Touring motorcycle Honda CB500X 2021. Test and details

Honda CB500X budget touring enduro model

was first presented at the EICMA exhibition in Milan in 2012. The motorcycle is built on a single platform with the Honda CB500F and Honda CBR500R models, and is aimed mainly at novice drivers with license category A2 (according to the European classification).

The basis of the Honda CB500X was a specially developed in-line 2-cylinder liquid-cooled engine with a volume of 471 cm³, producing about 43 hp. power and 43 Nm of torque. Maximum engine performance is from 7000 to 8500 rpm. This engine was subsequently installed on the Honda Rebel 500 model.

In 2021, the Honda CB500X model underwent a slight restyling, slightly changing the appearance, slightly increasing the fuel tank capacity, increasing the height of the windshield, receiving a new fork (with preload adjustment), as well as LED optics and front brake lever adjustment.

In 2021, the motorcycle receives a more massive exhaust and updates to meet the new Euro 4 environmental requirements.

At the beginning of 2021, the Honda CB500X model is being restyled, receiving new wheels, a new exhaust, new suspension and engine settings, LED optics, and a color display.

In September 2021, Honda introduced the updated 2022 CB500X. The main changes were an inverted fork and a dual-disc brake system at the front.

The main features of the model include a steel frame, simple suspension in the form of a conventional telescopic fork at the front and a progressive monoshock absorber at the rear, disc brakes (there are versions with ABS), fuel injection, 6-speed gearbox, 17.5 liter fuel tank and up to 196 kg curb capacity. masses.

Currently, the Honda CB500X model is sold in many countries around the world in European, Asian, American and other markets.

The domestic Japanese modification of the model is the Honda CB400X.

The main competitors of the Honda CB500X in the class:

• Kawasaki Versys-X 300

Brief history of the model

• June 2013 - start of production and sales of Honda CB500X.

Model

: Honda CB500X;
Honda CB500X ABS (all regions). Factory designation
: CB500XD; CB500XAD.

• 2014 - no significant changes.

Model

: Honda CB500X;
Honda CB500X ABS (all regions). Factory designation
: CB500XE; CB500XAE.

• 2015 - no significant changes.

Model

: Honda CB500X;
Honda CB500X ABS (all regions). Factory designation
: CB500XF; CB500XAF.

• 2016 - restyling of the model. The motorcycle gets updated exterior styling, LED headlight and brake light, taller windshield, adjustable front suspension and front brake lever. The fuel tank capacity increases: 17.3 l -> 17.5 l.

Model

: Honda CB500X;
Honda CB500X ABS (all regions). Factory designation
: CB500XG; CB500XAG.

• 2017 - the model receives a new exhaust system. The engine complies with Euro-4 environmental standards.

Model

: Honda CB500X;
Honda CB500X ABS (all regions). Factory designation
: CB500XH; CB500XAH.

• 2018 - no significant changes.

Model

: Honda CB500X;
Honda CB500X ABS (all regions). Factory designation
: CB500XJ; CB500XAJ.

• 2019 - restyling of the model.

Model

: Honda CB500X;
Honda CB500X ABS (all regions). Factory designation
: CB500XK; CB500XAK.

• 2020 - no significant changes.

Model

: Honda CB500X;
Honda CB500X ABS (all regions). Factory designation
: CB500XL; CB500XAL.

• 2021 - no significant changes.

Model

: Honda CB500X;
Honda CB500X ABS (all regions). Factory designation
: CB500XM; CB500XAM.

• 2022 - restyling of the model. The motorcycle received an inverted Showa SFF-BP fork and a double-disc brake system at the front (instead of one 320 mm disc, two 296 mm discs were used).

Model

: Honda CB500X;
Honda CB500X ABS (all regions). Factory designation
: CB500XN; CB500XAN.

Touring motorcycle Honda CB500X

A little background. The Honda CB500X touring motorcycle appeared in 2013, at the peak of interest in crossovers. The underpinnings of this bike are the same as the naked CB500F and the bonneted CBR500R. Also, these mid-sized motorcycles share a common engine with the Honda Rebel 500. Affordable, economical and balanced motorcycles are quite in the spirit of Honda.

