I've had mine for about a year now, and 7000 miles. I've added a trunk, and hard Givi side cases, as well as a tall Vstream windshield. To me, this bike is absolutely fantastic for everything, including touring. It has no vibrations at high speeds, and has just enough power to be fun. The seating position is perfect as well. Working on it seems to be very easy, with exception to valve adjustments, which I will likely never try. I am 37 and have ridden street motorcycles as well as offroad since I was 14. I've had large bikes like the Goldwing, and cruisers as well. The only bike I have been looking at recently is the NC750x, and that is because of the frunk and DCT.
How do you think the NCX will compare to the CBX? I rode a regular NC700 without the X and the DCT. Had great fuel economy, low revs, but felt maybe a bit like a comfortable suv? Not terribly active driving. Love to hear your thoughts! Though, I remember when I drove it and a maxi scooter overtook me in a corner and the driver did a knee scrape. On a Burgman! So I guess it’s truly 80% driver and 20% bike 😁
Motorcycle Tourists The closest bike I've ridden to the ncx is the ctx700. I couldnt tell a big difference in motors but I only rode a few miles. The NC700x I sat on felt much larger although it appears to have the same wheels, brakes, and forks as the CBX. Everything Ive read suggest the CBX is a funner bike. I guess I'm just after the easy storage and dct as well as the easier valve adjustments. Id just hate to miss the clutch and find the seat to be horrid. I think I may keep my Cbx as long as shell have me.
Thanks man. I owned a 2017 version CB500X. Already 7500km till now. Top 5 I liked: 1. Smooth engine 2. Clear clutch 3. Fuel economy 4. Reliable 5. Not heavy. Top 3 I don't like: 1. Front light not bright enough. 2. Turn light are not LED. 3. Front fender very shot and much water will spill on your shoes and radiator in rainy day, you need do some DIY. Pls note that it was not design for off-road.
Hi from Portugal. For me, the less positive points that you speak in the video, do not exist. With 1.65 m height and 72 kg, the CB 500X is perfect for me 😁 Excellent review, simple and clear
Hello Portugal! You’re right! Had I been your size the bike would probably have felt better 😁 I haven’t been to Portugal yet! I heard it’s amazing for motorcycle driving. Any tips for us?
N2 the longest road in portugal. advrider.com/index.php?threads/the-longest-road-of-portugal.1278776/ And for those who like events, this week Faro Motorcycle Rally 2018. The best in Europe www.motoclubefaro.pt/Actividades/Saloes/Bilbao/_Imprensa_Bilbao/Home_UK/home_uk.html
@@MotorcycleTourists hey guys, sorry for being a year late on the review feedback, There is a category you missed People like me who hung around with a bunch of lunatics on Japanese street racers in my youth and stepped away from bikes before shit went wrong when I turned about 30yrs old (those reflexes slow down) 25yrs later I realised I am actually mature enough to own another bike I just bought a 2013, beautiful bike It's got plenty in the throttle but not enough to start being silly The seating position and seat style remove all temptation to crank the throttle and start sliding your arse around and dropping your knee on winding roads I would seriously recommend this bike to anyone who has been away from bikes for a long time and wants to get "back in the saddle" I think I've been bitten by the bike bug again and wouldn't be surprised if I trade up to the 750cc next year Live well, be happy and ride safe my friends, cheers from Australia
I am adding this to my collection, I bought a 2021 Harley Streetbob 1868cc last year, massive power and cruising is nice, New 2022 Ducati Monster 937cc, 2022 Honda 125cc Monkey, 2022 Yamaha xsr125cc. They all have their own personalities of course, Monkey is more fun over the XSR, but both are awesome. Streetbob is massive power and torque but it took time to understand it for me as it was my first bike after 13 years off bikes , not the best choice learner but hey its all good now. Monster is a really nice machine, but for the money there is a lot more out there and better too i'm sure, but i still love what it delivers every time i ride it. Every bike is different, and i think whatever you ride will make you happy just by being out there on 2 wheels.
Cheers lads, great review there. I've recently passed my test so am looking at my first bike. I think I've narrowed it down to either one of these or the cb500f. This 500x seems to have a bigger foot print though for maneuvering it around thr garage, along with the increased weight over the 500f. But both seem good contenders for a starter like me.
A very fair, clear and honest review. I certainly do feel these bikes are smashing mid range machines that despite some of their very minor niggles actually give back a lot more miles with smiles. I Would defo consider one as a second machine and a daily commute.
I am in a process of getting money (it should be completed in spring 2020) for my first bike and I was curious about CB500x. I was looking for reviews all around CZcams. The only quality review which had value was not by some vlogger or some big motorcycle magazine or retail sponsored channel but by one fat guy and old dude just standing by the bike. Subscribed. Disclaimer: I am fat and en route to getting old.
Another 500X owner here. Just successfully completed an 11,000 mile 22 state trip around the US, including the Trans America Trail. The CB never let me down, took everything I threw at it, whether it was 400 miles of tarmac in a day, or countless miles of gravel and rock 'roads'. Admittedly it had the Rally Level One suspension and wheels, but IMO a stock CB could have done the same trip.
Hey, Tim! That's absolutely awesome! The Rally Raid level 1 kit must have helped tons, though. The stock suspension would not have liked rock 'roads' much, I think? Did you do this on the stock seat, or do you have an after market seat? We found that 400 miles of highway required a somewhat different anatomy than we posses, like a butt made of cast iron :-) We tried Air Hawks, but I had a hard time getting along with mine, and getting it well adjusted. It kept making me lean just slightly more forward, which translated to some back and shoulder aches after a few thousand kilometres.
Just came back from 340 miles ride in two days in Texas Hill Country. My little Honda kept up with up two 1600cc BMW's admirably, especially on very curvy slower speed roads. Yeah, it is inappropriate to compare comfort and performance of pretty basic $6k machine with state of the art $30k machines but, it is just as inappropriate to compare economy of purchase, maintenance, mpg and insurance for the little guy. After exactly 220 miles on the first day, I filled up exactly 3 gallons of gas. Due to rain, our average speed was probably less than 50 mph but, I'm getting much over 60 mpg even when averaging over 70 mph. Now, keeping it at 70-80 mph while doable, it may be a little much for this machine if you have to do it for hours at the time. For city commuter and weekend warrior though, it is hard to find machine that makes more sense. If one is having extra couple grands at disposal, NC750X may be another choice to consider. While I'm craving for some bigger cc's mostly to satisfy my ago, it is really hard to justify change.
You're right! Those winding roads around 50mph is where this bikes really shines. It's not a mile-eater on highways, nor is it a bus on two wheels like the K1600 (please don't hit me! :-D) And it does make a lot of sense. For me, doing a lot of highway driving for commuting and going on longer trips down through Europe, I found there were other bikes better suited to my driving style and preferences. But objectively speaking, it does make a whole lot of sense for a lot of situations and a lot of people. I surely enjoyed it a lot while I had mine. Did you see our NC750X review?
I just checked at your nc750x review. Didn't really know you had it. Pretty good review. Nice background and editing. I had chance to see NC for the first time and to sit on it yesterday. Didn't have chance to ride it though. It was little underwhelming experience after sitting on super tenere, tracer 900, v-strom 1000 and 650, r1200rt and few other ones. It felt little cheap and toyish. The top felt so light compared to any other bike I tried which left me wondering if that would feel good or bad during ride in the wind. The storage was smaller than I expected but, it was welcome compared to no storage or saddle bags/boxes. Top boxes look very stupid despite being fairly practical. I can see opportunity to extend riding range by carrying extra fuel in the storage but, under-seat filler kind of requires some planning ahead. Not sure why Honda couldn't put it on a side. It is advertised as adventure bike and not specifically commuter. I'm also not sure why everybody is stuck on revving part. I personally never feel good about high revs. I ride my cb500x mostly between 4000-6000 rpm and it feels little too much keeping it 6k+. I wouldn't mind cruising at 70-75 in 2k-3k range like my trucks do. Not having chance riding and comparing, I wonder how it feels. It seems to maintain max HP at all rpm's which is nice compared to other bikes that have more linear delivery. I was wondering how it would compare with V-strom 650 which gets almost 70HP at 8.8k rpm but at lower revs, it is probably comparable or NC maybe performing same or better. Idk.
