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Anyone who followed Red Bull Romaniacs this year would have quickly realised that the CFMOTO 450MT has taken the adventure classes at the event by storm.
Red Bull Romaniacs is known as the toughest hard enduro rally in the world. The fact that 40 riders from 15 countries spread across Asia, North America, South America and Europe (including our very own Benelux!) in fact CFMOTO chose The fact that it took on this extreme challenge speaks volumes about the trust the brand has built up in such a short space of time. Not only did CFMOTO line up at the start with a close-knit international community, but it also made history with a resounding victory in all Adventure classes.
Although the manoeuvrable 450MT Whilst the MT was the undisputed crowd favourite and the most widely used model, the rest of the MT family also made an indelible impression. For example, the 800MT-X and the brand new 1000MT-X at the start.
The riders representing CFMOTO on the 450MT demonstrated the bike’s outstanding manoeuvrability and power on steep mountain slopes, technical single tracks and treacherous descents. CFMOTO took top honours in all three Adventure categories:
Adventure Ultimate Class: Global CFMOTO Ambassador Mario Roman drove a masterful race and claimed the 1st place (P1).
Adventure Lite Class: A historic, all-CFMOTO podium! He Guishi (China) took the win P1, closely followed by Adrian Raduta (Romania) on P2 and Matej Oliva (Czech Republic) on P3.
Adventure Core Class: Rene Columna (Dominican Republic) sent its 450MT to P1, whilst Chris Power (New Zealand) rounded off their dominance with an impressive P3.
As well as celebrating major international trophies on the podium, For us, this edition was mainly about the stories of our own Team CFMOTO Benelux. At CFMOTO Benelux, we do our best to make groundbreaking experiences more accessible to our local riders. That is why they were standing Duncan Kolk, Jarno Bierman and Jeffrey Brasser This year, we’ll be proudly lining up at the start on the slopes of the Carpathians to take on the ultimate challenge of the Red Bull Romaniacs for the first time.
A gruelling rally like the Romaniacs demands the absolute best from both man and machine. Confident in the 450MT’s manoeuvrability and robust build, our Benelux riders threw themselves into the challenge with total dedication to invest in their own machinery to get them ready for their own rally project.
The 450MT proved itself to be the ultimate, versatile platform: rock-solid and exceptionally capable in its own right, yet at the same time a fantastic canvas for riders who want to personalise their bike down to the smallest detail for extreme use. Examples include:
Targeted Weight Adjustments, Advanced Suspension & Setup, Rally – Ergonomic accessories and more.
Jeffrey Brasser documented his entire preparatory journey and the build process of his 450MT on his YouTube channel:
The fact that our riders took to the starting line with such passion and confidence on their unique 450MTs perfectly highlights what this platform stands for: limitless possibilities for anyone who wants to shape their own adventure.
For Jarno, his very first Romaniacs was a journey of extreme mental and physical challenges, but above all an unforgettable adventure.
"Romaniacs 2026… what an adventure! There was a lot of excitement ahead of the prologue on Day 1. My nerves were racing and I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. But as soon as I was on my way, everything fell into place. A great start and a real confidence boost.
During the first off-road stage towards Petroșani, it was mainly a case of getting used to the terrain and discovering what Romaniacs is really all about: constantly trusting in yourself. Day 3 was without a doubt the toughest day I’ve ever experienced on a motorbike. Endless steep climbs over ski slopes, technical single tracks alongside deep precipices, and a start button that gave out – which, fortunately, we were able to repair along the way so we could carry on… Mentally and physically, it was an absolute battle of attrition.
Fortunately, Day 4 brought its rewards: brilliant fast sections, a great flow and pure enjoyment on the motorbike. On the final day, exhaustion took its toll; due to a mismarked route, I unfortunately made a navigational error and ended up on the tough enduro course for a while. That cost me a lot of energy and time, meaning I simply ran out of focus for the famous steep hillclimb.
What began with nerves ended in pride. Romaniacs pushed me to my physical and mental limits: sometimes swearing, sometimes laughing, sometimes crying, but above all, it was full of learning experiences. This is an adventure I’ll never forget!"
Jeffrey trained like an athlete in the Netherlands, but soon realised that nothing can really prepare you for the mountains of Romania.
"You can train as much as you like in the Netherlands, but nothing comes close to what I experienced in the Romanian mountains. Climb after climb, it was a case of going flat out and hoping you’d make it to the top. But it was the descents that really scared me. I had to ask my teammates for advice on how to survive those steep slopes.
Day 2 was without a doubt the most challenging day I’ve ever experienced on a motorbike. They call this the toughest enduro rally in the world, and now I know why. Steep climbs, narrow ridges and technical sections where a single small mistake could have serious consequences. And then came the abandoned mine…
I had to launch my motorbike a metre into the air just to get in at all, dodge wooden obstacles with my head down, race up a steel staircase in one go and then back down again via narrow staircases. Honestly? I didn’t know I had it in me.
The moment I rode out, I felt a mixture of relief, adrenaline and disbelief. I shouted back at the cameraman: 'What on earth am I doing in an abandoned mine in the Adventure Lite class?!' And the steepest sections of my life were still to come.
