Honda CB500x - A BRUTALLY HONEST deep-dive on mods, long term ownership and RTW suitability.
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 4 มิ.ย. 2024
- I've owned this bike for 60,000km and have done some spectacular adventures on it.
This is my Brutally Honest, deep-dive review of the bike.
In this video we will touch on:
* A brief model history
* Its design
* Reliability
* Maintenance
* Flaws
* Suitability for short riders
* What it's like to own
* A better than the 19" front wheel on 2019+ versions and from Rally Raid
* What it's like for: commuting, touring, twisties (canyon carving) and dirt
* Its suitability for Adventure around the outback and the world
That'll also cover all the mods I've done to turn the CityBike into a true overlander inluding:
Luggage racks, top box, phone mount, charging, lighting, spot lights, tyres wind protection, crash bars and skid plate
This is following my contribution on @SmallBikeStuff where I have presented my Wave 125i: • World's best Adventure...
For those who came to see my video from there or my Facebook page. Great to see you again 😎
Timecodes:
0:00 - Intro
0:52 - Model History
2:35 - Engine
3:03 - Engine Vibrations
4:48 - Engine Reliability
5:23 - Coolant - What kills these
7:10 - Maintainability & Servicing
9:10 - Weight
10:10 - Why weight distribution matters?
11:02 - Tyres
12:43 - 19" equivalent front tyre. 120/90-17 Shinko 705.
13:53 - Cast vs spoked rims
15:45 - Suspension
16:24 - Mods
16:35 - Rally Raid - skid plate
17:14 - Givi - crash bars
17:34 - Phone Mount
18:01 - Phone chargers and 12V outlets
18:43 - Relays for 12V accessories
19:41 - Headlight + spotlights
20:24 - Windscreen
21:24 - GPS / windscreen bracket
21:43 - Emergency beacon
22:33 - Dashboard & fuel range calculation
23:28 - Lifting & extending front mudguard
24:01 - Kickstand
24:37 - Seat
24:59 - Pannier Rack
26:57 - Top box carrier
27:53 - Top Box - Givi Outback Trekker
29:04 - Toolbox
30:17 - What it's like to ride?
30:36 - What it's like: Daily ride or commuter.
31:15 - What it's like: On the open road.
31:50 - Fuel range
32:08 - Brakes
32:50 - What it's like: Dirt and Trails.
33:47 - Dirt weaknesses
34:30 - What it's like: Canyon carving and twisites.
34:59 - What would I change and weaknesses.
35:12 - What I'd change: Extend tyre life.
35:38 - What I'd change: Drop centre of mass & comparison with Transalp and NC750x
35:59 - What I'd change: Valve drive
36:20 - What I'd change: Footpegs
37:10 - Suitable to take around the world?
37:30 - Short rider friendly?
37:57 - Suitable for RTW? Access to parts.
38:23 - Suitable for RTW? Compare part access with DR and KLR.
39:06 - Would I take a CB500x around the world?
40:01 - RTW costs: Shipping costs
40:13 - RTW charm factor and appearance of wealth
![2024 Honda NX500 [QuickTest#37]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/--PL45RxiLA/mqdefault.jpg)
6 years, 10 countries and 89,000 miles on my 2017 CB500X, including an 11,000 miler across the US and French, Belgian, Spanish, Netherlands TAT's. Still smile when i walk in the garage. Zero real problems or mechanical issues, apart from the cush drive bearing in the rear wheel failing at about 50 something thousand miles.
It was an ex-demo bike from Rally Raid with the 'level 1' upgrades, which i later swapped in the 'level 2', giving the raised suspension and 19" front wheel.
I never would have thought a bike could go through so much
Long but probably the most comprehensive and honest review on the internet - thank you.
agreed, I'm so glad I saw this. I'm just about to take the plunge with a '22. This filled in my knowledge base immensely.
30,000 klm on my 21 CB500X.
No issues, no trails. Just a great little all-rounder. Glad it's still getting upgrades, will buy another when the time comes.
Age 70 Vancouver Island, Canada
awesome review, this shall be a standard informative video for every CB500X owner and interested ... thank you so much !
yes, a *real* real-world review!
I've watched hundreds of motorcycle review videos, and many with 100's of thousands of subscribers, and rarely have I seen one done better than this. Excellent Excellent Excellent; looking forward to future content.
Yes, and I'm so amazed that this has so few views.
I like your realistic, non hyped summation of the cb500x: a bike that will get you through.
Great video, I just bought a brand new CB500X , gonna go through the video carefully , thank you
Thanks a lot. They're great bikes and I'm sure you've enjoyed the bike so far.
I hope you find some inspiration for tours and mods in the video.
You can use the timestamps in the video description to skip to sections if you don't have time for the whole video.
This is a great review. Bravo. I learned a lot about my CB.