Hey! I agree. High rpms get tiresome on long stretches. They are fairly comparable, and the V-Strom rides a bit more like a motorcycle and a bit less like a car engine compared to the NC750X. But the V-Strom is a cruiser and mile eater, so it does ride at fairly low rpms when compared to other motorcycles in general, bar custom motorcycles. Slightly higher than the NC750X, but not by much. Also, top boxes may look awful, but I couldn't live without them! They are just way too practical! :-D Lugging around camera and audio gear, drones, batteries, chargers, cables, adapters, laptop and what-have-you, *in addition* to my picnic, means top box is a must :) But yeah, they do disrupt the aesthetics somewhat.
while i was riding 125cc for covering 2000km in 4 days I was wishing for a bike that has a 5 gear, now I hv a bike that is 411cc with 5 gears, I want to now have an engine that is more powerful more numbers of gears...may be I would want my bike to fly some day.
@@upward_onward Tell me about it. I'm already on #3, Super Tenere 1200cc. Just came back from three days, 460 miles ride in Texas Hill Country. What I'm learning is that it is not the engine size or number of gears only. It is all the other things that come with bigger engine and higher price. It is suspension, the seat, the weight, the electronics. But, it also depends on the type or ride you do. For some things 400lbs 500cc Honda is more practical than 600 lbs 1200cc Yamaha.
I too first rode the CB500X in Gran Canaria back in February this year and liked it so much I bought a new one when I came home. Fabulous bike...the only problem is with me being a little too tall for the bike. I'm 185cm and 90kg so perhaps a Versys 650 would suit me better. I'll be hiring one for 5 days in Tenerife shortly. As you say, the engine is very good, with excellent fuel economy. I like how smooth and flexible the engine is at low rpm, unlike my Versys 300 which is the complete opposite!
Hey, Steve! That’s awesome! I think you will find the Versys 650 rides on high rpms like many street bikes. It’s fun to ride but not as relaxing as you may be used to from the CB. You could have a look at the Honda NC750X or the BMW F700GS or F750GS. Those all ride on those low rpms with that butter smooth engine character that you like in the CB500X. You can check out review of the NC750X here: czcams.com/video/4XPRryBKADc/video.html
I had a Honda Shadow ACE 750 v-twin and bought this bike in 2016. People asked me why I went "down" to a 500cc, but I argue that I went "up" in technology: ABS, fuel injection, LED headlights and brake lights, catalytic converter, electronic dashboard with a fuel gauge - all features that the ACE didn't have. The ACE had "attitude", which I miss sometimes, but then I've been told that I have too much of that so I did a good thing to sell it. But back to the CB500XA, the only thing that pisses me off is that the seat is hard to put back - especially in colder weather. Otherwise it's a great bike.
The seat is also a bit ... stiff :-) But yeah, a great bike nevertheless! I went to Gran Canaria for vacation not long ago and rented one while I was there (for like the 5th time). It’s perfect for those mountain roads, a place where it really shines.
@@MotorcycleTourists I live and ride in Ottawa, Ontario so no mountains. For that I need to go to British Columbia - about 6 days return - but it's on my calendar.
Thanks! And hello Australia! I know these bikes are really popular there. We watched a few reviews ourselves before we bought them, and most of them were from down under. I think with the Rally Raid kit on, these bikes would have been on a whole new level. That would have been cool to try.
WOW what a small world we live in. Love the channel. I look forward to more Videos, I gave you guys a sub. If you feel like checking my channel out you will see the Adelaide Hills, it might bring some memories back for you.
Thank you for the very good review. I am looking to buy this bike and appreciate hearing the good and the bad. It sounds like you had a very good trip indeed. Perhaps you may want to share some of the sights in a future video. Kevin from Toronto
Hello Kevin! We definitely want to do a travel video for the Alps :-) It probably won’t be this year since we have so many other destinations planned already. But next season, definitely!
Good review gentlemen. I have the same model. I wasn't sure I'd like the bike honestly. It's not fast. It's not flashy. But damn, is it fun. Inexpensive, reliable and cheap to maintain. I will upgrade to a 650 at some point but I'll always think about the cb500x. Ride safe!
Great review with many valid points gained from real world experience .No bike is capable of doing everything but a very important factor to me is fuel economy as this promotes low cost adventures.I currently have a low mileage ,used single cylinder BMW 06 F650GS.(71 mpg)This handles most circumstances well .The BMW only has a 5 speed box which is a shame but it can still handle Motorway speeds if necessary .I actually think the BMW is a better option than the 500x except in mpg and they are a lot cheaper second hand.
Hi, and thanks! I agree with you in part :-) The old 650 thumpers like Funduro, Dakar and Sertao are quite dated, with 5 speed transmissions, which as you said - is a shame. Better used on dirt roads than on a motorways, which to me makes them equally limiting. On the other hand, the 650GS twins... now those are one of my all time favorite bikes! 6 speed transmission, twin engines, comfortable, competent and very versatile. But what’s most important to me - because I’m big and heavy - is the suspension. The BMW 650GS twins have no trouble handling my weight, whereas the Honda really can’t. For people less spherical, it’s not as much of an issue, but for me, it kind of rules out the Honda, on that alone. But that also goes to say just how competent those 650s are. Unfortunately, they go second hand, 9 years old, here in Sweden for almost as much as the Honda costs new. Second hand, a good 650GS twin 2010 with low mileage can hurt you for around €6000. The CB500X brand spanking new is €7400. So for €1500 more, you get a brand new bike with warranty, as opposed to a 10 year old bike with maybe 50 000 km on it. That merits some consideration too! If money is no object, then there’s surely better options than of them :-) What do you think?
@@MotorcycleTourists Yes, the twins are smoother and more user friendly than my thumper.I certainly prefer the smaller back roads and green lanes to dual carriageways , Motorways and A Roads ,more scenery ,more sheep ,less traffic. I like the 500x but,as you say,it might be more suitable for a more svelte framed person! ( that's not me by the way) I paid £2600 for my F650GS (2006 single) and it had less than 10k miles on it and was in excellent condition until I owned it.I'm afraid I'm not very good at cleaning :( Thanks for your reply.
I own a Guzzi 1200 Sport and I've also tried to find the 7th gear sometimes when riding on highways :D I think we all expect to get a bit lower on the revs at cruise speeds. Nice review, and very useful, thanks!
I think you did a good review of this bike. I think every bike is a compromise of sorts. I believe you gave us a clear picture of this bike. I have two large bikes a 1200 HD Sportster and a 1500 HD Road King. Sometimes I wish I had something smaller.
Thank you, Gerald! Means the world to us to hear! Those are indeed no small bikes! But, you can never have too many motorcycles :-) What smaller bikes would you consider as a third? Or would you trade in one of them for a smaller?
i have one and I agree with your review. two cons: first, fuel consumption is so low that the on board computer declares higher consumption than the real one (yes he is pessimist and not optimist like any other veichle i have ever drove). second, wind protection is poor also for legs, you can get tired on very long distance; i saw honda improved on 2016 version. you coul also have mentioned how easy it is ti ride it on the hairpins of passo dello stelvio, i was there with mine and it was a real joy to go up stelvio pass
Hey Santuz! You’re right, it was great there. The bike is so nimble it’s crazy! Hair pins were a breeze 😁 I did have to struggle a bit at Stelvio, though, at the steepest places, going on high revs in second gear. But I’m a very big guy, so that’s no surprise 😁
I agree with everything you said. Oh if only Honda would put the 4 cylinder 650 engine in it without changing anything else. I'm trading for the F750GS after Christmas so it seems I am following the same path as you guys.
Thank you for the review. The excellent fuel economy for the performance, this is the classic motorcycle advantage. It is too easily forgotten that frugality is in itself a virtue combined with legendary Honda reliability. I would also strongly agree with the suggested 5,000km oil change intervals. These engines have very tight tolerances on the machined metal services, and are high revving. So for extended long life of the engine keep its oil clean. If you must do 10,000kms without an oil change then only very expensive products like Mobil 1 ESP Formula 5W-30 are proven good enough.
A great all round bike for what it is and the money you pay for it. The best MPG for me was 103.89 (UK). I can normally travel 276miles (3 days commute to work & back) for 12.0 to 12.5 lts and not hit the flashing last fuel bar, meaning I still have round 4ish lts left in the tank. Run at the right speed this bike doesn't want to drink fuel !!!!!
Hey, Mark! That's absolutely astonishing! We were amazed when we were at 3 litres per 100 km mark. Your numbers are just insane. The fuel economy on this bike is just crazy. Where are you driving it to get that low consumption?
