KTM 390 Adventure R vs CFMoto 450MT: Single or Twin?
The KTM 390 Adventure R and the CFMoto 450MT are the two bikes most riders end up choosing between when they want a light adventure bike with a proper 21-inch front wheel. On paper they look close: similar power, similar money, both with spoked wheels and adjustable suspension. Ride them and they feel like different ideas. The KTM is a tall, light single built for dirt. The CFMoto, sold in the US as the Ibex 450, is a lower, slightly heavier twin with a bigger tank and a touring streak.
This comparison sets out the numbers, what reviewers found when they rode both, and what it costs to kit each one out. We have not ridden either bike for this article; the riding impressions below come from the published tests listed in our sources.
Quick answer
- Choose the 390 Adventure R if trails come first. It is lighter, has more suspension travel, and Cycle News called it the most off-road capable bike in its three-bike test.
- Choose the 450MT if you ride a lot of tarmac to reach the dirt, carry luggage, or want a lower seat. It has a 17.5 L tank, an 820 mm seat (800 mm low setting) and a smoother twin.
- Price: the 450MT is cheaper. US MSRP $6,499 for the Ibex 450 against a reported $6,999 for the 390 Adventure R.
Head-to-head · MotoWild data
- The CFMoto 450MT / Ibex 450 has the lowest seat, about 5 cm (2.0 in) lower than the KTM 390 Adventure R (2025+).
- Ready to ride, the KTM 390 Adventure R (2025+) is the lightest here, roughly 20 kg (44 lb) less than the CFMoto 450MT / Ibex 450. Makers weigh differently, so treat small gaps as a draw.
- The CFMoto 450MT / Ibex 450 carries the most fuel (17.5 L).
Seat height (standard)
A range means sources disagree. Lower is easier at a stop, but weight and seat width matter too.
Weight, ready to ride
Figures as published, with their basis. Wet, kerb and full-tank weights are close but not identical, so a few kilos either way is a draw.
Fuel tank
| Spec | KTM 390 Adventure R (2025+) | CFMoto 450MT / Ibex 450 |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 399 cc single | 449 cc parallel twin |
| Power (claimed) | About 45 hp | About 44 hp |
| Weight | About 176 kg wet (claimed) | 175 kg dry (claimed); about 196 kg wet as tested by Cycle News |
| Seat height | 870 mm | 820 mm (800 mm low setting) |
| Fuel tank | 14 L | 17.5 L |
| Wheels | 21 / 18 in spoked | 21 / 18 in spoked, tubeless |
| Suspension travel | About 230 mm, adjustable WP Apex | 200 mm front and rear; fork fully adjustable, shock preload and rebound |
| US price | $6,999 (reported) | $6,499 (Ibex 450) |
| Tyres | 90/90-21 / 140/80-18 Spoked 21/18 | 90/90-21 / 140/70-18 Spoked 21/18 on tubeless rims. CST Ambro A4 as original equipment. |
Versions and model years
- KTM 390 Adventure: The 2025-on 390 Adventure (399 cc) is a new bike: new frame, bolt-on subframe and two versions, the X and the R, with different wheels and suspension. Figures for the 2020–2024 (373 cc) bike do not carry over.
- CFMoto 450MT: The 450MT is sold as the Ibex 450 in the US; it is the same bike. The 800MT and Ibex 800 are different, larger bikes.
Figures: ridermagazine.com · 1000ps.com · expeditionportal.com · bennetts.co.uk · 1000ps.com · rideapart.com · cyclenews.com.