I enjoyed the 29,000 km I rode on a 2015 model so much that I upgraded to a 2021 model on which I've now ridden another 24,000 km.
Phenomenal motorcycle. Smooth, comfortable, reliable, aesthetically gorgeous (red tank), versatile (the Swiss Army knife of motorcycles) and super economical - my 2021 steed is currently consuming only 2.8 L/100 km (100 UK MPG). Now THAT takes a lot of beating!
Rode it alone yesterday through the bush on a corrugated gravel road to enjoy the freedom ... and 6 hours after writing this I will ride it with fellow club members (on a range of motorcycles (including two CB500X's)) to enjoy the camaraderie.
The seventh motorcycle I've owned in 52 years of motorcycling and, all round, by far the most enjoyable. 🦘
Great video. Glad i came across this on reddit. Very helpful!
Wow, this is really well made. Incredibly detailed and no-nonsense. Thanks, man!
I've learnt a lot and you've given some great info for me to use on my CB500X. Many thanks!
suuper sweet review, thanks fam!
Sounds great , just love that feeling of riding and the little I have done on the northern mountains in Vietnam and the costal plains down south are amazing
Geat video, Tom! I love your passion and the level of detail you go into when reviewing your bikes. Thanks for sharing your experience with the modifications you have made as well. Cheers
I don´t even own the bike yet, but man, what a GREAT video and what GREAT content it provides. Thanks a lot for the work you´ve put in!!
An absolutely brilliant video thanks for taking your time to upload this I've been trying to decide what bike to get for my dad as he's bikeless at the mo so the 500x has been on my radar, keep up the brilliant videos 📹
Than you for the video, the information density beats 99.9999% of all videos in TH-cam.
This is a really good review. Honest and comprehensive. I fully agree with you about the weight and high centre of gravity. I have short legs and have dropped my cb500x a couple of times due to slippery and uneven surfaces. Once it starts to go over there is no stopping it! 😄I think it is a great bike for the back roads in Australia but I wouldn't really want to ride it in a place like Vietnam for example. I think I would prefer a really light bike for a RTW too. I rode a Honda 150L the length of Vietnam recently and I thought that would be a great RTW bike. Versatile and surprisingly comfortable.
Bloody brilliant revie of the CB500X mate. I also own one, and whilst not ideally situated to all conditions, it can still handle just about anything! (I have subscribed )
Excellent video mate. Happy you're enjoying both the bike and our Aussie outback. Stop in for a beer if you come through NSW :)
This is an excellent video!
Superb video Tom - so much information, it's like you've answered every question I've ever seen on the CB500X Group!!
Thanks you. That means a lot from a long timer like you! A long term review of yours was a contributor to my original purchase decision.
I tried to make this a bit of a reference guide on that bike and you get to know these if you use those bike a a lot.
Very comprehensive - watched twice!
Really well made video on the CB500x Tom, I have the 2021 model for 3 years now and can not recommend this motorcycle more for taking on adventures and have done many tours and camping trips on mine so far. Have 65000km on mine already and no major faults so hoping for many more years with this great machine
Great review 👍🏼
Really well presented. It's clear info that held my attention all the way through - twice! (I got to watch a secret preview). Well done Tom. Look forward to more eloquent explanations about stuff on this channel.
Thanks so much Callum for your help and encouragement.
Let's see where this video making journey will lead to. I've only seen this mentioned in a completely different context, but think it does apply here too:
"Helping early is helping twice".
Very informative video! Thank you for sharing. I am also in Brisbane and just got a CB500x 2023. Absolutely in love with the bike!! Would love to join some rides if we get a chance !! Safe travels mate
Great vid..I have the 2018 model and have been looking at transalp but maybe not now
Excellent review, very technical.
Gosh, that was comprehensive & informative. Thank you! Bought a 2014 CB500X a year ago as my very first motorcycle and I'm having a blast. I'm old and fat and a total noob but I feel totally at home on it. It came with some honest dings & scratches and a skid plate and crash bars and I just put barkbusters on, while waiting for the snow to melt. Greetings from Finland!
nicely done, thanks for the review.
Great bike, capable, reliable, reasonable purchase price, reasonable maintenance costs. Great video as well.
A superb, honest and very informative review. I myself have lost count of the number of bikes i;ve owned and ridden over 5 decades and my 2014 x for the past 6 years has been my little do it all ride. As mentioned before it's a motorcycle that can tackle so man tasks well whilst still inspiring confidence. My main uses comprise of a bit of lane use and a few trips up the coast which my little gem handles with ease, providing ample power, great comfort and superb economy what more could you want? Happy days
Brilliant video. Full marks to you, Tom. Waiting eagerly for the NX500.
It's ugly.
@@leeinwis I agree, it is damn ugly. Honda…what the hell are they thinking?
@@Yowzoe Do you mean uglier than the CB500X, or just ugly?
