lower hps, and lower compression ratio at 11:1 which is completely similar to a Tenéré... It is spec'd to be long-lasting. On the other hand, CFMOTO have done their homework and people are trusting them. You may have heard about the infamous camshaft issues on the KTM790 LC8 platform which is plaguing the KTM bikes. Well, CFMOTO have revised the KTM design and they are using this revised version in their 800MT platform, as well as the newer 800MT-X. NO ONE, literally no one has report any camshaft premature wear on these, in opposition to the KTM 790 since CFMOTO have made a bigger head and allowed more lubrification on the cam lobes. Even KOVE have followed suit! What more do you want? It would be more productive if you laid out a logical counter-argument rather than cheaply bashing it as "chinesium" and/or "lol 🤡". You're clearly the clown here and I hope you grow up from that feeble mentality.
Personally I still try to avoid Chinese made stuff for various reasons. But it seems almost no matter what brand you buy nowadays the engine is probably going to have a lot of Chinese made parts in it (for better or worse). And manufacturers don't have to provide any information about this.
CF MOTO has advised drilling holes in the frame? Wouldn't that require an engineers report and modification plate to be road legal? Would it not invalidate insurance claims making changes to a structural part of the bike?
OTHER ISSUES? One viewer pointed out the headlight is weak and also has 'black spots'. Another mentioned the handguards break very easily and serious ones are needed to withstand crashes.
BIKES MISSED IN THE COMPARISON? Similar bikes we missed in the vid? I'm sure some viewers will point out we didn't include the Chinese made Benelli TRK 502. It only has a 17" front wheel and is incredibly heavy at 213kg. I feel this puts it a another class (fat slugs perhaps?). There's also a generic Chinese made 500 being rebranded by heaps of brands: Chongqing Hengjian HJ500-8, Takasaki TKR 500, Dahaidao 500 GS, Rieju Aventura and the HJmoto ADV 500. We see this as potentially being very poor quality and don't intend to mention it until there's evidence for its reliability and quality.
MIXED REPORTS ON FUEL ECONOMY Quite a few riders said it isn't good but I wonder if more recent bikes have some some remapping? Others are saying the fuel economy is excellent.... e.g. 3.8L/100KM and potential range of 500km with easy riding.
VERY TALL RIDER? Owner of our test bike has now fitted the higher seat and loves it. Could be all you need if you are around six feet tall. Much taller? You've got three options, of course. Higher seat. Bars up and forward with Rox riders. And go down and back with something like Fastway footpegs. I did all three things with my CB500X and still couldn't get comfortable, and the 450MT feels very similar. 🤔
WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR ANTI-CHINA RANT? Regular viewers will know I've discussed in vids the potential issues with supporting a communist government with a poor human rights record by purchasing bikes made there. I won't ram my opinion down throats but think it's worth discussing. I just didn't see the point in raising it yet again in this vid. 🤔
The Kawasaki Versys X300 is often overlooked, too.
We did cover that in our best lightweight adv bikes vid. But to me it's in a different class with only two thirds the engine capacity.
Headlight is not weak, it is very bright on straight, but when you are riding some slower curvy road, it has big black spots. When you are leaning the bike.
I'm curious what you categorize as "freak of nature" levels of height, I'm 196cm tall / 116 kg / 91cm inseam and I really want to fit on this bike! Planning the tall seat, lower pegs, and bar risers if I do pull the trigger. The new Himalayan was fine on a short test-ride but I found the suspension unrefined on-road.
I have one of the first batch in Australia. It was a cancelled order so available immediately - I didn't want to buy one without seeing it/sitting on it. 9,200 Kms on it now, over 170 hours, with an average speed of 53kph. I'm not a hard core off roader, so mainly street use (including commuting) and gravel/dirt roads. Just today I did close on 500kms, with about 120kms of gravel.
Height - I'm 170cm, & unsure of my inner leg measurement, but am of typical body to leg distribution. I can get one foot flat, or solidly on the balls of both feet. I agree with Barry that the very tall may find it uncomfortable/cramped, but it's perfect for me.
Comfort - as above, it suits my height. I find the seat uncomfortable, but I'm old and with several injuries. Having said that, I find most bike seats uncomfortable - the only bike that I have ridden that I can't say that about is the GL1800 Gold Wing! At highway speeds with the screen at it's top setting it works well at keeping the wind off and there is no buffeting (I wear an Arai XD4).
Fuel economy - I've logged and calculated every tank since new. My overall fuel consumption is calc'd at 3.811 l/100k (61.9 imperial mpg). The onboard computer has the average at 3.5 l/100k. The longest between fills was 405kms, with the dash showing a fuel warning, but it only took 14.17 litres to fill it, so almost 3 litres left, with a calc'd distance to actually empty of 500kms,
Snatchy throttle - initially yes, but the OTA update worked wonders. Prior to that it was quite hard to ride smoothly, especially when standing. My background is mostly road, so my standing technique is probably poor.
Noise - if going any distance (i.e. not commuting) I wear earplugs. You should too!
Suspension - too hard off the showroom floor, but lots of adjustment so it's now good enough for me.
Wish list - cruise (not fly by wire, so difficult), more comfortable seat (my preference), 15-tooth sprocket as standard.
Issues - the previously mentioned snatchy throttle, now fixed, and I may have a slightly weepy countershaft sprocket seal - it could be chain lube though. I'll need to be less anal about lubing the chain and seen if any more oil appears.
