A few weeks ago, we’d never even featured a CFMoto. Now we are back with number two, and the Chinese powerhouse has teamed up with the biggest name in the custom motorcycle industry. For years, manufacturers looking for some street cred have teamed up with the California-Kid, Roland Sands, to help them bring in the masses. Just in 2024, he’s partnered with BMW, Indian, and Buell, and looking to get his hands on a smaller capacity road bike, this collaboration simply fell into place. All agreed that the newly launched CFMoto Ibex 450 would make the perfect candidate for a custom build, and the Roland Sands Design team took just one month to deliver this punk rock-inspired mini super-hooligan, that they call ‘The Vandal’.
There is no point beating around the bush: Chinese motorcycle companies have had a hard time earning respect in the two-wheeled world. However, the reality is that many of the major manufacturers use a host of components and assembly plants in China to make their machines a reality. And CFMoto has had a successful relationship with KTM since 2011, which has seen the two big brands work together with brilliant success on the race track and in the showroom. For Sands, there is “no hiding this bike is a Chinese bike, which historically has meant that the quality level wasn’t where it needed to be for builders like us and things that we do. The CFMoto brand is the first brand that the quality level is where we like to see it; this is a high-quality bike, it’s built really well!”
That alone is vindication for the company, and it’s clear when you look over all of their latest bikes that the partnership with KTM is paying off. But to truly win over young riders, they needed Sands to do what he does best: design and build an eye-catching street slayer that goes as well as it looks. There was a lot of back and forth on the design aspect between the two players, but Sands laughs when he explains that ultimately they settled where they started. “It’s ‘mini super hooligan supermoto mix’, perfect for riders who want to tear up the streets and have a little fun doing it. And while the Ibex 450 is actually an adventure bike from the factory floor, it serves as a great base.”
Working with CFMoto, the goal was also to use as many parts from their other bikes as possible, as well as raid their accessories catalogue, which is very budget-friendly, and you could buy the bike new, have the warranty and build something similar to this for just US$10k. RSD workshop head Aaron Boss had the task of bringing the whole thing to life, and just a month to do it before the planned unveiling. To get the bike rolling, the guys grabbed a host of parts from the CFMoto 450SS, which is the company’s sportiest offering to date, using information that they’ve learned campaigning in Moto2 and Moto3. The 17-inch wheels are much better suited than the tall spoked items on the Ibex and allow sticky Dunlop rubber to go on.
The next part to be pulled from the 450SS was the entire front-end suspension setup, and this let the guys create a much more sporty and spirited ride. But not content with the factory offering, the guys at Gears Racing came up with a cartridge kit to give ‘The Vandal’ elite handling at any speed. And when you ride bikes as hard as Roland Sands, you need decent stopping power. So, despite its budget price, the 450SS comes with a high-end Brembo M40 caliper and 320mm rotor that have been bolted on to brake hard, and to ensure it all worked as it should, Aaron swapped the master cylinders over as well.
At the rear of the bike, that healthy ride height would need a serious shock to ensure the handling was spot on, and Gears Racing already had an off-the-shelf solution for the new CF. And it’s top-of-the-line stuff: 2-way dampening, mono-tube construction, and a remote reservoir setup for more volume, with the adjuster right where you need it. But this was always a budget build, and to show what can be done with the CFMoto catalogue, the bike is fitted with a set of rearsets that are very nice for factory stuff at such a cheap price, along with a set of CF levers for the bars and lever covers for that racer effect.
Of course, RSD has a big parts catalogue of their own, and a set of their risers put the bars in the perfect spot. The look is loud, proud, and in-your-face, and it was a design Roland felt would appeal to younger riders. The high-mount front fender definitely gets the aggressive theme off to a great start, and it’s a steal at just $149 from the CF parts catalogue. The double-stacked headlight is factory stuff too, but by simply removing the clear screen, the look takes on a tougher vibe. To add to the super hooligan vibe, RSD has equipped the rear end with a sweet tail tidy and a pair of number boards.
To top it off, a Moto X-style seat has been stitched up just for the job, with white stitching on the black surface to match the paint. Well, not exactly, the chequered flag and hyper-colour finish is actually a wrap, another effort by the team to keep the costs down. More CF parts go on, like the crash protection for the cases, which are just $79, and a wise investment if you choose to be a hooligan. Then, to finish out the build, a full stainless exhaust system has been added to allow everyone to hear that little parallel twin sing. For Sands, it highlights the great value CFMoto offers: “It’s not just about building a bike, it’s about driving the future of riding, racing, and moto culture. The Vandal is a testament to that vision: fast, fun, and rebellious!”
[ Roland Sands Design | CFMoto ]