If someone told me in 2015 that the rivalry between Chinese CFMoto and Indian RoyalEnfield in the mid 2020s will be legendary I'd have laughed my a$$ off.

Really solid comparison review. I run a fleet of 8 450MTs in Borneo and have done so for a few years now. I was really hesitant when I first bought them because I have always owned Kawasaki and Japanese bikes over the past 3+ decades, and moving to a Chinese brand scared the heck out of me. I only did so because the competition here at the time was the ancient Versys 250 (we don’t get the 300), the equally old BMW 310GS, the CRF250 Rally, and the old KTM 390 (pre-update), and there were no Royal Enfield dealers in my town (we have 3 CFMOTO dealers). Compared to those bikes, the 450MT was so far ahead on paper that it just made sense to give it a try.

Thankfully, they have proved their mettle over the past thousands of kilometers of sand, rainforest, rivers, and even the Pan-Borneo Highway. The aftermarket is huge and affordable, and the bikes are heavily customizable from the factory or with OEM and aftermarket parts. High and low seat options, high/low suspension settings, and raised/lowered dog legs mean I have had riders from 5’4” to 6’7” ride them (admittedly, it gets tight for riders around 6’5”).

While they are not massive powerhouses, they still cruise 2-up, including hills and the Pan-Borneo Highway, comfortably. They take abuse, including all the heat, humidity, rain, salt, and sand that a rainforest island can throw at them. The tubeless tires are a godsend when you have 7 other bikes waiting around in the tropical heat for me to patch a flat. The larger fuel tank also helps enormously on the remote sections.

Even though the bike is going into its third year here in APAC, it is still the one I would buy today. It’s a bit sad because I did have high hopes for the KLE500, as I still have some Kawasaki green blood running through my veins, but it just doesn’t fit the brief for my business with its tube tires, low ground clearance, tall seat height, less adjustability, smaller fuel tank, and higher price for less standard kit than the 450MT.

I rode them all and it came down to the Himalayan and the Ibex. Both are wonderful bikes but the buffeting, louder exhaust note, and wooden brakes on the Ibex put me off a little, personal preferences for the most part. The Himalayan surprised me as well in the showroom it felt top heavy due to the too short slide stand of the 25 model. It looked completely different than the rest but it grew on me. Took it for a ride and just smiled. No buffeting, does freeway fine and is pretty nimble in tight maneuvers. I was lucky enough to find a used one with 1200 miles and bought it at an incredible price. I ride it daily around town smiling. I have done the UT BDR from Wellington to Bear Lake. It's not perfect, could use another 10hp in demanding situations, but I am still smiling more often than on any other bike I've owned. No regrets.

Hopeing the success of the CF will push the rest of the industry in the right direction. Simple, functional, light, affordable.

As owner of a Royal Enfield 350 Classic, this video just looks hilarious to me. I am sorry, but it does. Because the notion that most people have at the back of their minds, that you need an ADV to ride this type of roads, is ridiculous. Look what they rode in this video. Most of the way it was just good ol' dusty road. Plus some rocky patches, but nothing too serious. No deep ruts, no mud up to your belly, no insane water crossings. Like, guys, come on. You don't need any ADV for that. Hell, you don't even need scramblers. Watch what roads people in India ride on their RE Bullets. On stock tires.

Ride what you have. It will take you further than you think.

Great review fellas. Best comparison video I've watched. Just riding all day and then talking about what you did and didn't like. Pretty much the same as we do ourselves on occasional group rides.

What I love about the smaller adv market is there are enough options now that anybody can focus in on the kind of riding they desire and there is a bike that fits. Most arguments are really about the kind of riding they do - not the bikes.  What I like about the 450 Ibex is that it encourages the rider to try different riding (for me off-road) than they would normally do while maintaining a comfortable smooth experience on road - this works for me

A friend of mine has a Himalayan. It’s a great looking and great running bike.

Love when you guys make these videos. These and the bike challenges are what humanize RMATV as more than just a company

I had bought a 25 Yamaha tenere 700 thinking it was going to be my retirement adventure bike.  Man, I tried to like it, but it was too tall too heavy and I didn't even have any gear on it yet...so I traded the T7 in on a 26 CF Moto Ibex 450.  What a difference between the two.  I actually want to take it off road and I wouldn't be afraid to take it places I've gone on smaller dirt bikes.  I'll probably add a better skid plate and better hand guards.

Super interesting outcome. Seems like the Himmy and the cfmoto are probably the best. Hopefully they will tweak the 390 to be better over time. Im on a drz4s right now and im super happy with it. Im doing more dual sport than adv riding but a good seat, fuel tank and adv spec screen and it would be a great lightweight adv!

Just goes to show, if you’re not actually riding off-road, doesn’t matter what you buy.

Loving my 2023 Royal Enfield Himalayan 411!

Good, objective review/comparison. Very helpful.

How come the DR650 is never in these tests anymore? It's lighter and proven reliable, with a proven history of being turned into a light ADV bike and still in production.

The KLE is the motorcycle equivalent of an AWD CRV; it'll do 90% of what most people need it to do, but if you aspire to try that 10%, or want a bike with some creature comforts (easier to access air filter, tubeless tires, etc) it's totally outclassed by everything else in the segment.

Love my CFmoto 450 MT (Ibex) recently rode it loaded up from Southern Mexico up to Vancouver Island then Alberta. 130 kph on highways and many off road ridding back roads, single track, BDR's etc.  I don't know how many times I was ridding and smiled saying to myself is this really a 450, A couple upgrades, Tall Rally Seat very comfortable especially on long rides, Tusk 2 tracks on my 2nd set love them and a big improvement from the stock tires, EBC brakes made a big improvement on breaking.

I apparently forget how to hill climb when I haven't had my coffee 😅Killer work on the edit Nick! Such a fun trip

I’ve been wanting to get into the adventure bike thing for awhile now. I can afford to get a new bike that is actually decent. Thanks y’all

Michael, I can't believe you insulted the TW200 like that.  That KLE is nothing like the TW.  Anyways, great video gents!  I have really been toying with the idea of the IBEX and this just video just got me that much closer.