Overall - I'm very happy with the bike. It suits what I use it for, and the price is great.
Thanks Mal, glad to hear it's working for you.
For me being the short arse trail rider that I am it's just about perfect. Enough power for the road, amazing exhaust note from a stock system there is nothing better especially for the price.
I bought one.
I received a call from my local dealer here in Virginia, to tell me they have 7, Ibex 450 arriving on Tuesday, 28 Jan. I get first dibs ! Sweet !
I have one on order here in NY, my dealer won't tell me a damn thing as to when they are coming in! Let's hope it's that soon! I think will make a good companion to my 701
welcome to the 450MT/Ibex450 club!
Wow! They are finally arriving. You are the first person I have heard this from. I live in Canada, hopefully soon.
@@mikewelti112 the dealer I went to in Ontario told me mid April unfortunately, that was just yesterday and they emailed the import company to confirm which they did.
You can have mine, as well!
Picking up mine next week. My first ever brand new vehicle.
Enjoy the ride!
@@crosstrainingadventureHuge upgrade to my restomod xl185 250cc engine with 15hp and about the same fuel economy. I can understand how experienced riders might view the mt450 as heavy and underpowered. But for a new rider on an RE licence and under 6ft with no interest in single-track enduro. The value for money is undeniable. I'm ok with noise...better than the thumper brop shaking my nerves.
Been riding a Kawasaki Versys X-300 for about 2 years now. I originally bought it just to show my buddies complaining on their KTM 500 EXC's that they need to work on improving their riding skills rather than throwing a ton of money at a bike and custom suspension and still being unhappy while I was able to overcome obstacles on my Versys that they couldn't. Turns out I was having a ton of fun overcoming harder riding on a bike most people wouldn't take off-road.
As much as I've had fun on the Versys, I'm ready for something different and the CFM 450 is going to be that bike. Definitely getting the tall seat as I'm 6' 1" and I built my own custom tall seat on my Versys. I've been able to do everything with the little Kawi 300 so I'm sure the power of the 450 will be fine. Really looking forward to having more than 5 inches of suspension travel again 😂
now the 690 KTM's are going to eat that 195kg Cf450
@empiresrikesfat Not really sure what you're trying to say? I've owned a 690 before and it's by no means some mythical perfect machine. The transmission was trash, the suspension mediocre, fuel range terrible, comfort terrible. It's basically just a crappy version of a 500 EXC except the 500 has a way better transmission that doesn't fall neutral all the time and better gear spread than the 690. I wouldn't compare a single cylinder dual sport to a multi cylinder adventure bike if that's what you are implying? The point I was trying to make is people focus so much on the machine but don't take the time to improve their riding skills first.
Should be a good step up from the 300...
My thoughts exactly! 😂 You could also argue a 500EXCF is going to eat the 690 off-road. I don't really think singles should be compared to twins really. Very different categories. And the 690 costs almost twice as much here in Australia.
@@crosstrainingadventure Agreed. I've owned both the 500 and 690. The 500 is better in just about every metric except the seat which is easily fixed with a Seat Concepts seat or similar. But either way the point I was trying to make was just that improving your riding skills first is more important than buying an expensive bike.
Really enjoying my own one. For context I've only ever ridden Enduro bikes, but have held a licence for 40 years 😳
It's heavy in proper single track and on technical hills etc, but at least it is low and you can get your feet to the ground if needed.
For everything else, it's a riot. Keeps up with my son on his Svartspillen 401 (or Spitsfilling, or Pitsvilian or what ever the hell it is) on the road, and a great way to cover ground on the dirt.
Jumped on it yesterday and did 120km out to Imbil and back on the dirt to see a mate.
Perfect for that 👌
Ive fitted a tall seat, auxiliary lights, a proper B&B sump guard and Mitas dirt tyres. The rest is stock 👌
Sounds like you’ve found a great bike to suit your style.
Great review. But, after 4 years riding, I’m still in love with my 1st bike, the DR650!!!
This channel and its DR MOD series was the reason I chose it over the CB500X.
Thanks for that. 🤙
Glad to hear the DR650 is still serving you well. I must admit I won't be changing over to a twin until they get it close the DR650's weight.
@ so never then. 😉
I am tall (192cm) and heavy (135kg) and a moderately fast enduro/Adventure bike rider with 3200km on my 450MT. The ergos are more spacious and suited to tall riders than my KTM 1090 Adventure R. I have been able to make the suspension suitable for my weight and speed without swapping spring rates so far, but I am well outside of the intended weight range of this bike so springs may be necessary down the track. The bike is amazing in its own right, without even factoring the fantastic price.
Nice review, and actually the first one I've ever seen that is not absolutely raving about that bike. I think its still to heavy but im not worried about the power. It is good bang for your buck though.
Definitely good value if no long term problems emerge. But I"ve been a bit puzzled by all the rave reviews too. It is good to see CFMoto appear to have escaped the cheap nasty Chinese made stereotype. But to me it's still essentially a bread and butter kind of bike... which is great if that's what you are after!
@crosstrainingadventure yeah it's more a modern klr 650 and less of a unicorn bike. But the suspension is better than almost everything else I've ridden so far. (At least for stock bikes) The only thing that was better was the Aprilia Tuareg, which is in my opinion the best adv bike on the market right now.
