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Pre-worshipped Honda CB500X Ownership Review

20th April 2024, 15:55 by Parry M

The CB500X has a successor in 2024, but I think the 2019-2022 models still look fresh and relevant.

BHPian tejus.s recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

How it started

In 2006, I was introduced to motorcycles through the humble Suzuki Samurai. The Samurai was overshadowed by its much lauded stablemates - Shaolin and Shogun - both hooligan motorcycles in their own way. Still, the Samurai taught me how to ride a motorcycle and got me off my TVS Scooty (thank God for that!). At the time, I did not know much about maintenance and a couple of bad decisions with my FNG mechanic meant the Samurai had to go. For a couple of years, I used my brother’s Honda Unicorn - a great bike in its own right.

The first motorcycle I bought was the Karizma R. I loved everything about that bike - design, engine, comfort and long distance capabilities. Hero’s service was pretty awful, but it did not put off my buying decision. I traveled a fair bit on this motorcycle and even found like minded friends who would take me on memorable adventures. Despite a couple of incidents, I kept the Karizma around simply because there was nothing like it. Sadly though. somewhere between work, higher studies and a new chapter in life, the Karizma had to go. It made way for the FZ-25, which never really grew on me. It was short on power, front suspension was didn’t inspire confidence, rear mono shock wasn’t tuned well and instrument cluster was too basic - all of which meant I bid goodbye to the FZ in June 2022.

Why the CB500X

The absence of a motorcycle meant I rented a couple of them for short rides. Also, a friend dropped off his KTM Duke 250 while he was out of Bangalore for a couple of months. Everything came together for the final push of buying a motorcycle. Since I was in no hurry, I took my time to understand what I wanted and in no particular order, here was my list -

• At least 40HP

• Comfortable, all day riding capability

• Upright stance (I’m not getting any younger), so ADV styled motorcycle is preferred

• Fuss free maintenance

• Availability of accessories (India or abroad)

• Exclusivity

• Long term ownership - I don’t plan on selling this bike for at least 10 years

With this list in mind, I decided to take a few test rides.

Options considered

Triumph Tiger 660 Sport

Pros

- Sweet sounding and punchy triple

- Great ergonomics with wide handle bar and open chested riding posture

- Bluetooth connectivity (basic, but good enough for everyday use)

- Part quality and topnotch finish levels

- Accessory ecosystem - first and third party

Cons

- At ~12.5L on-road Bangalore, I found it expensive for what the bike offered

- Tiny instrument cluster meant there was too much open space from the rider’s POV

- Poor heat management in the city. Without riding gear, this does not seem manageable in our weather (strictly my view).

- Triumph’s questionable service and support

Royal Enfield Interceptor 650

Pros

- Timeless design

- Torquey twin cylinder with characterful 270 degree firing order

- Excellent accessory ecosystem

- Excellent brakes

Cons

- Quality and finish levels not upto my expectations

- Tube type tyres need after market solutions for hassle free ownership

- At >215 kg, it feels heavy even before adding accessories and luggage

- Flawed ergonomics

- Teething issues of RE ownership I have seen online

BMW G310GS

Pros

- Looks every bit a GS

- Quality and finish levels are excellent

- Aspirational BMW badge

- Great ergonomics for standing and regular riding

- Manageable weight

- Service interval of 16,000km or 1 year

Cons

- Not the most refined engine. Also, feels underpowered

- Basic instrument console (not a deal breaker for me, but had to mention the observation)

- BMW’s limited service network (one station for all of Karnataka) and expensive ownership costs

KTM Adventure 390

Pros

- Punchy engine that loves to be thrashed around

- Build quality feels like it can take some abuse

- Robust electronics package and class leading TFT console

- Excellent accessory ecosystem

- Open chested ergonomics for comfortable all day riding

- Affordable service and spares

Cons

- While build seems abuse friendly, finish levels are less than average in some places

- Little to no low end means city riding can be cumbersome

- Questionable reliability of KTMs

- Stiff ride

- Not exclusive anymore

KTM Duke 390

Though not an adventure styled bike, I couldn’t overlook this motorcycle. I walked away so impressed that I almost made up my mind to get it over the Adventure 390. That rev friendly 390cc engine is best suited in the naked form factor and road biased 17-inch Metzeler tires are what this chassis is meant to accommodate.

I must say, the KTM twins came very close to getting my final vote. However, on a casual Sunday afternoon browsing of Team BHP classified, everything changed when I saw a fellow BHPian’s CB500X listing. I had not considered buying a used motorcycle, but my conversations with the owner and Ayush (Honda Bigwing) convinced me to consider it. Not to mention, it was tastefully accessorised, so it needed little work to suit my requirements.