The numbers side by side
| Spec | KTM 390 Adventure R (2025+) | CFMoto 450MT / Ibex 450 |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 399 cc single | 449 cc parallel twin |
| Power (claimed) | About 45 hp | About 44 hp at 8,500 rpm (some sources list 42 hp) |
| Torque (claimed) | 28.8 lb-ft (about 39 Nm) at 7,000 rpm | 44 Nm at 6,250 rpm (some sources list 42 Nm) |
| Weight | 388 lb (about 176 kg) wet, claimed | 175 kg dry claimed; about 185 kg kerb with ABS (1000PS); about 196 kg wet as tested by Cycle News |
| Seat height | 870 mm | 820 mm, 800 mm low setting |
| Suspension | WP Apex, adjustable, about 230 mm travel | KYB 41 mm fork and KYB shock, 200 mm travel, adjustable |
| Ground clearance | Not stated in our sources | 220 mm |
| Fuel tank | 14 L | 17.5 L |
| Tyres | 90/90-21 and 140/80-18, spoked | 90/90-21 and 140/70-18, spoked tubeless |
| US MSRP | $6,999 (reported) | $6,499 |
| UK launch price | £6,699 | £5,699 |
Figures are maker claims as reported by the sources at the end. Weight figures are not measured the same way: KTM quotes wet weight, CFMoto quotes dry. Cycle News put the stock Ibex 450 at about 432 lb (roughly 196 kg) wet, and its test bike weighed 440 lb with a full tank, CFMoto’s crash bars, skid plate and soft bags fitted. On like-for-like wet figures, the KTM is the lighter bike by a noticeable margin.
Prices change. These are launch and list prices; check your local dealer at the time of writing (October 2026). In Australia the 450MT launched at A$9,490 ride-away.
Single or twin: how the engines differ
Peak power is almost identical, so the difference is in how it arrives. In Motorcycle.com’s three-bike test, the KTM claimed 44.4 hp at 8,500 rpm and 28.8 lb-ft at 7,000 rpm, while the CFMoto claimed 44 hp at 8,500 rpm and 32.5 lb-ft at 6,250 rpm. More torque, lower down, is what you feel on the twin.
Cycle News found the CFMoto accelerated best of its three bikes, but the KTM single pulled harder and further at the top end. Motorcycle.com’s testers found the KTM edged the others on top speed by a small margin, and named the Ibex the winner for road riding, noting it was the only twin in the group.
Reviewers were not all kind to the CFMoto engine. Bennetts listed a lack of refinement among its cons, and Visordown flagged a jerky throttle. Ride both if you can; throttle feel is personal.
Off-road: weight and travel decide it
The KTM has more suspension travel (about 230 mm against 200 mm) and less weight. Both matter when the trail turns rocky, rutted or steep. Rider Magazine called the 390 Adventure R “dirt-ready”, and Cycle News judged it the most off-road capable bike in its test.
The 450MT is no road bike in disguise, though. Cycle News found it predictable and stable on chunky dirt roads, and rode it on a 350-mile desert rally. Its weak spot is set-up, not hardware: MCN found the factory damping harsh on both tarmac and rough dirt, and opening up (softening) the clickers made a big difference. If you buy one, read our 450MT suspension set-up guide before your first trail ride.
Tyres are the other limit. MCN called the original CST tyres the major limitation off-road. Budget for a change if dirt is the point; see 450MT tyres. For the KTM, see tyres for the X and R.
On the road and on long days
This is the 450MT’s ground. A twin runs more smoothly at motorway speed than a single, and the bigger tank means fewer stops. 1000PS recorded 4.7 L/100 km in its test and expected a range of more than 350 km. AMCN saw a thirstier 5.6 L/100 km and about 320 km on its test. We do not have a like-for-like consumption figure for the KTM, so we cannot give a fair range comparison; what we can say is that its tank is 3.5 L smaller.
Cycle News summed up its test by calling the CFMoto the “modern, mini ADV touring choice” for riders going from city to highway.
Seat height and fit
At 870 mm, the KTM is tall. The 450MT’s 820 mm seat, with an 800 mm setting via a linkage bolt change, is 50 to 70 mm lower. For a shorter rider that is the difference between a foot flat and tiptoes at a junction.
KTM’s answer is the Adventure X, with a seat of about 825 mm, but it has cast 19/17-inch wheels and non-adjustable suspension. There is also a Touratech and Hyperpro lowering kit for the R. See 390 Adventure lowering options and 450MT seat height and lowering.
Luggage and carrying capacity
Both are light bikes and both suit soft luggage best. The difference is how far each aftermarket goes.
- 390 Adventure R: Adventure Spec’s rear rack is rated for loads up to 4 kg, which tells you the kind of luggage the bike is set up for: roll bags and soft panniers on side racks.
- 450MT: as well as soft-bag racks from Adventure Spec and Rade Garage, Givi lists a PL9226 side-case holder that takes any Givi Monokey case, and SW-Motech’s aluminium rack has adapters for several top-case brands. If you want lockable hard cases on a small bike, the 450MT has the clearer route.