I think people are going nuts for it as it is affordable and it looks like a rally bike that are too many pies.
Affordable bikes are hard to come by.
@@janniksims5740 It will be a incredibly difficult to make a (mid ADV class) bike lighter with all the mandatory safety and emissions requirements. Granted the Tuareg 660 is a nice bike but it also costs more than 2x the MT450.
Great little wrap up review no BS Honest Pros and Cons. Just depends what you want to do with the bike. Too heavy for my off road usage. Just downsized from T7 to CRF300 Rally (Still have the T7 for more road biased rides) and I'm quietly smirking at every one chasing horsepower and speed. The rally is highly under rated by a lot of people, once of road its all you need, (just upgrade the rear shock).
I enjoyed riding the Honda over in Canada. I must admit I'd love to see a 400cc version but keep the price similar. Just that little bit more oomph for lower revs on the highway.
@@crosstrainingadventure Yeah 400 would be the sweet spot, I just put a D606 on the rear but the height of the 606 is 10mm (20 diam.) more than stock, and has done wonders to freeway revs. Sitting on 110 (GPS) now feels much better, and no flashing the rev indicator. (I know you can adjust flash revs). So I think a 15T countershaft is in my future. First is so low, it makes negligible difference there (Gearing Commander). And hell if 6 is a little tall in some situations, I'll just tap down on the gear lever. 🤣 Some people get so hung up on "It won't pull 6th gear up hill into a westerly . . . Love your reviews very grounded, with humour thrown in. 👍
On paper, it was tempting. It had all the bling. CFmoto had done everything we had been wanting honda to do with the 500x.
The local dealer called me when it came in, and I responded with delight. However, one glance, and I responded with a groan. So bulky! Bulky and heavy
Don't go bust KTM. I am relying on you to get it right.
And thankyou for an honest review.
I'm really hoping that someone makes a truly light 450 to 650 twin soon around the same weight as a DR650 or KTM690. Kove has shown its possible with their 800X at only 185kg with a full tank... but sadly their new 500X is not a lightweight. 😢
It’s important to consider Cheng Shin Tire is also the very popular MAXXIS brand tires
Very happy with mine 2k on the clock 70% dirt no issues but high seat seem to me to improve handling and movement from sitting to standing on dirt
The owner of our test bike just fitted the high seat and is raving about it.
Interesting to hear it’s a bit of a nerdy dad bike. This is certainly one of the more honest reviews.
Cheers Kevin, we try to be more critical than the average review.
I'm a 65 year old nerdy dad....and I love my MT. 😂
I think you said it best so far. I too am really enjoying mine.
Thank you for the long-term review. And thank you for your opinion on how it fits taller riders. There was another reviewer who's about my 6'2 height who said it was great. But je had a paid trip to the Philippines to ride it. Your feedback is more honest, I think. There's more options coming up with that 450 Kawasaki, BMW, and possible KTM. I'm hoping the Kawasaki is something special
Ergos are tricky of course. A tall rider might have relatively short legs so could fit easier on the bike. I have pretty long legs! Certainly once you get benefits of some type to do a review it can be hard to stay impartial. Of course many influencers don't care and will happily sell their souls and credibility lol.
So, plus 10kg and you get a T7. Thanks for the review!
And over double the price... at least here in Australia.
Great review. Just bought a CF and love it so far but I agree on the exhaust note and being too heavy. I'm keeping my WR250R for the hard stuff! ;)
I was googling around to see if any owners were fitting a Decibel Dawg or similar to quieten the exhaust, Leigh. Couldn't find anything though. I assume most owners love it as is.
Thanks for the review! I did not yet consider the 450 MT, but now that you say it's a bit heavy but low, it could be an option. I was going to buy the Honda CRF300L as a second bike to go on mountain passes where the roads are steep and not asphalted and sometimes in very bad condition. I will not take my 170 hp V4 bike on those trails. The CRF300L is super lightweight and more off road capable, but to go there, I'll have 3 to 4 hours highway (and the same distance back). And it is tall, I'm vertically challenged to 1m72 (right below 5f8 I believe). I'm still in shape, swimming, cycling, running... So the 450 MT may make more sense for me, a little bit of weight will be no problem if I can flatfoot both feet. I spotted a dealer 1h hour from where I live, I'll ask for a test drive.
That's a tough choice. And always a problem if you do big highway miles but then do rough terrain too. If you want a low seat height as well there is virtually no bike that does this well. Kove has shown it's possible to trim a lot of weight off twin cylinder adv bikes with the 800X. It would be great to see a 450 to 500 twin trimmed down to less than 160kg wet weight....
Yes, maybe I'll go with the KTM 890 adventure (non R). It's a bit heavier and higher than the MT-450 but the center of gravity is lower. And it has cruise control... and torque....just waiting to see if KTM is still going to exist in March... the only problem is it's ugly as f... . I'd go for the R but it's too tall for me. Even with the lowering kit.
Ive had my 450MT since late June and I love it. The suspension sag has increased at lot since new and needs to be adjusted and the throttle is a bit choppy when off road and going on and off with light throttle. Other than that I love it.
I’ve done 12,000 klm on mine and had no issues as yet, you get 400klm a tank, I don’t find the throttle snatchy and haven’t had any flame outs I have had the abs and traction stay on after riding in sand so it may have been dirty sensors.