Of all these 500s, it was the Honda CB500X that turned out to be the most ambiguous, in a bad way. The X in the name probably means "crossover" - that is, a mixture of on-road and off-road motorcycle. In English, the Tourenduro is called an "Adventure" - that is, a motorcycle for adventures, and Honda said that the CB500X was created "in the spirit of adventure." And this formulation could not be more fair: in fact, the 500X of the first versions turned out to be a classic, a utilitarian version of a naked bike with a windshield and a vertical seating position. It was only a matter of time before owners began modifying their 500X to move from the “spirit” of adventure to the true all-terrain capability you’d expect from a half-liter crossover. The UK company Rally Raid has even released production kits for converting the Honda CB500X into a touring bike.

This set puts the motorcycle on spoked wheels with a larger diameter front wheel. Suspension modifications increase ground clearance, making the motorcycle more suitable for off-road conditions. You can also find other modifications in the Rally Raid catalog, such as high mufflers, engine protection, luggage systems and aggressive tires. All this hype around the fairly new model did not go unnoticed by Honda: consumers saw the potential of the model, and revealed it on their own. But after listening to consumers, Honda decided to make the stock motorcycle more interesting for them. And she did.

The Honda story goes that in the early 1960s, an Idaho dealer realized that the Honda Cub would make a nice little SUV. Remove the scooter body kit, install checkered wheels and a larger sprocket for lower traction - and get off the asphalt. The conversions sold well, and were especially loved by hunters and fans of camping. The Japanese head office studied the “success story” of the American branch and released an off-road version of the CT based on the Cub. Essentially the same story happened with the CB500X: by listening to the consumer and studying the aftermarket, Honda made its product closer to market expectations.

Specifications

Technical characteristics of Honda CB500X:

Warning: Very subjective and not a review at all. Among the heap of Thai motorcycles, there is one that you won’t find in Russia during the day - the inexpensive Honda CB500 X SUV. High ground clearance and windshield, wide steering wheel and upright landing a la tourenduro, moderate appetite (27 km per 1 liter of fuel) and The large gas pack (17 l) makes it a good car for long-distance travel. My girlfriend and I were going on a trip to a mountain village, and I rented a Honda CB500 X for a day. The price tag in Chiang Mai is 1200 baht, but as a regular customer they knocked me off 50%.

The Honda CB500 X feels big and heavy, although it weighs only 195 kg with technical fluids. When you sit on it, it seems that there is a “golda” under you - the fairing is too monumental, the gas tank is too bulky, the steering wheel is too wide. Because of this, you feel insecure in the city and in traffic jams. The saddle height of 810 mm adds discomfort - with my 184 cm height, I didn’t have enough “legs”, and if the bike wanted to fall over (who doesn’t, especially with a high center of gravity), then it was not easy to hold it - it sometimes seemed like just putting my leg out insufficient.

Landing with a completely straight back is also a pleasure. In the city you can put up with this, but on mountain serpentines and highways you still feel tempted to lean forward. My hands, literally hanging on the steering wheel (as for me, quite high) either started to go numb, or my back started to hurt. Of course, the stoop played an important role. Maybe.

But the wildest thing is that although the Honda CB500 X was created with travel in mind (it is even protected by arcs all around), you should never ride it through puddles - all the mud and water flies onto your feet. In addition, the engine is positioned in such a way that when you stand still, the clutch basket and alternator covers burn your feet. In Russia you can put up with this, but in Tai, where you often still ride in shorts and not in a full-length suit, it’s real hell.

In general, all these features - weight, absolutely straight landing, saddle height, ground clearance, and steering wheel - all these are features of a tourenduro, and they can hardly be written down as disadvantages of the Honda CB500 X. Here, who likes what, who how convenient it is, who wants what.

The Honda CB500 X feels good everywhere, but at the same time does not give any special thrill from driving. It is too clumsy for serpentines - you literally have to tip it back and forth, fidgeting in the saddle. For off-road and city use it is a bit heavy and bulky. For the track... Well, for the track due to the high windshield it seems suitable. How does he drive?

The Honda CB500 X is powered by a 471cc inline-twin engine. At 8500 rpm it produces 54 horses, at 7000 rpm – 43 Nm of torque. What does it look like? That’s right, like a typical four-cylinder “scabies”, but you don’t need to turn the engine. Yes, it pulls from the bottom, and this is good for serpentines - you can confidently and calmly climb in the city even with the second number. But it's boring! With the Honda CB500 X there is not enough pickup, not enough drive, not enough “hooliganism”. He behaves too predictably, too restrained, too “ideally”. Although it’s better not to gas the sand.

