2023 Honda CL500 | Best Beginner Scrambler?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 พ.ย. 2022
- Let’s talk Honda’s new CL500 Scrambler for 2023, built on the Honda 500 parallel-twin platform, with some obvious shared DNA with the CMX500 Rebel. However this bike is taller, runs a dual-purpose clad 19-17 inch wheel combo and the telltale tall scrambler exhaust that suggests that river crossing isn’t such a bad idea after all.
Add fork gaiters, tall bars, an inviting 790 mm seat height and the CL500 seems like an accessible option for most riders, in a package that’s slightly different to the CB500, CBR500R, CB500X and Rebel.
So let’s run through the specs, a parallel twin engine producing 34.3 kW to stay under the A2 restrictions in Europe, or 46 ponies, alongside 43.4 Nm of torque. Naturally it’s a six-speed, with slip and assist clutch. This is a modern bike afterall and I’ve always found the Honda 500s fun to ride and capable of delivering the thrills in a no fuss manner that’s ideal for new riders and will keep experienced riders who don’t demand heaps of performance happy.
The tubular frame is matched to 41 mm forks and preload adjustable rear shocks, so nothing earth shattering there, with it up to Honda to produce a setup that’ll work in varied conditions, for various weight riders. Whether the dual shocks perform better than the more common monoshocks we see now will be interesting to see, but meets the scrambler theme.
A single 310 mm front rotor gets a dual-piston caliper, and is linked to that 240 mm rear rotor and single-piston caliper combo, with ABS providing further backup. Not ground breaking but it can be argued that enough brake is probably better than too much on anything likely to be ridden off the tarmac by new riders.
That dual-purpose rubber is a set of Dunlop Mixtours, run as a 110/80 front on the 19 inch rim, and a 150/70 rear on the 17 inch. Notably Honda have retained the alloy wheels, aligning with a fairly light expectation of off-roading more suited to simple trails.
Not that that’s a bad thing, much of the appeal is just being able to get a little more adventurous, where you might second guess yourself on a pure road machine, even if you could probably manage it.
Tying into that is the 155 mm of ground clearance, and 150/145 mm of ground clearance front and rear respectively, which measures in as a little more generous than your average road bike. Not significantly different to say the CB500F in clearance, but boasting 30 and 40 mm more travel.
With the exception of the CMX500, the CL500 also has the lowest Honda 500 seat height at 790 mm, with non-cruiser motorcycles not generally getting any lower than this, and ensuring a wide variety of riders should feel comfortable on the CL, especially new riders.
The tall handlebar likewise is a fairly upright and neutral seating position with wide upper body stance, that’ll feel commanding and maximise rider vision, confidence and control.
Electronics are pretty basic however, no ride modes, no traction control, ABS is not cornering either. What we’d expect with a Honda 500 but possibly a sticking point for some riders. Arguably traction control can be a double edged sword on a scrambler however.
The dash is also just an LCD, no TFT here, with full LED lighting all round, and the ESS system which flashes the blinkers if it thinks you’re doing an emergency braking manoeuvre. That’ll boost visibility, so it’s hard to complain about.
A 12 L fuel tank while not enormous also offers a range of over 300 km, so well within reason, and at almost 28 km per litre, the bike sips fairly meagrely.
Images courtesy of Honda, footage courtesy of Lulop from EICMA.
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Absolutely beautiful bike. I think it's perfect!
Looks really good. I like how simple it is
Ordered one as soon as the price was announced. I'm an experienced rider and this will be the smallest
capacity bike I've owned in decades ... can't wait.
Plenty of fun to be had on the smaller machines I reckon, but I do own all smaller machines at the moment, so I'm biased!
I like the look, seems like a great allrounder 👊
I definitely reckon it will be!
That military green looks gorgeous and for me as a taller rider the option for a higher seat is great as well. Going to test drive this one for sure!
I reckon it'll offer a nice alternative to the other Honda 500s, which is a great all-rounder.
I have ordered one here in Holland, when I saw the first picture of this green bike a decided to phone the local dealer and I have immediately ask to place an order so I can get the bike as soon as possible!
@@walsmachinist1 what price you paid?
