I ring the neck of my Honda 500 - an XBR which has even fewer ponies than the CL. Best fun there is to be had. The CL looks good to my eye! Love your videos. Thanks for putting all that work in.
Hey Matt! Thanks for stopping by and you’ve got an XBR500! I’ve always wanted one of those! I used to see and hear a beautiful maroon one years ago and it was brilliant. Just love those big old Honda singles. I had an XR600 and it never, ever let me down. Brilliant machines. Thanks again for your comments and it’s great to know the work is appreciated. If you’re ever thumping by Berwick, let me know! All the best, cheers, Phil.
Hi Phil, not sure you'd like my modified XBR - there's a video on my channel. However, it is slimmer than standard and will be getting a barrel and piston from the XL600R it shares it's stroke with, so more oomph to maybe match the CL😊
Good afternoon Phil. Has been 16 minutes of pleasure watching your video. Fantastic review, well for me your quality as a photographer is as important as the bike or even more, great scenery, quite a bit healthy envy by the way, great tracks with those hills. As I do too, eating something sweet outdoors rise its flavor and taste. Never lose your sense of humor, really smart. I hope you can enjoy and ride from now on with the permit of the weather and the lords of war (as things looks like). Anyway, a 10 out of 10 as always Phil. Great to see you, bye and take care.
Hey Alex, really good to hear from you again - how are you doing? All good I hope. I’m very glad you enjoyed the review and appreciated the shots…As you probably know by now, the videos are 50% about the scenery and landscapes, 25% editing practice and 25% the bikes….😀 Oh and a little sweet treat every so often 😋 And likewise Alex, so good to hear from you, wishing you a great summer despite whatever happens, all the best, cheers, Phil.
Good evening Bilal - really good to hear from you again and many thanks for your comments - really appreciate it. It's so good to be out!! More stuff coming soon I hope - all the best, cheers, Phil.
Hi Phil, great video, mate! In my experience you cannot go wrong with a Honda! As you know, I ride a VFR800 from 2001 (Y registration), which is pre-V Tech, but includes fuel injection & mechanical cam driven! The best bike I’ve owned in the 46 years I’ve held a licence! The CL500 is a brilliant bike too, mainly because you love riding it! Take it easy & keep it shiny side up! 🏍️😎👍
Evening Paul, good to hear from you - how are you doing, all good? Sounds like the mighty VFR is still going strong and yeah, you kinda can’t go wrong with a Honda, plus, of course you do meet the nicest people on a Honda 😀 You’re so right though, the best machines are the ones you enjoy riding regardless of age, power, looks…And the CL is a little cracker 😀 Oh and the plan is to stay shiny side up this time! Likewise though Paul, hope you and yours stay safe and have a great summer, all the best, cheers, Phil.
Thank you very much and greetings from the UK. Let me know how you get on with the CL if you decide to get one. All the best, have a good afternoon, cheers, Phil.
What an excellent video. I'm 39 years old, have been riding for over half my life and I now see myself downsizing from an XSR 900. It's what you said, I can't exploit that bike, it wants to tear my head off. It's fun, but I would rather own a bike that I can ride to its limit, instead of being afraid to rip it. Fantastic observation, put in words how I feel about my current situation. The SCL500 is on my shortlist.
Hey Marcello, great to hear from you and many thanks for your kind comments. Well, I had an XSR a few years back and I know exactly what you mean - it's a very lively bike and as you say, it''s a lot of fun but can be tiring and kind of unsatisfying to use given the amount of places / times you make use of it are few and far between. I reckon I scratched about 25% of the XSR's capabilities - with the SCL, probably 75% which is just great and makes me feel like I'm riding it as opposed to just being along for the ride! Anyway, let me know what you decide to do - all the best Marcello, cheers, Phil.
Your having us on, that bike has unused tyres! Top tip, never put Tunnocks Tea Cakes in ADV under seat storage if riding more than 5 feet, you'll know why! Your input is priceless, thank you once again!
Ha ha Mr Doolittle, how are you doing? Very good to hear from you and I’m guessing that a Teacake under the seat in an ADV would result in a very messy, very sticky pool of melted teacake….I won’t be trying that out anytime soon 😀 Glad you enjoyed the review, look after yourself, all the best, cheers, Phil.
I enjoyed that video immensely, really well edited etc. I've had mine since March and just reached 1000 miles, and I love it. I'm down South now, but grew up in the North East.......
Hey David, good to hear from you and many thanks for your kind comments. Hopefully the video triggered some good memories of growing up in the NE! I agree though, the CL is a great, fun, easy and accessible bike and is a lot of fun in a lot of different situations. It's a shame that it's been kinda ignored purely on the basis of looks (though I think it looks very interesting) still, there are some great bargains out there. Future classic! All the best, cheers, Phil.
Hey Howard, great to hear from you and yes, the CL is a great and different looking bike and the exhaust is the best bit! As the rumour of a 750 version...I'd not heard that...Now that would be nice! All the best, cheers, Phil.
Beautifully filmed, as usual. Nice to see the biscuits/cake back but was that tea ? In some hipster tea brewing device? Also, booze can be talked about but must also make an appearance IMHO. Take care,
Thanks very much Mr Woodster, it’s good to know the work is appreciated. Hipster tea brewing device ha ha ha. It’s a modern day teapot, nothing more than that with loose leaf Assam tea in it - none of this herbal chai nonsense, promise! Someone gave me a cup of loose leaf tea last year and the difference in flavour to teabags is incredible, so while it’s a bit of a faff I’d highly recommend it. As for booze and not making an appearance..Yeah, I get you but have you ever tried Robinsons? That’s one of the main reasons I moved away from the NW 15 years ago 🤣 But, point taken - I’ll try harder next time 😀 Likewise, take care and all the best, cheers, Phil.
I have a Honda CL500 in blue with the white headlight fairing. I only passed my full motorcycle licence 9 months ago, and the CL is my first ever bike. I adore it, I really do. In the 9 months I've had the bike, I've commuted on it every day I can except for icy conditions (my girlfriends choice, not mine). My longest ride was Chester, where I live over to Sheffield to visit my brother and his boyfriend. I took the bike over snakes pass. It was probably one of the best days of my life to date. Great videos, and it's nice to see this bike has such a commited following. Love your bike in orange. it's stunning ! I am thinking of starting an owners club here in the UK for ride outs and the like. It's an ugly duckling if you're blind, to me, it's the most stunning swan !
Hey James, great to hear from you and many thanks for dropping by. It's good hearing how much you're enjoying the CL500! I do think it's a much underrated bike. Also, I know the Snake Pass very well as I used to live not too far away and it was one of my favourite roads. Well, good luck if you decide to start up the CL community, safe riding, all the best, Phil.
Ive got one in blue phil and a burgman 400 .icouldnt agree with you more i recently sold my honda x11 aka naked blackbird i was geeting to much frustration with the congestion and slow drivers .so i went and brought bluey my cl 500 ive gone down dirt tracks country rds off the beaten track and have never been happier all while mostly under the speed limit 😮 Good honest review keep up the good work
Hey John, good to hear from you and yeah, you make some very good points with respect to the frustration aspect of owning a fast bike and not being able to give it some throttle every so often. I still think it's a great experience to have a bike like that but being able to wring a bikes neck is a lot of fun. And you've got a Burgman! I've got an ADV350 (my first scooter in 40 years) and it's a cracker! Anyway, thanks for stopping by John and good to know you enjoyed the review, all the best, cheers, Phil.
I like the look of it and especially the simplicity I have a NT 1100 which as I approach my 70’s would be so much better I feel the NT is a wonderful machine but the weight is prohibitively high and exhausts me I prefer country lanes and this CL 500 will live happily with my Monkey bike your wonderful review has helped me make my mind up to visit my local dealer in the morning with a view to purchase so many thanks 😊
Good afternoon and thanks very much for your comments. All I can say is that the CL is a lovely, fun and simple, easy bike to ride. It’s like a toy but very effective on back roads. As it’s so easy to use and as opposed to something that takes a load of effort getting out of the garage or moving around, it just gets used more. It’s a great bike and very distinctive. Let me know if you get one! All the best, Phil.
@@80eightReviews hello Phil I have just got back from Honda in Hull having bought a CL 500 Black edition I must say you are spot on with your review I’m going to collect the new bike next Saturday morning
Hey Mike, good to hear from you…Well, the CL is light, slim and super easy to ride so it’s definitely worth a go. Hope it works out for you, cheers, Phil.
Hello - great to hear from you and thanks very much! Really appreciate you stopping by. Orange is the best! ASMR - crikey! So right about the mudguard - it's mostly useless to be honest and very easy to scratch. Still, it's a great bike. All the best, cheers, Phil.
Growing up in the Bauhaus gang who believed “form follows function” I think founder Walter Gropius.would love the look and practicallity of this bike . Even the color means you can find the bike on a foggy night .. The rack means you can bring a rain suit or cold weather gear for the ever changing Northumbrian weather with you . (Remember to bring floss with you next time )..The beauty of this machine is that it is complete unto itself and is making no apoligies for it ....Thank you to Graham from us all for keeping that bit of heaven so beautiful and letting us all see it . The one thing to remember about the American Twinky is that if you have forgotten where you left the thing it will be ready for comsumption a good ten years later .,, Always a pleasure having a ride out with you Phil :)
Good morning Guy - great to hear from you as always. "You can find the bike on a foggy night" - very true, "findable" has to be no.11 on the list of design principles surely! At the moment, the weather is not so much changeable as stuck in a pattern of mostly constant rain and wind with the odd patch of blue sky. Basically, I sit in front on the window, with my waterproofs and helmet on, ready to sprint (I use the term advisedly) to the bike like an old-style 24 hour endurance race. Very well put though "...is making no apologies" It is what it is and personally, I don't think it necessarily is trying to hark back to the past in terms of aesthetics and if it did, it would be way more expensive and I'd probably be much reticent about getting it all snotty and grubby. In that sense then, it's very CL-like! Usable and good for messing about on. That's good intel on the Twinky ha ha ha. Half life of ten years! If I feel the need to start 'prepping' I'll keep that in mind, although surviving the apocalypse by eating Twinkies (or Tunnocks Tea Cakes) doesn't appeal that much...Would a zombie choke on a Twinky I wonder? I'm glad you enjoyed the ride Guy and I will pass on the regards of the (only?) Banjo playing, master potter in CT, to Graham the next time I see him. He does a great and difficult job but loves the area. All the best to you and yours Guy, thanks for dropping by, cheers, Phil.
Nice sum up and very nice photographic views you do! One of the better bikes I’ve tried actually, got on it on a Honda demo day and found it to be the one I did not want to stop riding. Simple straightforward accessibility and as you say, great for smaller roads where it just works and handles very nicely. Great beginner bike too. (And I do love the looks.)
