On the
12th September 2023, I visited
Two Wheels Honda Edinburgh and test
rode their Honda CB500X Demonstrator. To skip the technical and
my accessories section - jump to
The Short Review.
You can also check out all my research on the Honda CB500X motorcycle,
including video reviews in my
Honda
CB500X Motorcycle Overview article.
The 2023
Honda CB500X Adventure Motorcycle weighs in
at 199Kg wet, which is about 20Kg more than I would like for riding on rough
country B roads and light green lanes. However the bike is in that sweet spot
between those lightweight single pot 373cc motorcycles and the larger, heavier
and higher seating positions of those 650cc, and above, adventure motorbikes. The
parallel twin liquid cooled 471cc engine, the front twin disc brakes, updated
front suspension, 830mm seat height and 180mm ground clearance have a lot to
offer. It has decent poke on the dual
carriageways and more than capable of handling the narrow rough B roads of
Scotland.
The
Technical Specifications are excellent,
although there is no traction control.
No Traction Control - Winter and Wet Weather Use
The Honda CB500X is a motorbike that I could use in the winter
months and on wet days. All it requires is some
preparation with
ACF-50
protection spray.
Scotland is notorious for wet weather and the month of July (2023) has
experienced rain most days. Unfortunately the CB500X does not have
traction control but I have ridden a Suzuki GSX-1250FA (Bandit) Sport/Tourer
for 9 years, without traction control in wet weather so the CB500X,
which has less power, should be okay.
My 'Current' Choice of Accessories:
-
Scottoiler Universal System (Biogradeable Oil Variant)
Please see SW-Motech Crash Bars Video and images. Note: The video must be watched on YouTube -
My existing sports motorcycles have a Scottoiler fitted so a
Scottoiler Universal System to
continually oil the chain whilst on the run is a good option. I plan to
use the Honda CB500X over the autumn/winter periods and use my sports
bikes in the summer. However, for storage in the garage, and
additional charging top ups, I will be fitting an Optimate Flying Lead
to the Honda's battery and using an
Optimate 4 Automatic Battery Charger.
It has been stated in reviews that the Honda Heated Grips leave a lot to
be desired for heating the hands, so I have opted for the
Oxford Pro Adventure Heated Grips
which are highly rated.
My choice of luggage would be the
SW-Motech Pro Blaze Saddlebags & Removable
Support Legs. The
Standard Blaze Saddlebags are reviewed in the
following video
and the Pro Blaze versions have a laminated side but otherwise they are
just the same -
Electronics
There was not much to complain about, other than the quality of the
dash screen which was barely visible to read in
virtually all daylight conditions, other than the large speed indicator
(I did not test for night use). All the switch gear on the bars were within
easy reach and worked just fine. The indicator green indication lights were
set well apart on the screen and properly reflected the left or right
direction.
Dash Screen Adjustment video -
Suspension
The standard suspension and overall seating comfort were excellent and I
deliberately went over very rough roads but avoided deep potholes that
could damage the rims.
Seating Height
The seat is narrow and the seating height was perfect for me. I
have a 32" inside leg and I could put both my feet flat on the ground
when required.
Seat Riding Position
The seat to bars to pegs proved excellent with my legs slightly tucked
up and enough distance to the bars whereby I was leaning slightly
forward with no pain in my lower back which dislikes a full upright
seating position.
On the
Edinburgh Dual Carriageway Bypass
As usual the wind blasts and cross winds were bad and at around 70mph I
endured a fair bit of buffeting on my head. The bike's screen was not
set fully up, so I guess with more adjustment this could be improved.
The Honda was incredibly stable and even at 70 mph with full wind
blasts, I was able to push ahead. The bike had a lot of grunt and
overtaking from all speeds was not a problem. I am told that the Honda
CB500X can easily achieve 95mph. Lane splitting, even at ultra slow,
almost standing still speeds, between stationary vehicles on the dual
carriageway was very easy, thanks to a very smooth throttle control, an
excellent rear brake and a lightweight clutch lever.
The Gearbox
The gearbox is slick, no heavy clunking, more of a click between the
gears and no false neutrals. It
does not require a quick shifter and if you want, you can easily shift up
the box using the throttle and your left foot, without using the clutch.
Having stated that, using the clutch at any speed to shift up and down
the gears is effortless. 1st gear gets you moving with a quick shift
into 2nd gear with oodles of torque to get you going up through the box.
Engine Performance and Vibrations
I was pleasantly surprised by the
performance which proved most excellent in all conditions and even at around 70mph, the
engine delivered enough power to feel very safe on the dual carriageway
with much more power to offer. In 6th gear the engine remained sweet at
40mph and above, and in 5th gear at 30mph. There was slight vibration in
the seat at around 6,000 revs and above but it was not bad enough to
be a discomfort or a deal breaker.
The Mirrors
I could see plenty of
the roadway behind me without my arms getting too much in the way. There
were no engine
vibrations at 6,000 revs on the bars or the mirrors.
The Brakes
The rear brake was excellent and with very harsh braking on a dry road
at around 30mph, I was able to activate the ABS to prevent the rear
wheel locking. The
front brake proved most excellent and inspired confidence, especially
when applied with the rear brake.
Slow Speed Manoeuvres
and Corner Handling
The Honda CB500X is a dream bike for slow speed handling,
especially clutch/throttle/back brake ultra slow manoeuvres. The turning
circle is excellent. On the corners the bike is awesome, very flickable and easy to control. I had to watch
because it was so easy to lean it hard over and I had to remember that
she was not wearing sport tyres. I did not try the bike off-road.
For a motorcycle that weighs in at 199kg I found it very lightweight
with excellent handling at all speeds.
The Stock Exhaust Note
I intend to purchase a lightweight adventure or scrambler bike for riding on rough B roads,
some slow riding
country road rambles, perhaps some green lanes, so the exhaust note on
the Honda is not that loud. The wildlife will not be scared by it and I
will not be wearing ear plugs.
Conclusions
The lack of traction control is not a deal
breaker.
For using on country back roads with rough surfaces the Honda is ideal
with a nice soft suspension, knobbly tyres, and yet more than capable of
carving up corners when required. On the motorway, the bike has plenty
of power to remain ahead, to facilitate swift enough overtaking and with
enough brake power to feel confident.
I disliked the low brightness on the dash screen and I could hardly read
the display in most daylight conditions. It might dissuade me from
purchasing the Honda in 2024.
UPDATE on Dash Screen: The dash screen brightness can be
raised so that the display is more visible see video -
7th November 2023 UPDATE:
The new
2024 Honda NX500 Adventure Crossover Motorcycle
has been announced and apparently will be sold alongside the existing
Honda CB500X Motorcycle.
Deposit for an April 2024 Purchase
I have transferred my deposit from the Honda CB500X motorcycle to the
new 2024 Honda NX500 Motorcycle.