Wow, I'm light on the throttle and average about 4.2L/100km on my 100K V-Strom 650. I was concerned about switching to a CB500X due to the smaller tank capacity (I like fuel range in Australia). My other concern was the 17 inch front wheel (and associated tyre choices) of the CB500X which has been addressed in the 2019 model! Honda is now on my shopping list (if heart doesn't overrule head and I aquire a Moto Guzzi V85TT)
Great upgrades on the CB500X 2019; i love it; Great Job Honda; i’m really tempted to upgrade my CB500X 2017; Honda: now please create a new version : a CB500X Adventure Sports ((kind of Rally Raid version; small Africa Twin; spokes wheels, inverted front forks, skid plate, hand guards, rear suspension with adjustable remote, engine guards, dual front brake discs, ABS switch on/off...)) & i will buy it to swap my CB500X 2017 for a CB500X Adventure Sports 2020. Or, let’s dream, i would also upgrade for a future new CB650X or for an Africa Twin 700cc.
A baby Africa Twin? Not a bad Christmas wish! I'd be interested! The current one is a bit too tall and big for my comfort. If the CB500X and the Africa Twin had a baby, I'd want it. Have you tried the new 2019 model of the CB500X? I'm really wanting to try one, and check out these improvements.
Motorcycle Tourists The 2019 CB500X won’t be available in Canada until April or May. Cheers from Montreal. I dream of a new CB650X, an Africa Twin 700cc; but i am also very interested in the new Moto Guzzi V85TT 2019 with accessible seat height of 830mm. I wanna try one.
If you want a bigger engine version, check out the Honda NC700X/750X. They're similar to the 500X in many aspects, but with a longer wheelbase, weigh more but with a low center of gravity, and enjoy the same fuel economy, while coming with a cool trunk in the front.
Hey! We actually did a review of the NC750X a while back. It’s really practical and tremendously sensible, but it didn’t really light my fire, unfortunately. But that’s a really personal point, objectively speaking and personal preferences aside, it’s a great bike 👍
great review , because i am to get this bike , realy helps. by the way , anything bigger than my honda msx / Grom are BIG bikes. i still ride my grom even highway , i am 176 cm , 90kg. big guy on mini bike .
I've done 17,000 miles on my 16 plate. It's a great bike. I've never had a problem with motorway miles. The only thing I've put on it is a set of tyres and chain and sprocket. Yes of course you have to change gear and rev it a bit but that adds to the fun. I'm trying to think of a negative hmmmm Yeah here's one you don't get many chances to take a break on a long trip it's so dam good on fuel. Best I've had is a genuine 98.2 to the UK gallon. It's no fireblade but it'll make you smile.
Hello, Richard! You’re right! I think the fuel economy on this bike is just otherworldly. As for the sprocketing, a lot of people agree that this is the solution for this bike and highways. I just spent the last week driving around on one, and I can’t say enough good things about it. It’s not perfect, but it’s damn good :-) Have you seen the new updated version for 2019? It features a 19” front wheel and some more oomph in the engine, as well as new suspension! I’m really looking forward to trying one out.
Hey! They upped the suspension on the latest model. I haven’t tried it yet, but it’s probably a much needed improvement, especially for those of us slightly more spherically inclined. That was the weakest part on that model, at least :-) It’s a nice and fun bike, and I still pick it up as rental now and then when I’m on vacation abroad.
Nice video & great review guys..😁👍..the honest review..!! i m a short rider, my height is 5'4" with 30 inch inseam..do you think i can handle this bike..?😥..btw, really like your review guys..sorry for my english & greetings from Malaysia..😁👍👍
Hello thanks for the excellent review, I have a question is it could be a bike for a guy who measures 1.98 and 90 kg ? Îm planning to buy this bike tomorrow but didn’t drive it yet thanks in advance
I have a 2016 with abs. I love the bike. My only problem with it is that the seat is not comfortable for more than an hour ride. It doesn’t breath and starts to get hard 45 minutes in. Edit: oh I have 10,000 kilometers on it and I bought it new.
Yep. That’s true. We tried using Air Hawks, but those had me leaning wrong and I ended up with back aches instead. Maybe a decent after market saddle could be a solution?
It is. I haven’t tried those. I had a Sargent saddle on my F700GS, which cost thereabouts. Can’t speak for Corbin, but the Sargent was worth it. Let me know if you end up picking one up, really curious to know more about it.
How much does it cost for service, maintenance and motorcycle parts. Here in India, big bikes maintenance according to Indian standards are expensive. I am not sure if I should go for the VSTROM 650XT or this CB 500X, I have retired from work and have just adequate or limited resource of income. Just want to buy one bike for life and no changing.
Unfortunately my hearing was not doing too good regarding all that background noise sound like you're right next to the highway or something or the wind was blowing like crazy but I don't think so cuz the weeds weren't moving yeah the background noise just destroyed the video
Thanks for the feedback, Tom! I appreciate it. You're right, we were a bit away from a large road and because it was late in the day, the sound carried quite far, and mic was picking up a lot of background noise. We've improved our tech since then, but we still struggle with clean and good audio a bit. It's a learning process for us, and hopefully we'll get better at it with time. Again, thanks for the feedback, I appreciate that you took the time :-)
The best change I did to mine was go from a 16 to 17 tooth front sprocket.. really reduces the revs at highway speeds and your not shifting into “7th” gear. It’s a great city bike but also capable of extended touring and light off-road/gravel.
Motorcycle Tourists -this was the best change I did to the bike. It still has more than enough power in all situations, only gearing was a little more spread out. You had an extra second before you needed to shift in each gear. RPM in top gear at 100kph was down around 300 rpms. It really relxes the bike when riding on the highway..The speedo error (about 7% on my Canadian CB500X) was fixed, it is now dead on. I rode the CB500X and NC700X back to back at a Honda test ride. The NC has that low red line, and was bumping into the limiter.. Even though the CBX has a relatively low red line (8500) it revs out and feels more like a proper motorcycle engine. CBX is much smoother than the NC and feels faster.r. the NC is a much larger bike, CBX is a lot lighter.. CBX Downsides -brakes are shite (at least they have ABS) -stock chain is shite (replaced at 17000km) -stock Pirellis are shite (changed to Pilot Road 4) -rear shock is soft. Wobbled like crazy around corners unit I maxed out the preload. (I ended up changing to a CBR600 shock) - the front screen is not great. (Most Adventure style bikes stock screen suck) I changed to a Givi Airflow from a V-Strorm and it worked well for me. But no one seems happy with most aftermarket sceens.
I've heard of others who have swapped out the suspension for the CBR600 one. How did you feel the suspension was then? Was it a huge improvement, or just a decent one? Also, an airflow from a V-Strom? That's pretty cool! Did you have to make some custom fitting, or did the bracket fit out of the box?
Nice review. I got the 19 one and is so good. Can you tell me how you put the shadle bags there? I don't want to spend a fortune on side panniers and stuff. Just use some givi side bags that cost about 100 and move on.
Hey! Those are some SW-Motech racks fitted on the bike. Not sure about what model or cost. We got them via the Honda dealer who fitted them. Hope that helps!
I did quite recently, actually. I rode the 650 V-Strom a few months back, and even filmed it, in case I'd make a review out of it. We had it for a few days up in the mountains when we were on Gran Canaria. It's a great bike, with exceptional comfort. I felt the suspension was a little bit weak, though, compared to for instance the BMW lineup. Especially on really bad roads and coarse gravel. But then again, I'm a big guy, so that puts a lot of strain on the suspension.
Hi, I really appreciated your review. This is the bike I'm looking for as newbie and I think I found a good bargain. My only doubt is the bike I found (the exact model there is on this video) has 37.000 Km... do you think they are very much or the motor/bike itself should not already be at its end? Thank you very much!
Hey, Roberto! I'm no mechanic, but I guess it depends a lot on how kind or harsh those 37.000 km were, and if the bike was well cared for or not. I'm afraid I can't give you much advice on this, since I'm not really qualified to. But if the bike was well cared for and properly run in, instead of run down, then I wouldn't personally be afraid of that mileage.
I currently own a 2005 v-strom, and it is a great all-rounder, but with accessories (crashbars, skid-plate etc.) and luggage, it gets very heavy, very fast, close to 250kg. I was thinking of getting a cb500x sometime in the future, simply because its smaller, lighter and has ridiculously good fuel economy.