Hey Kristoffer, great to hear from you and thanks for stopping by. Glad you enjoyed the views! Yeah, the CL is a nice, unpretentious bundle of undemanding fun and very useful for exploring little roads - especially those where you might have to turn around at some point. Good to know your experience of the bike was similar. And yes, it does look nice! All the best, Phil.
Saw one in the flesh today for the first time. Sure… I can see where a few quid have been saved here and there, but I think it’s a great looking little bike. Comfy and manageable, too. At the money, I’m having a serious think about one.
Hey Colin, good to hear from you and thanks for stopping by. Totally agree - it's a great looking and very distinctive bike and certainly stands out. I like it a lot and as you say, the deals on them now are incredible - under £5K for a new bike and one that has the CB500X engine in it? An absolute bargain I'd say! I'm thinking about getting another one to see me through the apocalypse! Let me know what you decide to do. All the best, cheers, Phil.
thanks for this video ..... i had the CB500X but i think about buying this one as she was to high for me for an everyday use.. is the riding position is the same as the CB500X ? love the place were you live .. beautiful countryside .... the dream for riding ...
Hello / Bonjour and many thanks for stopping by - it's great to k now you enjoyed the video. As for your question the CL is much lower (and narrower) than the CB500X and I would think that anyone 162cm and above (with average leg measurements for their height) wouldn't have a problem with the bike and it's also very easy to manage. I'd suggest it well worth trying to find one to sit on. Hope that helps and all the best, cheers, Phil.
Hello @pinkiewerewolf (great tag), thanks for dropping by and great to know you enjoyed the video. And yeah, it's a fun, undemanding little bike that is very enjoyable on the right roads. Having ridden bigger bikes for so long I'm finding it really refreshing to be on something I can dominate and use close to the max. And it's orange, which is always good! All the best, greetings from the UK, cheers, Phil.
Cracking video as usual, did consider this bike but went for the new NX500, same engine and I agree you can have fun on the twisties. I also had an ADV350 and wondered if you had a video why you changed.
Hey Gary, thanks for stopping by and glad you enjoyed the video. The NX is a great and much more well rounded choice that is capable of doing pretty much anything…The reason why I got the CL is that I couldn’t get on anything else 😀 That engine though…Is delightful! As for the ADV350 I’ve still got it and will be keeping it for the long term. While it’s not as much fun as thrashing the CL it’s quick, great round corners, brilliant for longer journeys and incredibly comfortable and practical…So it’s staying! All the best, cheers, Phil.
Hey Ian, “ruffty tuffty all rounder” - I think you’ve invented a new genre there! Well done! Glad you enjoyed the video and cheering someone’s day is a first 😀 Cheers, Phil.
Hi Phil. I'm happy to see you riding again! I always enjoy your videos, they are so great visually and the sound is so good. Amazing bud. What a nice bike hey?... I really like it. Those leather pants that you wear, are they warm or too hot for summer?... I'm looking to buy some riding pants and not sure what to buy... Enjoy your riding time. Every second of riding is amazing hey... Absolutely delicious 😂 Thank you sir and have a great day bro.
Hey Francis, how are you doing? Good to hear from you and thanks! Riding is still a little awkward (especially hard braking and right handers) but hey, I can cope with that! And it's a nice little bike to get me back into it and who knows it may stay around for a while. As for the leather jeans - here in the UK they are mostly fine - as it rarely gets above 25 degree's. Above that they do get a little warm but it depends on what you're doing - if you're on the open road and keeping the airflow going, they are fine - but in traffic or slow riding, yeah, they can get uncomfortable from a heat perspective if the ambient temp is > 25 say. So right - every second IS amazing and precious. You too Francis, have a great day, all the best, cheers, Phil.
Great video, i love my cl500 nice to see people on youtube actually giving it some love! Also where did you get the mudflap? I am keen to get one and the ine with the honda badge sounded lovely!
Evening Kevin, thanks for stopping by and great to know you enjoyed the video! As for the mud flap it was off some place on EBay - there’s millions of them about and it’s a universal fitting for any bike, just search for Honda motorcycle mudflap and loads of options will come up. Hope that helps, all the best, Phil.
The CL500 Scrambler is a so well behaved girl, if I had it before 2023 I wouldn’t bought any KTM bike before. With this reliable and nimble bike I have so much fun. Easy to set your feet on the ground gives much more confidence on riding in contrast to the high adventure bikes I had before. A great bike 😍🏍️ For me, 3. Aesthetic ✅ is also check marked 😍👍🏻
Good evening Ulrich - thanks for stopping by and it’s great to hear from you. Fun, nimble, reliable, easy, confidence…You choose the perfect words to describe the CL. And I agree with you…Aesthetics should be checked also 😀 Thanks for watching, all the best, cheers, Phil.
Hello! Good to hear from you and thanks for your comments. If you mean the brown jacket, that's made by Merlin and here's the link - it's a great jacket, warm waterproof and looks good. All the best, cheers, Phil. www.merlinbikegear.shop/products/yoxall-ii-waxed-cotton-jacket?variant=39801993789621
Thank you very much, a pleasure to hear from you John. Yeah, Tunnocks - milk chocolate ones are to be avoided, although in emergencies they will do I guess. I think the gold/blue wrapping also adds a touch of class, if not elegance to them...All the best, cheers, Phil.
Hi Phil, thank you so much for your input! I'm looking for my first bike and I'm hesitating between the cl500 and the triumph 400x scrambler. Do you have any thoughts on that second one ? I will go on a test ride on Saturday. Best
Hello & thank you very much! In answer to your question - I haven't ridden the 400X so I can't make a direct comparison - all I can say is that for the type of riding I wanted to do (and having a lot of experience with single cylinder machines that make the same power as the Triumph) I felt the CL was the better choice and also, I wanted a proven bike with no hassle and which was simple and not so nice that getting it covered in mud wouldn't upset me! The CL has a great engine which is great fun to max out and can hold its own on fast roads. Hope that helps and let me know what you decide to do. All the best, Phil.
Well, hello there Phil! That looks a fine little beastie you have there ... and a great area to ride in too! 🙂 Yeah, the Man17 caps have gone down well all round but maybe best not talk about the pens! (We bought too many and it turns out they have a shelf-life - who knew??? 🤔 🤣) Just some club trivia. We believe the club badge was drawn up by one of the original 17 members, though we're not sure now which one. I re-drew it for the digital age a few years back. The biker outline drawings to each side of the cap were also mine. The trials image is based on a photo of Craig Robinson taken at Clough House, Wildboarclough by our son Andrew at the Northern Experts Trial. The enduro one is an unknown rider at the Long Mynd Enduro, also one of Andrew's shots. he used to shoot for Trial Mag at one time. Andrew was also a Man17er and, as he's also into photography, started his own YT channel which you & your viewers may like to have a peek at, www.youtube.com/@adventurex4883. Neither of us have bikes at the moment, though. Safe riding!
Evening Rick! Well I never - it's been a while! How are you doing? Presumably Mr. Shaw alerted you to the video? Or do you have some kind of M17 copyright algorithm thing that found me out? Yeah, it's a great area to ride around actually, plenty of empty roads and some choice green lanes that are very scenic. It's just a shame Robbies bitter hasn't made it up here yet. Oh dear. I did wonder as the design and archival genius of the M17 whether you were behind the rather fantastic cap design. It's a cracker. Thanks for the club trivia info - that's really interesting. But yeah, let's not talk about the pens ha ha ha. I've just checked out Andrew's channel and it's great! Now I've seen what he can do with a CB500X on those boulder-strewn Derbyshire lanes, I'm more motivated to do something on the CL. I had started to do lots more laning a few years back with a CRF300 and there are some brilliantly scenic BOATS around here. I've had to stop that now (I'm sure Mike told you why) but I'm thinking some gentle summer stuff (on the CL) could be on the cards. If you / he are ever up here on bikes and want a personalised tour of north Northumberland - let me know! I guess I should apologise about slagging off Robinsons Beer - just in case the landlord of whatever pub the M17 meets up in gets to hear. It's probably gone all Hipster now though I'd imagine.... All the best Rick, great to hear from you, cheers, Phil.
Great review! Loved the tea cake (teacake?) analogy. Cheers from Eastern Canada. We've finally gettin' some sunshine here, hope the same is true for you!
Hey Brad, thanks for that and greetings from the UK. Teacake or tea cake? Hmmm…I’m not sure 🤔 As for sunshine, we’re getting the odd few hours or so but it’s still really cold and windy. Still, no snow this year which I’m guessing is not your experience! Roll on summer, stay safe and all the best Brad, cheers, Phil.
thumps up for "equilibrium" and very good review overall! I like, that you compare this bike with a sweet, or check the design with design values. Nice pictures too! I´am a new rider on a 125cc Honda. I consider to get this bike next, because i like this minimalistic style. (i´m also interested in kawa w800) Greetings from germany.
Hey Martin, great to hear from you and thanks for your comments - great to know you enjoyed the review! The CL is a great bike as your next move from a 125, as would the W800. With those two, I guess the looks are really going to come into it! That W800 bevel drive engine looks amazing. Personally, if I got the W800 (and have considered one in the past) I wouldn't want to ride it through big puddles and mess about in mud and gravel but with the CL, I can't help myself! Let me know what you'd decide to do, cheers, Phil.
Good morning Mr. Flying Eye - well, the CL would / is be brilliant for that. let me know what you think if you do get one. Thanks for stopping by, cheers, Phil.
Just got this bike a month ago. First bike ive bought. Responsive and torquey. Looks a little mean and the trellis frame is a bonus. My only thing I don't like is my shin hitting the engine case on the brake foot.
Morning, thanks for stopping and it’s good to know you’re enjoying your CL. Ah yes, thinking about it the engine case does stick out quite a lot and does get in the way a little when feet down. It’s still a great bike though! All the best, cheers, Phil.
Hey Chris, how are you doing? Thanks as always for your kind comments - it’s always good to know the usual nonsense is appreciated 😀 I sold the Guzzi last year around 10 months after my accident as I still wasn’t able to ride it so I didn’t want it wasting away in the garage. That’s when I got the scooter as it was the only machine I could get on and ride. Since then though, I had more surgery last August which has improved the bend in my knee and the CL was a bike I could easily get on and just about get my right foot on the peg. Things are still improving so I’ve got my eye on another Guzzi 😀 As to your question, given everything that’s happened it’s difficult to say and there’s probably not much difference, but the Guzzi seat is low and therefore the distance to the foot pegs is I think less than the CL which is why I could get on it I guess. Hopefully I’ll get to try a Guzzi out soon and I’m not giving up on them! Hope that helps Chris, all the best and more stuff coming soon…Cheers, Phil.
Good morning Mr. Arongitis - great to hear from you and many thanks for your comments - glad you enjoyed it! As for the maintenance intervals, for the CL it's an annual service annually / 8000 miles - oil and filter etc, with valve inspection at 16,000 miles. To be honest with these engines as long as they've got oil in them they'll go forever. Hope that helps, cheers, Phil.