The only issue for me is long haul riding and wishing for a little more power.
Good video
Thanks
Hey Barrie ... when they get over here in Canada, put Dallas on one for a follow up!
.. Mike
Hi Barry, another informative, level headed video, please keep them coming.
What is your current preferred small to mid size adventure bike ?
Thanks Craig. I'd still say the DR650 only because it ticks the most boxes for me. I think if they bored and stroked the DRZ400 to a 550 or 600 I'd be in seventh heaven lol. Going a bit bigger? That Kove 800X would be tempting if it proves to be reliable in the long term.
@@crosstrainingadventure Suzuki DRZ 650 it is what I've been saying for years
@@crosstrainingadventure I like that Kove 800 x too but only the future will tell, however I am surprised that you didn't like KTM 690 I never rode one but I think I would like it.
Surprisingly heavy compared to, for example, an adventurised KTM 690 (which of course costs a lot more, even if you buy an older version you spend thousands adventurising it). But I’m really pleased to see new manufacturers in the market even if I won’t be holidaying in China anytime soon (I’ve been there a dozen times before without issue, but wouldn’t want to live there).
Except for the obese Himalayan and KLR650 I think twins will always weigh a lot more than the singles.
@@crosstrainingadventureOff road thumpers offer a great light weight ADV option over these mid size blimps.
I’m still trying to decide between the Ibex 450 or the Honda NX500. Coming from a BMW 1200GS and Husqvarna 701. I’m nearly 76 and need something lighter and lower.
Tough call. I know I'd usually choose the Honda just for the known reliability. But is the suspension good? The earlier CB500X had terrible suspension....
You'd be hard pressed to find a cb500x rider who didn't trade the bike away fairly quickly. It just does it all . . . wrong, that is.. It's not a good tourer, and it's not a good offroad bike either. I constantly found it lacking no matter what I was doing with it. Makes for a terrible experience.
You will be happy with excf500 :)
I've had the GS (800), the CB500X and now the 450MT and I must say I am very impressed by the CFmoto. I would recommend it because of all the bikes I've owned over the past 25 years I quite like it the most. I am 1m80, and like to drive off-road but I can't so much because I am Belgian... :)
@RobinTorrekensTravelVlog What makes the 450MT stand out above the rest, asking as someone who has also had a cb500x but didn't particularly enjoy it.
Throttle response should be already fixed with ecu update, same as water issue- new models have holes in the lowest point of the frame. Also isn't the engine the same as the naked bike thats been on the roads for a few years already without any significant issues?!
For the dirt oriented ADV riders, I’m curious how it stacks up beside the likes of the DRZ400 and CRF450RL which both take some modifications to ADVenturise but seem like great options when suspension travel and off road weight come into it.
You might get different opinions on this. But I'm definitely dirt-oriented and find these twin cylinder bikes a real handful once it gets rough. That extra 50kg is a real disadvantage. Less suspension travel. Less ground clearance. Ergos tend to not work as well for standing. The list goes on.
@ I hear you loud and monotone…I mean clearly. I’ve been considering the 700-900cc twins even the Africa but the crf300 or 450, or dare I say Dr650 are preferable. Maybe I should grab a ktm690 on their fire sale
You didnt mention the tubeless spoke tores when comparing bikes?
many thanks for the great reviews!
Mentioned it earlier in the vid.... but no, I didn't repeat it when comparing.
@crosstrainingadventure my bad. I guess I missed it. Since it is a major key differentiator for many I thought it would stand out in the comparative.
Only time will tell where all this will go. I am kind of addicted to traditional japanese reliability and dependability but always remain curious to new possibilities.
In any case many thanks for all your great content.
I wrote a longer comment and it was deleted , i don't know why.
But as a tall freak - 193 cm, i have no problems with ergo whatsoever . I only have taller seat, and that is it. Multipe days with 500 + kms with no problems, and i have around 5k km on the clock.
I wouldn't delete a comment unless it was really offensive in some way. 😊 Chances are Yotube put it in the 'on hold' folder for my approval. They do this for weird reasons sometimes. If so I probably approved it yesterday.
@crosstrainingadventure yes i realized that. I think it is because i mentioned my videos.
hey i have dunlop rally raid tires in my cfmoto 450 what is the pressure that you recommend for offroad?
A lot of variables, we've done a whole vid about how to pick the best air pressure.
Thanks for reviewing this bike mate i've been looking at this bike for a while now. I took one for a quick test ride and the himi 450 on the same day . I found the gear box a bit strange on the mt like it wouldnt click into gear very well and it neturaled twice! Not sure if that is a break in thing or what? how did you find the gears ? and i thought the clutch felt bad too light and right at the top of the lever and not at the start like the bite of it. I really want one but unsure of the reliability and all my mates keep giving me shit and tell me to get a DR lol.
As mentioned in the vid, we googled far and wide for known issues. No complaints about the gearbox.
5 years warranty here in Denmark if you have it serviced at the CF dealer
Wow. It sounds like your national distributor is really getting behind the brand.
This is all filmed in my backyard! 😅 are you in the area? Or did someone else film this?
One of those trails is literally the road I live on hahaha.
Test bike was on loan from the infamous Euro Enduro motorbike shop lol.
Hi guys does any of you have a say regarding riding with a pillion? is it comfortable for the second passenger?