Good on ya’ Honda. I’ve been imagining what after market options would transform the 500 Rebel into a more old school scrambler thing.
As a tall guy, I’m suspicious about the cramped leg position carried over from the Rebel. And the smallish swoopy tank is not appealing.
A more Triumph Trophy 250 type exhaust and general styling would look better imho.
Lastly adding cooling fins on the motor would add to the look of that great unit.
you're bang on re. the pricing of the 500s, when i was looking for my first bike that 5 figure sum for the cbr and cmx really put me off, especially when common discourse seemed to put them at similar power levels to the mt03/r3 and BELOW the ninja/z400, all of which are 8k and under. i dont know if i could pull myself away from sportbikes, but if these ever hit a similar pricepoint it might be a fun option to mix things up a bit.
Yep that gap between the R3 and Ninja 400 up to the 500s is quite big if you're a cash strapped new rider, where if they'd been closer I reckon way more people would bump up to the 500s.
will definitly save up for that bike.
Looks like a great daily commuter
Overall it offers a simple stylish road package within the reasonable price range. I am interested in going for a test ride. :) Great video bro. Just keep it up.
Thanks, you too!
Looks great and very much considering it for a commuter. Im returning to riding after a 2 year hiatus and I’ve riden bigger adventure bikes both cc and weight most of riding experience but I’m starting to love light smaller capacity bikes. They make more sense, are fun to ride at legal speeds, easy to handle, better off-road* and if we’re honest, anything over 700cc isn’t required for legal roads in aus.I reckon this one’s looks better then the RE interceptor too, but that subjective 😂. The new RE 450 Himalayan looks mint though, might be time to have 2 smaller capacity bikes in the garage over one big expensive bike 😮💡
There's definitely a lot to be said for the smaller machines, I've got a Svartpilen 401 and Ninja 400 in the garage and they are great, with more not really needed if I'm honest, except perhaps for two-up. Honda are doing a great job with the 500 offerings in that regard.
I was supposed to test ride the Scram 411 last Saturday but because of height I ended with Hunter 350. But, I'm gonna wait for this probably.
This should offer a bit more power if that's what you're after.
Im a beginner to riding and ive been looking at a honda bikes for a long time and i cant decide which one will suit me better for a beginner, a Rebel CMX500 or a CL500.
Would love to hear your opinions.
A large part is style between those two, and whether you want to go cruiser or scrambler, with the dual purpose tyres a benefit on the CL500, but a much higher but still manageable seat height. That fairly big difference in seat heights though will have a bit effect on the ergos or how you sit on the bike, the CMX being much more relaxed and laid back, the CL more of an upright seating position like a nakedbike instead of a cruiser.
It really comes down to what you like the look of and which you feel the most comfortable on, and if you really need the more dual purpose tyres, like if you're doing more unsealed roads kind of thing.
That exhaust must make the passenger happy on hot summer days.
I have always tried to understand the philosophy of scrambler bikes but I have not succeeded.
I think it's silly bikes😁
Yea honestly I think a pillion is probably not something most real scrambler bikes would be largely concerned about, however most of the ones we see these days are a little more road biased and general use aimed.
Very silly bike.
Really nice looking. I hope it comes to the USA, as cruisers and sports bikes seems to be the normal. I'll defenetly buy, I mean we don't have many budget options. The royal enfield...well ot looks to third worldish and quality is questionable. The Husqvarna Svartpilen is nice, but nowhere to be found.
I was looking for a bike to trade up from my Meteor 350 and this ticks all the boxes. It will be interesting to see the price of it next year.
Yea could be a great option. Have you seen the new Super Meteor? That looks cool too if you don't mind sticking with a more cruiser themed bike. The 650 engine is a good one.
I was really looking forward to it when I heard the rumours. To be honest, it’s almost there but Honda could have done a better job aesthetically. It is of course subjective, but the high exhaust would impede passenger comfort and low ground clearance negates serious off roading anyway. Bigger fuel tank, smaller exhaust, stylish round TFT display would do the job nicely.
They definitely could have taken it further, I imagine the Transalp covers the more serious off-roaders.
Looks pretty good.
If this was around when I was on LAMS restrictions, I may have picked one up.
There's so many great beginner options these days, good time to be getting into riding.