Evening Martine, great to hear from you and thanks for stopping by - great to know you enjoyed the video and the countryside. Hope all goes well with your own CL and you enjoy it as much as I do, cheers, Phil.
As someone who wasn’t keen on the look of the bike ( mainly the area between the tank and headstock) I have to say that now I know it’s a Tunnock tea cake I find the whole bike far more appealing 😁. I think it definitely looks better in orange than the other colours I’ve seen and it does sound like a cracking little bike. I totally agree that smaller capacity bikes shouldn’t keep being labelled just as beginners bikes, they can be great fun for any rider! Know what you mean about Robies ale !😂
Hello Mr. Rowland - very good to hear from you and it's great to know that the Tunnocks Teacake comparison has swung it for you! The CL is a great bike and there are some fabulous deals on them at the moment although it's a little sad perhaps that the bike hasn't been a big seller due to the looks...I still maintain it's different and distinctive and very refreshing compared to the 'Bonneville' archetype which seems to be the standard these days for a good looking bike. Yeah Robbie's Bitter - I had some right gruesome pints down in Stockport in the 1980's...Have you ever tried 'Old Tom' ? They only used to sell it halves I seem to remember but I had two once and staggered out of the pub feeling very worse for wear and had gut rot for a week. I'm sure it's er, improved though. All the best, cheers, Phil.
Hey Robert, good to hear from you - the top box is Givi E47 Blade which I usually use on my ADV Scooter. Givi don’t do a specific rack for the CL so I fitted a rack I found on Amazon and then mounted a Givi universal top plate to the rack (the universal plate comes with the top box) for top box. It seems to work quite well and there’s loads of space in it. Hope that helps, cheers, Phil.
Excelent video quality! Is good to know things of my bike 🤗 I've been riding my CL500 for 1500km as my first ever bike, and i love it Do you know if you can fit a topbox (Is that how it's called? the box on the back?) other than Hondas one?
Hey Dani, thanks for stopping by and glad you enjoyed the video and continue to enjoy your CL500. That’s good to know! As for the top box / yes that what I’ve done. I bought a cheap rack from Amazon which had a flat plate with lots of holes in it. I then attached a Givi universal mounting plate to that which means I can use my Givi monolock top box - which usually sits on my scooter. All in all a lot cheaper than the Honda solution! Hope that helps, cheers, Phil.
No problem Dani, if you buy a new monolock top box they all come with a universal mounting plate then you just need to work out how to attach it to the rack. On mine I drilled a few holes, used some bolts I had and backed it up with a few cable ties. It seems to work just fine. Cheers, Phil.
Hey Mike, thanks for stopping by. And exactly! Also, there are places I probably could go on a bigger, more expensive bike but wouldn't because I'd be kinda too precious about the bike. Whereas with the CL, anything goes. It's great and tons of fun. All the best, cheers, Phil.
When I was semi considering one I was impressed by the luggage accessory which was like a satchel one sided pillion bag that just clipped in. Seemed really handy Glad your still enjoying it mate
Thanks very much, and yeah, the little satchel luggage bag looks really good - it’s probably way to stylish for me though - hence the rather beautiful top-box 😀 Either way, I am enjoying it very much and I’m soooooo looking forward to a few more dry and warm days - just like everyone else in the UK. Great to hear from you, hope all is well with you, cheers, Phil.
Lovely to see you enjoying two-wheeled life again. When you said as a comparison you were going for a cake / biscuit hybrid I thought it would be a Jaffa Cake, especially with the Honda's orange tank. As a Scot this may seem blasphemous, but Tunnock's Teacakes ... are vile!
Thanks Jim! Great to hear from you and blimey! Whatever next? You'll be telling me you don't like Irn Bru next! Actually though, you are right. As soon as I muttered the words "biscuit / cake hybrid" I started to have second thoughts and then when I bit into the thing (as you can probably tell) I knew I'd made a significant mistake. It was too late to ride 40 miles and go and get some Jaffa Cakes so I soldiered on. I will make amends in a future video, I promise. All the best, cheers, Phil.
@@80eightReviews as it happens I don't like Irn Bru either! (Picky git). Looks, smells and tastes like rusty water with sugar in it. l live in York so the hopefully the SNP Culture Police won't find me...
Ha ha well Jim, I think you’ll be safe especially as the lot of ‘em are likely to be behind bars at some point soon 😀 Secondhand motorhome review coming soon..
It could do with a rev counter. As far as smaller bikes go [sub-500cc], the CL is probably as good as it gets. I think the CL looks good, too, especially in orange? The flyscreen is the one Honda accessory I'd fit. The mudflap is a great idea. My B-King used to frighten me. Which do you prefer: the CL500 or ADV350? How's the leg, Phil? Nick
Morning Nick, good to hear from you again. I agree a rev-counter would be nice and good to know you like the Orange - it's got a really nice metal flake in the sunshine. Lovely. And everyone loves a good mudflap right? Despite the comments, I'm sure it must do something. B-King, hmm, yeah, quite a thing. It's ability to take you into (and out of) corners way faster than expected was always a surprise...For me personally, the paraphrased quote by Casey Stoner summed up my time and thoughts about the bike "ambition outweighed my talent"! Loved it though and a total experience. CL or ADV : Tricky question! For excitement and fun = CL500 for ease of use, comfort and practicality the ADV. So they cover different bases really - if you use them for what they are good at and not for what they are not, it's a dead heat. It just depends what I'm doing at the time. As for the leg - continues to make small improvements thanks Nick. I think the bend has reached its maximum and I can now use a push-bike so my focus now is more strength and stamina. Hope you're keeping well Nick, all the best, cheers, Phil.
You are right. Some features a re missing, but that was on purpose in my opinion. Having just crucial things makes it light and stylish in a way. I test rode it. You can drop by to check my content when you can. Cheers.
Good afternoon Michele, thanks very much for stopping by and glad you enjoyed the review. To answer your question, the top box is the Blade 47. Hope that helps, all the best, cheers, Phil.
I do like the honda 500's but seriously wish Honda would bring back the CB400 Superfour PB1 to the Euro market. I used to have a '94 standard and later a '99 Vtec version and I swear both felt much quicker than the CL I recently tried out.
Hello! Yeah I know what you mean and I think you’re right - that era of 400/4’s had great engines. I’m very interested in whether Kawasaki will use the new ZXR400 engine in something else as it sounds like an awful lot of fun. All the best, thanks for stopping by, cheers, Phil.
Cheers Phil! In my eyes CL500 is a little quirky, but very cool bike, save perhaps for the ugly exhaust can. But most bikes these days have ugly cans... Anyway, why would you even care what somebody else thinks... As always, it was a pleasure watching your video! PS: I wouldn`t buy it b/c I cannot afford a third bike :)))
Hey Goran, how are you doing? Good to hear from you again! Quirky - exactly! And as for caring for what people say...Not really ha ha ha. Glad you enjoyed the video and actually, as you can see it's more about just the joy of getting out and about on a bike and it doesn't really matter what it is. Can't afford a third bike? Ha ha well, all I'll say is that three is the magic number! All the best Goran, cheers, Phil.
@@80eightReviews to be honest, I must be getting old, recently I saw a dark blue Guzzi V7 Special and started fantasizing... of having an extra 8 grand :))) mind you, never before in my life have I had a single thought about any classic/retro/cruiser bike...
Usual informative review - thanks for the entertainment. I still wish Honda had built the little scrambler on the CB500 platform rather than the Rebel frame ie. twin discs up front, USD forks and bigger tank. That would have ticked the aesthetic and practicality boxes more firmly for me.
Thanks very much Jane, great to know you enjoyed the video. Yes, the CB500 platform could have been really nice as you say - I think there is a nice modernistic take on a traditional looking bike in there somewhere. The CB350 (which we don't get in Europe) could be a good base also. We can hope...All the best, cheers, Phil.
Hey Farhan, absolutely - and it's distinctive which is great! I did change my mind on the teacakes and finally went for Jaffa Cakes, but hey, I'm not going to quibble! Anyway, great to hear from you Farhan, all the best, cheers, Phil.
As someone who appreciates single track tarmac in beautiful scenery (the best of which have grass growing up the middle!) please would it be possible to add a note within the video or in the information as to the locations we see in your work? Single tracking - as I call it - isn't something that appeals to my riding pals who grumble about potholes, gravel, sheep or puddles and generally of not getting anywhere fast. So while I enjoy the bonhomie of group riding it is a somewhat singular interest and that suits me fine - much like riding solo rather than burdened with pillion! Roads around Dent are pleasant, Jordan Lane for example or Cam Gill Road in Coverdale, the Pennines of course and those 'empty' lands* which still require further exploration by myself around the Forest of Bowland, the south East/West of Carlisle and those south of Scarborough * empty as in farming communities, quiet towns & villages e.g. the opposite of the Lake District, Devils Bridge, Whitby/Scarborough and other popular biking destinations 😂 I am hoping you might add more to my existing list of quiet and pleasant roads and even, revive your recent short series of these found in Northumberland and the Borders. Best wishes 🙂
Good afternoon Mr S1000 - great to hear from you and thanks for taking the time to comment. "Single Tracking" Hmmm...Yes, that's a good description! Potholes, gravel and puddles - I mean what's not to like! Thanks for the suggestions of some locations to try out and yes, I'd agree with the Forest of Bowland - it's like one of the those mysterious lands that is rarely visited and I must have whizzed by on the M6 a million times. But that's a good suggestion about adding location notes - I'll do that going forwards. In terms of this particular video - checkout "Hethpool" - that's where the 'Design' segment was done, while a lot of the others were minor roads between Chatton and Eglingham. If you're in this neck of the woods and find yourself on the A697 heading to/from Wooler - anything on the east side like Lilburn, Old Bewick are lovely, bumpy and little. I'll do some more riding videos when it's gets warmer! Thanks again and all the best, cheers, Phil.
@@80eightReviews Thank you very much for your response, I think there'll be many more like me, reaching for the road map and plotting a route to these wonderful locations. Without guidance like this it's an awful long way sometimes simply getting to the location itself & then taking pot luck in trying to stumble across these peaceful roads. So your notations will help me in particular to cease faffing about!! I will admit to pausing your reviews if I see a road sign etc. indicating your whereabouts. Then follows a bit of back and forth to actually be able to read the blooming thing 😂
Hey Johnny, good to hear from you and that green, might be the best colour ever! Not that I’m biased or anything 😀 Great to know you’re enjoying it, cheers, Phil.
Hi really enjoyed your video. I’ve got to be honest the CL 500 is not the prettiest but I agree with you 100%. It looks like a rides Bike its gone up in my estimation Could you tell me was the video filmed in the border country Cheviots. PS I know Mike and Rick I am an ex Manchester 17 member. Look forward to your adventures on the Honda. Pete.
