The middleweight ADV class is on fire right now, offering the perfect blend of power, off-road capability, and versatility. On top of many people’s lists are bikes like the Aprilia Tuareg 660 and Yamaha Ténéré 700, both proving their off-road mettle in some seriously challenging conditions—whether in the Africa Eco Race or through Pol Tarres’ extreme enduro feats.
But beyond just these familiar names, emerging manufacturers like CFMoto are stirring the pot with affordable yet highly capable machines, raising the bar when it comes to what adventure riders can expect from a bike at a certain price point.
CFMoto’s ambition is clear to see, and its commitment to the ADV segment is evident with bikes like the Ibex 450 (450MT in other markets). I got the chance to ride this small yet capable adventure bike, which aims to go head-to-head with the Royal Enfield Himalayan. With its athletic, rally-inspired design, off-road-ready underpinnings, and pretty impressive engine, the Ibex 450 sets itself up as a serious contender in the entry-level ADV scene.
Now, CFMoto is setting its sights even higher with the launch of the 700MT—a middleweight adventure bike that fills the gap between the Ibex 450 and the Ibex 800 (known as the 800MT in international markets). So in the event that CFMoto decides to launch the 700MT in the US, it’s more than likely it’ll be called the Ibex 700.
The 700MT was recently launched in my home country of the Philippines at an extremely competitive price of P388,800—which translates to approximately $6,650 USD. Clearly, the pricing is insane, and meant to steal away potential budget-minded customers from any other manufacturer out there. I mean, it retails for half the price of the Tuareg 660, and a couple grand less than both the T7 and the Transalp 750. But pricing aside, what really makes this bike stand out?
At its core, the 700MT is powered by a 693cc DOHC twin-cylinder engine, producing 68 horsepower at 9,500 rpm and 44 pound-feet of torque at 6,000 rpm. This engine, plucked straight out of the 700CL-X platform, offers a decent spread of power, providing approachable yet capable performance for both long-distance touring and light off-road work.
There’s only one problem, though, and it’s that this engine has a 180-degree crankshaft, rather than a 270-degree crankshaft like what's found in pretty much all other middleweight ADV bikes. So expect it to sound and feel rather anemic—like a Versys 650 or Honda CB500X on steroids.
Nevertheless, the bike’s underpinnings are adventure-ready, even if it's a bit on the heavier side at 258 kg (approx. 569 pounds). The seat height is adjustable between 800mm and 840mm (31.5 to 33.1 inches. It also gets a medium-sized 20-liter fuel tank giving it ample touring range.
As for the suspension, it gets a 43mm non-adjustable inverted fork, and a preload-adjustable rear shock with 150mm front and 148mm rear travel. The 19-inch front and 17-inch rear tubeless wire-spoked wheels, wrapped in 110/80 and 150/70 tires give it a rugged, off-road-ready look, as well.
As is the case with pretty much all of the new bikes on the market these days, the 700MT comes loaded with quite a lot of tech features. Standard rider aids like ABS and traction control are baked in, while full LED lighting, a 5-inch full-color TFT display scream premium. CFMoto even threw in its T-Box system for GPS tracking and smartphone connectivity.
In CFMoto’s own lineup, the 700MT is supposed to be a middle-of-the-road offering between the Ibex 450 and Ibex 800, one that leans slightly more on the off-road side of the spectrum than the standard 800MT but more touring-friendly than the rally-inspired 800MT-X. In the middleweight ADV segment as a whole, it directly challenges bikes like the Kawasaki Versys 650, Honda Transalp 750, and Moto Morini X-Cape 650—all while undercutting them in price.
Naturally, the big question here is whether or not this thing will make its way to the US. Given CFMoto’s recent expansion, as well as the generally positive reception of its bikes in the US market, there’s a good chance it could make its way stateside sooner rather than later. However, with Trump’s stricter policies on Chinese imports, there’s definitely some uncertainty surrounding the future of Chinese motorcycles, cars, and powersports equipment in the US market.
That said, if the 700MT does make it stateside, it could pose a serious threat to the established players simply because of how accessible it is. One thing’s for sure, though—it’s that CFMoto is making big moves, and the middleweight ADV segment just got a whole lot more exciting.
Source: CFMoto