The result is this. Although the Honda CB500 X is positioned as a multi-purpose bike, its element is the track and light off-road. This is an easy-going, calm machine that could be suitable for the role of a first bike - it will forgive mistakes, will not buck or tip over, and the brakes with ABS will preserve life, even if they are pressed. However, the size and height suggest that it is better to start with something simpler - a short beginner will overwhelm the Honda CB500 X in the very first days.

Behavior on the road

Despite its good power, the Honda CB 500 weighed no more than 175 kg. In addition, high rigidity of the short-travel suspension was ensured, and five stages of adjustable preload of the rear shock absorbers significantly increased ease of control. It would take this road worker 4.3 seconds to reach speed from 0 to 100 km/h. And the limit of its speed capabilities is 185 km/h. The motorcycle tires did not have a wide profile. The front ones were 110mm, the rear ones were 130mm. This made it even easier to control on the road, but slightly weakened directional stability.

Motorcycle Honda CB 500X 2021 review

The description of the 2021 Honda CB 500X motorcycle is in the queue for publication of the article. Announcement: Today, for almost every new motorcycle that comes into being, marketers strive to carve out their own niche. This one is a road sport, this one is a recreational enduro. But what class should we include a motorcycle that has a little bit of everything? A good bike should have a reliable engine, comfortable ergonomics and simple controls...

Honda CB 500X is a motorcycle not sold in Russia, equipped with a high-power 46.9 hp engine. Despite the fact that good models of motorcycles have a very respectable price, and the season for their use is relatively short, the motorcycle market is developing rapidly. And if you believe the words of dealers, then some models of recently released motorcycles are selling like hot cakes at the beginning of the season, and the models brought to Russia are clearly not enough to fully satisfy consumer demand.

A motorcycle has long ceased to be an alternative to a car, and the times when this equipment was bought only because there was not enough money for a full-fledged car are forgotten. Nowadays, two-wheelers can be called technological marvels in many cases, and their cost can be compared with that of prestigious cars.

Many people have started buying motorcycles for hobby purposes as riding or even collecting them has become a good pastime for many people. Many motorcycles, for example the Honda CB 500X, whose technical characteristics make it possible to call the model a prestigious brand, are in demand among both beginners and experienced motorcyclists.

Motorcycles with an engine capacity of 471 cc / 28.7 cu-in. see, appeared as a result of long work of inventors who sought to create a model that was not inferior in characteristics to other versions of the motorcycle. In some cases, these models are not only not inferior, but also ahead of other motorcycles, as they have minimal fuel consumption and other excellent parameters.

Motorcycles with an engine capacity of more than 400 kb. cm, which includes the Honda CB 500X - this category of motorcycles simply cannot claim the title of “motorcycle for a beginner.” On the contrary, this is already a serious technique that requires certain control of motorcycle equipment with a smaller engine capacity. Yes, she attracts more attention, she is the most beautiful, fast, interesting and there is a huge selection of models. But as power increases, the weight of the motorcycle inevitably increases. In this class you are unlikely to find motorcycles lighter than 180 kg, unless they are the latest motorcycle models.

Go to the entire range of Honda motorcycles, on this page you can find Honda CB 500X motorcycles from other years of production and information about them

Modifications of Honda CB 500

Most of the design changes over the ten years of production of the model affected the fairing and braking system. During production at the Japanese factory, the bike was equipped with a rear drum brake. The replacement with a disk version took place in 1996 from the moment the assembly line moved to Italy. In 1998, an additional modification appeared. It included a small fairing at the front. In general, these were the main design elements modified throughout the entire production period of Honda.

Release history

The Honda CB 500 road motorcycle rolled off the assembly line between 1993 and 2003. It was aimed at the European market. The model did not become popular among Russians, which cannot be said about its smaller brother – the Honda CB 400. Compared to it, the “500th” unit had an in-line two, when before that all bikes in this series were equipped with four-cylinder engines. Nevertheless, in Europe it has gained high popularity and love from consumers. It was necessary to stop its production only when the car ceased to comply with European environmental standards. The new version of the Honda CBF 500 turned out to be similar in design. On the European market, it competed with another two-wheeled road bike - the Kawasaki ER5.