Hey, Thomas. Not sure what counts as Premium in Austria (it varies a lot between countries. In Indonesia it’s 88 RON, in Italy it’s 100 RON, and in Sweden it’s 97 RON). The bike requires unleaded 91 RON or higher, with restrictions against certain alcohol mixes (eco fuel blends, often listed as 95 OCT+E10). So depending on which country you drive in it might be either regular or premium. Usually in Europe you’ll be using 95 RON. Hope that helps!
Thanks, Rizky! It's my third language, so I still struggle here and there to find the right words to express myself. Doing these CZcams videos gives good practice and sure helps! :-)
Hello! It depends a lot on where you plan to go! For long, fast stretches like motorways, the NC750X definitely. For smaller roads, I think the CB500X might be a bit more fun. But that's just a personal opinion. I couldn't say that one is absolutely better than the other purely objectively, it depends a lot on you. Will you be riding with a passenger? Luggage? Going offroad? Will there be lots of gravel roads, or bad roads, or just smooth asphalt? Then, it also comes down to your personal preferences. Some think the CB500X is more fun, and easier to handle, so that might weigh in. Some think the NC750X is more comfortable. So there's so many variables to weigh into a decision like that. But for me, personally, I'd take the CB500X if I were expecting lots of city traffic, twisties and smaller roads, and the NC750X if I were to do a lot of highway driving. But, again, that's just my personal opinion, I'm sure other people will feel differently ;-)
Hey, Harry! I’m sure they could. Can’t say why they won’t, though. Maybe because it’s such a saturated market that they aim for the niches instead. Same as with Harley. Just not their market, I guess. Except, Harley is coming out with a 1250cc adventure bike next year, it seems, so who knows? Maybe Honda will make a baby Africa twin around the 700-800cc bracket! That would be interesting :-)
Hey, Buk! It was manageable. Fairly susceptible to winds, which made it shudder a lot when overtaking larger vehicles, and it did struggle a fair bit towards 120-130kmh and above. Miguel had an easier time with the acceleration, because he’s lighter, but in turn had a worse time with the turbulence and side winds. Not a bike you’ll enjoy cruising autobahn with, but the little critter will do it, if you ask it to.
Great review chaps. I'm a shorty currently riding a bmw r1100r and this bike would probably be better for me - I'd put handguards on though as I have them on mine and they are worth having - also I have a large Givi top box - do you think that this would alter the handling a lot - I like to have some storage capacity. A short video of me on mine...........czcams.com/video/QIKQzwllLz8/video.html Cheers Steve
Thanks, Steve! Glad you liked it! I think if you're used to a r1100r and move to a CB500X, it will take a while to get used to the lower power output. Initially, the CB500X may seem like a moped compared to the r1100r. After having mainly been driving a BMW R1200GS for a couple of months and jumping onto a BMW F750GS, the 750 felt a bit "out of breath", in comparison. But after a couple of days, I adjusted. I don't think hand guards will affect the handling. A top box will affect the aerodynamics, however. More so than most might think. I had a talk with a guy at Triumph that pointed out that brand specific top boxes are designed and tested for aerodynamics together with the bike it's intended to be on, whereas generic "fit all" top-boxes are not, and often adversely impact the aerodynamics of a bike quite significantly. Personally, I've never really noticed a huge difference in that department, but I'm no expert. The handling will definitely be affected by a top box, however, especially if you have stuff in it. Nothing is more pleasing than getting to an alpine pass, check in your luggage at a hotel, and drive the pass up and down without the box and panniers :-) But, you can make do with them on, too. Not so bad it's a show-stopper, exactly, but you do notice the difference. If you go on longer trips, you eventually forget what it's like driving without the luggage, and so it's not really a concern.
@@MotorcycleTourists Cheers - perhaps a tank bag might offer enough storage then. I do like the torque of the boxer engine (had an 1150gs, 2 x 1100 RT's and a 1200RT before getting the 1100R) but I reckon I could adjust - last yr did 400 miles in 3 days on a 125cc scooter in Portugal with the wife on the back and soon got used to that. The mpg is also very attractive as I do like to get about a bit, not just a summer rider. Safe riding to you both. Steve
Hey, Jim! Not a bad comparison. They share a lot in common, the CB500X and the V-Strom. Both have buttery smooth engines, similar ergonomics and so on. The V-strom has more of everything, of course. But I think they're really aimed at different audiences. The CB500X would win over the V-Strom in city traffic easily, and also in off-road if you pimp up the CB500X with a rally raid kit, or maybe the new 2019 model which has some improvements in that department. The V-strom wins hands down on long trips, though. The comfort is not comparable :-)
Hello, Floyd! I wouldn’t recommend it. At that weight you won’t have much left in the way of suspension travel, and the bike will feel small. I’m close to that but not quite so heavy, and the limitations were a lot more noticeable to me than Dad who is lighter. Try a BMW F700/750GS (much better suspension), which is better equipped to deal with that weight. Hope this helps!
I bought one last year and I love it. Well built,comfortable.reliable and enough power for the real world riding, I definitely recommend this bike
One of the best reviews by non professional riders ever! Thanks for all that info!
Thanks, Kevin! Nice to hear, and glad you liked it!
Thank you for the honesty. I was getting tired of all the lies all of the other reviewers were telling about this bike.
Thanks, Addy! We do our best to be unbiased and always give it straight up!
What kind of lies?
@@chrisw4215 None. That's my point.
I've had mine for about a year now, and 7000 miles. I've added a trunk, and hard Givi side cases, as well as a tall Vstream windshield. To me, this bike is absolutely fantastic for everything, including touring. It has no vibrations at high speeds, and has just enough power to be fun. The seating position is perfect as well. Working on it seems to be very easy, with exception to valve adjustments, which I will likely never try. I am 37 and have ridden street motorcycles as well as offroad since I was 14. I've had large bikes like the Goldwing, and cruisers as well. The only bike I have been looking at recently is the NC750x, and that is because of the frunk and DCT.
How do you think the NCX will compare to the CBX? I rode a regular NC700 without the X and the DCT. Had great fuel economy, low revs, but felt maybe a bit like a comfortable suv? Not terribly active driving. Love to hear your thoughts!
Though, I remember when I drove it and a maxi scooter overtook me in a corner and the driver did a knee scrape. On a Burgman! So I guess it’s truly 80% driver and 20% bike 😁
Motorcycle Tourists
The closest bike I've ridden to the ncx is the ctx700. I couldnt tell a big difference in motors but I only rode a few miles. The NC700x I sat on felt much larger although it appears to have the same wheels, brakes, and forks as the CBX. Everything Ive read suggest the CBX is a funner bike. I guess I'm just after the easy storage and dct as well as the easier valve adjustments. Id just hate to miss the clutch and find the seat to be horrid. I think I may keep my Cbx as long as shell have me.
Thanks man.
I owned a 2017 version CB500X. Already 7500km till now.
Top 5 I liked:
1. Smooth engine
2. Clear clutch
3. Fuel economy
4. Reliable
5. Not heavy.
Top 3 I don't like:
1. Front light not bright enough.
2. Turn light are not LED.
3. Front fender very shot and much water will spill on your shoes and radiator in rainy day, you need do some DIY.
Pls note that it was not design for off-road.
Never regret to own it. A great bike.
Great points! Have to agree on all of them! 👍
Horn button is too big. Too easy to hit it when you want to use the turn signals instead.
they've fixed mentioned cons in CB 500X 2019 ;)
Hi from Portugal.
For me, the less positive points that you speak in the video, do not exist. With 1.65 m height and 72 kg, the CB 500X is perfect for me 😁
Excellent review, simple and clear
Hello Portugal! You’re right! Had I been your size the bike would probably have felt better 😁 I haven’t been to Portugal yet! I heard it’s amazing for motorcycle driving. Any tips for us?