Would love to hear your take on the Himalayan 450. I've ridden one and it was interesting, completely unlike the old 411.
If I get a chance to ride one I'll probably review it. But I'll be fighting to stay positive when they made a single cylinder weigh so much!
@crosstrainingadventure fair comment, though it's pretty smooth and not far off the cf in power and torque specs. And it actually does include a centrestand!
Not a long term or credible opinion from me, but I took the CF Moto 450 on a reasonable test ride and had a good look over the machine... not for me... but a respectable package right out the box. Many of us here have many miles and years under our belts and have the options to pick and choose. Those starting out with little options have a great starting and learning platform here for little coin....Bang for buck they've delivered.
Yep, a great value option for new riders as a starting point!
I've put just over 7k klm on mine so far.
Overall I'm happy with it.
Ive been ridind bikes for nearly 60 years,all make and models..British..German and Italian.. sports..sports tourers..big and small dual sport bike as well as Enduro and moto x..done some RR and short circuit stuff as well as Enduro and moto x..so I think I'm qualified to give a assessment of this bike.
I still ride around Europe..UK and Ireland.
I do find the throttle response VERY snatchy off idle and from a closed throttle when changing gear etc..its especially not nice on wet roundabouts and slippery adverse camber bends.
The rear damping is way to harsh even with it set to minimum.
Its a really great all round bike..EXCEPT for the snatchy throttle response and the rear damping.
And yes I did take up the slack in the cables.
Would you recommend the ibex 450 for someone who has zero experience off roading, 5’4” with a 30 inch inseam?
I’ve been wanting to learn off roading, but majority of trails are ~1 hour US Freeway from where I live.
You'd have to ask owners on an MT450 page or group. We didn't have any shorter test riders on the bike unfortunately.
I have just over 500km of mileage on one. Of that about 80% off road.
Honestly, love the bike, yet it is heavy on some of the tracks I ride. I am coming from MX bikes, so I knew it would be, but was not really ready for how heavy it can be when it starts to go wrong.
Although now I am getting to understand the bike I am having a ball. Stock routes, forestry road and sandy tracks are where this thing shines. Yet, I can still take on the tougher single track, just needs a lot more commitment and does not carry the same pace as to my CR.
When compared to my CR it is not great off-road, but on the road, well it is so damn comfy for me.
'Comfy' goes a long way for adventure riding!
It chews up rocky hill terrain 🤠
What? The himi 450 is not shortcoming towards the MT450. I bought the himi 450 with tubeless. I bet you will like it more then the cfmoto
Found it strange that the old Himalayan was pictured , when the new on has been out for a year
Between the DR650 and this one, for an all around bike, which one is best? Which one is faster??
Completely different bikes though, it's like comparing apples and oranges.
@@crosstrainingadventureawe come-on I was thinking the same thing, if you were forced to compare what would your thoughts be?
I seen on facebook they drilled a hole on the lowest part of the frame to drain the water that enters the frame during river crossing
Yep. And new models already have it done at the factory now apparently.
On a different subject: I was at a place called Basket Swamp falls yesterday (near Tenterfield) on my 1200 Scrambler and got taking to an old bloke who mentioned he was mad about DR650's. He said he did some pretty big miles on it and we got talking about RUclipsrs and I said have you watched Cross Training Adventure and was about to say "How cool is it he wheelies everywhere' and he says "he's a fucken idiot, he just wheelstands everywhere.' Have a good one
Small world lol. Some awesome riding around Tenterfield hey? I should mention I only ever pop wheelies where I can only hurt myself e.g. remote dirt roads. I can't stand seeing guys do them on public roads where the bike could cartwheel into oncoming traffic if they bugger it up.
@@crosstrainingadventure Yeah, I live localish in Stanthorpe. There's never anyone around and the tracks are great
nice bike though - but it keeps me waiting for the new 450 BMW. I hope this will be a proper offroad adventure bike.
How tall are you? Did you try with the rally seat? I'm 6'3 really hoping it will but i'm having my doubts.
Owner of our test bike has now fitted the higher seat and loves it. I'm taller than you. You've got three options, of course. Higher seat. Bars up and forward with Rox riders. And go down and back with something like Fastway footpegs. I did all three things with my CB500X and still couldn't get comfortable, and the 450MT feels very similar. 🤔
@crosstrainingadventure ya that's what I'm worried about.. maybe a t7 but that's just so much more money!
I've tried all of them this year : the MT450, the new Himalayan and the NX500. If I had to choose, I would take one of the two first. Well, Honda is nice, reliable and can do anything but just a bit and without fun as the others. I think I even didn't try it on small paths as the MT and the Himy.
The MT didn't use as many fuel as some comments on the net, not a lot more as the Indian actually. I know the MT have for 2025 a new exhaust, less expressive as I see the vidéos and the screen should have the navigation too, as the Indian. On the Indian, I find the black color too mate, it looks as an old bike and the test bike had only 8000 kms.
Getting mixed reports about the fuel economy of the 450MT, more recent owners are claiming its great. Perhaps the factory has been tweaking the mapping?
@@crosstrainingadventure During my week test, on a bike with some kms already I was below the 5 L/100 kms with a mix of street, highway and paths. Version 2024 of course.