Bellísima máquina amor a primera vista saludos desde mi hermoso Chile
Thanks for watching, awesome to see I have audience in Chile!
Nice h/lamp cowling ,look ruined by the tank and location of the ignition switch (can't fit a larger tank unless you fit an M-Lock from Moto Gadget or similar). Probably pick one up from salvage for a project sometime...typical Honda, they tried, but just couldn't pull it off! Good overland project!
Problem is, will it release to Asia or not
This retro styling using Honda's new 750 twin or 1100 could be a great bike. This 500 is relatively heavy and low on power. The styling here is taking cues from the Scrambler Chris Pratt rode through the jungle with his pack of velociraptors. Now young riders have an affordable option that looks a lot like that.
I'm somewhat tempted by this bike for my delivery job as it will almost certainly be good in town. But couldn't consider it for anything more
Low on power? For a beginner, 46 HP is quite a lot. Heavy? Yes, a bit on heavy side, but the center of mass is not that high, thankfully. Should be not that hard to handle.
My 2013 G650GS Sertao has 47.5 HP and 195 kilo, wet, with its single 650cc.
@@takeshikusao4674 you're right, the bike won't feel heavy on the move.
Depends how we define beginner. If this is someone's very first bike, 46bhp is enough but the power isn't the whole story, the gearing and tuning make a big difference. 46hp could be lively and fun on one bike but quite boring on another. If someone has been riding 125s for a while or a 300cc... this bike might not feel a big enough step up, assuming they want a bigger bike for the extra power. The lightweight 30hp cb300r is probably more fun and this 500 is a babystep up from that.
P.S.
Don't get me wrong. I'm tempted by this bike, but a 750 version would suit me better
@@wolfpackpete6408 oh, no objections here!
I've been riding on 200c before switching to a bigger bike. The difference was quite noticeable!
Yea compared to a full powered bike, it's a bit limited, but that's normal for the A2/LAMS aimed machines. Would be nice if they could shave the weight down a little, but it should be carried quite low which will help there.
Does give new riders something that resembles the Triumph Pratt rode, problem is finding some pet velociraptors to complete the look (and not getting eaten by them).
@@MotoJournoKris back in the day, Steve McQueen jumping a bonneville was enough. Now the home viewer needs more, especially if the bike on show only has 50 odd horsepower.
The guys in the lab are working on the real jurassic park. The first 21st century velocirapors will only be chicken sized, but maybe theme parks will offer this biking experience in the future.
Wanted a rebel, but coming in at a awe-inducing, menacing, yet ideal height of 6'2", seems like its on the edge of practicality. This looks like it will be a BIT better for that?
It should be! That taller seat height is significant and should open up the rider triangle quite a bit.
I've got a Rebel and a CL500. The CL500 is taller, but the foot position feels a little more back to me. This puts your foot behind that annoying motor guard on the right side that you have to fight on the Rebel, which is a good thing, but it might still tuck your legs up if you are a taller rider (I'm 5'9" and it feels fine for me). Definitely ride one before you buy if you can.
It's beautiful and stylish. It's powerful enough. It would probably make a good daily commuter. It is a nice retro street bike overall. But not a scrambler IMO.
PS: Fantic this year shows Caballero 700. And they've got Caballero 500 for several years already. How about comparison?
I'll see if I can find some decent images and info as that sounds like it could be interesting!
Though the caballero (magnificent looking !) are mono cylinders…
@@pateris I've got nothing against single cylinder. Single is lighter, smaller, less complex, requires less valves and other parts.
@@takeshikusao4674 Yep, but it's different from a bi, innit ? (Though the 700 will be a bi, I just read…)
@@pateris not much, from a rider's position. Twins ('bi') nowadays are popular because they give more power per kilo of weight and still can give enough torque.
It matters more, where the engine power is in RPM range: low, high, or evenly distrbuted. So called 'engine characteristics'.
Nice but I hate the rear shocks old Sportsters were a hard ride with those shocks no matter if you put better ones on totally different but kind of the same
Yea I do prefer the modern monoshocks I have to say!
Very nice looking, but overweight with an unacceptably small fuel tank (FOR ME, anyway).