Great review Tom.
My 2023 CB500X is a dream to ride... looking forward to going off road! 😊
Agree with the noticible vibs at 100 klm, but grip puppies help. 😅
Fantastic video!
Thank you very much. I know it's quite long winded and technical. I do want to make more travel content coming up 😊
Dude this is such a fantastic breakdown! I can't believe you are under a 100 subs, what a hidden gem!
Thank you so very much ❤️
. All that feedback is very encouraging. I do appreciate the comment as they help with the algorithm gods.
I hope I'll soon find the time to do more as I'll start my big trip soon. I don't know how I'll edit that but we'll see.
@@tomonabudget ahhh yes please mate! I am super interested in copping one for myself and you hit the spot with your concise reviews!
All the best to you mate, ride safe!
PS: I could introduce you to a fairly decent editor if you would like
@@tomonabudget i'm going to be eager to watch with you and your wife. How exciting.
I'm sure you're familiar with *itchy boots* and her channel. I believe she did a trip segment on theCB 500 X
Enjoyed your vid Thomas. A comprehensive review - Kudos. You are a TH-cam natural! I am sure you will agree the "Sweet 16" was the best looking CB500X ever...
Thank you so much. I agree on your comment with the looks.
Honda really had some lovely colours in that period. Which is how I got a similar look on my Wave.
Great video, thank you
Great Video.
Good bike. Good video. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I solved the slow speed steering issue by dropping the front 5/8 of an inch, completely neutral now.
Once video, Thanks.
I have the same bike with the same colour scheme. 80k and its still going strong ;)
Thanks for the in-depth mods, I will most likely add some of them!
I hope there's been some good inspiration. Curious to hear what you're going to modify 🙂
I own a CB400X 2013. Great video. Hope to see more contents from Gen2.
Maybe at some point I'll manage to make videos of past trips as I sadly sold the bike since.
It has certainly been a solid companion.
@@tomonabudget I see you only have made two videos… I was looking for what you replaced the CB500x with. looking forward to following your journey.
Great review, I ride a 2013, follow from thailand
Watching from Bangalore, India. Honda has launched the new NX500 with the same cb500x engine at around usd $9000 after tax in my city. So I was wanting to check about the engine refinement and reliability issues. That's why I sat thru the entire 40 min video. 😎.
But you've covered a lot of points like mods and maintenance and tyres and weight issues. Quite comprehensive and some great shots of the outback, so well worth the time.
You also have a crisp and clear voice never needing me to rewind for a relisten even once. Great video 👏
Edit1: I wrote my comment without reading a single other comment, but after seeing the amount of praise you've got I feel lousy that I've been so so modest with my compliment. Apparently I'm not the only one impressed by your video 😀
Awww, thank you so much.
I'm glad you enjoyed it. The comment on the voice means a lot to me as it's more challenging as I'm not a native speaker.
The NC500 supposedly has quite a few refinements to the engine.
I'll try to make a video in a similar style soon in my van that I'm currently travelling in.
Warm wishes from the outback in Australia.
Best and evenest CB550X review, including mods, that I’ve come across. I want to do some light gravel/dirt off-roading out in Nevada and Arizona this Spring. I’m uncertain about the KLR650 due to weight and COG, so I’ve been considering the CB500X. Alternately, I’m thinking of putting my Kawasaki Zuma BWs 125 on hitch rack on back of my truck, putting a cab on it for motocamping and resering the bike for day tripping from a base camp. I haven’t gone off road since I was young teen crashing my Dad’s Honda 125 dirt bike.
Thanks a lot.
I'd recommend trying both. I think that the KLR's centre of mass is better than people say as it carries its engine quite low down. It also carries its fuel lower. I think, I've read that it's easier to pick up, albeit taller. It's still a bike I could see myself riding.
Off the pavement, it has a bigger 21" front wheel, better clearance and few more differences.
I can only go by reports that I've read. Bizarrely, at least for older carbureted KLRs, I've read that they need more spanner time than the CB. Yes the CB has more tech, but that just doesn't fail.
I am almost 80 and have a 500X with the same worries you have. Can I pick it back up when traveling alone. Due to that, I am trying to resell the 500X and buy the XR150L that just came to the US. I don't need the speed, just the reliability and independence it gives me.
Hats off to you! I hope to be fit enough to keep riding and touring when I approach 80.
Thank you so much for the comment.
Great to know I'm not the only one who thinks along the lines of using a farm bike. Because of the mentioned reliability and independence they give you. That bike is popular in Asia where they are used to do work, by people with a smaller physique than most of us
I hope the XR works out well for you and you get to enjoy many amazing adventures on it.
Don’t overlook the KLX 230. It’s about the same weight.
Can you pick it up?...lay it down on some soft grass and see if you can.