N2 the longest road in portugal.
advrider.com/index.php?threads/the-longest-road-of-portugal.1278776/
And for those who like events, this week Faro Motorcycle Rally 2018. The best in Europe www.motoclubefaro.pt/Actividades/Saloes/Bilbao/_Imprensa_Bilbao/Home_UK/home_uk.html
Thanks! We might be headed that way this summer, if the temperature drops a bit (too warm for us now!) :-D Great post, I've bookmarked it :-)
And this are the video of Faro Motorcycle Rally 2018. It took place between 19 and 22 July. Four great days.
czcams.com/video/DuF2OpAjE_0/video.html
@@MotorcycleTourists hey guys, sorry for being a year late on the review feedback,
There is a category you missed
People like me who hung around with a bunch of lunatics on Japanese street racers in my youth and stepped away from bikes before shit went wrong when I turned about 30yrs old (those reflexes slow down)
25yrs later I realised I am actually mature enough to own another bike
I just bought a 2013, beautiful bike
It's got plenty in the throttle but not enough to start being silly
The seating position and seat style remove all temptation to crank the throttle and start sliding your arse around and dropping your knee on winding roads
I would seriously recommend this bike to anyone who has been away from bikes for a long time and wants to get "back in the saddle"
I think I've been bitten by the bike bug again and wouldn't be surprised if I trade up to the 750cc next year
Live well, be happy and ride safe my friends, cheers from Australia
I am adding this to my collection, I bought a 2021 Harley Streetbob 1868cc last year, massive power and cruising is nice, New 2022 Ducati Monster 937cc, 2022 Honda 125cc Monkey, 2022 Yamaha xsr125cc. They all have their own personalities of course, Monkey is more fun over the XSR, but both are awesome. Streetbob is massive power and torque but it took time to understand it for me as it was my first bike after 13 years off bikes , not the best choice learner but hey its all good now. Monster is a really nice machine, but for the money there is a lot more out there and better too i'm sure, but i still love what it delivers every time i ride it. Every bike is different, and i think whatever you ride will make you happy just by being out there on 2 wheels.
Thanks guys. I like your reviewing style and you give lots of info that others don't. Proper rider/owners.
Thanks, Woodster! Truly appreciate it, and glad you liked it!
Cheers lads, great review there. I've recently passed my test so am looking at my first bike. I think I've narrowed it down to either one of these or the cb500f. This 500x seems to have a bigger foot print though for maneuvering it around thr garage, along with the increased weight over the 500f. But both seem good contenders for a starter like me.
A very fair, clear and honest review. I certainly do feel these bikes are smashing mid range machines that despite some of their very minor niggles actually give back a lot more miles with smiles. I Would defo consider one as a second machine and a daily commute.
Cheers, Mark! They are great machines indeed!
I am in a process of getting money (it should be completed in spring 2020) for my first bike and I was curious about CB500x. I was looking for reviews all around CZcams. The only quality review which had value was not by some vlogger or some big motorcycle magazine or retail sponsored channel but by one fat guy and old dude just standing by the bike. Subscribed. Disclaimer: I am fat and en route to getting old.
Cheers, Darko! This really made me smile :-)
Another 500X owner here. Just successfully completed an 11,000 mile 22 state trip around the US, including the Trans America Trail. The CB never let me down, took everything I threw at it, whether it was 400 miles of tarmac in a day, or countless miles of gravel and rock 'roads'.
Admittedly it had the Rally Level One suspension and wheels, but IMO a stock CB could have done the same trip.
Hey, Tim! That's absolutely awesome! The Rally Raid level 1 kit must have helped tons, though. The stock suspension would not have liked rock 'roads' much, I think? Did you do this on the stock seat, or do you have an after market seat? We found that 400 miles of highway required a somewhat different anatomy than we posses, like a butt made of cast iron :-) We tried Air Hawks, but I had a hard time getting along with mine, and getting it well adjusted. It kept making me lean just slightly more forward, which translated to some back and shoulder aches after a few thousand kilometres.
@@MotorcycleTourists Stock seat. Didn't find it too bad, even on longer distances.
Just came back from 340 miles ride in two days in Texas Hill Country. My little Honda kept up with up two 1600cc BMW's admirably, especially on very curvy slower speed roads. Yeah, it is inappropriate to compare comfort and performance of pretty basic $6k machine with state of the art $30k machines but, it is just as inappropriate to compare economy of purchase, maintenance, mpg and insurance for the little guy. After exactly 220 miles on the first day, I filled up exactly 3 gallons of gas. Due to rain, our average speed was probably less than 50 mph but, I'm getting much over 60 mpg even when averaging over 70 mph. Now, keeping it at 70-80 mph while doable, it may be a little much for this machine if you have to do it for hours at the time. For city commuter and weekend warrior though, it is hard to find machine that makes more sense. If one is having extra couple grands at disposal, NC750X may be another choice to consider. While I'm craving for some bigger cc's mostly to satisfy my ago, it is really hard to justify change.
You're right! Those winding roads around 50mph is where this bikes really shines. It's not a mile-eater on highways, nor is it a bus on two wheels like the K1600 (please don't hit me! :-D) And it does make a lot of sense. For me, doing a lot of highway driving for commuting and going on longer trips down through Europe, I found there were other bikes better suited to my driving style and preferences. But objectively speaking, it does make a whole lot of sense for a lot of situations and a lot of people. I surely enjoyed it a lot while I had mine. Did you see our NC750X review?
I just checked at your nc750x review. Didn't really know you had it. Pretty good review. Nice background and editing.
I had chance to see NC for the first time and to sit on it yesterday. Didn't have chance to ride it though. It was little underwhelming experience after sitting on super tenere, tracer 900, v-strom 1000 and 650, r1200rt and few other ones. It felt little cheap and toyish. The top felt so light compared to any other bike I tried which left me wondering if that would feel good or bad during ride in the wind. The storage was smaller than I expected but, it was welcome compared to no storage or saddle bags/boxes. Top boxes look very stupid despite being fairly practical. I can see opportunity to extend riding range by carrying extra fuel in the storage but, under-seat filler kind of requires some planning ahead. Not sure why Honda couldn't put it on a side. It is advertised as adventure bike and not specifically commuter. I'm also not sure why everybody is stuck on revving part. I personally never feel good about high revs. I ride my cb500x mostly between 4000-6000 rpm and it feels little too much keeping it 6k+. I wouldn't mind cruising at 70-75 in 2k-3k range like my trucks do. Not having chance riding and comparing, I wonder how it feels. It seems to maintain max HP at all rpm's which is nice compared to other bikes that have more linear delivery. I was wondering how it would compare with V-strom 650 which gets almost 70HP at 8.8k rpm but at lower revs, it is probably comparable or NC maybe performing same or better. Idk.
Hey! I agree. High rpms get tiresome on long stretches. They are fairly comparable, and the V-Strom rides a bit more like a motorcycle and a bit less like a car engine compared to the NC750X. But the V-Strom is a cruiser and mile eater, so it does ride at fairly low rpms when compared to other motorcycles in general, bar custom motorcycles. Slightly higher than the NC750X, but not by much. Also, top boxes may look awful, but I couldn't live without them! They are just way too practical! :-D Lugging around camera and audio gear, drones, batteries, chargers, cables, adapters, laptop and what-have-you, *in addition* to my picnic, means top box is a must :) But yeah, they do disrupt the aesthetics somewhat.
while i was riding 125cc for covering 2000km in 4 days I was wishing for a bike that has a 5 gear, now I hv a bike that is 411cc with 5 gears, I want to now have an engine that is more powerful more numbers of gears...may be I would want my bike to fly some day.
@@upward_onward Tell me about it. I'm already on #3, Super Tenere 1200cc. Just came back from three days, 460 miles ride in Texas Hill Country. What I'm learning is that it is not the engine size or number of gears only. It is all the other things that come with bigger engine and higher price. It is suspension, the seat, the weight, the electronics. But, it also depends on the type or ride you do. For some things 400lbs 500cc Honda is more practical than 600 lbs 1200cc Yamaha.
Wow, 11,000ks, that's quite a trip and something to be proud about, great job.
I too first rode the CB500X in Gran Canaria back in February this year and liked it so much I bought a new one when I came home. Fabulous bike...the only problem is with me being a little too tall for the bike. I'm 185cm and 90kg so perhaps a Versys 650 would suit me better. I'll be hiring one for 5 days in Tenerife shortly.
As you say, the engine is very good, with excellent fuel economy. I like how smooth and flexible the engine is at low rpm, unlike my Versys 300 which is the complete opposite!
Hey, Steve! That’s awesome! I think you will find the Versys 650 rides on high rpms like many street bikes. It’s fun to ride but not as relaxing as you may be used to from the CB. You could have a look at the Honda NC750X or the BMW F700GS or F750GS. Those all ride on those low rpms with that butter smooth engine character that you like in the CB500X. You can check out review of the NC750X here: czcams.com/video/4XPRryBKADc/video.html
Thank you for that review in English. I have just acquired a 2019 as a second bike to my Bonneville T120. Nimble is the right work for this bike.
