By NastyNils· ·
Motorcycle comparison · Supersport vs Adventure
CFMOTO 450SR (MY2023) vs Ibex 450 (MY2024)
CFMOTO 450SR vs Ibex 450: two kinds of bike, and who each one is for.
Tip the CFMOTO 450SR into a bend and it's down on its line quickly, then it stays there. The CFMOTO Ibex 450's knobbies keep biting on dry tarmac.
So which one do you buy?
The 450SR has the edge if…
Sporty riding on twisty roads
Edges it: 450SR
Once the road starts to bend, the 450SR noses ahead. The reason: more feel through the bars and lighter steering. Your own skill counts for more than a gap this size.
The Ibex 450 has the edge if…
A confidence-building first motorcycle
Slight edge: Ibex 450
For a learner on a small bike, the Ibex 450 is a touch easier to get along with. Credit easier controls and more comfort.
Daily commuting & city riding
Inches ahead: Ibex 450
On the way to work, the Ibex 450 asks a little less of you. That comes from easier everyday riding. Close enough that the test ride should settle it.
What makes each one tick
450SR
There's an offbeat snarl coming out of the 450SR's exhaust, and the twin pulls eagerly through the middle of the revs. Corner entry doesn't ask much of the bars: the lean chassis and upside-down fork turn the front in on a nudge. The stiff frame holds the lean.
Ibex 450
The Ibex settles you into a cockpit that feels sporty when you're pushing and stays relaxed on the stretches in between. Standing or sitting, the controls land where you expect them and the whole rider triangle reads as intentional rather than accidental. Online horror stories about the clutch didn't materialize. The clutch keeps going when smooth inputs let the twin's pull do the work, and it'll cook if you fan it like a single's lever. Fast, rough sections and hard landings leave the stock fork and shock out of adjustment. The shock settles gravel bumps.
Nils rode the Ibex 450 in Austria in 2024, in China in 2025, and in Croatia/Dalmatia in 2026 (NastyNils Testride).
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The 450SR has the lower seat: 31.3 in (795 mm) vs 32.3 in (820 mm).
- The 450SR has the lower wet weight: 373 lb (169 kg) vs 408 lb (185 kg).
- The 450SR makes more peak power: 46 hp (34 kW) vs 44 hp (32 kW).
Which one for the way you ride
Comfortable long-distance riding
Off its turf: 450SR
The 450SR isn't built for long days on the road, so it sits this one out.
Count running costs as a draw. The deal on the table and the condition of the bike matter more here.
Who each one is built for
What's good, and what you'll live with
450SR
What owners say
Strengths
- Agile and confidence‑inspiring handling
- Charismatic, responsive engine
Ibex 450
Strengths
- Shrugged Off a Multi-Day Rally
- Factory Hardware Stayed Tight
- Light Where It Counts
- Composed Under a Big Rider
- Outstanding value for money
Trade-offs
- Stock Suspension Runs Out Early
- Wide Guards, Less Clearance
- Tall Riders Get Cramped
- Heavier than its capacity suggests
Known problems to check before you buy
450SR
No confirmed faults on file yet. That's not the same as fault-free.
Ibex 450
- Premature valve failure Some early production engines experience valve failure and camshaft damage resulting from loose valve guides at low mileage.
- Low-RPM throttle hesitation A flat spot or hesitation occurs at low throttle openings, especially in cold operating conditions.
What they share
- Displacement
- 450 cc
- Engine
- Parallel twin
- Cooling
- Liquid-cooled
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Final drive
- Chain
- Fork
- Upside-down (USD)
- Front brake
- 320 mm
Where the spec sheets split
| 450SR | Ibex 450 | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 31.3 in (795 mm) | 32.3 in (820 mm) |
| Wet weight | 373 lb (169 kg) | 408 lb (185 kg) |
| 450SR | Ibex 450 | |
|---|---|---|
| Power | 46 hp (34 kW) | 44 hp (32 kW) |
| Peak power at | 9,500 rpm | 8,500 rpm |
| Torque | 30 lb-ft (40 Nm) | 32 lb-ft (44 Nm) |
| Peak torque at | 7,750 rpm | 6,250 rpm |
| 450SR | Ibex 450 | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel economy | 52 mpg (US) / 4.5 L/100 km | 56 mpg (US) / 4.17 L/100 km |
| Fuel capacity | 3.7 US gal (14 L) | 4.6 US gal (17.5 L) |
| 450SR | Ibex 450 | |
|---|---|---|
| Front tire | 110/70-17 | 90/90-21 |
| Rear tire | 150/60-17 | 140/70-18 |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| 450SR | Ibex 450 | |
|---|---|---|
| Traction Control | Not offered | Standard |
| Ride Modes | Not offered | Standard |
| Manually Adjustable Front Suspension | Not offered | Standard |
| Slipper Clutch | Standard | Not offered |
| Heated Grips | Not offered | Option |
| Adjustable Seat Height | Not offered | Standard |
| Luggage System | Not offered | Option |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