This is the best review ever on the cb500x..thanks so much ❤
Nice review You look t motorcycles like riders not journalists. Time in the saddle cannot be bought. I hope you will do a reviews of the next Gen CBX the NX500 when it comes out simply because with all your saddle time with the CBX i think you would be able to give a great review...currently waiting to test ride the bike ii have a deposit on the Triumph 400X but will buy a dedicated ADV bike on top of the Scrambler in another year or so. My options are the CBX/NX500 and the RE Himalaya 450 "maybe" a Translap 750 but I prefer smaller bikes here in Asia. The CFMoto 450MT and KOVE 450 are not available here.
Brilliant.👍
I'm a Brisbane local, hope to see you out there
Thanks mate.
Let's see when I make it back to lovely Brisbane as I'm now on the road in South Australia in my camper, before I head off to start my world adventure on the little Wave in March.
Nailed it on the engiine crash bar bolt thingy. It actually broke twice on my 2022 model which lead to the frame completely bending and I basically had to get a new bike as it was cheaper. So my biggest advice to anyone going offroad on this if that bolt breaks DON'T ride the bike anywhere other than the shop. Your mod looks like a great solution. Wish I had the tools to do it on my 2023 model now😅
Wow! That the frame bends without them is crazy!
The mod only requires a drill bit, drill and spanner + drive for the bolt head of the replacement bolt. The latter would fit in your toolkit.
I hope the 2023 bike treats you well. As I'm riding 2 up in Taiwan currently on a rental scooter, I do miss my 500 a bit.
@@tomonabudget I mean it did take some time. I used the bike for around a month while I was waiting for the Rally Raid bash plate to substitue the old GIVI engine bars. In that meantime, just light use to commute work and it was enough to lead to the frame bending. Lesson learned the hard way I guess to not procrastinate issues.
I've always looked at the single disc as a perk too due to less maintenance on a bike that doesn't need 2 discs
Great review. I am looking at purchasing a bigger bike for touring in Thailand. I already have a Yamaha XMax 300cc, but I would like some more meat under me because I carry a passenger. Thanks for the info.
Now that I'm riding around Bali, I see even more value in a bike with decent engine braking.
Just 2 daus ago I literally cooles the front brakes on a Honda Click, going down a steep hill.
For 2up, the 500 is lovely (if both are of a normal weight). Being made there, they are quite affordable in the land of smiles. Only real downside compared to the Xmax, is that you'll have to shift a lot in city traffic.
great video, wouldn't even have minded if it was twice as long. not just "it has this much horsepower and this suspension". it's real world advice from someone who actually drives and abuses one motorcycle, not from someone who drives a different one every week 👌
Hey mate. Really nice review. I'm in Melbourne and considering this or the CB500F. I'm not gonna be doing any off roading to be honest. But I like this one for it's versatility. Do you reckon it's better for me to get the CB500F instead? Cheers.
They're similar. I've sadly never ridden the F (only the X and CBR500). That F would be a better choice for city riding and for local rides. On gravel I don't see the F to be that much worse than the X if you upgrade protection.
The question I'd ask would be what kind of distances do you intend on riding?
The X's wind protection is certainly something I prefer when touring as it reduces the strain if you do longer distances.
@@tomonabudget thanks for the reply mate. I'm thinking about getting back to riding after almost a decade.. Sorting out my license at the moment.
I'm probably gonna be doing short rides (< an hour or 2) and mostly will use it to commute to work. So riding in urban areas in Outer/Inner suburbs of Melbourne. And occasionally take it for a longer ride.
Great review! I'm looking for a bike for travel with my wife from Argentina to USA (Patagonia, Andes, Amazonas...) For me now it's between this and Royal Enfield Himalayan 411. Perhaps Himalayan is better for offroad but this one maybe more reliable. I dont care about high speed.
What do you think?
The boring answer is: it depends.
I honestly don't know how strong both of you are and how challenging the trails are going to be.
Touring as a couple, you will have the advantage of a second person to help with picking up the bike if you drop a bike.
I looked at the RE. I'm not sure how much better it would handle technical terrain. The 500 to me was good enough on dirt roads.
Royal Enfield had a really rough start with their Himalayan and I personally don't trust their engineering that much compared to Honda.
When I sat on one the build quality of the Himalayan felt cheaper. But you should look at ling term reviews and others that had both. Nathan Millward loves his Royal Enfields.
I also don't know how easily you'll get parts for an RE in these countries. For Honda, there should be dealers in every capital city.
On the American leg, the CB will certainly have an easier time on Highways, cruising at 100-120kmh as the USA does have some high speed limits and people drive faster than the limit.
Check both out on showroom floors. Sit on them and move them around. Best, try them. Maybe you know someone who'll let you ride their bike.
Great feedback, I'll suggest to condense this video to max 20min.
Thank you. I'll try to get those shorter. Although I am hoping to do videos on my upcoming trip.