I like the styling but it looks like a REBEL 500 with skinny front tires and converted exhaust...speaking of the exhaust, how is a passenger suppose to sit on this thing with an exhaust so close and between your leg? I like the exhaust looks, but too high to mount bags too. I have the 2021 rebel and love it, but might consider this bike if price is right and exhaust can be changed and lowered
On the promo video they show someone riding with a passenger and her leg rests against the heat shield. and apparently they are going to sell soft saddle bag for this bike but it'll be for the non exhaust side only
@@ropeysubstance1719 I'm a big fan and customer of Honda and looking forward to seeing this in my honda dealer near me, but manufacture should do a case study on every design and ask customers what they like and would prefer. I have a rear luggage rack on my rebel too, which helps. Can't wait to see one in my honda dealer soon. Just how hot that heat shield gets is the question because in hot weather passengers wear shorts and bare skin that close to that shield is going to be an adventure in itself.the exhaust resembles a triumph exhaust.
@@TheMrchris1234 yeah, i don't know what they were thinking. it's not like anyone's gonna take this bike off road anyway. they should have just went with a normal exhaust design. other than the exhaust i really like how this bike looks. but the exhaust makes things so limited with luggage options
I like
How do you get a bike like this on a rear stand in order to clean the chain? there's no center stand and also the swingarm is tubular so a normal rear lift stand wouldn't work right?
I think it's possible you'd still be able to get a normal rear stand to work, where the axle blocks are. Shame there's no mounts for spools.
@@MotoJournoKris yeah i hate when honda doesnt do mounts for spools. do you think this bike will be eligible for a center stand?
If they make a scrambler 1100 I'd buy one tomorrow
Guess we'll have to see how this one goes!
Will this bike make it to Australia?
Yep Q2 of 2023 according to MCNews.com.au, but no pricing released just yet.
That Muffler is a shocker!
Looks like a toolbox that you can't use.
If they had a monoshock, they could have tucked it in further for a pillion or pannier.
It better be cheap.
Definite downside of the dual shock setup, it pushes that exhaust right out. Although props for trying to do the tall side mounted exhaust. The Euro5 restrictions have created a lot of fairly hefty and in some cases quite unsightly systems! Could probably drop 10 kg off the bike replacing it with an aftermarket system too.
Well between this One and cbr500r for the price diference aint better cbr500r?
Problem is Honda 500 Price its the same as MT 07 with more power :/ and good fuel consumption
At the same price as the MT-07 I think the 500s are a hard sell, but here in Australia at least the CB500F is $10.6k and the MT-07 is $13.5k, so it's quite a significant gap between the two. Between the CL500 and CB500F or CBR500R, it really comes down to the style of bike you want more than anything.
@@MotoJournoKris here MT 07 its at 7600 - cbr500r at 7350 - cl 500 7000
Europe price.
I'm looking for a everyday motorcycle I ride all the year and want a good fuel consumption and confortable bike to Ride ;)
Although scares me abit no fairing because cold Weather and such..
@@tiagomoreira8742 Damn, that's a tiny difference! Fairings are definitely a benefit if it gets really cold though.
@@MotoJournoKris yeah - 8 its the less I rode but yeah frost my Gear and my Helmet and everything ahah.
Also really like the sound of the MT but gonna Seat and check honda to see if I Can test Ride :)
Would it be a good starter bike for a beginner rider?
I would definitely say so, you're getting more performance than Honda's 300s but still a very manageable package, low seat height (relatively) and good overall loadout. It's a little heavier than some other options in the 300-500 segment but also runs a low CoG thanks to being based on a cruiser.
@@MotoJournoKris sweet thanks so much I just entered the ride family and looking for a nice bike that would work. Thanks for the feedback it really helped.
I hate that tank gap 😭 otherwise good looking bike when you remove the stock exhaust
Style of the exhaust is right, just not the routing,shouldn't run under the bike, far more clearance if it was make like the old Super Ten 750 Yamaha just under the clutch casing... got potential as a project!
@@williamrae9954 Yea that's like my Svartpilen, exhaust under the bike for a scrambler losing clearance seems a poor choice (the older gen ones ran it along the bike higher). I think the cats and collectors kind of force them to do that, so an aftermarket exhaust is needed to fix that issue.
