2027 CFMoto Ibex 950 First Look: KTM Power Meets CFMoto Value

CFMoto has pulled back the curtain on the 2027 Ibex 950, its new sub-1000cc adventure motorcycle, aiming to compete against a stacked field in the middleweight ADV class, which includes the Yamaha Ténéré 700 ($10,999), BMW F 900 GS ($14,395), Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro ($17,595), and KTM 890 Adventure R ($16,299). The Ibex 950 starts at $12,499 and offers a lot of bang for the buck in terms of specifications.

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Sold internationally as the CFMoto MT1000, CFMoto USA is maintaining its strategy of using North American-specific model names, which we’ve seen extended to most of its two-wheeled offerings. The Ibex 950 marks the top of CFMoto’s American ADV lineup, slotting above the Ibex 800 E and Ibex 450. The model is available in two colorways, Tactical Green and Nebula Black.

An Austrian Heart Powers the Ibex 950

CFMoto is touting the engine as new, though the headline-grabbing detail is that we’ve seen this mill before. According to CFMoto representatives, the Ibex 950’s engine is a licensed version of KTM’s LC8c parallel-twin, the same architecture found in the KTM 990 RC R and 990 Duke. CFMoto has confirmed that the licensed powerplant is manufactured at the company’s own facilities in Hangzhou, China, rather than imported from Austria.

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Listed at 946cc, the liquid-cooled, DOHC, four-valve parallel-twin is fed by Bosch electronic fuel injection through two 46mm throttle bodies and produces a claimed 112 horsepower at 8,500 rpm and 77.5 lb-ft of torque at 6,250 rpm. Power routes through a six-speed gearbox featuring a slipper clutch.

CFMoto

CFMoto equips the Ibex 950 with a modern assortment of electronic amenities, beginning with a ride-by-wire throttle, cruise control, and four selectable ride modes: Standard, Rain, Off-Road and All-Terrain. A bi-directional quickshifter is also standard. As such, the Ibex 950 also features adjustable ABS, traction control, and wheelie control rider aids.

Chassis, Suspension, and Braking Hardware

CFMoto

The Ibex 950 pairs a tubular steel frame with an aluminum swingarm, which is not a direct copy of the KTM 890 Adventure R’s chassis, though it appears to be heavily inspired by it. The biggest departure from the KTM is that the Ibex clearly uses a swingarm specific, instead of the box-style swingarm on the KTM. Suspension duties fall to KYB, with a 48mm inverted fork and a rear monoshock, both fully adjustable. Each delivers a competitive 9.1 inches of travel. A 22-click adjustable steering damper is fitted as standard.

CFMoto cites a wheelbase of 60.2 inches, a seat height of 34.3 inches and a curb weight of 489 pounds. Fuel capacity is rated at a healthy 5.9 gallons, drawn from a low-mounted saddle-style tank, which we also see on several KTM ADV models. Much like KTMs that use said feature, the CFMoto should enjoy a lower center of gravity, which the Chinese firm says will improve balance and control.

CFMoto

Braking components come from Brembo. Up front, dual 320mm floating discs are clamped on by radially mounted M4.32 four-piston calipers, while a single 260mm rear disc works in conjunction with a Brembo P2.34 single-piston floating caliper. Bosch supplies the electronics package, including ABS 9.0 with a switchable rear-wheel mode and Motorcycle Stability Control traction control, adjustable across three levels.

Wheel sizing follows traditional ADV convention aimed at off-tarmac excursions: a 21-inch front and 18-inch rear, both wrapped in Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR rubber, capable of handling off-road use without compromising street performance significantly.

The instrument panel is an 8-inch vertical TFT touchscreen. Standard equipment also includes full LED lighting, a tire pressure monitoring system, a skid plate, hand guards, an adjustable windscreen, USB Type-A and Type-C charging ports, and both heated grips and a heated seat, features that Triumph and KTM typically reserve for higher trim levels or optional packages.

A New Player Has Arrived: The Ibex 950 Comes to America

CFMoto

At $12,499, the Ibex 950 sits roughly $1,500 above the Ténéré 700, just under $2,000 below the BMW F 900 GS (at the virtually unobtainable base price, anyway), and several thousand below the Tiger 900 Rally Pro and 890 Adventure R. Much like its competition, it is well-appointed with quality components such as Brembo brakes, KYB suspension, Bosch electronics and a KTM-derived engine as standard equipment. Whether that combination translates to real-world performance parity with its European and Japanese competition remains to be tested on pavement and dirt. But, on paper, CFMoto has built a compelling case for those eyeing up this segment.

2027 CFMoto Ibex 950 Photo Gallery:

2027 CFMoto Ibex 950 Specifications:

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Source: CFMoto USA