Blimey! Mr Cunningham! It's been a while! How are you doing Pete? Great to hear from you...What are you riding these days? I have (scary) memories of that BMW trail(?) bike you 'created' and it blotting out the sun on various trails around Derbyshire :-) The CL is / was a great little bike and as everyone hates them there are some very good deals on them at the moment - like £5K for a new bike that will be much more fun and quicker than say a Royal Enfield or the 400 Triumphs. I've sold mine because post broken leg and recovery, it got me back into a bit of gentle trail riding so I've now got a CRF300 Rally which is a cracker. Anyway, yes, the video was filmed in north Northumberland with a lot of the shots in and around the English side of the Cheviots - particularly around Hethpool. There's lot's of single track crumbling tarmac and general snot - great roads. The other more green and gentle bits are around Wooler. I now live in Berwick-upon-Tweed hence the the locations and it's brilliant - quiet, no traffic and I've not seen a pint of Robbies for 17 years! If you're up this way, give me a shout. Right, gotta go - hope all is well with you and the family Pete and say hello to Al and Geoff for me, cheers, Phil.
Hello Mr. Dreddi - Yeah, Tunnocks Teacakes are a good guilty pleasure definitely, I'd probably go for a Tunnocks caramel wafer (dark chocolate) if I had the choice though? Triumph 400 Scrambler...Probably not to be honest. I'm not a big fan of Triumph retro's as based on my experience with the 1200XE (the dullest engine I've ever ridden, plus lots of annoying issues) I don't want to go near one again. Also, the Bonneville design cues, for me, are just too over-used and formulaic. I reckon I wouldn't want to abuse the Triumph 400 like the CL also. With a Honda Twin it just kinda shrugs it off so for what I want to do, the CL is spot on plus it's handily got a little more power (but not too much). Now..If you said Fantic 500 Rally, well, I might consider it!!
Hello John, thanks very much! I will check the local border controls, tariffs and border controls and see if I can send you a package of Tunnocks finest...Important question though - dark or milk chocolate? All the best, glad you enjoyed the video, cheers, Phil.
Ha ha yeah…and that’s what I was thinking about during the comparison section and kept fluffing the line - although with a gob full of sticky gloop that’s easy to do 😀 Next time! Dark chocolate Jaffa cake - lovely…Although, I fancy a wagon wheel now 🤔 Cheers Andrew, all the best, Phil.
Hey Ian, thanks for stopping by. I’m getting around 67mpg so with a 12litre/3.6 gallon tank that’s around 175 mile range. Typically I get to one bar left on the fuel gauge at around the 150 mile mark, so it sounds about right. Hope that helps, cheers, Phil.
I really wanted to like both this bike and the new NX500. However, last week I went for test rides on both bikes and ended up with pins and needles on my right foot which still persisted over 48hrs later. Unfortunately I found the bikes to be buzzy in nature and felt the engine seemed to be revving higher than it actually was. I was so disappointed as I was seriously considering them as a possible retirement present to myself. I still love the style of both machines but unfortunately they’re not for me.
Hey Wozza59, yeah it does feel busy and there is a buzz around what feels like 6000 revs on the CL500. Above that at least on mine, it seems to go away once it's really spinning. I spend most of my time riding it like a 2-Stroke - either pinning it everywhere or on the overrun and it's great. These are engines that work better when worked hard but on long / constant throttle kinda roads it is a bit tiresome. Surprised the NX is like that (despite having the same engine) as it's much more focused towards touring or long distance duty. Maybe it needs a Norton style Isolastic frame...All the best, cheers, Phil.
Afternoon Stephen, hope you're well - well that's around 2.6 UK gallons and I was getting around 65MPG - which sounds about right as I tend to go to around 130 miles then look for somewhere to fill up and am able to get 2 gallons or so in the tank. Hope that helps, cheers, Phil.
@@80eightReviews I'm good, I'm the proud owner of a Yamaha Xmax 250cc . I was about to buy the ADV when someone at work asked me if I was interested in their dad's 2017 scooter. I love being on the road again. Hoping to upgrade to the ADV in 2025 now
Well, loving being on the road is ALL that matters - great to hear that. And in 2025 I'm sure there will be some updates to the ADV to look forward to, cheers, Phil.
Hello! I think the air filter is accessed on the left hand side of the bike - under the left side panel and then there’s another cover on the side of the air box - take that off and that’s where the filter is. Hope that helps, cheers, Phil.
Hello, thanks for stopping by and that’s impressive mileage for any size of engine! The reason for my low mileage (although enough for a review I hope!) is that when I bought it, it was 14months on from a very bad bike accident (broken femur, knee in bits, collarbone, ribs, etc) followed by more surgery on the knee in July 2023. And I can only ride it for 2 hours at a time…Then that was followed by some horrible weather in the UK! I’ll make up for it though 😀 All the best, cheers, Phil.
Hello, thanks for stopping by - must admit I didn’t really notice them except when paddling about sometimes, so didn’t mention them. But yeah, you’re right / they’re not in the best position, still given how good the bike is I can live with them. All the best, cheers, Phil.
Ha ha, well, of course I mostly kinda disagree Jay! My personal opinion is that it's not really trying to be retro therefore can't be fully faux for that reason - unlike say those bikes which have fake Amal carbs! Ha ha ha. Honda could have done that easily (and made it more expensive) but instead it's closer to the original CL concept of take a road bike, slap a few bits on it and make it better for gravel. Yes, the original CL was lovely (well, from the exhaust side it was) but the CB360 it was based on was a good starting point, whereas the Rebel 500, as you say is a little more, er, challenging to do anything with! But yeah, there a bit of faux-ness about it, mixed with a bit of weirdness. But then I also like the SCR900... All the best, cheers, Phil.
Good afternoon! Well, I really like how it looks also - I'm just not sure if I'm seeing the same curves as your good self :-) All the best and thanks for stopping by, cheers, Phil.
WHAT QUALIFIES YOU TO REVIEW THIS BIKE? ITS CLEARLY A SINNIS DISGUISED AS A HONDA! WHAT NEXT? YOU RIDING A PUCH MAXI BUT GIVING AN OPINION ON A HONDA GOLDWING? BEFORE YOU ASK, NO I HAVE NOT GOT A LAP COCK PROBCEM. BUT NOT ACC THE KEYS MAY NELESSARICY BE IN THE RIGHT PCALE! YOURS FRUSTRATED, JIM. P.s. My mate Jon thought it was a great review. He was particularly impressed with the wheel spins since he tried it once in a field, lost control and fell off! (Spot the deliberate mistake?) 😮
Perfect comment on so many levels that I don’t know where to START. John! LAP COCK, Eric Morecambe reference, outrage, sublime 😁 Jonhnny! Just PURRFLECT! Actuwally, I’ve not ridden the bike or any bike - just saw it in a window while out to get my talbets. I’m a fishmonger by the way. Like me scallops, me. Bye, Phil.
![fellow fellow - พรุ่งนี้ไม่มีใครรู้ feat. INK WARUNTORN [OFFICIAL MV]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/QP6JyjYx_W0/mqdefault.jpg)
I ring the neck of my Honda 500 - an XBR which has even fewer ponies than the CL. Best fun there is to be had. The CL looks good to my eye! Love your videos. Thanks for putting all that work in.
Hey Matt! Thanks for stopping by and you’ve got an XBR500! I’ve always wanted one of those! I used to see and hear a beautiful maroon one years ago and it was brilliant. Just love those big old Honda singles. I had an XR600 and it never, ever let me down. Brilliant machines.
Thanks again for your comments and it’s great to know the work is appreciated. If you’re ever thumping by Berwick, let me know! All the best, cheers, Phil.
Hi Phil, not sure you'd like my modified XBR - there's a video on my channel. However, it is slimmer than standard and will be getting a barrel and piston from the XL600R it shares it's stroke with, so more oomph to maybe match the CL😊
@@mattcc6603Hey Matt, your XBR build is fabulous - love it! The tank is sheer genius, looks proper. Well done 👍
Thanks, Phil. Coming from a man of such discerning taste, it means a lot !
Just want to add that although I believe that it's a good looking bike; painting the fly screen black would lend it a touch of elegance.
Hey Chris…Have you seen any of my previous attempts at painting anything? 🫣 Yeah, that bad 😀
Good afternoon Phil.
Has been 16 minutes of pleasure watching your video.
Fantastic review, well for me your quality as a photographer is as important as the bike or even more, great scenery, quite a bit healthy envy by the way, great tracks with those hills.
As I do too, eating something sweet outdoors rise its flavor and taste.
Never lose your sense of humor, really smart.
I hope you can enjoy and ride from now on with the permit of the weather and the lords of war (as things looks like).
Anyway, a 10 out of 10 as always Phil.
Great to see you, bye and take care.
Hey Alex, really good to hear from you again - how are you doing? All good I hope. I’m very glad you enjoyed the review and appreciated the shots…As you probably know by now, the videos are 50% about the scenery and landscapes, 25% editing practice and 25% the bikes….😀
Oh and a little sweet treat every so often 😋
And likewise Alex, so good to hear from you, wishing you a great summer despite whatever happens, all the best, cheers, Phil.
Hello Phil, fantastic filmography. So good to see you out and about enjoying life. Keep on riding. Cheers
Good evening Bilal - really good to hear from you again and many thanks for your comments - really appreciate it. It's so good to be out!! More stuff coming soon I hope - all the best, cheers, Phil.
Hi Phil, great video, mate! In my experience you cannot go wrong with a Honda! As you know, I ride a VFR800 from 2001 (Y registration), which is pre-V Tech, but includes fuel injection & mechanical cam driven! The best bike I’ve owned in the 46 years I’ve held a licence! The CL500 is a brilliant bike too, mainly because you love riding it! Take it easy & keep it shiny side up! 🏍️😎👍
Evening Paul, good to hear from you - how are you doing, all good? Sounds like the mighty VFR is still going strong and yeah, you kinda can’t go wrong with a Honda, plus, of course you do meet the nicest people on a Honda 😀
You’re so right though, the best machines are the ones you enjoy riding regardless of age, power, looks…And the CL is a little cracker 😀
Oh and the plan is to stay shiny side up this time! Likewise though Paul, hope you and yours stay safe and have a great summer, all the best, cheers, Phil.
Most English moto content I found on YT. Greetings from Poland, I’m super close to buy myself a CL500:)
Thank you very much and greetings from the UK. Let me know how you get on with the CL if you decide to get one. All the best, have a good afternoon, cheers, Phil.
What an excellent video. I'm 39 years old, have been riding for over half my life and I now see myself downsizing from an XSR 900. It's what you said, I can't exploit that bike, it wants to tear my head off. It's fun, but I would rather own a bike that I can ride to its limit, instead of being afraid to rip it. Fantastic observation, put in words how I feel about my current situation. The SCL500 is on my shortlist.