This was meant to be a video to cover everything on the bike in case I sell (which I have since done).
nice work, im looking to get a CB500X for Vietnam and around Laos and Cambodia, not that im that keen to cross the border but it will be registered in the wifes name (she is vietnamese ), but i have heard they are awesome, ....Q do you think the newer models are worth it or , look for something a bit older ?? , very curious as to your thoughts ...... great Vid, watched all the way through cheers Ricko
Thank you so much for the kind words.
Oh man, I love traveling in South East Asia. Vietnam in particular is a stunningly beautiful country.
I don't know the dynamics of the Vietnamese big bike market in terms of new vs used bike pricing.
My suggestion would be to go with a new bike unless you can get a great deal on a well maintained used model or one with just the right kit preinstalled. Honda kept bringing improvements to the 500x.
The front tyre advantage isn't as massive on the roads you'd take the 500 on in south east Asia. In my years of riding there, I never came across long stretches of soft sand. The more difficult jungle trails are usually straight up too hard for most riders, regardless of 500x model and mods fitted (120/90-17 tyre, vs 120/70-17 vs 19"). You just take on the easier roads that still lead to enough amazing locations.
Northernn Thailand is just spectacular on the 500. Places like the Mae Hong Son Loop.
The 19" factory wheel will be nicer on the few hard-pack dirt roads, even more so with the improvements Honda have done to suspension.
When you come across mud, just deflate your tyres and take it easy.
The stuff that some models struggle through, will be equally as difficult with all. Things like: moving over planks onto small boats, jungle trails, deep rivers (rare). That's why I'll be taking my Wave in February to tour the world, starting with South East Asia from Malaysia to then go North.
Wishing you the best of luck with the bike hunt and your adventures.
Cheers I understand the flexibility of the wave , but those mountain passes just beg for something bigger and smoother, will definitely have a scooter for different trips for sure
Yup. That 's what I meant with Northern Thailand 🙂
If I could post images, I would. It's a part of the world that's filled with banked corners on usually smooth tarmac and with stunning views.
Laos would probably also be good fun, although you can't get up to much speed on the narrow roads. But it is a smooth bike so you'll be good. If you don't do the super challenging trails, the 500 is very competent in South East Asia.
On the flat terrain it's going to be far more comfortable than my Wave as the 500x just cruises so smoothly. Particularly on motorways as you find them in Thailand.
Being a Honda, supplies of parts shouldn't be a problem since not much goes wrong. Tyres last long enough that you can do a complete loop without needing to buy new tyres. For punctures, I'd get a tyre plug kit and a small compressor. Then you can fix punctures in a couple minutes. I simply don't know how commonly rural tyre repairers are able to fix tubeless tyres.
May I ask what is the brand name of those upper crash bars.?
I have a 2023 500x and I installed the Rally Raid lower bash plate and bars,
And I am looking for upper bars that will fit over the Rally Raid lower bars ?
The upper crash bars are Givi
32:23, kangaroo on the rocks. Oi mate, sounds like an interesting cocktail for you to invent. Make sure it's got "kick". 😁🥃
On a serious note, I like the mods you've done to your CB500X, mine is bone stock.
cheers from Canada 🇨🇦
Oh man that does sound like a great cocktail 🍸
I hope I managed to inspire you with some mods. I guess heated grips are useful in the Land of the Canucks.
I already miss the 500 as i have sold it a few days ago in preparation for my big trip which will start early next year on the 500s much smaller sister.
@@tomonabudget CRF300L or Rally? Heated grips would be an asset, considering in November we Canadians shiver like a dog crapping razor blades, lol.
Hey, at 21:24 You mention a gps/phone/glasses bracket, but don't really show it. What is it? Where to find it? It's night impossible to find anything for the earliest version of this motorcycle! But you seem to have something like that. :o
I forgot to add a photo of me making it.
Mine was a diy thing, I've seen others buy pre-made ones from SRC.
would like to know the measurements of the part you put in to raise the front mudguard, and if its a abs model
I used tyre size calculator to calculate the difference in sidewall height.
Brand new rider here! I'd love if you can elaborate a bit more on your comment about the factory tires and bike almost "falling" into turns feeling. I recently purchased a 2018 CB500X which I really haven't ridden yet because of the crappy weather here in Bulgaria. I'm using our office building's underground parking lot as a training pad lol doing circles, figure 8's and so on and I've noticed a similar feeling when doing mainly slow 90-degree turns and U-turns. Somehow I'm finding it hard to believe it's just the tires. A co-worker of mine has a 2022 Yamaha MT-03 which I've also ridden and this bike turns considerably easier than the Honda, there's none of that heavy feeling in the handlebars when you try to lean the bike, everything just feels effortless on it which really boosts your confidence.
Thanks!
