2027 CFMoto IBEX 950; India Needs this ADV

• Produces 112bhp and 105Nm
• Fully adjustable KYB suspension, Brembo brakes and expansive electronics suite are standard

Remember how excited we all were when the new CFMoto 1000MT-X was shown last year at EICMA, and we thought it might be launched in India. It didn’t. And now the new CFMoto IBEX 950, essentially the same bike, has been listed for the 2027 model year in the US bringing the flagship adventure to another major market. Nope still not in India. It combines a 946.2cc parallel-twin engine with 21-inch and 18-inch wheels, fully adjustable KYB suspension, Brembo brakes and a generous list of standard electronics. We would very much like to see added to CFMoto’s ageing Indian portfolio.

Power come from a 946.2cc liquid-cooled parallel twin good for 112bhp at 8,500rpm and 105Nm at 6,250rpm. All of that output is regulated by a Bosch fuel injection, ride-by-wire throttle and a six-speed gearbox with a slipper clutch. If you squint your eyes carefully, these numbers sit extremely close to KTM’s latest 990-series parallel twin. 2027 KTM 990 Duke uses a 947cc, liquid-cooled parallel-twin engine producing 121bhp and 103Nm. Hmmmm, coincidence! Talk among yourselves. This would mean you can have that explosive katoom engine with adv hardware, which KTM itself stopped producing years ago.

CFMoto itself describes the engine as torque-rich and says it has been tuned to provide strong drive across low, middle and higher engine speeds. The company has also put serious development mileage into the new powertrain. The 1000MT-X went through more than 100,000km of endurance testing. The engine itself weighs 56kg and uses a lightweight alloy crankcase along with precision-formed camshafts.

The bike’s chromium-molybdenum steel frame helps keep dry weight down to 199kg. The fuel tank has been placed relatively low in the chassis to lower the centre of gravity and leave the motorcycle slimmer around the rider’s knees.

Wheel combination is a 21-inch spoke wheel at the front and an 18-inch unit at the rear, both wearing Pirelli Scorpion Rally STRs. KYB suspension comes with a 48mm upside-down fork and rear monoshock, both fully adjustable for preload, compression and rebound. They’ve also added an adjustable steering damper for good measure. Twin 320mm discs with Brembo four-piston radial callipers sit at the front, while the rear uses a 260mm disc. Bosch supplies the electronic safety systems with cornering ABS and three-stage traction control.

IBEX 950 gets four main riding modes, Standard, Rain, Off-Road and All-Terrain, with an additional configurable Master mode when using the T-Box. There is a bi-directional quickshifter, cruise control, tyre-pressure monitoring and a wider suite of Bosch-managed rider aids.

It comes with an 8-inch colour touchscreen supporting connectivity and over-the-air updates. Heated grips and a heated seat are standard, as are USB-A and USB-C charging connections. CFMoto also claims more than 500km of range from the 22.5-litre tank.

The difference between that Indian catalogue and CFMoto’s current global line-up is alarming now. Internationally, the company has moved into newer 450cc, 675cc, 800cc and 1000cc families, whereas what we have are older 300 and 650 platforms. And honestly the newer motorcycles will be able to decimate the competitors. C’mon CFMoto.