Hey Marcello, great to hear from you and many thanks for your kind comments.
Well, I had an XSR a few years back and I know exactly what you mean - it's a very lively bike and as you say, it''s a lot of fun but can be tiring and kind of unsatisfying to use given the amount of places / times you make use of it are few and far between. I reckon I scratched about 25% of the XSR's capabilities - with the SCL, probably 75% which is just great and makes me feel like I'm riding it as opposed to just being along for the ride!
Anyway, let me know what you decide to do - all the best Marcello, cheers, Phil.
Your having us on, that bike has unused tyres! Top tip, never put Tunnocks Tea Cakes in ADV under seat storage if riding more than 5 feet, you'll know why! Your input is priceless, thank you once again!
Ha ha Mr Doolittle, how are you doing? Very good to hear from you and I’m guessing that a Teacake under the seat in an ADV would result in a very messy, very sticky pool of melted teacake….I won’t be trying that out anytime soon 😀 Glad you enjoyed the review, look after yourself, all the best, cheers, Phil.
I enjoyed that video immensely, really well edited etc. I've had mine since March and just reached 1000 miles, and I love it. I'm down South now, but grew up in the North East.......
Hey David, good to hear from you and many thanks for your kind comments. Hopefully the video triggered some good memories of growing up in the NE! I agree though, the CL is a great, fun, easy and accessible bike and is a lot of fun in a lot of different situations. It's a shame that it's been kinda ignored purely on the basis of looks (though I think it looks very interesting) still, there are some great bargains out there. Future classic!
All the best, cheers, Phil.
Very nice video. I think we should go back to simple bikes.
Thanks very much David and yes, there is definitely merit in simplicity. Great to hear from you, all the best, cheers, Phil.
I'm considering one of these but may wait until news of a Honda 750 scrambler is confirmed..These look great in my opinion,even the exhaust.
Hey Howard, great to hear from you and yes, the CL is a great and different looking bike and the exhaust is the best bit! As the rumour of a 750 version...I'd not heard that...Now that would be nice! All the best, cheers, Phil.
Beautifully filmed, as usual. Nice to see the biscuits/cake back but was that tea ? In some hipster tea brewing device? Also, booze can be talked about but must also make an appearance IMHO. Take care,
Thanks very much Mr Woodster, it’s good to know the work is appreciated. Hipster tea brewing device ha ha ha. It’s a modern day teapot, nothing more than that with loose leaf Assam tea in it - none of this herbal chai nonsense, promise! Someone gave me a cup of loose leaf tea last year and the difference in flavour to teabags is incredible, so while it’s a bit of a faff I’d highly recommend it.
As for booze and not making an appearance..Yeah, I get you but have you ever tried Robinsons? That’s one of the main reasons I moved away from the NW 15 years ago 🤣 But, point taken - I’ll try harder next time 😀
Likewise, take care and all the best, cheers, Phil.
I have a Honda CL500 in blue with the white headlight fairing. I only passed my full motorcycle licence 9 months ago, and the CL is my first ever bike. I adore it, I really do. In the 9 months I've had the bike, I've commuted on it every day I can except for icy conditions (my girlfriends choice, not mine). My longest ride was Chester, where I live over to Sheffield to visit my brother and his boyfriend. I took the bike over snakes pass. It was probably one of the best days of my life to date. Great videos, and it's nice to see this bike has such a commited following. Love your bike in orange. it's stunning ! I am thinking of starting an owners club here in the UK for ride outs and the like. It's an ugly duckling if you're blind, to me, it's the most stunning swan !
Hey James, great to hear from you and many thanks for dropping by. It's good hearing how much you're enjoying the CL500! I do think it's a much underrated bike. Also, I know the Snake Pass very well as I used to live not too far away and it was one of my favourite roads. Well, good luck if you decide to start up the CL community, safe riding, all the best, Phil.
Thousand miles in on mine and have loved every single one of them. Amazing review!
Thanks very much! Great to know you’re enjoying the CL as much as I am! All the best, cheers, Phil.
Excellent 🎥. Test rode the CL500 last summer I Düsseldorf and was also impressed with the economy, 3.3 Lit pro 100Km
Thank you very much! Great to know you enjoyed the review and also the bike on your test ride. Hope all is well with you, cheers, Phil.
That’s over 90mpg if my calculations are approximately correct, impressive!
I’ve just come back from a week and over 2000 km away on my 500X. It’s average consumption was 3.1 litres per 100 km.
@davidmatthews3093 Sounds good David!
Ive got one in blue phil and a burgman 400 .icouldnt agree with you more i recently sold my honda x11 aka naked blackbird i was geeting to much frustration with the congestion and slow drivers .so i went and brought bluey my cl 500 ive gone down dirt tracks country rds off the beaten track and have never been happier all while mostly under the speed limit 😮 Good honest review keep up the good work
Hey John, good to hear from you and yeah, you make some very good points with respect to the frustration aspect of owning a fast bike and not being able to give it some throttle every so often. I still think it's a great experience to have a bike like that but being able to wring a bikes neck is a lot of fun.
And you've got a Burgman! I've got an ADV350 (my first scooter in 40 years) and it's a cracker!
Anyway, thanks for stopping by John and good to know you enjoyed the review, all the best, cheers, Phil.
I like the look of it and especially the simplicity I have a NT 1100 which as I approach my 70’s would be so much better I feel the NT is a wonderful machine but the weight is prohibitively high and exhausts me I prefer country lanes and this CL 500 will live happily with my Monkey bike your wonderful review has helped me make my mind up to visit my local dealer in the morning with a view to purchase so many thanks 😊
Good afternoon and thanks very much for your comments. All I can say is that the CL is a lovely, fun and simple, easy bike to ride. It’s like a toy but very effective on back roads. As it’s so easy to use and as opposed to something that takes a load of effort getting out of the garage or moving around, it just gets used more. It’s a great bike and very distinctive.
Let me know if you get one!
All the best, Phil.
@@80eightReviews hello Phil I have just got back from Honda in Hull having bought a CL 500 Black edition I must say you are spot on with your review I’m going to collect the new bike next Saturday morning
Oooh! Great news! Hope you get some good weather week and let me know how you get on, cheers, Phil.
I’m disabled and 56 years old… that bike would be good for Me
Hey Mike, good to hear from you…Well, the CL is light, slim and super easy to ride so it’s definitely worth a go. Hope it works out for you, cheers, Phil.
Love your vids. ASMR here ;-) Thank you. Got the orange one too. Why are the mudguard so short on modern bikes? Grrrr!
Hello - great to hear from you and thanks very much! Really appreciate you stopping by. Orange is the best! ASMR - crikey! So right about the mudguard - it's mostly useless to be honest and very easy to scratch. Still, it's a great bike. All the best, cheers, Phil.
Growing up in the Bauhaus gang who believed “form follows function” I think founder Walter Gropius.would love the look and practicallity of this bike . Even the color means you can find the bike on a foggy night .. The rack means you can bring a rain suit or cold weather gear for the ever changing Northumbrian weather with you . (Remember to bring floss with you next time )..The beauty of this machine is that it is complete unto itself and is making no apoligies for it ....Thank you to Graham from us all for keeping that bit of heaven so beautiful and letting us all see it . The one thing to remember about the American Twinky is that if you have forgotten where you left the thing it will be ready for comsumption a good ten years later .,, Always a pleasure having a ride out with you Phil :)
Good morning Guy - great to hear from you as always. "You can find the bike on a foggy night" - very true, "findable" has to be no.11 on the list of design principles surely!
At the moment, the weather is not so much changeable as stuck in a pattern of mostly constant rain and wind with the odd patch of blue sky. Basically, I sit in front on the window, with my waterproofs and helmet on, ready to sprint (I use the term advisedly) to the bike like an old-style 24 hour endurance race.
Very well put though "...is making no apologies" It is what it is and personally, I don't think it necessarily is trying to hark back to the past in terms of aesthetics and if it did, it would be way more expensive and I'd probably be much reticent about getting it all snotty and grubby. In that sense then, it's very CL-like! Usable and good for messing about on.
That's good intel on the Twinky ha ha ha. Half life of ten years! If I feel the need to start 'prepping' I'll keep that in mind, although surviving the apocalypse by eating Twinkies (or Tunnocks Tea Cakes) doesn't appeal that much...Would a zombie choke on a Twinky I wonder?
I'm glad you enjoyed the ride Guy and I will pass on the regards of the (only?) Banjo playing, master potter in CT, to Graham the next time I see him. He does a great and difficult job but loves the area.
All the best to you and yours Guy, thanks for dropping by, cheers, Phil.
Nice sum up and very nice photographic views you do!
One of the better bikes I’ve tried actually, got on it on a Honda demo day and found it to be the one I did not want to stop riding.
Simple straightforward accessibility and as you say, great for smaller roads where it just works and handles very nicely. Great beginner bike too. (And I do love the looks.)
Hey Kristoffer, great to hear from you and thanks for stopping by. Glad you enjoyed the views!
Yeah, the CL is a nice, unpretentious bundle of undemanding fun and very useful for exploring little roads - especially those where you might have to turn around at some point. Good to know your experience of the bike was similar. And yes, it does look nice! All the best, Phil.
Saw one in the flesh today for the first time. Sure… I can see where a few quid have been saved here and there, but I think it’s a great looking little bike. Comfy and manageable, too. At the money, I’m having a serious think about one.
Hey Colin, good to hear from you and thanks for stopping by. Totally agree - it's a great looking and very distinctive bike and certainly stands out. I like it a lot and as you say, the deals on them now are incredible - under £5K for a new bike and one that has the CB500X engine in it? An absolute bargain I'd say! I'm thinking about getting another one to see me through the apocalypse!
Let me know what you decide to do.
All the best, cheers, Phil.
Will do, Phil. Thanks for the great content.
The best SCL500 review yet. Great work 👍
Hello Mr. AdventureUndone - gosh - thanks very much - it's really good to know the work is appreciated. Thanks again, all the best, Phil.
thanks for this video ..... i had the CB500X but i think about buying this one as she was to high for me for an everyday use.. is the riding position is the same as the CB500X ?
love the place were you live .. beautiful countryside .... the dream for riding ...
Hello / Bonjour and many thanks for stopping by - it's great to k now you enjoyed the video. As for your question the CL is much lower (and narrower) than the CB500X and I would think that anyone 162cm and above (with average leg measurements for their height) wouldn't have a problem with the bike and it's also very easy to manage. I'd suggest it well worth trying to find one to sit on.
Hope that helps and all the best, cheers, Phil.
Excellent video on the CL500, or SCL500 here in the states. Such a tempting bike for my area.
