At last year’s EICMA, CFMOTO revealed the adventure bike prototype MT-X, which was presented with minimal information, but was clearly a step towards a more extreme two-cylinder off-road machine. Now this bike has been confirmed for production with homologation documents revealing several versions and providing the first definitive specifications.
It is expected to go into production imminently under the title 800MT-X to align with the brand’s existing 800MT models, although these bikes are sold in the US under the names Ibex 800 S and Ibex 800 T, so the more extreme version seen here could also be branded as Ibex in the United States.
The MT-X uses the 799cc LC8c twin-cylinder engine designed by KTM and manufactured for CFMOTO and KTM at the partnership factory of the two companies in China for use in the KTM 790 Duke/Adventure, Husqvarna Svartpilen 801, and CFMoto 800NK and Ibex. It is a proven unit that remains modern, light, and compact, despite being replaced by “890” versions of 889cc in KTM’s range and a completely redesigned “990” twin-cylinder of 947cc in the new 990 Duke.
When compared to the conceptual version presented at EICMA, the production version made some sacrifices. The conceptual bike featured Brembo four-piston front calipers and shielded rotors, while the production bike gets J.Juan calipers (like those used by KTM) and loses the extra plastic around the disc. It also gains passenger footrests, which were not present in the concept, and the Akrapovič exhaust from the exhibition bike will be replaced by a road version designed by CFMOTO.
With homologation completed, the MT-X should be rolling off the production lines soon. Since the conceptual version made its debut in Europe, it is expected to be a global model rather than just a machine in China, and it represents the first time CFMOTO competes with its partner KTM in the same market segment.
