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Billed as North America’s largest motorcycle trade show, AIMExpo (American International Motorcycle Expo) draws manufacturers, dealers, and media to the Las Vegas Convention Center every February.
The event’s 2024 lineup of exhibitors included nearly 300 companies, including more than a dozen motorcycle manufacturers. Few manufacturers use AIMExpo to unveil new models, but this year, Chinese-owned OEMs CFMOTO and Moto Morini did make news by announcing several new models for the U.S. market.
Here are the motorcycles that stood out at AIMExpo 2024.
A small-bore renaissance
CFMOTO’s U.S. lineup already features the 450SS sport bike (that colored Ari impressed) and the new-for-2024 450NK naked bike. Announced as 2025 models, the all-new Ibex 450 and 450CL-C add adventure and cruiser options to the firm’s entry-level range. Both stand to compete with established rivals in their respective markets.
The Ibex 450 is poised to take on KTM's 390 Adventure and the latest-gen Royal Enfield Himalayan. It arrives with long-travel KYB suspension to do so. That includes a fully adjustable inverted fork and a rear monoshock offering spring preload and rebound damping adjustability. The setup yields eight inches of travel for both the 21-inch front wheel and 18-inch rear wheel. It also lifts the 386-pound model (dry) to 8.7 inches of ground clearance and and a 32.3-inch seat height.
To power the baby Ibex, CFMOTO repurposes the 450SS and 450NK’s liquid-cooled, 449 cc parallel-twin engine. In adventure form, the engine produces a claimed 44 horsepower (at 8,500 rpm) and 32.5 foot-pounds of torque (at 6,250 rpm). Two ride modes (Standard and Off-Road) and switchable rear ABS only enhance the ADV’s versatility, while a Bluetooth-connected, five-inch TFT dash and USB-C port add convenience to the cockpit.
The 2025 450CL-C also houses CFMOTO’s 449 cc p-twin, but in the low-riding cruiser, the mill reportedly returns 40 horsepower (at 8,000 rpm) and 30 foot-pounds of torque (at 6,250 rpm). A Gates belt final drive transfers that oomph to the 16-inch rear wheel. All conventional by cruiser standards. The CL-C also lives up to bobber aesthetics with a 3.6-gallon peanut tank and 130-section front tire. All while remaining accessible with a 27-inch seat height and a 399-pound curb weight.
Be that as it may, the cruiser doesn’t skimp on tech. Its slip/assist clutch, ABS, and standard-equipped traction control prioritize safety. A round, 3.6-inch TFT display and LED lighting also modernize the package. With a $5,699 price tag, the 2025 450CL-C has the $6,649 (non-ABS) Kawasaki Eliminator and $6,499 Honda Rebel 500 in its crosshairs.
Three-pronged attack
Moto Morini’s X-Cape 650 currently contends in the middleweight ADV segment. Its bigger brother, the X-Cape 1200, will enter the U.S. market as Moto Morini’s flagship offering. The open-class newcomer boasts the brand’s V2 Corsa Corta EVO engine. That’s an 87-degree, 1,187 cc V-twin that makes a claimed 122 horsepower.
A fully adjustable fork offers 6.7 inches of travel for the 19-inch front wheel and a link-type shock yields 6.3 inches for the 17-inch rear wheel. The hoops come wrapped in Pirelli Scorpion Trail tires. Satisfying the adventure-tourer brief, the X-Cape comes with cruise control and radar-aided blindspot detection. Brembo brakes, a quickshifter, traction control, and four ride modes also support the model’s premium ambitions.
The Aprilia RS 660, Yamaha R7, and Suzuki GSX-8R are redefining the middleweight sport bike category, but Moto Morini’s Corsaro Sport flouts many of the newly established norms. Instead of featuring a customary parallel-twin, the Italian-designed, Chinese-made sport bike turns to a 90-degree, 749 cc V-twin. Moto Morini claims the mill pumps out 96 ponies.
The Corsaro Sport also defies traditional design with its aluminum upper frame (between the headstock and midsection) mated to a lower steel trellis frame. The hybrid design also utilizes the model’s V-twin as a stressed member. Not all standards are subverted, though, as Brembo brakes, clip-on handlebars, and a 190-section rear tire practically scream sport bike.
Last in line is the Calibro, a mid-sized cruiser powered by the same 649 cc parallel-twin found in Moto Morini’s X-Cape 650. The engine generates 60 horsepower and 42.5 foot-pounds of torque in the adventure bike, but Moto Morini doesn’t list power output for the Calibro. However, the OEM is quick to report the model’s cruiser-appropriate 28.3-inch seat height and 440-pound dry weight. The neo-bobber’s double-cradle steel frame, 18-inch front wheel, and 16-inch rear wheel also conform to cruiser standards.
Unlike CFMOTO, Moto Morini didn’t release pricing info for any of its 2025 models. Considering the MSRPs for the brand’s 2024 offerings, highly competitive retail prices aren’t out of the question.
But wait, there’s more
AIMExpo doesn’t just showcase motorcycles. The latest gear also debuted at the annual trade show. This year, Arai introduced its XD-5 helmet, the successor to the company’s long-standing XD-4. The new adventure lid features a newly devised shell, a larger chin vent, and reshaped peak. Arai also overhauled the model’s VAS-A Shield System with a single fastener for quicker, tool-less shield swaps.
Bridgestone also joined the festivities, showing off its new Battlax Hypersport S23 tires. Developed for sporty street riding and track use, the S23 utilize the same MS-Belt construction featured on the S22. Bridgestone claims its latest Hypersport tire improve both wet and dry performance thanks to a grippier compound applied to the shoulders. And yet the S23s still reportedly deliver an 8% mileage increase over the outgoing model.
That wraps up Common Tread’s coverage of AIMExpo 2024. With brand-new models and updated gear in store, the motorcycle landscape will be even more diverse in the year to come. That is, until next February.
