Adventure bikes have gotten a little out of control when it comes to pricing and features. There was a time when they were just big dual-sport machines with better highway manners in exchange for a little reduced off-road ability. Today, however, the biggest, most premium adventure bikes cost as much as a full-dress tourer and weigh nearly as much. They’re the most all-around comfortable bikes if you consider that they will cosset you on any terrain. But you are expected to pay premium money, too.
The question then is: what do you do if you want a premium ADV on a budget without sacrificing the kind of comfort they offer? Luckily for us all, there is one manufacturer that has a history of taking on the big guns with shocking value. Here is the adventure bike that delivers premium comfort for under $12k.
The CFMoto Ibex 800 E Is The Adventure Bike That Delivers Premium Comfort For Under $12K
There are some really cracking options in the middleweight adventure bike segment, ranging from a single-cylinder thumper that is unbreakable to a three-cylinder banshee with a counterrotating crankshaft and a price that will beat most full-size ADVs. The Ibex sits somewhere in the middle of these two extremes, with a price nearer to the single cylinder machine, but a feature seat comparable to the premium products. This is a great combination if you’re looking for something with great value.
CFMoto Ibex 800 E Price: $10,299
The Ibex 800 E retails for a price well under our target price of $12,000. There are a few strong contenders around that price point, but all the really good ones are just on the wrong side of it. There are some very capable products within our price point, but more often than not, they’re designed to appeal to a specific set of consumers rather than chase the almost unattainable goal of competing with products at a higher price point. The Ibex 800 goes against the grain, and CFMoto has chosen to provide America with just the one variant with all the bells and whistles.
CFMoto Ibex 800 E Engine
The Ibex has a 270-degree parallel twin engine, with peak power and torque of 94 horsepower and 56.8 pound-feet. This is a fun engine, thanks to its KTM roots. CFMoto has given it all the electronic assistance possible, with a by-wire throttle and six-axis IMU. That means a bunch of ride modes, six in all – the regular Road and Rain modes, two designed for off-road use, and two for all-terrain use.
A six-speed manual gearbox with a two-way quickshifter is standard on the Ibex 800. A chain drives the rear wheel. The standard quickshifter is a nice touch, especially since it is an option on a surprising number of middleweight adventure bikes.
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CFMoto Ibex 800 E Chassis
A steel trellis frame forms the Ibex 800’s skeleton, which helps keep weight down. Also contributing are the aluminum swingarm and subframe. The KYB suspension is adjustable for preload and rebound at the rear, and preload, compression, and rebound at the front. Travel is 6.3 inches and 5.9 inches front and rear.
Radial tubeless tires are present on 19/17-inch spoke rims – a compromise that makes it better on tarmac at the expense of off-road ability. Still, we think that’s okay because of the audience that CFMoto is targeting. The J.Juan brakes are quite large at the front, with radial four-piston fixed calipers, while the rear has a two-piston floating caliper. Cornering ABS, a tire pressure monitoring system, and a steering damper(!) are present.
CFMoto Ibex 800 E Dimensions
CFMoto hasn’t exactly met the target of trying to be the lightest motorcycle in its class, but that’s okay considering the number of electronics and features it has. The seat height is an extremely reasonable and approachable 32.5 inches, and the fuel tank can hold over five gallons. Combined with the efficient engine, which gives the Ibex 800 a good tank range.
|
Fuel Tank Capacity |
5.1 gallons |
|
Length/Width/Height |
87.9/33.6/58.1 inches |
|
Wheelbase |
60.3 inches |
|
Seat Height |
32.5 inches |
|
Curb Weight (wet) |
509 LBs |
CFMoto Ibex 800 E Features
This is where the Ibex 800 excels because it is available only in the top ‘E’ variant in the US market. The 8-inch TFT display is definitely a highlight. This is also a touchscreen and gets Bluetooth, navigation, and Apple CarPlay as standard. Another highlight is the radar-based blind spot monitoring system. Yes, this is standard as well.
Other features of note include the tire pressure monitoring system, an adjustable windscreen that can be adjusted manually, cruise control, heated grips, a USB-C charging port, a 12V socket, all-LED lighting, standard aux lights, and a center stand. Phew! That is a LOT of equipment for the money.
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CFMoto Ibex 800 E Competition
Since we’re talking about premium comfort but under $12k, we’ll have to discard stalwarts of the segment like the BMW F 900 GS ($14,275), Ducati Multistrada V2 ($16,595), and Aprilia Tuareg 660 ($12,499). There are a few others that are worthy of the mantle of the Ibex 800 E’s competitor, but they don’t really manage to live up to the ‘premium comfort’ requirements.
The Yamaha Tenere 700 ($10.999) is a very respected midweight adventure bike and costs nearly the same as the Ibex 800 at $10,999, but its focus lies in being light and usable off-road. It recently got an update with a by-wire throttle, an optional two-way quickshifter, and a taller windscreen that makes it easier to live with most of the time.
There is the Suzuki V-Strom 650XT ($9,799), but it is long in the tooth and doesn’t have some amenities like a TFT display that we deem essential to a premium experience today. There is the newer V-Strom, the V-Strom 800, and especially the V-Strom 800DE ($11,799) with the spoke rims, but it doesn’t have tubeless tires. The Honda Transalp ($9,999) might be a good option, but it doesn’t aim for premium at all. The Ibex 800 E is thus in a segment all by itself when it comes to a combination of value and premium comfort.
Sources: CFMoto USA