@@MotoJournoKris I rip the standard exhausts off my new bikes before I even start them...the engine were designed without them, then strangled to pass emissions, emissions set by unelected bureaucrats with zero accountability
The gap on that motorcycle is perfect! I'd nail it!
@@williamrae9954 Accountability is only for us normal people! Voters will hopefully figure it out en mass one day.
I think the Truimph Scrambler 400x is a better bike. It looks better in my opinion has camparible performance higher suspention travel and ground clearnce and a larger fual tank. it's also sugnificantly cheaper then the CL500, I'm not really sure where this bike fits in price wise when the 400x exists.
As Scramblers go I'd have to agree. The new 400X is a more traditional take, and more true to the scrambler theme and loadout. The pricing isn't that different between the two, but the Triumph has the wow/value factor.
The CL500 I think can still win for specific riders, likely from a reliability perspective, and also on comfort, or for those who don't mind a more relaxed machine. Most of that probably isn't very high on the wish list of scrambler riders though!
where is the ignition on this bike? it doesn't appear to be near the dash where it would normally be?
I can't spot it in the pictures to be honest!
@@MotoJournoKris i found it, it's near the right side fork clamp bolt
Almost perfect for me but luggage options are a big factor. Looking at the positioning of that exhaust, side panniers are a no go on this one.
They list soft saddlebag as part of the 'Touring Kit' but I couldn't spot any images of it. Not being called 'saddlebags' it may just be on the opposite side to the exhaust. Hopefully Ventura design a rack for it.
@@MotoJournoKris I guess the touring kit you are referring to can be seen in this vid (the blue one) th-cam.com/video/L6Kc5TbegHI/w-d-xo.html it's in Japanese btw. Yeah I hope a side mount rack will be avialble soon for both sides, right now we gotta focus on getting the bike first 🤣.
@@bjjwhitebelt5777 Nice find! Yea I'd definitely prefer the bags on both sides so the bike looks balanced. Even if Honda don't offer one I'd be surprised if no one else does!
This is not meant for touring. There should be some luggage option, but I think that this bike is more or less appropriate for daily rides.
This surely offers another option to us short riders besides the Rebel. But it looks A LOT like a Rebel. Like if it swapped its exhaust for the Rebel's and had a Rebel seat it would be basically another Rebel 😕 meh?
The changes are a little deeper, but that's basically what they've done. It's a bit of a common trend with the scramblers honestly. Sometimes it's just a set of dual-purpose tyres.
@@MotoJournoKris I agree. They did do some other noteworthy things. In reality this bike would be a better fit for my shortness than my CB500X. Two things I really want to know and hope others divulge after some testing is does it have a smooth first gear and not jerky like the CB500X's, and does it have less engine vibration running up into your hands... which the CB500X also has. Will be interesting. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and review
@@findingneutral It will be interesting to see on those two points!
@@MotoJournoKris The more I've looked into the history of the CL the more I'm starting to like the concept and put my first Rebel impressions aside. Like liking it enough to consider it over my CB500X as I don't go adventuring and am too short for it in reality. The CL might just be that happy medium between a street cruiser and ADV? I hope it comes to the states.
@@findingneutral I was going to get the CB500X, but got this instead. First gear is somewhat jerky. Haven't ridden the CB500X, so I can't compare directly, but I'd bet you a beer it's about the same. I haven't noticed much engine vibration in my hands, but again, not having ridden the CB500X I can't really compare. I like the CL500 a lot. For long rides, the seat is hard as a rock, but since it is flat and allows me to move around, it's actually more comfortable than I thought it would be. Still hoping Mustang will come out with bench seat for this bike though.
This bike is the culmination of the past 10 years: not too sport, not too off-road, not too fast, not too slow, not too touring, not too commuting, not too expensive, not too cheap, not too big, not too small, not too hipster, not too “biker”, not too ugly, not too beautiful, not that exciting, not a rebel. Honda have done it…absolute motorcycling nirvana. Balance in every aspect.
That's a cool way of looking at it!
But its very hot!!!