As a fellow thumper tragic, do you think your critique of the engine is related to the layout? I do a decent amount of street riding and dual sporting and am lucky enough to have different bikes fit for purpose. After numerous bikes, i've honestly yet to find a 2cy in under a 1000cc capacity that I think is fun like the way even a humble 125 single makes me giggle. This even includes the critically acclaimed CP2 - having spent a decent amount of time on an MT07 I like the powerplant it's great for the job of riding, just doesn't get me going tho. Strangely I do find that this doesn't extend to 3/4 cy bikes, 250-1000 in those configurations are always a riot and full of character or pants color changing power.
A good point, I figure for those of us really into singles a twin just isn't going to the tick the boxes.
Id have trouble stepping down from my tenere 700 to something like this but it would be a great adv bike for new riders, most of us experienced riders will want more power.
Yep!
love it thank you what about crf250l i am from nepal 2018 model i been watching your video nice
Mi like desde España 🇪🇦, cuanto pesa llena de todo de verdad, nadie la ha pesado
We mentioned the 'wet weight' in the vid. 196kg.
I have had 450km from the stock tank with more fuel left to burn, what's wrong with that?
Cheng sheng tyre Co is maxxis. I wouldn't call that a bicycle tyre.
Frame rails were pre drilled from the factory as of November last year.
Centre stands are not supplied standard.
It's kinda normal that a 500cc bike feels underpowered compared to 1000cc bike. What is not normal is that they weigh the same. That being said, I believe that the MT450 needs a tall 6th gear. Heck, I think that every bike should have a tall 6th gear, allowing for reduced fuel consumption / CO2 emission / save the planet (TM) 🤨
Definetely a taller 6th gear, it hits limiter very easily. Bike would be excellent for the price us lighter, less bulky and not A2 compliant. This motor could easily push 60hp.
Here in the states... Possible tarrifs could impact price and parts availability.... 60% tarrif would kill it here.. Too bad. Definitely a consideration unfortunately.... good review!!,,,,
Yes, the USA currently lives in very 'interesting times' to borrow from an alleged old Chinese curse!
No centre stand on mine 🙈
Yes, we added a note in the vid and also in the pinned first comment. We were told after publication that the centre stand is actually an extra.
i ride a Tenere 700, i hate the weight, i love the mid range power but I think a few more horses at the top of the rev range would be great. I think a KOVE800X would be the next step.
It also has very bad head light if you ride on curvy road at night, very big black angles.
I wouldn't even mention handguards because those are made of cardboard. Only thing which is few levels under everything else on this bike.
Yeah the headlight is definitely a weak spot.
Also, new cfmotos have the holes predrilled and have for a while
Good to hear.
Verdict-A cheap(ish) useful adv bike if you are into basic off road riding
I like bikes that are exciting,hard to keep and unpredictable ....the same with women😀
Good summary!
So you may want to buy a KTM 1390 SAR 😀.
Its not for basic offroad , chews up rocky hill terrain , it just goes
Centre stand? I’ve Never known of one coming on the bike as standard!
I fitted metzlers from new and my bike came with the snatchy throttle improvement, but it was still kinda on/off so I pulled the clutch switch wires and connected them together (with a short wire ) seems great now
Manufacturer's must think making small displacement bikes for adults, that's why you don't get proper on power and weight, the A2 licence power/weight racio it's killing this bikes, but at least now they are in the market.
I highly doubt A2 holders are more than 10% of the total buyers of A2 bikes. They have destroyed all models of the best class in motorcycling (low weight/mid cc) for practically no reason. Manufacturers must earn a ton of money due to the A2 excuse, no other explanation.
6ft6 and love my T7 extreme edition with slightly taller renthal bars
I don't know how the hell they manage to give all that bling for that price, I wish my t7 had that light clutch, kyb suspension and a display with google maps :(
The centre stand isn't standard fitment but everything genuine for this bike is cheap.
After the crash I had Saturday you guys are insane given the lack of gear you're wearing.
Yep, we posted corrections about the centre stand in the vid and the pinned first comment already. We guys are insane? I was wearing AA rated gear so not sure how you saw what I was wearing. But yeah it was 38C so Jody went light on the gear.
At last an adventure bike made for normal height people....I am 171 cm short and can flat foot both legs....However, the MT does look the part but check the CF Moto parts availability and most are labeled for back order....
Interesting. Is that just a parts logistics issue... or shoddy parts breaking so quickly there's a lot of demand? 🤔
I really struggle with this bike as it ticks all of my boxes. But it being Chinese is big red flag for me. I made the mistake of buying an SWM Super dual X and while it was a fantastic bike when it ran well enough. I had several rubber parts rot within a year of owning it. And they discontinued those parts well before I purchase the bike.
It just doesn't seem like Chinese companies truly care about their customers or their product.
Bummer about the SWM. Over the years I've been tempted by some of their models but was deterred by the eventual Chinese investment and then more of the engine parts (if not whole engines) being made in China. It does look as though CFMoto is putting some serious effort into quality control. But I won't be convinced until we see hundreds of owners with positive reports on all their models with high mileage...
Small adv bikes need to be lighter. The XR650L is lighter than the 450MT and that's pretty cringe for a new "offroad capable" ADV bike.