Hello @pinkiewerewolf (great tag), thanks for dropping by and great to know you enjoyed the video. And yeah, it's a fun, undemanding little bike that is very enjoyable on the right roads. Having ridden bigger bikes for so long I'm finding it really refreshing to be on something I can dominate and use close to the max. And it's orange, which is always good!
All the best, greetings from the UK, cheers, Phil.
Great video, thank you!
Hey Dean, my pleasure and thank you very much for stopping by and taking the time to comment.
All the best, cheers, Phil.
Cracking video as usual, did consider this bike but went for the new NX500, same engine and I agree you can have fun on the twisties. I also had an ADV350 and wondered if you had a video why you changed.
Hey Gary, thanks for stopping by and glad you enjoyed the video. The NX is a great and much more well rounded choice that is capable of doing pretty much anything…The reason why I got the CL is that I couldn’t get on anything else 😀 That engine though…Is delightful!
As for the ADV350 I’ve still got it and will be keeping it for the long term. While it’s not as much fun as thrashing the CL it’s quick, great round corners, brilliant for longer journeys and incredibly comfortable and practical…So it’s staying!
All the best, cheers, Phil.
Your videos always cheer my day. I think I would describe the CL as a ruffty tuffty allrounder. Great production as normal.
Hey Ian, “ruffty tuffty all rounder” - I think you’ve invented a new genre there! Well done! Glad you enjoyed the video and cheering someone’s day is a first 😀
Cheers, Phil.
@@80eightReviews hahaha you can use that strap line in your next video
@@ianfutcher1518 Thanks Ian! I'll share 50% of the ad revenue with you - just spend the 17p wisely....
@@80eightReviews I can feel an impulse buy coming on ……
Hi Phil.
I'm happy to see you riding again!
I always enjoy your videos, they are so great visually and the sound is so good. Amazing bud.
What a nice bike hey?... I really like it.
Those leather pants that you wear, are they warm or too hot for summer?... I'm looking to buy some riding pants and not sure what to buy...
Enjoy your riding time. Every second of riding is amazing hey... Absolutely delicious 😂
Thank you sir and have a great day bro.
Hey Francis, how are you doing? Good to hear from you and thanks! Riding is still a little awkward (especially hard braking and right handers) but hey, I can cope with that! And it's a nice little bike to get me back into it and who knows it may stay around for a while.
As for the leather jeans - here in the UK they are mostly fine - as it rarely gets above 25 degree's. Above that they do get a little warm but it depends on what you're doing - if you're on the open road and keeping the airflow going, they are fine - but in traffic or slow riding, yeah, they can get uncomfortable from a heat perspective if the ambient temp is > 25 say.
So right - every second IS amazing and precious. You too Francis, have a great day, all the best, cheers, Phil.
Thank you very much , this side of the pond appreciates your input
Hey Anthony, thanks very much and greetings from the other side of the pond, hope you’re doing well, cheers, Phil.
Great video, i love my cl500 nice to see people on youtube actually giving it some love! Also where did you get the mudflap? I am keen to get one and the ine with the honda badge sounded lovely!
Evening Kevin, thanks for stopping by and great to know you enjoyed the video! As for the mud flap it was off some place on EBay - there’s millions of them about and it’s a universal fitting for any bike, just search for Honda motorcycle mudflap and loads of options will come up. Hope that helps, all the best, Phil.
The CL500 Scrambler is a so well behaved girl, if I had it before 2023 I wouldn’t bought any KTM bike before. With this reliable and nimble bike I have so much fun. Easy to set your feet on the ground gives much more confidence on riding in contrast to the high adventure bikes I had before. A great bike 😍🏍️
For me,
3. Aesthetic ✅
is also check marked 😍👍🏻
Good evening Ulrich - thanks for stopping by and it’s great to hear from you. Fun, nimble, reliable, easy, confidence…You choose the perfect words to describe the CL. And I agree with you…Aesthetics should be checked also 😀 Thanks for watching, all the best, cheers, Phil.
Great video and views! Do you have a link to your jacket? It’s awesome looking.
Hello! Good to hear from you and thanks for your comments. If you mean the brown jacket, that's made by Merlin and here's the link - it's a great jacket, warm waterproof and looks good. All the best, cheers, Phil.
www.merlinbikegear.shop/products/yoxall-ii-waxed-cotton-jacket?variant=39801993789621
@@80eightReviews you’re the best, thank you! Ride on 🤘👌
Thoroughly enjoyed that, thankyou.
Nice touch with the Tunnocks, plain chocolate version rather that the standard red wrapper jobby.
Thank you very much, a pleasure to hear from you John. Yeah, Tunnocks - milk chocolate ones are to be avoided, although in emergencies they will do I guess. I think the gold/blue wrapping also adds a touch of class, if not elegance to them...All the best, cheers, Phil.
Hi Phil, thank you so much for your input!
I'm looking for my first bike and I'm hesitating between the cl500 and the triumph 400x scrambler. Do you have any thoughts on that second one ? I will go on a test ride on Saturday.
Best
Hello & thank you very much! In answer to your question - I haven't ridden the 400X so I can't make a direct comparison - all I can say is that for the type of riding I wanted to do (and having a lot of experience with single cylinder machines that make the same power as the Triumph) I felt the CL was the better choice and also, I wanted a proven bike with no hassle and which was simple and not so nice that getting it covered in mud wouldn't upset me! The CL has a great engine which is great fun to max out and can hold its own on fast roads. Hope that helps and let me know what you decide to do. All the best, Phil.
Well, hello there Phil! That looks a fine little beastie you have there ... and a great area to ride in too! 🙂
Yeah, the Man17 caps have gone down well all round but maybe best not talk about the pens! (We bought too many and it turns out they have a shelf-life - who knew??? 🤔 🤣)
Just some club trivia. We believe the club badge was drawn up by one of the original 17 members, though we're not sure now which one. I re-drew it for the digital age a few years back. The biker outline drawings to each side of the cap were also mine. The trials image is based on a photo of Craig Robinson taken at Clough House, Wildboarclough by our son Andrew at the Northern Experts Trial. The enduro one is an unknown rider at the Long Mynd Enduro, also one of Andrew's shots. he used to shoot for Trial Mag at one time.
Andrew was also a Man17er and, as he's also into photography, started his own YT channel which you & your viewers may like to have a peek at, www.youtube.com/@adventurex4883. Neither of us have bikes at the moment, though.
Safe riding!
Evening Rick! Well I never - it's been a while! How are you doing? Presumably Mr. Shaw alerted you to the video? Or do you have some kind of M17 copyright algorithm thing that found me out?
Yeah, it's a great area to ride around actually, plenty of empty roads and some choice green lanes that are very scenic. It's just a shame Robbies bitter hasn't made it up here yet. Oh dear.
I did wonder as the design and archival genius of the M17 whether you were behind the rather fantastic cap design. It's a cracker. Thanks for the club trivia info - that's really interesting. But yeah, let's not talk about the pens ha ha ha.
I've just checked out Andrew's channel and it's great! Now I've seen what he can do with a CB500X on those boulder-strewn Derbyshire lanes, I'm more motivated to do something on the CL. I had started to do lots more laning a few years back with a CRF300 and there are some brilliantly scenic BOATS around here. I've had to stop that now (I'm sure Mike told you why) but I'm thinking some gentle summer stuff (on the CL) could be on the cards. If you / he are ever up here on bikes and want a personalised tour of north Northumberland - let me know!
I guess I should apologise about slagging off Robinsons Beer - just in case the landlord of whatever pub the M17 meets up in gets to hear. It's probably gone all Hipster now though I'd imagine....
All the best Rick, great to hear from you, cheers, Phil.
Great review! Loved the tea cake (teacake?) analogy. Cheers from Eastern Canada. We've finally gettin' some sunshine here, hope the same is true for you!
Hey Brad, thanks for that and greetings from the UK. Teacake or tea cake? Hmmm…I’m not sure 🤔 As for sunshine, we’re getting the odd few hours or so but it’s still really cold and windy. Still, no snow this year which I’m guessing is not your experience! Roll on summer, stay safe and all the best Brad, cheers, Phil.
thumps up for "equilibrium" and very good review overall! I like, that you compare this bike with a sweet, or check the design with design values. Nice pictures too! I´am a new rider on a 125cc Honda. I consider to get this bike next, because i like this minimalistic style. (i´m also interested in kawa w800) Greetings from germany.
Hey Martin, great to hear from you and thanks for your comments - great to know you enjoyed the review! The CL is a great bike as your next move from a 125, as would the W800. With those two, I guess the looks are really going to come into it! That W800 bevel drive engine looks amazing. Personally, if I got the W800 (and have considered one in the past) I wouldn't want to ride it through big puddles and mess about in mud and gravel but with the CL, I can't help myself!
Let me know what you'd decide to do, cheers, Phil.
i live out in the sticks and mainly ride country b roads this would be an ideal bike for back road blasting 😁😁👍
Good morning Mr. Flying Eye - well, the CL would / is be brilliant for that. let me know what you think if you do get one. Thanks for stopping by, cheers, Phil.
Just got this bike a month ago. First bike ive bought. Responsive and torquey. Looks a little mean and the trellis frame is a bonus. My only thing I don't like is my shin hitting the engine case on the brake foot.
Morning, thanks for stopping and it’s good to know you’re enjoying your CL. Ah yes, thinking about it the engine case does stick out quite a lot and does get in the way a little when feet down. It’s still a great bike though! All the best, cheers, Phil.
Great review. Have you sold your Guzzi? How does the V7 850 rider triangle compare to the honda? Looking forward to your next video.
Hey Chris, how are you doing? Thanks as always for your kind comments - it’s always good to know the usual nonsense is appreciated 😀
I sold the Guzzi last year around 10 months after my accident as I still wasn’t able to ride it so I didn’t want it wasting away in the garage. That’s when I got the scooter as it was the only machine I could get on and ride. Since then though, I had more surgery last August which has improved the bend in my knee and the CL was a bike I could easily get on and just about get my right foot on the peg.
Things are still improving so I’ve got my eye on another Guzzi 😀 As to your question, given everything that’s happened it’s difficult to say and there’s probably not much difference, but the Guzzi seat is low and therefore the distance to the foot pegs is I think less than the CL which is why I could get on it I guess. Hopefully I’ll get to try a Guzzi out soon and I’m not giving up on them!
Hope that helps Chris, all the best and more stuff coming soon…Cheers, Phil.
Going for a test ride next week the high seat looks great against the orange paint work
Hey Gary, good to hear from you and yeah, I do think the orange is best! Let me know how you get on with your test ride, all the best, Phil.
very nice bike. i will test ride it. great review. i would like to see maintenance intervals if possible. thank you so much for the review.
Good morning Mr. Arongitis - great to hear from you and many thanks for your comments - glad you enjoyed it!
As for the maintenance intervals, for the CL it's an annual service annually / 8000 miles - oil and filter etc, with valve inspection at 16,000 miles. To be honest with these engines as long as they've got oil in them they'll go forever.