Don’t let the name 'Adventure Lite' fool you, though; they throw obstacles at you that no one in their right mind would voluntarily attempt.
For anyone who was wondering whether the CFMOTO 450MT can handle this job: absolutely, hell yeah. The motorbike has been used exactly as it was designed to be, and probably far beyond what most people will ever ask of it. It has withstood everything that Romaniacs threw at us, without a single mechanical problem. I couldn’t have wished for a better partner for this adventure.
By the end of the day, my body was completely exhausted, but the motorbike and I made it. This challenge showed me that I’m capable of much more than I’d ever thought, and it proved just how incredibly good the CFMOTO 450MT is."
For Duncan, Romaniacs 2026 was an incredibly educational experience, full of perseverance.
"Romaniacs 2026 was a really educational experience for me. In the weeks leading up to the event, I converted a standard 450MT into a rally bike.
For me, the prologue began with a great deal of nerves. I know I can do it, but the huge crowd and the pressure I put on myself still make it quite nerve-wracking. Once I was underway, much of that tension faded; I was able to ride well and, despite a few mistakes, still managed to secure a respectable 7th place.
It was the first time I’d really taken the adventure bike into the mountains. For the first hour and a half, I struggled to find the right rhythm on the bike. However, after a nasty fall, I got a proper wake-up call. Eventually, I got into a nice rhythm: flying over ridges in sixth gear at full throttle with that ‘I’m on top of the world!’ feeling... only to then hit an endless descent towards the abandoned coal mine. Through the mine, up and down the steps, before finally reaching the finish line. Unfortunately, I’d lost a lot of time in the morning and finished in 18th place.
The next day, we drove from Petroșani towards Straja to start the day at the top of a stunning ski slope. It didn’t get off to the best start, though: two riders in front of me and – bang – the fuse blew. No more power on the dashboard – what now? Luckily, Rik and Frans came to my aid to check the fuses. After going through almost all of them, it turned out to be one of the last ones. I quickly fitted a new one, squeezed my way through the queue and was up and running five minutes later.
By the time I reached the liaison section, I’d overtaken about eight riders – I was really on a roll! I kept this up right up to the service point. The team gave the bike a quick check, fitted two new bolts to the chain guide, and I was off again. Unfortunately, 15 kilometres after the service point, I crashed on a downhill section and broke my fibula. I knew straight away that it wasn’t good, but I thought: ‘Fck it, we’re not giving up!’ On one leg, I carried on...
Whatever the case, we had to make it. Leaning on one leg, screaming in pain, I struggled my way through the mine and over the obstacles. In the stairwell, I had to dismount and hobble down, before carefully manoeuvring the motorbike round a tight bend. That didn’t go quite to plan: the motorbike lost traction and slammed itself hard against the wall. Well, back up it I went and on I went, and I rode the rest of the route sitting calmly. After a crash and a few proper 'bloody hell' moments on the motorbike, I just switched my brain off completely on the final climb and made it to the top standing up!"
After that, Koen and Patty looked after me brilliantly and first aid was administered straight away. After watching my team-mates ride to the finish on days 3 and 4, we headed home again.
But one thing is certain: We’ll be back again next year, determined to finish what we’ve started!"
Regardless of the standings Romaniacs fostered a wonderful sense of international camaraderie and human connection. Our local Benelux riders stood side by side with CFMOTO riders from all corners of the world. In the bivouac, experiences, tips and practical know-how were shared, and a close-knit international brotherhood was forged.
This is the very heart of our brand philosophy: Experience More Together. CFMOTO not only builds motorbikes that can tackle the toughest terrain, but also brings riders together from all over the world. Because, at the end of the day, we all share the same passion: motorbiking.
It’s no longer a secret that CFMOTO is growing. Not only are we seeing the brand feature more frequently in international competitions, but also simply on our local roads in the Benelux, where it leads the way as best-selling motorbike in the Netherlands in July 2026 the icing on the cake.
The Romaniacs 2026 demonstrated why this motorbike is so popular. It makes a powerful contribution to the debate on the sustainability and quality of CFMOTO and dispels any remaining doubts. It shows that it is a manoeuvrable and simply outstanding motorbike.
Whether you’re looking for a versatile motorbike for everyday use, a reliable touring bike for the weekend, or the perfect basis for your own rally project: the 450MT is ready to take on any challenge, whatever your level.
Fancy embarking on a rally adventure straight away? In the Benelux, we offer the exclusive 450MT Rally Edition . This model is well-equipped with high-quality accessories that are ready for the toughest jobs straight away:
High front mudguard kit for optimum mud clearance and an aggressive rally look.
Sturdy crash bars to protect your engine and fairing on rough terrain.
Akrapovič exhaust system for a sharper sound, weight savings and better throttle response.
Are you ready to push your own boundaries and experience what "Experience More Together" What does it really mean?
The CFMOTO 450MT and 450MT Rally Edition are on display and available for test rides at the official CFMOTO dealers in the Benelux.
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