Some say that the modern laws are to blame
I'd love to see some lighter twin engines developed for adventure bikes. As far as I can remember the only attempt was the Aprilia 550 which had a lot of mechanical failures. 😢
@@crosstrainingadventure I miss when thumpers were still cool. Seems like everybody prefers the twins now. I have a few different bikes now, and my 650L is still my most overall capable machine. Enough power to get out of it's own way, suspension to get over most obstacles, and a manageable weight.
it will cost twice as much to save 50kg
@@crosstrainingadventure
Well, they are designed to meet European a2 classification. Maximum power 35kw and maximum power to weight ratio 0.2kw/kg
I considered one but they don't have enough power, so i bought a new v-strom 650 .
Motor is a KTM and made in China. I believe the tires are made in Taiwan. Incidentally, a lot of the larger adventure bikes run with 19 inch front wheels. I owned a 22 CB500X, other than it was geared too low, only rear was preload adjustable, and it had a seat from hell, it was good on the road, fair off road until I totaled it on dirt/gravel road. Owners of CB500Xs posted pics of their displays with over 386,000 km on them with minor repairs. I now own a Transalp 750 lacks some bling, but comes with 21/18 wheels, less top heavy and 10 KG then my CB500X or the CFMotor 450. I had the TA750 ECM USA dyno tuned and it now produces a bit over 100 hp. If possible you may want to do a review of the TA 750. I would be interested in your thoughts.
The engine is absolutely not a KTM, it's a CFMoto design.
Actually we've done two reviews of the Transalp in conjunction with our Canadian buddies.
Made in Taiwan so officially made in the ROC... Republic of China. As distinct from communist mainland PRC.... Peoples Republic of China.
The engine is a CFMOTO only design and not shared with any other brand.
It's a 270° offset crank, all of the KTM engines are 165° offset.
The CFMOTO 800 is a shared engine out of the 790, which KTM build.
Also i think jerky throttle is a Europe thing, because of EURO5 norms, your bike shouldn't have that problem, and should be slightly stronger, isn't it so ?
Kawasaki Versys x300 comes to mind as a worthy competitor.
As per the pinned first comment I figured the engine capacity puts it in a different category, at least for this vid. But if you don't mind the 150cc les then it's definitely worth a look!
Tienda tío wang, 6cv más con ecu, 3hp más con escape y piñón de 15
Translation: Uncle Wang's shop, 6hp more with ecu, 3hp more with exhaust and 15mm pinion
I want one.
It's sooo hard to choose between a ChungFeng Moto and a 20kg lighter KTM... Oh wait.
Watch out ! The Chinese sycophants and bots will be after you...
Ah yes 1 company selling bikes and the other with chocolate cams, horrible customer support and going bankrupt and probably using the other company parts to stay in business.
I though I was the only one who didn't care about the CB500X or whatever it’s called now.
Too heavy and bare, but also under powered….. the CF Moto seems to fall along those lines, but the loud exhaust seems like a big downside
If you want a road going bike get something more confortable, with more power.
Im 176cm and the footpegs are too close to the seat for me, also when you really look closely at the bike I think its cheaply made, I know its a cheap bike but in comparison the Himmy 460 feels much better put together
I expected it to be cheaply made but seemed pretty good. Till will tell for sure. The owner is a bike mechanic with decades of working on bikes and he's been really impressed. I don't know how good the Himalayan is now but remember it had plenty of issues for quite a few years when it came out... which were slowly rectified with the threat of legal action by owners.
Quote from a petition:
We the owners of Royal Enfield Himalayan are facing a lot of problems with our bikes. ... Almost every Himalayan has a manufacturing defect of the magnetic coil, T-stem, gear and clutch issue, Oil Leakage, engine noise among other issues which is frustrating because the owners spend a majority of their time in the service centers.
Many biker brothers have had a close save from accidents because the bike has a unique ability to shut off at any time. One rider was going on a highway at 90 KMPH and was about to overtake a vehicle and the bike's engine shut off at this point. Imagine this scenario. He barely got saved from a major accident.
And this is not one isolated incident, many people have suffered the same and they have documented it on youtube as well.
We have sent various letters to Mr. Siddhartha Lal the CEO of Eicher Motors which owns Royal Enfield. But the response of the company towards its customers is just pathetic....
No thanks. I will continue to do all I can to avoid supporting Chinese companies...especially products associated with hobbies I hold near and dear to my heart.
I tend to agree, as per the pinned first comment....
'Regular viewers will know I've discussed in vids the potential issues with supporting a communist government with a poor human rights record by purchasing bikes made there. I won't ram my opinion down throats but think it's worth discussing. I just didn't see the point in raising it yet again in this vid.'
my WR450 adventure bike weighs 255 pounds wet - just sayn
oil changes tho ?
With the kove 800x in the market, it does not make any sense
Kove not available in Australia not sure if it ever will. 800x will likely cost 2x the MT450
Except I suspect the Kove will be close to double the price...at least here in Australia? It would be great to see the 450MT get down to at least the weight of the Kove, if not more.
@crosstrainingadventure here in Ecuador the MT is $12.000 and the kove $14.000, isn't that much for double power, less weight
I trust chinese rubber based on their stellar track record with the one child policy.