Hope that helps, cheers, Phil.
@@80eightReviews hello from las vegas, nevada !
Great, brilliant, fabulous.. countryside awesome, cl500 I'm having one, but certainly colour code the front bit.. 🎉 thanks 🙏
Evening Martine, great to hear from you and thanks for stopping by - great to know you enjoyed the video and the countryside. Hope all goes well with your own CL and you enjoy it as much as I do, cheers, Phil.
As someone who wasn’t keen on the look of the bike ( mainly the area between the tank and headstock) I have to say that now I know it’s a Tunnock tea cake I find the whole bike far more appealing 😁. I think it definitely looks better in orange than the other colours I’ve seen and it does sound like a cracking little bike.
I totally agree that smaller capacity bikes shouldn’t keep being labelled just as beginners bikes, they can be great fun for any rider!
Know what you mean about Robies ale !😂
Hello Mr. Rowland - very good to hear from you and it's great to know that the Tunnocks Teacake comparison has swung it for you! The CL is a great bike and there are some fabulous deals on them at the moment although it's a little sad perhaps that the bike hasn't been a big seller due to the looks...I still maintain it's different and distinctive and very refreshing compared to the 'Bonneville' archetype which seems to be the standard these days for a good looking bike.
Yeah Robbie's Bitter - I had some right gruesome pints down in Stockport in the 1980's...Have you ever tried 'Old Tom' ? They only used to sell it halves I seem to remember but I had two once and staggered out of the pub feeling very worse for wear and had gut rot for a week. I'm sure it's er, improved though.
All the best, cheers, Phil.
Loved test riding this bike, can’t wait to get one. Can I ask what top box you have put on this bike? Looks like a great one to get.
Hey Robert, good to hear from you - the top box is Givi E47 Blade which I usually use on my ADV Scooter. Givi don’t do a specific rack for the CL so I fitted a rack I found on Amazon and then mounted a Givi universal top plate to the rack (the universal plate comes with the top box) for top box. It seems to work quite well and there’s loads of space in it. Hope that helps, cheers, Phil.
@@80eightReviews Thanks Phil
Very nice video! Beautiful landscapes and informative !
Thanks very much Siebe, great to know you enjoyed the landscapes and video, hope you're doing well, cheers, Phil.
The tea cake comparison was hilarious. Nice video.
Thank you very much! However, I had to revise my opinion and change it to a jaffa cake...All the best., cheers, Phil.
Excelent video quality! Is good to know things of my bike 🤗
I've been riding my CL500 for 1500km as my first ever bike, and i love it
Do you know if you can fit a topbox (Is that how it's called? the box on the back?) other than Hondas one?
Hey Dani, thanks for stopping by and glad you enjoyed the video and continue to enjoy your CL500. That’s good to know!
As for the top box / yes that what I’ve done. I bought a cheap rack from Amazon which had a flat plate with lots of holes in it. I then attached a Givi universal mounting plate to that which means I can use my Givi monolock top box - which usually sits on my scooter. All in all a lot cheaper than the Honda solution!
Hope that helps, cheers, Phil.
@@80eightReviews Thank you Phil! I just bought a rack, and i'm going to buy a Givi monolock top box whenever I find the right one! 😊😊
No problem Dani, if you buy a new monolock top box they all come with a universal mounting plate then you just need to work out how to attach it to the rack. On mine I drilled a few holes, used some bolts I had and backed it up with a few cable ties. It seems to work just fine.
Cheers, Phil.
My SCL500 takes me places my big heavy Harley couldn't take me. It's the perfect bike for me.
Hey Mike, thanks for stopping by. And exactly! Also, there are places I probably could go on a bigger, more expensive bike but wouldn't because I'd be kinda too precious about the bike. Whereas with the CL, anything goes. It's great and tons of fun. All the best, cheers, Phil.
When I was semi considering one I was impressed by the luggage accessory which was like a satchel one sided pillion bag that just clipped in. Seemed really handy
Glad your still enjoying it mate
Thanks very much, and yeah, the little satchel luggage bag looks really good - it’s probably way to stylish for me though - hence the rather beautiful top-box 😀 Either way, I am enjoying it very much and I’m soooooo looking forward to a few more dry and warm days - just like everyone else in the UK. Great to hear from you, hope all is well with you, cheers, Phil.
Lovely to see you enjoying two-wheeled life again. When you said as a comparison you were going for a cake / biscuit hybrid I thought it would be a Jaffa Cake, especially with the Honda's orange tank. As a Scot this may seem blasphemous, but Tunnock's Teacakes ... are vile!
Thanks Jim! Great to hear from you and blimey! Whatever next? You'll be telling me you don't like Irn Bru next!
Actually though, you are right. As soon as I muttered the words "biscuit / cake hybrid" I started to have second thoughts and then when I bit into the thing (as you can probably tell) I knew I'd made a significant mistake. It was too late to ride 40 miles and go and get some Jaffa Cakes so I soldiered on.
I will make amends in a future video, I promise.
All the best, cheers, Phil.
@@80eightReviews as it happens I don't like Irn Bru either! (Picky git). Looks, smells and tastes like rusty water with sugar in it. l live in York so the hopefully the SNP Culture Police won't find me...
Ha ha well Jim, I think you’ll be safe especially as the lot of ‘em are likely to be behind bars at some point soon 😀
Secondhand motorhome review coming soon..
It could do with a rev counter. As far as smaller bikes go [sub-500cc], the CL is probably as good as it gets. I think the CL looks good, too, especially in orange? The flyscreen is the one Honda accessory I'd fit. The mudflap is a great idea.
My B-King used to frighten me.
Which do you prefer: the CL500 or ADV350?
How's the leg, Phil? Nick
Morning Nick, good to hear from you again. I agree a rev-counter would be nice and good to know you like the Orange - it's got a really nice metal flake in the sunshine. Lovely. And everyone loves a good mudflap right? Despite the comments, I'm sure it must do something.
B-King, hmm, yeah, quite a thing. It's ability to take you into (and out of) corners way faster than expected was always a surprise...For me personally, the paraphrased quote by Casey Stoner summed up my time and thoughts about the bike "ambition outweighed my talent"! Loved it though and a total experience.
CL or ADV : Tricky question! For excitement and fun = CL500 for ease of use, comfort and practicality the ADV. So they cover different bases really - if you use them for what they are good at and not for what they are not, it's a dead heat. It just depends what I'm doing at the time.
As for the leg - continues to make small improvements thanks Nick. I think the bend has reached its maximum and I can now use a push-bike so my focus now is more strength and stamina.
Hope you're keeping well Nick, all the best, cheers, Phil.
You are right. Some features a re missing, but that was on purpose in my opinion. Having just crucial things makes it light and stylish in a way. I test rode it. You can drop by to check my content when you can. Cheers.
@@RRRRefuelRideRace Will do & good to hear from you again, cheers, Phil.
@@80eightReviews Great. Thanks Phil. I am always behined the scenes, watching and ready... :) Cheers.
@@RRRRefuelRideRace Ha ha! Well, the channel is looking good I have to say! Cheers, Phil.
Ottimo video, complimenti! Puoi dirmi gentilmente se il top box Givi è il Blade 37 lt o Blade 47 lt? Grazie! ✌️
Good afternoon Michele, thanks very much for stopping by and glad you enjoyed the review.
To answer your question, the top box is the Blade 47. Hope that helps, all the best, cheers, Phil.
I do like the honda 500's but seriously wish Honda would bring back the CB400 Superfour PB1 to the Euro market.
I used to have a '94 standard and later a '99 Vtec version and I swear both felt much quicker than the CL I recently tried out.
Hello! Yeah I know what you mean and I think you’re right - that era of 400/4’s had great engines. I’m very interested in whether Kawasaki will use the new ZXR400 engine in something else as it sounds like an awful lot of fun.
All the best, thanks for stopping by, cheers, Phil.
Nice video!
Excellent editing! 😊
Thanks very much! All the best, cheers, Phil.
Cheers Phil!
In my eyes CL500 is a little quirky, but very cool bike, save perhaps for the ugly exhaust can. But most bikes these days have ugly cans...
Anyway, why would you even care what somebody else thinks...
As always, it was a pleasure watching your video!
PS: I wouldn`t buy it b/c I cannot afford a third bike :)))
Hey Goran, how are you doing? Good to hear from you again! Quirky - exactly! And as for caring for what people say...Not really ha ha ha. Glad you enjoyed the video and actually, as you can see it's more about just the joy of getting out and about on a bike and it doesn't really matter what it is.
Can't afford a third bike? Ha ha well, all I'll say is that three is the magic number! All the best Goran, cheers, Phil.
@@80eightReviews to be honest, I must be getting old, recently I saw a dark blue Guzzi V7 Special and started fantasizing... of having an extra 8 grand :)))
mind you, never before in my life have I had a single thought about any classic/retro/cruiser bike...
Hey Goran - everyone needs a Guzzi in their life at some point....Just give into it!! Cheers, Phil.
Gorgeous video, love it….
Good morning Konstantinos, thanks for stopping and taking the time to comments - and thanks very much! Glad you enjoyed it! Cheers, Phil.
Usual informative review - thanks for the entertainment. I still wish Honda had built the little scrambler on the CB500 platform rather than the Rebel frame ie. twin discs up front, USD forks and bigger tank. That would have ticked the aesthetic and practicality boxes more firmly for me.
Thanks very much Jane, great to know you enjoyed the video. Yes, the CB500 platform could have been really nice as you say - I think there is a nice modernistic take on a traditional looking bike in there somewhere. The CB350 (which we don't get in Europe) could be a good base also. We can hope...All the best, cheers, Phil.
Were the design guidelines set by Richard Sapper, of BRAUN?
Hello again, it was Dieter Rams who came up with them I think?
Have to agree with you. My green one is lovely, as are Tunnocks Tea Cakes.
Hey Farhan, absolutely - and it's distinctive which is great! I did change my mind on the teacakes and finally went for Jaffa Cakes, but hey, I'm not going to quibble! Anyway, great to hear from you Farhan, all the best, cheers, Phil.
I might buy one.
Do it!!!! Let me know! Cheers, Phil.
As someone who appreciates single track tarmac in beautiful scenery (the best of which have grass growing up the middle!) please would it be possible to add a note within the video or in the information as to the locations we see in your work?
Single tracking - as I call it - isn't something that appeals to my riding pals who grumble about potholes, gravel, sheep or puddles and generally of not getting anywhere fast. So while I enjoy the bonhomie of group riding it is a somewhat singular interest and that suits me fine - much like riding solo rather than burdened with pillion!