I like it! the 500’s from Honda all get the same treatment from buyers they are boring overpriced machines. However that being said the little 500’s are quite reliable and it’s plenty of power for around town. I think if Honda wouldn’t price these bikes so high then people’s opinion of them would change.
My thoughts exactly, knock say 10-15% off the price and suddenly they are way more competitive to the 400s. Not that there's anything wrong, they are a really solid package.
The bike is very fun to ride, never dull! It can be a real hooligan in the city.
01:02 This shot makes me wanna ride AND be ridden! lol the husband walking up from behind seems to really like this bike too 😦
It would make a good second bike, but I already have the 390. Just bought an SCR950, so I like scramblers. I don't like the high exhaust on the CL500. It looks okay, but that's all.
Nice, that's a good alternative to the 390! How are you finding the SCR950 so far?
@@MotoJournoKris I'll give you a fuller reply when I've used it properly. Only been on it once so far.
If the exhaust was low, it was CB
Better than the 390 anyway
@@DBAUG If the exhaust was low, it would be more like the original scrambler concept.
The muffler tube under the engine is not in a good position. It is prone to damage.
We're seeing this more and more because the collectors and catalysers are much bigger than the old systems without them, and it seems to be forcing them to be run under the bike. There's probably more heat build up too, bottling up the exhausts which risks uncomfortable heat or even burns if they run them along the bikes too.
The Rebel500 was my first bike. To be honest, I wasn't a fan. The stock seat gave me sciatic nerve pain, the single disc front brake didn't give me much confidence in stopping power and it was bloody slow.
Having said that, I actually like the CL500. If this was available when I was in the market for my first bike, I'd have chosen it over the Rebel and I probably would have kept it longer.
Common complaints with the beginner cruisers. I do think this would be a great sportier option, and being a scrambler and all that entails should help the long term appeal. What did you upgrade to from your Rebel?
Could it maintain 75mph? About 20% of my rides would be 35mi highway travel.
@@MotoJournoKris I went to the XSR700 and absolutely loving it. I was initially into cruisers. But after riding a mate's MT03, I realised I prefer naked bike riding positions much more.
@@AndrewDasilvaPLT Yes it can. I wouldn't say it's comfortable being there. There's no tachometer so I don't know how hard the engine is revving at that speed. I'm guessing 5k+
@@AndrewDasilvaPLT Easily. Even the Honda 300 singles will sit at that, but they start to run out of puff from just above there when it comes to overtaking. Should be able to ride at that speed all day without issue. It'll be revving harder than a bigger machine of course, but I think a lot of people mistake their own discomfort with revving out a bike, with capability. It's slightly shorter gearing than the Rebel, but it's only a one tooth difference.
The Benelli 502 Scrambler is the better looking one and much cheaper. She can do all the Honda can do too.
The Leoncino Trail is almost exactly the same price as the Rebel here (Australia), which I'd have thought the CL500 will align with quite closely on price. What's the price difference where you are? I'm always interested how it varies between markets, can make a big difference when comparing the bikes.
Stock exhaust is really ugly. Besides that, its a beautiful bike
They won't be able to make anywhere near enough of them
Please stop with beginner or entry level tag. Most small to mid size bikes are great for anyone who rides. A lot of people with decades of experience like these bikes. There are bikes that I would consider only for experienced riders but everything else is just a bike anyone can enjoy. I ride a Harley but also have Versys 300 does that mean I regress back to a beginner when I ride it?
No. The tag is there to help new and prospective riders find a suitable first, or early machine, and in countries with restrictions it's a specific class of machine, with TH-cam being an international platform.
I do expect experienced riders to show some maturity and not be triggered by a simple statement of fact. And I say that as someone who has been riding for 15 years and has bought beginner motorcycles for my last four bikes, because they are great fun, and clearly not just for beginners. Which is probably why they aren't called beginner-only bikes.
The 2023 silliest bike
Haha it won't be for everyone, that's for sure!
500cc i still believe is to small for the usa freeways.
The gearing is changed and shorter I believe than the Rebel, but you should still be able to cruise at 120-130 km/h (80 mph), with a bit of leeway. The bikes just going to be revving harder.
The high muffler might look cool, but it's actually kinda dumb to put it there.