Great to see more people joining the sport. On the difficulty of turning around tight bends and falling into corners, there are a few things to consider.
The MT03 is a great little machine. Compared to the 500x, it is a smaller and lighter bike, which will make a difference. The 2018, 500x will have completely different tyres than the Dunlops mine came with. However, I'd look at tyre pressures. It may simply be that your tyre pressures are low, which will make it harder to turn the handlebars, especially at slow speed manoeuvring.
Keep up the good work of slow speed practice! It's something many riders neglect and have fun :)
Thanks for your reply! Actually, tyres are the same Dunlop D609 that you once had, it's the 2019's and on that have the Trailmax Mixtours - mine still rocks the 17-inch front wheel. Pressures are stock as per the user manual. Not sure then, maybe just the bike is very, very different to the MT-03.
Oh and one additional thing that is of note - my bike has been lowered with aftermarket shock links. I guess this also can influence the steering despite the front also being lowered proportionally to the rear.
May I ask “what upper crash bars did you use” What brand name? and I see they are compatible with the Rally Raid bash plate
Those are made by Givi.
The legendary honda🌟‼️🌟‼️🤌🏼🤌🏼🤌🏼🌟🌟
Hi Sr. do you happen to have the list of mods written? If you could share it I will greatly appreciated it.
19" equivalent - 120/90-17 Front tyre
- Extended Stand with larger foot to match increased bikes clearance
Pannier Rack
Top Box rack with Givi Monokey plate
- Re-enforced to triangulate forces via pannier rack to passenger pegs.
- Very strong construction compared to original
4x 10W LED spot lights
- Wired to trigger with high beam with additional switch to allow High Beam without spot lights
Oxford Heated Grips
2x 12V outlet (trigger with ignition)
Large Tool Tube
Puig Touring Screen with Spoiler
Skid Plate (Rally Raid)
Crash Bars (Givi)
Barkbusters
Gold Plug (although it barely collects anything)
Phone mount (Ram Quick Grip)
Mounting plate behind windscreen with:
- Sunglasses holder
- PLB bag - fits KTI
There are probably more that I forgot.
Question? Are all of the "500's" from Honda the same motor? I'm looking at the 500x as a 1st bike but mostly b/c on the road
side of travel I need to be able to ride at 65-75 comfortably? Not at the top of the gear where it vibrates you/bike to death as
some bikes start doing at 60mph..... thanks for the video(s) >> peace
I must say, of all the videos about travel/bikes, this is done from a total travel POV. You've seriously considered everything
you'd be up against, as you should when traveling. But unlike the channels changing parts just to create content, you're
bringing real world problems forward & dealing w/ them. I appreciate & see the difference & there are pearls of wisdom
throughout this video ~ you lay awake at night thinking about this stuff = KUDO's for sharing it all. peace
Thank you so much for the feedback.
I wish I could split myself to make content while travelling at the mad pace I'm following currently.
- writing this comment from the back of a vam I'm Camping in, in Japan.
To answer your question:
To my best understanding, the engines are pretty much the same between the CB500X, F and R. Honda did update them with newer versions of the bikes but the core design remained.
The Rebel 500 also has the same engine but is tuned a bit differently. To my knowledge it delivers more torque low down. But that's purely info I gathered from Fortnine.
The speeds you mentioned, the bike will do just fine. It will rev high-ish but it's a very smooth engine. Bikes rev higher than cars, so no stress. It does have a resonance at 100kmh/60mph. You feel it a bit (mostly in crashbars as they'll ring a bit), but once you go faster that resonance goes away.
I've done loooooong days at 110kmh and sometimes faster and it's fine.
It'll get up to 130kmh or 80mph no problem. Although at that speed it did feel like I was revving it a bit hard for the long days I was doing.
Your fuel economy also starts to drop quite a bit at when you start exceeding 125kmh. You'll start touching levels of small city cars:
The Hyundai i10 and the Suzuki micro van I'm driving currently can get can getter than 20km/L or 5L/100km.
I apologize for catching you in such a busy time....lol, camping in Japan? Are you on a bike as well or just camping
around the World? I stopped traveling outside the US in the late 90's, not that I've done any real travels but I found
more to do in N.America than any of us actually go & do? Yeah, I asked about the 500x platform b/c I'd actually
looked at Honda's CFR150L which hit America recently. I learned that the front forks were a direct swap w/ their
150 moto bike & those forks were nice unlike the ones on the dual sport offering. I saw your channel & thought
I'd ask you. It seems a lot of bikes have less suspension than we may desire & so I'm asking that question more
often b/c there's are lots of scrap bikes out there & you can help yourself a lot. Please enjoy your trip & get back
safely, then I'll come bother you some more. And yes, I liked the channel but have not spent too much time as
of yet. But I am "subb'd" so you'll see me ask dumb questions.... ty again & be safe / peace & GB ALL
Great review, great bike! I 0wn the 2020 model since July 2020 and about to reach the 55,000 km line. Even did once the Saddle Sore 1000. I have the OEM Honda back rack with Honda (Shad) 48l top case and Sw-motech Blaze Side Bags (very easy to mount and dismount) which are doing a great job. As for tires, I use Pirelli MT 60 on the rear wheel and Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR on the front. I had some thoughts to get a bigger bike, but couldn't find a good reason for that (Unless it was CB650X which does not exist).