Roads around Dent are pleasant, Jordan Lane for example or Cam Gill Road in Coverdale, the Pennines of course and those 'empty' lands* which still require further exploration by myself around the Forest of Bowland, the south East/West of Carlisle and those south of Scarborough
* empty as in farming communities, quiet towns & villages e.g. the opposite of the Lake District, Devils Bridge, Whitby/Scarborough and other popular biking destinations 😂
I am hoping you might add more to my existing list of quiet and pleasant roads and even, revive your recent short series of these found in Northumberland and the Borders.
Best wishes 🙂
Good afternoon Mr S1000 - great to hear from you and thanks for taking the time to comment.
"Single Tracking" Hmmm...Yes, that's a good description! Potholes, gravel and puddles - I mean what's not to like! Thanks for the suggestions of some locations to try out and yes, I'd agree with the Forest of Bowland - it's like one of the those mysterious lands that is rarely visited and I must have whizzed by on the M6 a million times.
But that's a good suggestion about adding location notes - I'll do that going forwards. In terms of this particular video - checkout "Hethpool" - that's where the 'Design' segment was done, while a lot of the others were minor roads between Chatton and Eglingham. If you're in this neck of the woods and find yourself on the A697 heading to/from Wooler - anything on the east side like Lilburn, Old Bewick are lovely, bumpy and little. I'll do some more riding videos when it's gets warmer!
Thanks again and all the best, cheers, Phil.
@@80eightReviews Thank you very much for your response, I think there'll be many more like me, reaching for the road map and plotting a route to these wonderful locations.
Without guidance like this it's an awful long way sometimes simply getting to the location itself & then taking pot luck in trying to stumble across these peaceful roads. So your notations will help me in particular to cease faffing about!!
I will admit to pausing your reviews if I see a road sign etc. indicating your whereabouts. Then follows a bit of back and forth to actually be able to read the blooming thing 😂
I’m on it - promise! Cheers, Phil.
I have a 2023 in green. I have loved every mile on it.
Hey Johnny, good to hear from you and that green, might be the best colour ever! Not that I’m biased or anything 😀 Great to know you’re enjoying it, cheers, Phil.
Hi really enjoyed your video. I’ve got to be honest the CL 500 is not the prettiest but I agree with you 100%. It looks like a rides Bike its gone up in my estimation Could you tell me was the video filmed in the border country Cheviots.
PS I know Mike and Rick I am an ex Manchester 17 member. Look forward to your adventures on the Honda. Pete.
Blimey! Mr Cunningham! It's been a while! How are you doing Pete? Great to hear from you...What are you riding these days? I have (scary) memories of that BMW trail(?) bike you 'created' and it blotting out the sun on various trails around Derbyshire :-)
The CL is / was a great little bike and as everyone hates them there are some very good deals on them at the moment - like £5K for a new bike that will be much more fun and quicker than say a Royal Enfield or the 400 Triumphs. I've sold mine because post broken leg and recovery, it got me back into a bit of gentle trail riding so I've now got a CRF300 Rally which is a cracker.
Anyway, yes, the video was filmed in north Northumberland with a lot of the shots in and around the English side of the Cheviots - particularly around Hethpool. There's lot's of single track crumbling tarmac and general snot - great roads. The other more green and gentle bits are around Wooler. I now live in Berwick-upon-Tweed hence the the locations and it's brilliant - quiet, no traffic and I've not seen a pint of Robbies for 17 years! If you're up this way, give me a shout.
Right, gotta go - hope all is well with you and the family Pete and say hello to Al and Geoff for me, cheers, Phil.
Hard to beat a Tunnocks Teacake but wondering... if you were offered a Triumph 400 Scrambler without a test ride, would you swap? 🤔
Hello Mr. Dreddi - Yeah, Tunnocks Teacakes are a good guilty pleasure definitely, I'd probably go for a Tunnocks caramel wafer (dark chocolate) if I had the choice though?
Triumph 400 Scrambler...Probably not to be honest. I'm not a big fan of Triumph retro's as based on my experience with the 1200XE (the dullest engine I've ever ridden, plus lots of annoying issues) I don't want to go near one again. Also, the Bonneville design cues, for me, are just too over-used and formulaic.
I reckon I wouldn't want to abuse the Triumph 400 like the CL also. With a Honda Twin it just kinda shrugs it off so for what I want to do, the CL is spot on plus it's handily got a little more power (but not too much).
Now..If you said Fantic 500 Rally, well, I might consider it!!
Great job on review! Send me a couple of those tea cakes, btw!😂
Hello John, thanks very much! I will check the local border controls, tariffs and border controls and see if I can send you a package of Tunnocks finest...Important question though - dark or milk chocolate? All the best, glad you enjoyed the video, cheers, Phil.
Thought the comparison was going to be a Jaffa cake on colour alone 😂😂
Ha ha yeah…and that’s what I was thinking about during the comparison section and kept fluffing the line - although with a gob full of sticky gloop that’s easy to do 😀 Next time! Dark chocolate Jaffa cake - lovely…Although, I fancy a wagon wheel now 🤔 Cheers Andrew, all the best, Phil.
what is the fuel range and miles per gallon. i see it has a smaller tank than the cb500x. 👍👍👍👍
Hey Ian, thanks for stopping by. I’m getting around 67mpg so with a 12litre/3.6 gallon tank that’s around 175 mile range.
Typically I get to one bar left on the fuel gauge at around the 150 mile mark, so it sounds about right.
Hope that helps, cheers, Phil.
I really wanted to like both this bike and the new NX500. However, last week I went for test rides on both bikes and ended up with pins and needles on my right foot which still persisted over 48hrs later. Unfortunately I found the bikes to be buzzy in nature and felt the engine seemed to be revving higher than it actually was. I was so disappointed as I was seriously considering them as a possible retirement present to myself. I still love the style of both machines but unfortunately they’re not for me.
Hey Wozza59, yeah it does feel busy and there is a buzz around what feels like 6000 revs on the CL500. Above that at least on mine, it seems to go away once it's really spinning. I spend most of my time riding it like a 2-Stroke - either pinning it everywhere or on the overrun and it's great. These are engines that work better when worked hard but on long / constant throttle kinda roads it is a bit tiresome. Surprised the NX is like that (despite having the same engine) as it's much more focused towards touring or long distance duty. Maybe it needs a Norton style Isolastic frame...All the best, cheers, Phil.
Have you the order number for the rack please?
Hello! No problem / here you go :
www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B0CH4HNCVW?
Hope all is well with you, cheers Phil.
i wonder its a 12 litre tank... how far can you travel between fuel stops....
Afternoon Stephen, hope you're well - well that's around 2.6 UK gallons and I was getting around 65MPG - which sounds about right as I tend to go to around 130 miles then look for somewhere to fill up and am able to get 2 gallons or so in the tank. Hope that helps, cheers, Phil.
Great review 😊
Hello Shropshire Cycle, hope you're doing well and thanks for stopping by. Glad you enjoyed it! All the best, cheers, Phil.
@@80eightReviews I'm good, I'm the proud owner of a Yamaha Xmax 250cc . I was about to buy the ADV when someone at work asked me if I was interested in their dad's 2017 scooter. I love being on the road again. Hoping to upgrade to the ADV in 2025 now
Well, loving being on the road is ALL that matters - great to hear that. And in 2025 I'm sure there will be some updates to the ADV to look forward to, cheers, Phil.
Please, where is the air filter? Thanks
Hello! I think the air filter is accessed on the left hand side of the bike - under the left side panel and then there’s another cover on the side of the air box - take that off and that’s where the filter is. Hope that helps, cheers, Phil.
@@80eightReviews thanks a lot dude
2000 miles in 7 months...? I just did 8500 km in 3 months... On a 50 cc super cub!!!
Hello, thanks for stopping by and that’s impressive mileage for any size of engine!
The reason for my low mileage (although enough for a review I hope!) is that when I bought it, it was 14months on from a very bad bike accident (broken femur, knee in bits, collarbone, ribs, etc) followed by more surgery on the knee in July 2023. And I can only ride it for 2 hours at a time…Then that was followed by some horrible weather in the UK!
I’ll make up for it though 😀
All the best, cheers, Phil.
One is on sale for $5500 at my local dealer im really thinking about getting it.its cool for 6700 its really cool for 5500 😂
Hello, good to hear from you and yeah, at $5500 that is super cool! Let me know how persuasive you are 😀 All the best, cheers, Phil.
I am sold. It's the bike for me.... except for LED lights.
Hello again, well, they do work well though! Cheers, Phil.
Is nobody talking about the bad position of foot pegs?
Hello, thanks for stopping by - must admit I didn’t really notice them except when paddling about sometimes, so didn’t mention them. But yeah, you’re right / they’re not in the best position, still given how good the bike is I can live with them. All the best, cheers, Phil.
The dude was right it is a minger, same as the rebel. Faux retro is naff. Great video and review though
Ha ha, well, of course I mostly kinda disagree Jay! My personal opinion is that it's not really trying to be retro therefore can't be fully faux for that reason - unlike say those bikes which have fake Amal carbs! Ha ha ha.
Honda could have done that easily (and made it more expensive) but instead it's closer to the original CL concept of take a road bike, slap a few bits on it and make it better for gravel. Yes, the original CL was lovely (well, from the exhaust side it was) but the CB360 it was based on was a good starting point, whereas the Rebel 500, as you say is a little more, er, challenging to do anything with!
But yeah, there a bit of faux-ness about it, mixed with a bit of weirdness. But then I also like the SCR900...
All the best, cheers, Phil.
I’m going to have to disagree on the looks. It really is as beautiful as a woman’s curves
Good afternoon! Well, I really like how it looks also - I'm just not sure if I'm seeing the same curves as your good self :-) All the best and thanks for stopping by, cheers, Phil.
Puddle protection :Poor
Very true, good fun though 😀 Thanks for stopping by, cheers, Phil.
WHAT QUALIFIES YOU TO REVIEW THIS BIKE? ITS CLEARLY A SINNIS DISGUISED AS A HONDA! WHAT NEXT? YOU RIDING A PUCH MAXI BUT GIVING AN OPINION ON A HONDA GOLDWING? BEFORE YOU ASK, NO I HAVE NOT GOT A LAP COCK PROBCEM. BUT NOT ACC THE KEYS MAY NELESSARICY BE IN THE RIGHT PCALE! YOURS FRUSTRATED, JIM.
P.s. My mate Jon thought it was a great review. He was particularly impressed with the wheel spins since he tried it once in a field, lost control and fell off!
(Spot the deliberate mistake?) 😮
Perfect comment on so many levels that I don’t know where to START. John!
LAP COCK, Eric Morecambe reference, outrage, sublime 😁
Jonhnny! Just PURRFLECT!
Actuwally, I’ve not ridden the bike or any bike - just saw it in a window while out to get my talbets. I’m a fishmonger by the way. Like me scallops, me.
Bye, Phil.
@@80eightReviewsMy mate is called Jon, Phill, not John. Got that Phill? 😂