Nice! Been meaning to try the new 2019 model all year. It’s on my bucket list 🤠
I had a Honda Shadow ACE 750 v-twin and bought this bike in 2016. People asked me why I went "down" to a 500cc, but I argue that I went "up" in technology: ABS, fuel injection, LED headlights and brake lights, catalytic converter, electronic dashboard with a fuel gauge - all features that the ACE didn't have. The ACE had "attitude", which I miss sometimes, but then I've been told that I have too much of that so I did a good thing to sell it. But back to the CB500XA, the only thing that pisses me off is that the seat is hard to put back - especially in colder weather. Otherwise it's a great bike.
The seat is also a bit ... stiff :-) But yeah, a great bike nevertheless! I went to Gran Canaria for vacation not long ago and rented one while I was there (for like the 5th time). It’s perfect for those mountain roads, a place where it really shines.
@@MotorcycleTourists I live and ride in Ottawa, Ontario so no mountains. For that I need to go to British Columbia - about 6 days return - but it's on my calendar.
Nice honest review. Two of my friends have them and love them. Nice channel and video Mate. Greetings from South Australia.
Thanks! And hello Australia! I know these bikes are really popular there. We watched a few reviews ourselves before we bought them, and most of them were from down under. I think with the Rally Raid kit on, these bikes would have been on a whole new level. That would have been cool to try.
MR TPR I used to live in Adelaide
WOW what a small world we live in. Love the channel. I look forward to more Videos, I gave you guys a sub. If you feel like checking my channel out you will see the Adelaide Hills, it might bring some memories back for you.
Thank you for the very good review. I am looking to buy this bike and appreciate hearing the good and the bad. It sounds like you had a very good trip indeed. Perhaps you may want to share some of the sights in a future video. Kevin from Toronto
Hello Kevin! We definitely want to do a travel video for the Alps :-) It probably won’t be this year since we have so many other destinations planned already. But next season, definitely!
Good review gentlemen. I have the same model. I wasn't sure I'd like the bike honestly. It's not fast. It's not flashy. But damn, is it fun. Inexpensive, reliable and cheap to maintain. I will upgrade to a 650 at some point but I'll always think about the cb500x. Ride safe!
Hello, Professor! I know how you feel. The CB500X is the kind of bike you’ll be comparing all other bikes to in the future 👍
Great review with many valid points gained from real world experience .No bike is capable of doing everything but a very important factor to me is fuel economy as this promotes low cost adventures.I currently have a low mileage ,used single cylinder BMW 06 F650GS.(71 mpg)This handles most circumstances well .The BMW only has a 5 speed box which is a shame but it can still handle Motorway speeds if necessary .I actually think the BMW is a better option than the 500x except in mpg and they are a lot cheaper second hand.
Hi, and thanks! I agree with you in part :-) The old 650 thumpers like Funduro, Dakar and Sertao are quite dated, with 5 speed transmissions, which as you said - is a shame. Better used on dirt roads than on a motorways, which to me makes them equally limiting. On the other hand, the 650GS twins... now those are one of my all time favorite bikes! 6 speed transmission, twin engines, comfortable, competent and very versatile. But what’s most important to me - because I’m big and heavy - is the suspension. The BMW 650GS twins have no trouble handling my weight, whereas the Honda really can’t. For people less spherical, it’s not as much of an issue, but for me, it kind of rules out the Honda, on that alone. But that also goes to say just how competent those 650s are. Unfortunately, they go second hand, 9 years old, here in Sweden for almost as much as the Honda costs new. Second hand, a good 650GS twin 2010 with low mileage can hurt you for around €6000. The CB500X brand spanking new is €7400. So for €1500 more, you get a brand new bike with warranty, as opposed to a 10 year old bike with maybe 50 000 km on it. That merits some consideration too! If money is no object, then there’s surely better options than of them :-) What do you think?
@@MotorcycleTourists Yes, the twins are smoother and more user friendly than my thumper.I certainly prefer the smaller back roads and green lanes to dual carriageways , Motorways and A Roads ,more scenery ,more sheep ,less traffic. I like the 500x but,as you say,it might be more suitable for a more svelte framed person! ( that's not me by the way) I paid £2600 for my F650GS (2006 single) and it had less than 10k miles on it and was in excellent condition until I owned it.I'm afraid I'm not very good at cleaning :( Thanks for your reply.
Thank you for the review, guys!
You are most welcome! Our pleasure :-)
I own a Guzzi 1200 Sport and I've also tried to find the 7th gear sometimes when riding on highways :D I think we all expect to get a bit lower on the revs at cruise speeds.
Nice review, and very useful, thanks!
Thanks, Iñigo! Nice to hear! :-)
Fantastic review, thanks guys, regards from Brighton, England 🏴👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Thanks, Jack! Means the world to us to hear! :)
Great Review....got one...I call this the...when the shot hits the fan bike......Out everyday in the mountains on dirt roads having fun!
Hey, Alcyone! Great to hear from you! Did you do anything to the suspension, or just put on some knobby tyres?
I think you did a good review of this bike. I think every bike is a compromise of sorts. I believe you gave us a clear picture of this bike. I have two large bikes a 1200 HD Sportster and a 1500 HD Road King. Sometimes I wish I had something smaller.
Thank you, Gerald! Means the world to us to hear! Those are indeed no small bikes! But, you can never have too many motorcycles :-) What smaller bikes would you consider as a third? Or would you trade in one of them for a smaller?
Motorcycle Tourists I would like to have a look at the Royal Enfield Himalayan. I’d probably have to sell something.
What a delightful choice! I’ve never tried one, but they have a bit of cult status. I might try and find a way to review it some day.
i have one and I agree with your review. two cons: first, fuel consumption is so low that the on board computer declares higher consumption than the real one (yes he is pessimist and not optimist like any other veichle i have ever drove). second, wind protection is poor also for legs, you can get tired on very long distance; i saw honda improved on 2016 version.
you coul also have mentioned how easy it is ti ride it on the hairpins of passo dello stelvio, i was there with mine and it was a real joy to go up stelvio pass
Hey Santuz! You’re right, it was great there. The bike is so nimble it’s crazy! Hair pins were a breeze 😁 I did have to struggle a bit at Stelvio, though, at the steepest places, going on high revs in second gear. But I’m a very big guy, so that’s no surprise 😁
I agree with everything you said.
Oh if only Honda would put the 4 cylinder 650 engine in it without changing anything else.
I'm trading for the F750GS after Christmas so it seems I am following the same path as you guys.
Good review.
I am a new follower of your channel.
"Spherically inclined" I know the feeling.
Thank you for the review. The excellent fuel economy for the performance, this is the classic motorcycle advantage. It is too easily forgotten that frugality is in itself a virtue combined with legendary Honda reliability. I would also strongly agree with the suggested 5,000km oil change intervals. These engines have very tight tolerances on the machined metal services, and are high revving. So for extended long life of the engine keep its oil clean. If you must do 10,000kms without an oil change then only very expensive products like Mobil 1 ESP Formula 5W-30 are proven good enough.
Good tip!
A great all round bike for what it is and the money you pay for it. The best MPG for me was 103.89 (UK). I can normally travel 276miles (3 days commute to work & back) for 12.0 to 12.5 lts and not hit the flashing last fuel bar, meaning I still have round 4ish lts left in the tank. Run at the right speed this bike doesn't want to drink fuel !!!!!
Hey, Mark! That's absolutely astonishing! We were amazed when we were at 3 litres per 100 km mark. Your numbers are just insane. The fuel economy on this bike is just crazy. Where are you driving it to get that low consumption?
Wow, I'm light on the throttle and average about 4.2L/100km on my 100K V-Strom 650.
I was concerned about switching to a CB500X due to the smaller tank capacity (I like fuel range in Australia).
My other concern was the 17 inch front wheel (and associated tyre choices) of the CB500X which has been addressed in the 2019 model!
Honda is now on my shopping list (if heart doesn't overrule head and I aquire a Moto Guzzi V85TT)
Very good, all the best from Ireland,Seán
Great upgrades on the CB500X 2019; i love it; Great Job Honda; i’m really tempted to upgrade my CB500X 2017; Honda: now please create a new version : a CB500X Adventure Sports ((kind of Rally Raid version; small Africa Twin; spokes wheels, inverted front forks, skid plate, hand guards, rear suspension with adjustable remote, engine guards, dual front brake discs, ABS switch on/off...)) & i will buy it to swap my CB500X 2017 for a CB500X Adventure Sports 2020. Or, let’s dream, i would also upgrade for a future new CB650X or for an Africa Twin 700cc.
A baby Africa Twin? Not a bad Christmas wish! I'd be interested! The current one is a bit too tall and big for my comfort. If the CB500X and the Africa Twin had a baby, I'd want it. Have you tried the new 2019 model of the CB500X? I'm really wanting to try one, and check out these improvements.
