Since its introduction, the CFMoto Ibex 450 has impressed more than a few riders who've dared to test its capabilities as a fun, comparatively lightweight (remember, it's all relative) adventure bike. It certainly impressed our own Enrico Punsalang when he had the chance to put one through its paces.
And, I mean, in a time when prices on everything are rising, a decently-reviewed brand-new bike that carries an MSRP of just US $6,499 can't help but look very attractive. That's on top of the fact that the design of this thing, aesthetically speaking, is also quite attractive. It's hard to deny that the Ibex 450 certainly looks the part, both on paper and from what those who've ridden it (I haven't, which is why I'm taking their word for it) tend to say.
Now, I'm no seasoned adventure rider. As I've related in other stories, while I've taken a bit of training to learn how to not completely end up ass over teakettle in the dirt, I am in no way any kind of hardcore off-road rider. Just so we're clear.
And yet, one thing I'd probably immediately be inclined to look into on a bike like the Ibex 450 MT, if I were contemplating buying one to use for my adventuring purposes, would be whether I ought to upgrade the stock skid plate.
Why? Because even I, in my non-hardcore-ADV-rider capacity, understand that not all skid plates are created equal, and that some are probably meant more for looks than anything else. It's like those annoying fake pockets some dinguses thought were a good idea to put in some pants made for women. (Seriously, who does that? Who doesn't want functional pockets? FOH with that nonsense.)
Anyway, in case you were still under the impression that the Ibex 450 MT's skid plate is up to real-world trail riding, according to ADV instructor and YouTuber Bret Tkacs, it may apparently shred like paper if you hit it wrong (even gently) with a rock. And then, you could end up opening that oil pan located just underneath it. The good news here is that the rest of the engine was fine, and the replacement oil pan only ran him about $100, which is definitely less than the cost of an entire replacement engine.
CFMoto does sell an off-road skidplate for the Ibex 450, available in your choice of either Black or Silver, for $300. The company's written catalog description says that it's apparently "heavy-duty 4mm aluminum with robot-welded seams for flawless fitment," and adds that it's also fully compatible with the available accessory Upper or Lower Engine Guards (which are made of stainless steel) that CFMoto also sells.
Strangely, the SW-Motech skid plate for the Ibex 450 is actually $20 less, with an MSRP of $280. There's also a T-Rex Moto one for $220 (can't speak for its quality from experience, but I do like their paddock stand that I have for my single-sided-swingarm-having Hawk GT 650), and there seem to be plenty of other options as well (including some thick plastic ones, like the Acerbis option).
Anyway, I guess my point is, it's always worth considering whether any bike you're riding is up to whatever it is you're planning to put it through. Not everyone who buys an Ibex 450 MT is going to take it off-road, and that's fine; you probably don't need an up-rated skid plate if all you want is that ADV look.
But if you're actually planning to do any serious adventuring, you probably want to check if your bike's protection will do what you need it to before you find yourself with oil leaking out everywhere. It'll save you a lot of headache and heartbreak (and probably also money, even if you have to spend a little bit now on moto protection) down the line.