Here’s the thing about 450 bikes they are HP restricted to meet license constraints, they could tune them up but that will cut out a huge amount of the market they are aiming for. If you want 700 power in a 450 at a reasonable price - good luck with that, not going to happen. If u want 700 power buy the Yamaha T7. The MT is what it is? There is no such thing in real life as a unicorn. If u want a unicorn go to the movies & fantasize. Or build your own unique bike from say an MT450 & tune it up etc.
most motorbike manufacturers are struggling economically to stay afloat. Why because designing, testing, manufacturing marketing, dealerships are every expensive propositions. There are not enough customers. The age demographics is getting older & older. Most customers as in 80% are happy with a pretty good standard bike. These bikes are often way more capable than the riders are.
The MT is fine so are most modern bikes.
Customer test ride a range of bikes, ride what u love. Other peoples opinions are ok but that’s all they are opinions take them with a grain of salt. Accumulate a full range of ideas then ride a range of bikes.
Enjoy.
I agree, if they wanted more HP they would need to do it as a separate model. And it's hard to guage if they'd really get the sales numbers to justify it. And you do point out the demographics could work against it. Price? It shouldn't cost more if the manufacturer already has a 450 or 500 road model putting out, say, 60hp.
I was really interested in one here in the USA and its delay after delay getting them here.. and after finding out they are only slightly less than a t7 and have steel wheels not to mention mapping issues.. now you say the frame fills up with water.. THATS A HARD NO.. sounding more and more like the Chinese junk it is.. i mean 430+ pounds (us) for a 450??? I will pay the little extra cash for proven Japanese quality
I reckon a lot of riders will pay a bit more for the Honda NX500 for that Japanese reliability... it's made in Thailand but Honda seem to have very good quality control in their factory there. The weight is pretty standard for a 450 twin. But it would be good to see it shed weight. The Kove 800 is an example of what CAN be done when they put their mind to it!
Thanks for having the courage to tell the truth, despite all of the paid Chinese sycophants and/or bots in the comments section.
I done test drive. No, I don't like it. After excf 500 it's not enough power. For me it's very cheap.
Pretty much cover everything
that weight shouldnt be the norm 4 a 450cc...........shit my buell s1 is 1200cc and weighs the same heheh, funny how on newer bike they cant keep weight down and older bikes were much lighter.
I think the dry weight of the S1 was 200kg?
yeh just under dry.......but that's what I'm saying, gassed up its about the same weight as my Buell dry. An off road bike 450cc with only 50hp should be made a lot lighter, its all about that power 2 weight ratio.
0:29 why the photo of the kove MV500 ? 😂 on my test ride of this CF Moto 450 MT, i had an excess of heat coming on my left leg and crotch, unbearable heat
I want to see CFmoto buy KTM and start making the 390 at a good price.
Fair review, Cheng Shin have made motorcycle tyres since 1969, I had a 450 K2 Honda twin in 70's that had a Cheng Shin tyre on it. Wear ear protection, the exhaust will be a non event... I find it hilarious complaining about the power of the 450, especially seeing you are older. I did 100's of thousands of miles on CB750 Honda's, over weight and underpowered by modern standards , and NEVER once did it ever effect or bother me, thousands of miles on dirt too....
Older riders shouldn't want some power? Now that's hilarious. 😂 Like the vid said, it was only my personal opinion. Trying to wheelie the 450MT takes way too much effort, give me the grunt of a DR650 for that any day.
Ba ba booey..ba ba booey..ba ba booey
ruclips.net/video/ahAIvjWs0Gs/видео.html
Makes a DR650 worthless
Not really, if you want the grunt, ground clearance, light weight you get with the DR etc. Very different bikes.
Chinesium engine? Nope, never buying one.
A Chinese Honda is better than anything other than a real Honda ;) and EVERYONE knows it. Even something as simple as a lawn mower, the cheapest ones use trash engines, like Briggs and Stratton. The next level up is stuff like Kawasaki and Subaru. You have to pay more, almost as much as a Honda, for the Chinese options like Loncin, that is how good the Honda clones are ;)
@@Muffin_Masher lol...🤡
The 450cc platform from CFMOTO has been out there for years, almost a decade now. I had been used on the 450SR, the 450NK, and 450CL-C. Now it is used on the adventure 450MT, with a heavily detuned specs, lower rpm, lower hps, and lower compression ratio at 11:1 which is completely similar to a Tenéré... It is spec'd to be long-lasting. On the other hand, CFMOTO have done their homework and people are trusting them. You may have heard about the infamous camshaft issues on the KTM790 LC8 platform which is plaguing the KTM bikes. Well, CFMOTO have revised the KTM design and they are using this revised version in their 800MT platform, as well as the newer 800MT-X. NO ONE, literally no one has report any camshaft premature wear on these, in opposition to the KTM 790 since CFMOTO have made a bigger head and allowed more lubrification on the cam lobes. Even KOVE have followed suit! What more do you want?
It would be more productive if you laid out a logical counter-argument rather than cheaply bashing it as "chinesium" and/or "lol 🤡". You're clearly the clown here and I hope you grow up from that feeble mentality.
Personally I still try to avoid Chinese made stuff for various reasons. But it seems almost no matter what brand you buy nowadays the engine is probably going to have a lot of Chinese made parts in it (for better or worse). And manufacturers don't have to provide any information about this.
you've probably already bought 1 it just had another badge on it
CF MOTO has advised drilling holes in the frame?
Wouldn't that require an engineers report and modification plate to be road legal?
Would it not invalidate insurance claims making changes to a structural part of the bike?
Interesting point. I'm not sure on the legalities. But viewers tell me the most recent models are already coming from the factory with holes drilled.