The adventure bike category is more complete than it’s ever been. For some time, ADVs grew in size and capacity, which could be intimidating for new and smaller riders. But as the category has evolved, middleweight entries, such as Yamaha’s Ténéré 700, have provided more options to riders of all skill levels and budgets. And the growth of the lightweight adventure category has opened the door even more with bikes, such as Royal Enfield’s Himalayan 450, Honda’s NX500, Kawasaki’s Versys X-300, KTM‘s 390 Adventure, and CFMoto’s Ibex 450. These bikes are bite-sized in price, power, and seat height but still offer the core fundamentals of an adventure bike: a motorcycle capable on and off-road with large fuel capacity, wind protection, and creature comforts that improve its ability to slay highway miles..embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; }The CFMoto Ibex 450 appears to be one of the best cases for rivaling middleweight adventures, at least visually. And after riding it at the press launch last year in the Philippines, we were impressed by the Ibex 450’s ability to bridge the gap between true entry-level adventure bikes such as Kawasaki’s Versys X-300 and respectable off-road middleweights such as Aprilia’s Tuareg 660. KTM’s incoming 390 Adventure R looks to further evolve the class alongside the Ibex 450. The Ibex 450 utilizes a 449cc liquid-cooled parallel twin with a 270-degree crank. This is the same engine used in CFMoto 450NK and 450SS streetbikes, but the Ibex has a dedicated camshaft design, airbox, and exhaust. The chassis consists of a steel tube frame designed with some influence from the KTM 790 Adventure. Fully adjustable KYB suspension offers 7.9 inches of travel, and proper 21-inch and 18-inch wheel sizes are another indication of the bike’s off-road ambition. Seat height is a manageable 32.3 inches, but the two-position shock linkage allows the rear to be lowered to 31.5 inches. CFMoto also offers a tall accessory seat that will raise the seat height to 34.3 inches. Braking components include a single four-piston J.Juan caliper with a 320mm disc up front and a single-piston J.Juan caliper with a 240mm disc at the back. Rider aids are limited to switchable ABS and traction control via a 5-inch TFT display. A manually adjustable windscreen and folding mirrors are a nice feature on a bike priced at $6500; two features that some high-end, expensive adventure bikes don’t offer.Before hitting our in-house Dynojet 250i dynamometer, the Ibex with crash bars, skid plate, and bag mounts weighed 448 pounds on our automotive scales. On the Cycle World dyno, the 2025 CFMoto produced 37.1 hp at 8920 rpm and 27.1 lb.-ft. of torque at 5490 rpm. For reference, the 2025 Royal Enfield produced 37.4 hp and 27.4 lb.-ft. of torque. Fire up the Ibex, and you are greeted with a throaty exhaust note that alludes to snappy engine response. But in reality, the power delivery is extremely smooth and linear. Characteristics a new adventure rider will likely appreciate.