Up Front Research · Adventure Motorcycle Comparison
CFMOTO Ibex 450 vs Royal Enfield Himalayan 450
Two value adventure bikes head-to-head — engine, standard touring kit & price. Plus how the Ibex stacks up to the KTM 390 Adventure and Kawasaki KLE500.
Reviewed & updated by the team at Empire Cycle & Powersports, Spokane Valley.
Quick verdict
- Choose the CFMOTO Ibex 450 if you want a twin-cylinder engine and touring kit — TFT, ride modes, crash bars, luggage racks and tubeless spoked wheels — all standard at $6,499, freight and setup included, with a 2-year warranty.
- Choose the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 if you want the lowest price (about $700 less) and the longest warranty (3 years), and you’re happy with a smooth single and fewer standard extras.
Both are built for exactly the riding around here. The split is twin-cylinder power and included touring gear versus the Himalayan’s lower price and longer warranty — the table shows every spec.
2026 CFMOTO Ibex 450 vs. the small-adventure class
A twin-cylinder ADV that shows up touring-ready — TFT, ride modes, tubeless cross-spoked wheels, crash bars and luggage racks, all standard. Here’s how it lines up against the Royal Enfield, KTM and Kawasaki lightweights.
CFMOTOIbex 450 Best value twin | Royal EnfieldHimalayan 450 | KTM390 Adventure R | KawasakiKLE500 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 449cc parallel twin | 452cc single | 399cc single | 451cc parallel twin |
| Horsepower | 44 hp | 40 hp | 44 hp | 51 hp |
| Fuel tank | 4.6 gal | 4.5 gal | 3.8 gal | 4.2 gal |
| TFT + ride modes | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | LCD (TFT on SE) |
| Crash bars + luggage racks standard | ✓ | option | option | option |
| Torque | 32.5 lb-ft @ 6,250 rpm | 40 Nm ≈ 29.5 lb-ft | 39 Nm ≈ 28.8 lb-ft | 31.7 lb-ft @ 7,500 rpm |
| Suspension travel front / rear | 7.9″ / 7.9″ KYB, fully adjustable | 7.9″ / 7.9″ | 9.1″ / 9.1″ WP APEX | 8.3″ / 7.7″ |
| Front brake | 320mm radial 4-piston, switchable ABS | 320mm 2-piston | 320mm 2-piston, cornering + offroad ABS | 300mm 2-piston |
| Wheels | 21″ / 18″ tubeless spoked | 21″ / 17″ | 21″ / 18″ spoked | 21″ / 17″ |
| Seat height | 31.5″–32.3″ adjustable | 32.5″ 31.7″ low-seat option | 870 mm ≈ 34.3″ | 34.3″ |
| Ground clearance | 8.7″ | 9″ | 272 mm ≈ 10.7″ | 7.3″ |
| Wheelbase | 59.3″ | 59.5″ | 1481 mm ≈ 58.3″ | 61.2″ |
| Spec sheet model year | 2026 | 2027 | 2026 | 2026 |
| Factory warranty | 2 years | 3 years | 2 years | 1 year |
| Price starting MSRP | $6,499 | $5,799 | $6,999 | $6,599 |
Why buy the Ibex 450 from Empire
In a tight class of singles, the Ibex brings a twin-cylinder engine and a touring-ready kit at a value price.
- ✓A twin, not a single. 44 hp from a parallel twin — smoother and stronger up top than the single-cylinder Himalayan and KTM.
- ✓Touring gear included. Crash bars, luggage racks, adjustable screen, TFT and tubeless spoked wheels — standard, not add-ons.
- ✓Real value. $6,499 — under the KTM 390 Adventure and the new Kawasaki KLE500, freight and setup included.
- ●Straight talk. The Royal Enfield Himalayan is $700 cheaper and carries a 3-year warranty — but it’s a less powerful single with less standard kit.
- ●Where Kawasaki wins. The new KLE500 makes more peak horsepower (51 hp vs 44) — but the Ibex answers with a color TFT, ride modes, crash bars and luggage racks all standard, at a lower all-in price.
And the price is the price. Our advertised number already includes freight, setup and our documentation fee — only sales tax and title/registration are added.
Watch before you buy — top Ibex 450 videos
▶“Is It Actually Any Good?” — First RideIndependent YouTube review
▶How Much Abuse Can It Take? — Off-RoadIndependent YouTube review
▶1,000-Mile Long-Term ReviewIndependent YouTube review
▶Affordable Adventure Warrior — Full ReviewIndependent YouTube review
Frequently asked questions
Is the CFMOTO Ibex 450 a good choice?
In a tight class of singles, the Ibex brings a twin-cylinder engine and a touring-ready kit at a value price. 44 hp from a parallel twin — smoother and stronger up top than the single-cylinder Himalayan and KTM.
How does the CFMOTO Ibex 450 compare to the competition?
The Royal Enfield Himalayan is $700 cheaper and carries a 3-year warranty — but it’s a less powerful single with less standard kit.
Where can I see the CFMOTO Ibex 450 near Spokane?
Empire Cycle & Powersports in Spokane Valley, WA stocks the CFMOTO Ibex 450 with Up Front Pricing — freight, setup and our documentation fee are already in the advertised price. Text us at 509-498-3541 or browse the inventory online.
Detailed spec rows were taken from each manufacturer’s own published sheet on September 10, 2026: CFMOTO’s official 2026 Motorcycle Product Guide, Royal Enfield’s Himalayan 450 North America spec sheet (shared across the 2025–2027 model years on the US site), KTM’s 2026 390 Adventure R spec page (for 2026 KTM splits the 390 Adventure into R and X variants; the R is compared here, and KTM publishes metric figures — conversions shown are approximate), and Kawasaki’s 2026 KLE500 ABS spec sheet. Other figures are from manufacturer and published sources; competitor specs and prices are approximate, vary by trim and market, and should be verified before purchase. MSRPs exclude tax and title/registration. Video links are independent third-party YouTube reviews for research; Empire Cycle & Powersports is not affiliated with the creators. Comparison by Empire Cycle & Powersports, Spokane Valley, WA.