Motorcycle Tourists The 2019 CB500X won’t be available in Canada until April or May. Cheers from Montreal. I dream of a new CB650X, an Africa Twin 700cc; but i am also very interested in the new Moto Guzzi V85TT 2019 with accessible seat height of 830mm. I wanna try one.
I would buy a second hand and do the Rally Raid modification.
The Moto Guzzi looks pretty cool! I'm sure to see it at the motorcycle show in January, maybe even test it out there :-)
Motorcycle Tourists Cool, if you can : please do a review; cheers & merry Christmas 🎄
If you want a bigger engine version, check out the Honda NC700X/750X. They're similar to the 500X in many aspects, but with a longer wheelbase, weigh more but with a low center of gravity, and enjoy the same fuel economy, while coming with a cool trunk in the front.
Hey! We actually did a review of the NC750X a while back. It’s really practical and tremendously sensible, but it didn’t really light my fire, unfortunately. But that’s a really personal point, objectively speaking and personal preferences aside, it’s a great bike 👍
Gracias. Desde Argentina. Thank you. From Argentina.
Hello, Argentina! Thanks 🙏
2:28 The perfect response
Really great and honest review guys ,thanks for the info ;)
Thanks! Glad you liked it! :-)
great review , because i am to get this bike , realy helps. by the way , anything bigger than my honda msx / Grom are BIG bikes. i still ride my grom even highway , i am 176 cm , 90kg. big guy on mini bike .
That’s very cool! It’ll be a big change, then :-)
Good review guys. Greetings from England.
I've done 17,000 miles on my 16 plate. It's a great bike. I've never had a problem with motorway miles. The only thing I've put on it is a set of tyres and chain and sprocket.
Yes of course you have to change gear and rev it a bit but that adds to the fun. I'm trying to think of a negative hmmmm
Yeah here's one you don't get many chances to take a break on a long trip it's so dam good on fuel. Best I've had is a genuine 98.2 to the UK gallon.
It's no fireblade but it'll make you smile.
Hello, Richard! You’re right! I think the fuel economy on this bike is just otherworldly. As for the sprocketing, a lot of people agree that this is the solution for this bike and highways. I just spent the last week driving around on one, and I can’t say enough good things about it. It’s not perfect, but it’s damn good :-) Have you seen the new updated version for 2019? It features a 19” front wheel and some more oomph in the engine, as well as new suspension! I’m really looking forward to trying one out.
Thank you, good review, I'm a similar size guy and I was wondering how this bike was for larger riders. Thinking of it being my first bike.
Hey! They upped the suspension on the latest model. I haven’t tried it yet, but it’s probably a much needed improvement, especially for those of us slightly more spherically inclined. That was the weakest part on that model, at least :-) It’s a nice and fun bike, and I still pick it up as rental now and then when I’m on vacation abroad.
Thanks for sharing your experience! 👍🏿
Our pleasure :-)
Great review. I have a 500X myself and wish it had a gear indicator as I too search for ‘7th gear’. 😡
Hey! A gear indicator would have been a nice bonus, I agree!
You can put a gear indicator there is a connector under the passenger seat.
cb500x.com forum shows a lot of owners adding the indicator.
£25 from China plug and play. Still working 3 years on
lower 1 tooth to the rear sprocket
Tänkte ta MC-kort till våren och vill då köpa en sån där. Tack för bra recension och kul med svenskar :)
Nice video & great review guys..😁👍..the honest review..!! i m a short rider, my height is 5'4" with 30 inch inseam..do you think i can handle this bike..?😥..btw, really like your review guys..sorry for my english & greetings from Malaysia..😁👍👍
Hello thanks for the excellent review, I have a question is it could be a bike for a guy who measures 1.98 and 90 kg ? Îm planning to buy this bike tomorrow but didn’t drive it yet thanks in advance
Great review!
Thanks, Gregory! Nice to hear! :)
I have a 2016 with abs. I love the bike. My only problem with it is that the seat is not comfortable for more than an hour ride. It doesn’t breath and starts to get hard 45 minutes in.
Edit: oh I have 10,000 kilometers on it and I bought it new.
Yep. That’s true. We tried using Air Hawks, but those had me leaning wrong and I ended up with back aches instead. Maybe a decent after market saddle could be a solution?
Motorcycle Tourists I have been looking into a Corbin for mine but they run about $475US. It’s a good chunk of money for something I haven’t sat on.
It is. I haven’t tried those. I had a Sargent saddle on my F700GS, which cost thereabouts. Can’t speak for Corbin, but the Sargent was worth it. Let me know if you end up picking one up, really curious to know more about it.
Cool video! I would like to her your thoughts comparing the CB to the 750. Perhaps another video?
Definitely!
Nice review I have tried to commment 4 times and something happens. THANKS
Thank you, Marshall, for going through the effort! Really nice to hear and we appreciate it a lot :-)
How much does it cost for service, maintenance and motorcycle parts. Here in India, big bikes maintenance according to Indian standards are expensive. I am not sure if I should go for the VSTROM 650XT or this CB 500X, I have retired from work and have just adequate or limited resource of income. Just want to buy one bike for life and no changing.
Unfortunately my hearing was not doing too good regarding all that background noise sound like you're right next to the highway or something or the wind was blowing like crazy but I don't think so cuz the weeds weren't moving yeah the background noise just destroyed the video
Thanks for the feedback, Tom! I appreciate it. You're right, we were a bit away from a large road and because it was late in the day, the sound carried quite far, and mic was picking up a lot of background noise. We've improved our tech since then, but we still struggle with clean and good audio a bit. It's a learning process for us, and hopefully we'll get better at it with time. Again, thanks for the feedback, I appreciate that you took the time :-)
Nice job guys.
Fantastic review, amazing English.
Hey, Del! Thanks! Glad you liked it :-)
The best change I did to mine was go from a 16 to 17 tooth front sprocket.. really reduces the revs at highway speeds and your not shifting into “7th” gear.
It’s a great city bike but also capable of extended touring and light off-road/gravel.
Hey, Lorne! That’s a great tip!! How does it affect the power output with that? Does it make any noticeable difference when going up steeper slopes?
Motorcycle Tourists -this was the best change I did to the bike. It still has more than enough power in all situations, only gearing was a little more spread out. You had an extra second before you needed to shift in each gear. RPM in top gear at 100kph was down around 300 rpms. It really relxes the bike when riding on the highway..The speedo error (about 7% on my Canadian CB500X) was fixed, it is now dead on.
I rode the CB500X and NC700X back to back at a Honda test ride. The NC has that low red line, and was bumping into the limiter.. Even though the CBX has a relatively low red line (8500) it revs out and feels more like a proper motorcycle engine. CBX is much smoother than the NC and feels faster.r. the NC is a much larger bike, CBX is a lot lighter..
CBX Downsides
-brakes are shite (at least they have ABS)
-stock chain is shite (replaced at 17000km)
-stock Pirellis are shite (changed to Pilot Road 4)
-rear shock is soft. Wobbled like crazy around corners unit I maxed out the preload. (I ended up changing to a CBR600 shock)
- the front screen is not great. (Most Adventure style bikes stock screen suck) I changed to a Givi Airflow from a V-Strorm and it worked well for me. But no one seems happy with most aftermarket sceens.
I've heard of others who have swapped out the suspension for the CBR600 one. How did you feel the suspension was then? Was it a huge improvement, or just a decent one? Also, an airflow from a V-Strom? That's pretty cool! Did you have to make some custom fitting, or did the bracket fit out of the box?
I like your unpretentious style...good review guys!! Ride safe and far.
Thanks, Ricardo! I appreciate it! :-) And same to you! Drive safe and go far :-)
You should not complain about rear suspension, Max carrying capacity of CB500X is 185kg...
Nice review. I got the 19 one and is so good.
Can you tell me how you put the shadle bags there?
I don't want to spend a fortune on side panniers and stuff. Just use some givi side bags that cost about 100 and move on.
Hey! Those are some SW-Motech racks fitted on the bike. Not sure about what model or cost. We got them via the Honda dealer who fitted them. Hope that helps!
Being a biggish lad, try the Suzuki 650 V Strom I think it would suit you.
I did quite recently, actually. I rode the 650 V-Strom a few months back, and even filmed it, in case I'd make a review out of it. We had it for a few days up in the mountains when we were on Gran Canaria. It's a great bike, with exceptional comfort. I felt the suspension was a little bit weak, though, compared to for instance the BMW lineup. Especially on really bad roads and coarse gravel. But then again, I'm a big guy, so that puts a lot of strain on the suspension.