Before buying my 500x i was looking into a Yamaha Ténéré 660 but that bike was becoming trully expensive here in Brazil, i also was looking towards an KTM 390 adventure, if KTM sold them here and the nearest dealer was closer than 1500km, i ended with my 500X that was in a dealership in my city, i paid R$40.000, what is kinda expensive here, around 8k dollars in a country where the minimum wage is 250 dollars but im in love with that bike. The Honda factor also made my mind just because even in the most isolated tribe in the amazon, you will find a honda CG there.
Thanks so much for your insights.
That Honda reliability is truly something I appreciate.
It's nice being able to just throw a dart onto a map knowing that you can ride there and that the bike will also have the reliability to make it back again too.
Fingers crossed, I can ride a bit through Brazil on my rtw trip next year and see your beautiful country first hand.
hello! i saw your motorcycle on small bike stuff. may i know what the tire size of your honda wave? thanks!
Awesome seeing people coming over from SBS 🙂
The tyres are IRC NR-1 sized: 17-3.00
Hi Tom. I hope you make some videos on your honda Wave for your own channel in the near future. I have a CB500X and CT125 and know how you feel about the potential difficulties picking up the 500X when riding alone. I always choose to take the smaller CT125 when exploring unknown roads and trails. Cheers
What year is yours? It looks somewhat different from the 22/23 models
It's a 2016 model.
I thought it was older as the newer model has the gear indicator and a few other differences. @@tomonabudget
👍👍👍
When lifting a motorcycle up. Put your butt against the seat, turn away from the bike, and use your legs to squat the motorcycle up. Much easier.
You mean like I tried at 10:39?
As unsuccessfully as on my other attempts when I tried "this one simple trick"?
Why unsuccessful?
Because the 500 lies so low and I usually drop it on uneven or slippery surfaces.
That trick works well if you have:
- bike that doesn't fall too flat by means of wide engine (boxer), wide crash bars or hard panniers
- flat surface below
- grip so the bike doesn't slide away once you start lifting
After doing an adventure riding course, I was shown this method, and it works, because of the principle of leverage. 1) point the front wheel to the sky. Strap front brake with a bit of Velcro to stop it rolling. 2) Squat, and cup your hands under the lowest point of the bar. Back straight. 3) standup, and walk forward. This also has the benefit of knowing where you’re tipping the bike towards. With the OP’s method, you have to turn around as well. With the method I was taught, you don’t. Also, with the use of leverage, it’s easier.
Maybe don't tell someone who out 60.000 km how to pick up their bike lol
He tried that already if you paid attention. Different technique different situation
"Polite and patient servant"
Good line.
Equally good line:
"When was the last time you smelled poopoo in your living room?"
What crash bars are you utilizing?
17:14 - Givi - crash bars 😉
@@tomonabudget thank you
"It can be done on the cheap, but it's a bit like running a Linux for free, if you don't value your time." :D
I returned that Givi rack b cause that low weight limit was not acceptable.
Nice to see I'm not the only one who thought the payload capacity is too low.
The cb500x is a great bike , but it's ultimately a road bike it's got limited travel and short fork trail.I sold mine and bought a royal enfield himalayan i know it's awful on road but offroad it's great and I've ridden it in place i would never ride the honda but granted the honda is more refined horses for courses.
Siema
🤗 P R O M O S M
Thanks for the comment. I hope you also enjoyed the video🙂
reached min 5, there are many cb500x on some facebook group that reached well over 300k km, some even 400k. They do last a while.
edit1: my 2022 model also developed a water pump leak, but rode it like that for a while, and it fixed itself. From what I read, break-in of the ceramic seal takes longer and small drips are normal and expected for a short period when it finally seats in right.
edit2: lowering the nc750x and inventing x-adv, instead of buffing up the nc750x, is one of the biggest mistakes Honda made. The nc750x showed so much promise.
Thanks for the insights. Man I missed those 300k-km posts. I'm totally not surprised these engines last that long.
I wonder if mine was also leaking through the pump to lose its coolant and I just haven't noticed it back then.
It's also good to see I'm not the only one thinking along similar lines on the NC series. I wouldn't have minded the xmX-Adv if it came with a traditional gearbox.
Those CVT clutches worry me with their expensive replacement cost. I also can't see them lasting anywhere near as long as a standard clutch pack.
