The ADV That Offers Premium Touring Comfort Without The Premium Price
Everyone loves a do-it-all motorcycle. This eliminates the need for multiple purchases, letting you do touring, off-roading, short weekend spins, or commuting with ease. Adventure motorcycles reign in this type of niche, thanks to their recent popularity. However, with all these capabilities, these bikes are also pricier. So finding an ADV with all the premium bits that elevate versatility without breaking the bank is like finding a needle in the hay. It’s not impossible, but it will require some homework. Lucky for you, we’ve done the homework for you, and here’s a premium touring ADV that doesn’t cost a bomb.
Mid-Segment ADVs Are More Capable Than Ever
Understandably, the middleweight segment is where the ADV we’re going to talk about belongs. These have become the sweet spot for those who seek good value for money. Features and tech that you used to only find in flagship ADVs are now offered in some mid-size ADVs at an attractive price tag. Plus, these bikes are more approachable and relatively easy to maneuver around than full-sized options. And all of these aspects in no way compromise the actual capability of the motorcycle.
But The Prices Are Higher, Too
That has a correlation with prices. All of these premium bits raise the MSRP, meaning these are getting less attainable each year. Not to mention, the midweight category now has near-900cc engines, which only makes matters worse. Between all these, though, there are some underrated gems that get you all of the premium bits without the premium price. And CFMoto’s Ibex 800 is a prime example.
The CFMoto Ibex 800 E Has Premium Touring Equipment At A Not-So-Premium
Price: $10,299
With a price tag of just $10,299, the CFMoto Ibex 800 E undercuts all of the rivals that it goes up against in the mid-segment ADVs. However, it does not achieve that by cost-cutting or cheap equipment. It offers the same or better levels of comfort and touring abilities that any of its Japanese or European rivals provide. Comfortable ergonomics, ample wind protection, dual-purpose abilities, and manageable curb weight allow the Ibex 800 E to outshine its rivals in nearly all aspects. All that helps prove it to be one of the best value-for-money propositions. Let’s dive into the details.
Powered By A Potent Parallel-Twin Engine Derived From KTM
This Chinese Motorcycle gets an Austrian Heart – a 799cc parallel-twin engine borrowed from KTM as part of the partnership. And much like the KTM 790s, the CFMOTO Ibex 800 E has a power output of 94 horsepower and 56.8 pound-feet of torque. This puts it ahead of its rivals by a fair bit, and if you bring the price into the picture, the price-to-power ratio here is off the charts. A six-speed gearbox works with a CF-SC slipper clutch and a bi-directional quickshifter to put the power to the ground, meanwhile.
The Torque Is The Party Trick
As for the delivery, the peak power comes in at around 9000 RPM, and a 270-degree crankshaft means ample tractability. Speaking of which, the torque is very well spread out, with the peak coming in at 5600 RPM. This allows for impressive low-end grunt while maintaining the rev-happy nature of the motorcycle. Don’t expect brilliant fuel efficiency, though, as this is still a high-strung engine.
The Underpinnings Sit In The Sweet Spot Of Adventure And Touring
Paired with the engine, the Ibex 800 E gets a steel trellis frame with an aluminum subframe and swingarm to balance out the weight of the ADV. A fully adjustable KYB suspension setup helps deal with undulations, promising 6.3 inches of travel at the front and 5.9 inches of travel at the rear shock. Coming to wheels, you get a 19-inch front spoke wheel and a 17-inch rear spoke wheel, wrapped in Michelin Anakee dual-purpose tires, ready to take on any terrain. J.Juan calipers grab onto twin 320 mm front discs and a 260 mm rear disc.
Tips The Scale At 509 pounds
The Ibex 800 E weighs in at 509 pounds, which should be fairly manageable in city riding. Its accessible seat height, measuring 32.5 inches, should further allow you to easily flat-foot when coming to a halt. There’s ample ground clearance, too, measuring 7.5 inches. That will let you glide over whatever you tour will throw at you, barring serious off-road bits of course.
There’s No Shortage Of Features That Make Touring Easy
Where the Ibex 800 E obliterates the competition is on the features front. CFMoto seems to have thrown everything at this ADV to ensure it stands out by quite some margin. You get a massive 8-inch TFT touchscreen which is equipped with Apple CarPlay. This TFT is also the gateway to the safety aids. Chief among these is a radar-based blind-spot monitoring system—a segment-first that helps set this apart among rivals.
A steering damper, a tire pressure monitoring system, cornering ABS, wheelie control, ride modes, and traction control are also present. Other than this, a manually adjustable windscreen allows you to protect yourself from the wind blast no matter how tall you are. All of these features make touring as easy as it can get, adding to the comfort and convenience of the rider.
Where The Ibex 800’s Case Can Hit A Roadblock
So far, the Ibex 800 E seems like a no-brainer choice. However, as CFMoto is still fairly new in the U.S. market, it has its own gripes. With roughly 300 dealerships across the country, the Chinese bikemaker has a much smaller footprint when compared to brands like Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, or Triumph. All of CFMoto’s rivals are well-established, not just in the USA but all across the globe.
Thus, compared to its Japanese and European rivals, CFMoto is still not the best in terms of after-sales service. Owners report that routine service is manageable, but sourcing parts or finding technicians who are familiar with the motorcycles is quite a tedious task. So, Japanese and European bike makers do offer a much better after-sales service network, and that is something that CFMoto needs to expand.
The Gaps A Lower Price Doesn’t Cover
Moreover, being a fairly new ADV manufacturer, the resale value of these motorcycles could be lower than its rivals. The brand is yet to become prominent in the used motorcycle market, and the value of these motorcycles depreciates faster when compared to its European or Japanese alternatives. So, even with an aggressive price tag and a great value-for-money proposition, these aspects could be something that could cause owners to choose a different motorcycle. Nevertheless, the Ibex 800 E is still an impressive bang-for-buck option in its segment and might just be the ADV you need.
Source: CFMoto
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