Hard cases add weight high up, and check the rack maker’s load rating before you decide.
Who should buy which
| You are… | Better fit |
|---|---|
| Mostly trails and single-track, often alone | 390 Adventure R |
| Long tarmac links to reach gravel | 450MT |
| Shorter rider who wants a 21-inch front | 450MT |
| Want lockable hard panniers | 450MT (Givi Monokey route) |
| Lightest possible bike to pick up | 390 Adventure R |
| Lowest purchase price | 450MT (or the 390 Adventure X if you accept cast wheels) |
| Like to tinker with suspension | Either: both are adjustable, and the 450MT needs it more |
Test-ride both on the same day
- Put both feet down on each. The seat height gap is real.
- Push each round the car park, then lift each off its side stand to upright. Notice the weight.
- Ride a stretch of dual carriageway: judge vibration, wind and how relaxed each feels at speed.
- Ride over a rough patch or speed bump. If the 450MT feels harsh, ask the dealer what the clickers are set to.
- Price the three things you would fit first: protection, hand guards, luggage.
Weighing up a bigger bike as well? See 450MT vs Ténéré 700 and 390 Adventure R vs Ténéré 700. US readers comparing CFMoto’s own range should read Ibex 450 vs 450MT.
Frequently asked questions
Is the CFMoto 450MT heavier than the KTM 390 Adventure R?
Yes. KTM claims about 176 kg wet for the 390 Adventure R. CFMoto claims 175 kg dry for the 450MT, and Cycle News put the stock Ibex 450 at about 432 lb (roughly 196 kg) wet.
Which has the lower seat, the 450MT or the 390 Adventure R?
The 450MT, at 820 mm with an 800 mm setting, against 870 mm for the 390 Adventure R.
Which is better off-road?
Reviewers favour the KTM for technical trails thanks to its lower weight and longer suspension travel. The 450MT is capable on dirt roads and trails, especially once its harsh factory damping is softened and the original tyres are changed.
Which is cheaper, the Ibex 450 or the 390 Adventure R?
In the US the Ibex 450 lists at $6,499 against a reported $6,999 for the 390 Adventure R. In the UK the launch prices were £5,699 and £6,699.
Sources
- Cycle News, 2025 lightweight adventure bike comparison (Ibex 450, 390 Adventure R, Himalayan 450): cyclenews.com
- Motorcycle.com, three lightweight adventure bikes (claimed power and torque, road verdict): motorcycle.com
- Cycle News, 2025 CFMoto Ibex 450 review (measured weight, trail impressions): cyclenews.com
- Rider Magazine, 2025 KTM 390 Adventure R review: ridermagazine.com
- Expedition Portal, KTM 390 Adventure R and X for 2025 (US prices): expeditionportal.com
- Bennetts BikeSocial, KTM 390 Adventure R and X review (UK prices): bennetts.co.uk
- TRF, 2025 KTM 390 Adventure R and X model reveal (seat heights, wheels): trf.org.uk
- Cycle News, 2025 390 Adventure R and X specs and price: cyclenews.com
- 1000PS, KTM 390 Adventure R 2025 specs (tank, tyres): 1000ps.com
- Bennetts BikeSocial, CFMoto 450MT review (specs, UK price, cons): bennetts.co.uk
- MCN, CFMoto 450MT review (damping, tyres): motorcyclenews.com
- 1000PS, CFMoto 450MT specs: 1000ps.com
- 1000PS, CFMoto 450MT test (fuel consumption, range): 1000ps.com
- AMCN, 2024 CFMoto 450MT test (fuel consumption): amcn.com.au
- Visordown, CFMoto 450MT review: visordown.com
- RideApart, CFMoto Ibex 450 US launch (MSRP): rideapart.com
- Transmoto, CFMoto 450MT Australian price: transmoto.com.au
- Adventure Motorcycling, CFMoto 450MT Morocco preparation (owner write-up): adventure-motorcycling.com
- Adventure Spec, KTM 390 Adventure rear rack (load rating): adventurespec.com
- JR Motorcycles, Givi luggage for the CFMoto 450MT: jrmotorcycles.co.nz