It's a catch-22, that's the 'scrambler' style, but this'll most likely be a commuter/roadbike for most owners. However it makes the bike stand out from the other 500s. Weight, heat, luggage limitations are all issues of course.
@@MotoJournoKris
The real term is "Street Scrambler" since like you said, they're going to be mostly used as road bikes.
@@browngreen933 Pretty much, a lot of machines try and offer the style over the full function of the category they claim to fall into these days. Annoying for purists, but I'd bet a lot of ADVs, Scramblers, etc are just road bikes in use.
so a rebel 500 could mod into this . hmm
Could be an interesting project. Not sure it'd work out better value though, even getting a second hand Rebel.
Pô kiểu đó nóng thấy mẹ
It looks better without that ugly plate on the headlight…
Be kind of cool to modify it up a bit and see how much better it could end up...
@@MotoJournoKris True, though it adds to the final cost…
@@pateris It does unfortunately, and an argument could be made that you could just start with a cheaper second hand bike and build a scrambler from it - even an older CB500F maybe, or maybe a Rebel.
@@MotoJournoKris Good point !
What is it with this calling 45hp and 440lb a Beginner Bike? There is almost no need to own or ride a motorcycle with more than that unless you want to act stupid and hurt yourself. In the '70s I took great joy out of blowing off Kawasaki Z900's with a Suzuki GT250. Want a cheap CL500? Buy 1996 XL600 Trans Alp and remove all the absolutely unnecessary plastic, a naked Trans Alp. Honda invented the wheel 35 years ago, since then they (and all manufacturers) just steal your money.
The color of headlight is ugly. That white color ruins the whole bike image.
Rebel is better
Tank doesn’t look right sitting on top like that.
Still very much based on a cruiser at the end of the day. The lines are pretty clean though.
@@MotoJournoKris It will sell in its thousands but it could have looked more cutting edge.Have a look at the BSA concept scrambler for a real looker.
@@richardjones3112 Yep, that BSA concept is much closer to what people would traditionally expect, and very cool as a result. Honda seem to be very conservative with their designs by comparison. They'll sell though as you say, so they might just prefer the safe bets.
I know I'd take the BSA over the Honda in that comparison.
That exhaust sorry worst design ever. What are they thinking. No passengers, hardly any package and Bag abilities. Looks fugly.
ITS NOT a Scrambler
Have to give the manufacturers a little creative license with bikes like these. Especially anything that's technically meant to be a rider custom that turns a road bike into something else.
Svartpilen 401 way better. The Honda is 83 lbs heavier, has twin shocks and right side up fork, eek, and rather mundane looks.
And cheaper too!
@@MotoJournoKris The 2022 CB500F is $6699, the CL500 should be about the same. The Svart 401 is $5399, $1300 less.
I just got a 2022 Vit 401 : ))
@@georgekrpan3181 Nice congrats! Yea that's a decent difference. You get so many looks on the Husqvarnas too. Even from car drivers!
@@MotoJournoKris Thanks! Loving it!
It gets lots of looks at the Rock Store.
No it's not. You're just mad because you bought one instead of this superior Honda bike.
Bristol veloce looks better than this and much cheaper
Interesting, we don't those here. What's the pricing like in comparison to the Honda 500s?
Yes and it has a double disc brakes on d front so abrupt stopping is not a problem just in case
The CL500 is nothing more than a "flimsy" pig with lipstick cover on it. Same puny 2.96 gallon fuel tank. Nothing to get impressed about. I'd change the exhaust pipe, put on "street" tires, a windshield and a better set of larger mirrors. This is a "flim-flam" job by Honda Motorcycle division to thinly Vail the CMX/Rebel motor and body. Bad move Honda!
I don't know, it'll primarily be bought by new riders I'd guess, who don't know exactly what they really want until their experience builds up and they ride more. Keeping things simple and fairly cheap there is the winner. I can't see Honda doing a proper hardcore scrambler and it'd probably be wasted on the beginner segment if they did, plus they always tend to be fairly conservative. A slightly different flavour of the CMX/Rebel is probably a valid criticism, but it is what it is.
The only thing they got right is the seat height. More black, black, black...its crap. Looks like one of the canteen girls designed the exhaust. Could have been great...they need to look at the street scramblers of the 60s.