The mid-weight adventure bike segment has never been more exciting, especially with the international release of the CFMoto 450 MT, a bold contender aiming to shake up a category long dominated by familiar names like the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450. While the Himalayan carries the legacy and rugged charm of a seasoned explorer, the 450 MT brings fresh design, modern tech, and performance-focused engineering to the table.
But does it have what it takes to outshine the beloved Himalayan? In this blog, we explore 10 compelling reasons why the new CFMoto 450 MT might just be the smarter, more versatile choice for riders looking to venture off the beaten path—and enjoy every mile of it.
CFMoto 450 MT is a adventure tourer motorcycle made by CFMoto, a reputable Chinese bike manufacturer, which is powered by a 449 cc liquid cooled parallel twin engine, the maximum power produced is 44hp at 8500 rpm, with maximum torque of 44Nm at 6250 rpm. The bike comes with KYB Upside Down front suspension and KYB multi link rear suspension, both preload, compression, rebound adjustable. In the front we get a 90/90 R21 CST tire and 140/70 R18 CST tire at the back, both tubeless.
Visit site – 450MT
Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 is also an adventure tourer all terrain motorcycle powered by a liquid cooled 452cc single cylinder engine, the maximum power produced is 39.47bhp at 8000rpm and the maximum torque is 40Nm at 5500rpm. The bike gets a Upside-down non-adjustable front suspension and a mono-shock at the rear. The tire comes with a size of 90/90 at the front and 140/80 at the rear with tube inside.
Visit site- Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 Price & Colours | Adventure Motorcycles India
Quick comparison –
| Feature | CFMoto 450MT | Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 |
| Engine | 449cc Parallel Twin, liquid cooled | 452cc Single Cylinder, liquid cooled |
| Max Power | 44 hp at 8500rpm | 40.02 hp at 8000rpm |
| Max Torque | 44Nm at 6250rpm | 40Nm at 5500rpm |
| Suspension | USD(KYB, fully adjustable) | USD (Showa, not adjustable) |
| Weight | 175 (dry) | 181 (dry) |
| Fuel Tank | 17.5 L | 17 L |
| Electronics | ABS, Traction Control | ABS, Traction Control |
| Ground Clearance | 220mm | 230mm |
| Seat Height | 800mm/820mm/870mm(with accessories | 825mm |
| Instrument Cluster | 5 inch curved TFT display | 4 inch round TFT display |
| Throttle Control | Mechanical wire | Ride by wire |
Now let’s see the reasons why CFMoto could be a better choice-
- Parallel twin engine in CFMoto 450MT
A parallel twin engine is much smoother than a single cylinder engine. It has less vibrations compared to a single cylinder, better highway performance and ideal for riding long hours.
- Better Suspension Setup
Fully adjustable KYB suspension in the CFMoto gives more tuning options than Himalayan’s Showa forks.
- Lower Seat Height
CFMoto’s 800mm seat height can be huge opportunity for Short Riders to get into a adventure tourer bike, for taller riders it also offers a 870mm seat available as accessory.
- Superior Ergonomics
More upright stance, spacious cockpit, adjustable windshield give the rider a feeling of sitting in the bike rather than on it, foldable rear view mirror are perfect for forest patches.
- Lighter Clutch & Better Gearbox
Twin-cylinder bikes often have a slicker and seamless gear box than single cylinder resulting in smoother shifting between gears, which results in lower fatigue.
- TFT display
Although both bikes have TFT displays CFMoto’s Rectagular display have more utility than Himalayan’s round display, have User-friendly UI, easy smart phone integration (CFMoto Ride App Connectivity).
- Tubeless Spoked Wheels
Tubeless spoked wheels are a big deal, easier flat tire fixes on the go, and no compromises on the flexibility of the spoked wheels.
- Refined Build Quality
CFMoto have partnered up with KTM and CFM to improve quality control, which gives the bike a sturdy chassis and a premium finish.
- Better Value For Money
Undoubtedly RE Himalayan 450 is the best ADV bike under Rs 3.5 lakh, the estimated price gap of CFmoto 450MT can be fully compensate with the refined parallel twin engine, fully adjustable KYB suspensions and other subtle features.
- Fresh styling & Road Presence
CFMoto 450MT is a very modern looking motorcycle, it looks sharp, edgy, and the front head lamp projectors give it a unique look. On the road it definitely steals the show from retro looking Himalayan.
While both are excellent mid-weight ADV bikes in the segment, CFmoto 450MT takes it a step further, the engine refinement, highway performance, tech integration, adventure readiness brings undeniable value to the bike.
As every rider is unique in his own way, similarly both bikes are unique in their own way. Himalayan can be characterized as simple yet beautiful and CFMoto can be considered more advanced and made for rugged terrains.