The CFMOTO Ibex 450 (sold as the 450MT in most markets outside the US) is a mid-size adventure bike built for both pavement and trails. It's light, it's affordable, and it's built to go places where bigger ADV bikes struggle. That also means it's going to tip over, take rocks to the belly, and brush through trailside brush more often than a bike that lives on pavement.
This guide walks through the protection and touring accessories that actually matter on the Ibex 450, what the bike already comes with from the factory, and where it pays to add more armor, from crash bars and hand guards to an Ibex 450 skid plate upgrade and other mods, before your first real trail ride.
What the Ibex 450 Already Comes With
CFMOTO gave the Ibex 450 a solid base kit. Out of the crate, the bike runs a liquid-cooled 449cc parallel twin with a 270-degree crank, a fully adjustable KYB inverted fork, 21/18-inch tubeless spoked wheels and about 8.7 inches of ground clearance. Fully fueled, it sits around 425 pounds, which is light for a twin-cylinder adventure bike.
On the protection side, the stock bike already has handguards and an aluminum skid plate. That's a good start, but the factory parts are designed to be "good enough" for most buyers, not for riders who plan to drop the bike on rocky two-track. The areas most exposed on a tip-over or a hard hit are the radiator, the engine cases, the headlight and the rear brake reservoir, and that's where aftermarket parts make the biggest difference.
Crash Bars: The First Upgrade for Off-Road Riders
If you only buy one protection part, make it crash bars. On a parallel twin like the Ibex 450, the engine cases and the radiator sides are the first things to touch the ground in a tip-over. A set of steel bars spreads the impact across the frame instead of letting the engine cover or plastics take it.
Our crash bar engine guard for the CFMOTO 450MT / Ibex 450 is made of steel and comes either as a full set or as upper or lower bars only, so you can choose how much coverage you want. Look for these points when you compare options:
- Fitment years: make sure the bars are listed for your model year (2024 to 2027 for our set).
- Mounting points: bars that use several frame points are less likely to bend the frame tab on impact.
- Clearance: check that the bars don't interfere with your boots on the pegs when you stand up.
Not sure whether you need full crash bars or something lighter? That's a common question, and we break down the trade-offs in detail in our upcoming guide on crash bars vs frame sliders.
Radiator Guard and Engine Skid Plate
The radiator on the Ibex 450 sits right behind the front wheel, which makes it a magnet for rocks and mud thrown by the front tire. A cracked radiator is one of the few failures that can end a trip on the spot, so a radiator guard is cheap insurance.
Our radiator guard and engine skid plate for the CFMOTO 450MT is made of aluminum and is available individually or as a set. If you ride gravel roads at speed or rocky trails, protecting both the radiator and the underside of the engine stops stones before they reach the most expensive parts.
If you mostly ride pavement and graded dirt, the stock skid plate may be enough. If you plan to ride ledges, river crossings or rocky washes, a stronger skid plate is worth the weight.
Headlight Guard
A headlight lens is expensive to replace and surprisingly easy to crack with a single rock kicked up by a truck or by your riding buddy. A headlight guard for the CFMOTO 450MT keeps the lens intact while still letting the beam through. It's a quick install and one of the most cost-effective parts on this list.
Small Guards That Save Big Repairs
Some of the most useful protection parts are also the smallest:
- Rear brake reservoir guard: the rear reservoir sits close to your boot and close to the ground in a fall. A rear brake fluid reservoir guard keeps it from snapping off.
- Engine cover protector: an engine cover protector for the CF450MT and Ibex 450 adds a sacrificial layer over the side case, which is cheaper to replace than the cover itself.
- Exhaust heat shield: a heat shield guard protects both the pipe and your gear from contact with the hot exhaust.
- Chain and swingarm guide guard: a chain swingarm guide guard helps protect the swingarm and chain guide off-road.
Touring and Comfort Accessories
Protection keeps the bike rideable. Touring accessories make it comfortable for long days.
Windshield
The stock screen works for many riders, but taller riders often get turbulence at highway speeds. Our CFMOTO 450MT windshield comes in three height options so you can choose based on your seated height and how much highway riding you do.
GPS and Phone Mount
A solid mount above the dash puts navigation in your line of sight. The GPS phone navigation mount bracket is CNC-machined from aluminum and bolts on with no drilling, so you can run a phone or GPS without cluttering the handlebar.
Luggage and Grab Bar
If you're planning overnight trips, saddlebag support brackets for the 450MT / Ibex 450 give your saddlebags a secure mounting point and spread the load across the frame. An aluminum rear passenger grab bar comes with its mounting hardware. For tools and small spares, the side tool box kit fits the factory tool box mounting points and adds weatherproof storage that doesn't eat into your luggage space.
Recommended Build by Riding Style
Mostly pavement and graded gravel
Headlight guard, windshield, GPS mount and rear brake reservoir guard. Keep the bike light and focus on comfort.
Mixed riding with regular dirt roads
Add crash bars and the radiator guard. These two parts cover the most expensive damage from a low-speed tip-over.
Serious off-road and overlanding
Full protection: crash bars, radiator guard with engine skid plate, engine cover protector, heat shield, chain guard, plus saddlebag brackets and the tool box for multi-day trips.
Installation Tips
- Use a torque wrench and follow the bolt torque values from your service manual. Over-tightened frame bolts are a common cause of stripped threads.
- Apply medium-strength thread locker to bolts that see vibration, unless the instructions say otherwise.
- Re-check every bolt after your first 100 to 200 miles. New brackets settle in, and bolts can loosen on rough roads.
- When installing a radiator guard, leave a small gap between the guard and the radiator fins so they never touch.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Ibex 450 the same bike as the CFMOTO 450MT?
Yes. "Ibex 450" is the name CFMOTO uses in the US, while "450MT" is used in most other markets. Accessories listed for the 450MT fit the Ibex 450 of the same model years.
Does the Ibex 450 need a skid plate if it already has one?
The stock aluminum skid plate handles light off-road use. If you ride rocky terrain or carry heavy luggage, a sturdier engine skid plate gives you more margin when the bike bottoms out on a ledge.
Will crash bars affect my saddlebags?
No. Crash bars mount around the engine at the front of the bike, while saddlebag brackets mount at the rear subframe. The two can be installed together.
Ready to build your bike? Browse the full range of CFMOTO 450MT and Ibex 450 parts and accessories.