Which is why I was so disappointed in the Transalp. I can barely pick up the 500 and the Transalp is just a taller, blingier and heavier 500x with the air filter under the tank and more electronics that I personally don't need.
@@tomonabudget DCTs are very expensive, sure, but there's a german guy, varahannes, doing very long term tests, and he has an Africa Twin DCT with a bit over 500k km at the moment (yes, half million). He also provides a (very) long pdf with all the maintenance and servicing. He never changed the clutch. Google him, you will easily find the website, I don't think I can post a link here.
So, yes, electronic and expensive, but apparently long lasting.
About the Transalp: I don't know, I sat on one at a dealer, it feels exactly like the cb500x. But from a certain point of view, it's a downgrade in my opinion: tubed wheels, ride-by-wire, bluetooth and other expensive gimmicks. People that like high tech bikes think this is not sporty enough, people that want simple bulletproof hunky motorcycles think it's too electronically fragile and gimmicky.
Transalp is weirdly designed: chassis and suspension are NOT off-roady, but the wheels are very off-roady. Electronics are also making it lean away from off road all rounder globe trotter. Can't fix that in the desert of Mongolia, while I'm sure you can get away with many things on a cb500x.
It feels like a bike with an identity issue. It has touring ergos, modern electronics, but wild off road "shoes". Spoked wheels are nasty to clean and require periodic adjustment and maintenance. They're great off road, but the TA cannot do the off road that the wheels can do.
Honda's making some bad decisions in the last years, very bad. Honda would have BROKEN the market if, with the new hornet, they released a cb750x, and a Transalp that is more similar to Yamaha's T7. Or maybe a Dominator? I don't know, either way: the current line up is disappointing for the ADV/touring part.
And, as a final word: I was frustrated with the water leak until it fixed itself, and I am slightly unsatisfied with the engine power, but man: I do love the design. So easy to change the air filter, oil filter, light bulb (on the 2022), everything that has to do with maintenance and modding... well, except valves and sparkplugs, that sucks. But some people never adjusted the valves and it's working great. One guy said he's not gonna bother, because nothing broke in the 260k km he's had it, and if it does, he'll fix it then (on the cb500x forum).
Wow, thanks for the insights. Totally agree on Honda's weird line-up, missing opportunities.
The CRF450L is one that I'd throw in there too. Designed to please racers and off-road gods, but useless for travel with terrible low rpm performance, high maintenance and sticker price.
I've read similar opinions on not doing the valve clearance checks.
The comment on the DCT clutch lasting long is good to hear. I've heard how easily they wear out in VW cars (particularly people creeping at traffic lights wear them out fast).
Maybe i will check out the XADV if I ever come across it. That DCT on the bike was a worry for me, but if they last? But even with better weight distribution, it does weigh nearly 40kg more than the 500x. That's 1/3 of my Wave!
I'll have to look at one if I ever come across any since none of the dealerships I visit, keep any of the bikes that I find interesting on the showroom floor.
Aren't all reviews honest? Or are people posting reviews so that they can lie? I don't understand!
Imagine, you're a manufacturer and you're giving a journalist a bike to make a review about it. Would you give them another one after they made you look bad?
If you watched the end, you'll notice that I'm not all positive about it and I have since sold the 500 to use my smaller Wave for my RTW trip that will start in March.
Great bike but engine is too weak even for beginner. It shoud have at least 500cc or better 550cc
Making it more powerful would have broken its compatibility with the A2 licence.
It's already a torquey engine with some known good reliability. Adding more displacement to then detune it doesn't make any sense.
You can actually watch the video where I talk about the engine and how much power it puts out.
On a budget, but buys an expensive bike and is now brutally honest. I know expensive is normally reserved for 12-25K and more bikes, LOL, no here it’s to say there’s many equally good if not better cheaper bikes, new and used, if you’re in a budget and DIY service menthality. And brutalist honest? LOL, bringing us the preach of so many fan-boys of a basic good bike. Brutally easy and cheap honesty.
Thanks for supporting the channel by leaving a comment. If you like to be more helpful, you can watch the video in its full length as I'm actually talking about your points ;)
Haha what a great analogy “running Linux for free if you don’t value your time”
Great to see people catching the IT jokes :)
Drives like a small truck. A reliable but very boring M/C.
Hi thank what excellent video. Back in Australia this year done the lion's road . Mount mead & off road riding inthe glass house mountains . Cool cafe at the top of mount Glorious . Got a friend what lends me his bikes & lives at mount cotton . So are next trip is to cairns so thats going to be epic . Yes the cb500x is more Versatile that people think & not to be scoffed at well take care out the may be see out there out on them rippa roads & watch out for the critters nearly ran into some down to Texas 😅.
Rolley .uk
@07:17 Linux is the best operating system family, exactly because I value my time. Otherwise, thanks for the review, very helpful!