Hi, I really appreciated your review.
This is the bike I'm looking for as newbie and I think I found a good bargain. My only doubt is the bike I found (the exact model there is on this video) has 37.000 Km... do you think they are very much or the motor/bike itself should not already be at its end?
Thank you very much!
Hey, Roberto! I'm no mechanic, but I guess it depends a lot on how kind or harsh those 37.000 km were, and if the bike was well cared for or not. I'm afraid I can't give you much advice on this, since I'm not really qualified to. But if the bike was well cared for and properly run in, instead of run down, then I wouldn't personally be afraid of that mileage.
If I didnt already have a vstrom 650 I would consider this bike
Hey, Jeff! Out of curiosity, what about the CB500X is it that appeals to you? And what made you settle for the V-Strom?
Good vid. Thanks.
Thanks, Brandon!
Thank you
You are most welcome, Omar :-)
650 with a longer wheelbase eh.. That'll be a vstrom you want then
Ha! That made me chuckle. Given my size and weight, you might be right 😁
Haha, that's what I thought too.
I owned a v-strom and it was really great value for the money. So versatile! I still wonder why I sold it...
What did you change to?
I currently own a 2005 v-strom, and it is a great all-rounder, but with accessories (crashbars, skid-plate etc.) and luggage, it gets very heavy, very fast, close to 250kg. I was thinking of getting a cb500x sometime in the future, simply because its smaller, lighter and has ridiculously good fuel economy.
...I want one
Which kind of gasoline does it consume?
Premium gasoline oder regular gasoline?
Cheers, Thomas from Austria
Hey, Thomas. Not sure what counts as Premium in Austria (it varies a lot between countries. In Indonesia it’s 88 RON, in Italy it’s 100 RON, and in Sweden it’s 97 RON). The bike requires unleaded 91 RON or higher, with restrictions against certain alcohol mixes (eco fuel blends, often listed as 95 OCT+E10). So depending on which country you drive in it might be either regular or premium. Usually in Europe you’ll be using 95 RON. Hope that helps!
@@MotorcycleTourists: Thank you very much for your answer!
95 Octane is premium gasoline in Austria and Central Europe;
91 Octane is regular gasoline.
Will it be good for height of 5.9 feet ?
Man, your english were so good
Thanks, Rizky! It's my third language, so I still struggle here and there to find the right words to express myself. Doing these CZcams videos gives good practice and sure helps! :-)
@@MotorcycleTourists Glad to hear! hopefully more successful in the future for Motorcycle Tourists!
I know it's a review but why would anyone buy a CB500 over an FZ/MT 07?
They are completely different bikes. Yamaha is dearer and it’s a naked bike. I wouldn’t take it for a tour
what the better for jorney , NC 750 or CB500X ?
Hello! It depends a lot on where you plan to go! For long, fast stretches like motorways, the NC750X definitely. For smaller roads, I think the CB500X might be a bit more fun. But that's just a personal opinion. I couldn't say that one is absolutely better than the other purely objectively, it depends a lot on you. Will you be riding with a passenger? Luggage? Going offroad? Will there be lots of gravel roads, or bad roads, or just smooth asphalt? Then, it also comes down to your personal preferences. Some think the CB500X is more fun, and easier to handle, so that might weigh in. Some think the NC750X is more comfortable. So there's so many variables to weigh into a decision like that. But for me, personally, I'd take the CB500X if I were expecting lots of city traffic, twisties and smaller roads, and the NC750X if I were to do a lot of highway driving. But, again, that's just my personal opinion, I'm sure other people will feel differently ;-)
Did your bikes have ABS? Thank you.
They did, yes :-)
If it had been a 650, with longer wheelbase and better suspension. .
It would be a V'strom or Versys. . 😁
Definitely! Maybe even right in between the two. It feels more like a Versys, but it’s got that butter smooth engine like the V-Strom.
So...cfmoto 650mt then?
Seriously, you couldn't find a more quiet location?
Why cant HONDA make something similar to the VERSYS 650!!! CB500X is just a bit to small for long time use...
Hey, Harry! I’m sure they could. Can’t say why they won’t, though. Maybe because it’s such a saturated market that they aim for the niches instead. Same as with Harley. Just not their market, I guess. Except, Harley is coming out with a 1250cc adventure bike next year, it seems, so who knows? Maybe Honda will make a baby Africa twin around the 700-800cc bracket! That would be interesting :-)
Even id its a second hand I would like to buy one. Here in India Honda don'r bring.
Hey! I'm sorry to hear that! It's a great bike, and I think it might do well in India :-/
How was it on the autobahn?
Hey, Buk! It was manageable. Fairly susceptible to winds, which made it shudder a lot when overtaking larger vehicles, and it did struggle a fair bit towards 120-130kmh and above. Miguel had an easier time with the acceleration, because he’s lighter, but in turn had a worse time with the turbulence and side winds. Not a bike you’ll enjoy cruising autobahn with, but the little critter will do it, if you ask it to.
Spherically inclined, Ha! Me too.
Cheers David! Haha, what can I say? I like good food ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Looks like my ol cb450r night hawk got a makeover. Nice
Great review chaps. I'm a shorty currently riding a bmw r1100r and this bike would probably be better for me - I'd put handguards on though as I have them on mine and they are worth having - also I have a large Givi top box - do you think that this would alter the handling a lot - I like to have some storage capacity.
A short video of me on mine...........czcams.com/video/QIKQzwllLz8/video.html
Cheers
Steve
Thanks, Steve! Glad you liked it! I think if you're used to a r1100r and move to a CB500X, it will take a while to get used to the lower power output. Initially, the CB500X may seem like a moped compared to the r1100r. After having mainly been driving a BMW R1200GS for a couple of months and jumping onto a BMW F750GS, the 750 felt a bit "out of breath", in comparison. But after a couple of days, I adjusted. I don't think hand guards will affect the handling. A top box will affect the aerodynamics, however. More so than most might think. I had a talk with a guy at Triumph that pointed out that brand specific top boxes are designed and tested for aerodynamics together with the bike it's intended to be on, whereas generic "fit all" top-boxes are not, and often adversely impact the aerodynamics of a bike quite significantly. Personally, I've never really noticed a huge difference in that department, but I'm no expert. The handling will definitely be affected by a top box, however, especially if you have stuff in it. Nothing is more pleasing than getting to an alpine pass, check in your luggage at a hotel, and drive the pass up and down without the box and panniers :-) But, you can make do with them on, too. Not so bad it's a show-stopper, exactly, but you do notice the difference. If you go on longer trips, you eventually forget what it's like driving without the luggage, and so it's not really a concern.
@@MotorcycleTourists Cheers - perhaps a tank bag might offer enough storage then. I do like the torque of the boxer engine (had an 1150gs, 2 x 1100 RT's and a 1200RT before getting the 1100R) but I reckon I could adjust - last yr did 400 miles in 3 days on a 125cc scooter in Portugal with the wife on the back and soon got used to that. The mpg is also very attractive as I do like to get about a bit, not just a summer rider.
Safe riding to you both.
Steve
Cheers, Steve! Let me know what you decide! It's a great and practical bike :-)
470cc engine
V strom
Hey, Jim! Not a bad comparison. They share a lot in common, the CB500X and the V-Strom. Both have buttery smooth engines, similar ergonomics and so on. The V-strom has more of everything, of course. But I think they're really aimed at different audiences. The CB500X would win over the V-Strom in city traffic easily, and also in off-road if you pimp up the CB500X with a rally raid kit, or maybe the new 2019 model which has some improvements in that department. The V-strom wins hands down on long trips, though. The comfort is not comparable :-)
;
300 lb guy complains about suspension. Lol
yea my exact thoughts
I'm 280. The guy didnt complain. He made a reference to an observation. MANY folks on different reviews say the same thing.
Why is that dude wearing a communist shirt.
I ... didn’t know that it was. I was thinking more along the lines of Cuban cigars and rum, not politics :-)
Is this bike ok for fat people 150kg?
Hello, Floyd! I wouldn’t recommend it. At that weight you won’t have much left in the way of suspension travel, and the bike will feel small. I’m close to that but not quite so heavy, and the limitations were a lot more noticeable to me than Dad who is lighter. Try a BMW F700/750GS (much better suspension), which is better equipped to deal with that weight. Hope this helps!
Great review!