Honda CB500X (2021)

Note: In between all these test rides, I had tried the CB500X (2021 model) at Honda Bigwing (Lavelle Road) - one of the few places with a test ride bike around and walked away impressed.

Pros

- Excellent part quality and finish

- Torquey, smooth twin cylinder engine combined with slick, precise gearbox

- Excellent ergonomics

- Excellent weight management

- Proven reliability worldwide

- Honda’s fuss free ownership experience

- Exclusive

Cons

- Availability - 2022 model was not launched in India

- Effectiveness of single front disc was not proven in my test rides

- Zero electronics (no traction control, connectivity features, switchable ABS, etc.,). Might be a deal breaker for some, but didn’t bother me. I was looking for a simple, well engineered machine.

- Fork dive under medium-hard braking (read more in Ride and Handling section)

- Headlamp only good as DRL and not useful for low light riding

- Pricey, anyway you look at it

Design and Build

The CB500X has a successor in 2024, but I think the 2019-2022 models still look fresh and relevant. Layered bodywork, tidy taillight design, decent sized windscreen, neatly tucked wiring, all add up to a motorcycle that looks and feels premium. It’s more substantial in person than photographs would suggest, so please check it at a showroom nearby before concluding.

This particular bike was the 4th one to be delivered in India and oozes the quality Honda is known for. The ‘Grand Prix’ red suits this bike very well, although I’m divided about that like stickering running across the fuel tank. There are no creaks or rattles anywhere - this is one well put together machine.

I did not want to create a separate section for the console, so including it here. The CB500X’s console is a basic LCD display showing just enough information without too much distraction. I prefer the simple layout and don’t see it as a strong enough reason to mention as pro/con, but I understand there would be higher expectations.

These have not grown on me

Honda sells off (mild) road dreams, but overlooks bash plate. The polished twin exhaust pipes look classy though.

The red paint of the subframe looks great. Reminds me of the Multistrada.

Fan of the taillight design

Neatly tucked away wiring

These grab rails are India specific. Notice the two holes to accommodate mandatory saree guard (duly removed).

Mirrors do the job just fine - even at relatively high speeds

Basic looking instrument console displays all necessary information, but interface could have been better. Also seen here is Speedo Angels screen protector (matte finish) to help with readability.

Odd placement of horn switch takes getting used to

Engine and Performance

The CB500X has a little over 47HP, so maintaining speeds of >120km/h is easy. I have done ~8,000 kms in the last 10 months of ownership and not a single time have I felt that the bike lacked power. From highways to twisty roads, power and torque curves and well suited for all day riding, as well as office commutes. Fueling is spot on and never felt the need for a Fuel X or free flow air filter. I have not done two up riding with luggage (not my use case so far or in the foreseeable future), so factor that in while you try out your next motorcycle.

Fun fact - the engine temperature gauge has never gone past the 50% mark (zero heat directed to legs). Also, fan noise is minimal - unlike the KTM or Tiger 660.

Ride and Handling

The CB500X (and the more recent NX500) are derived from Honda’s 500cc road focused platforms. Honda’s claim of long travel suspension and (aspirational) adventure oriented marketing make it look great on paper. However, I find the rear to be a little too soft and wallowy at high speeds - adjusting preload when traveling with luggage helps, but still, there’s no getting around the softer setup Honda has gone for.

One of the first things I was taught while riding my bicycle was - look where you want to go and you will gather all the elements required to do it. The CB500X is great for such riding - it’s a simple chassis setup, but there’s engineering wizardry in there somewhere that’s letting you go where you look. Shiv had adjustable coil springs from YSS installed on this Honda, so the fork dive is minimal. One con knocked off the list.

Upgraded YSS springs are of excellent quality and provide much needed adjustability

Single front disc gets the job done, although I would appreciate more feel

Concluding thoughts

On paper, the CB500X appears to be a very basic motorcycle - no exotic materials, old-school suspension, only 47PS of power, no electronics, etc., However, ride it well and you will understand how throughly Honda has engineered this motorcycle. With a few modifications, it is the ideal ‘one bike’ garage for many - easy enough to use everyday, yet exotic enough to make you look back each time you park the motorcycle.

The CB500X is definitely an expensive motorcycle to own and maintain. So far, I have not had any issues with availability of spares or accessories, but they are on the premium end of the spectrum, so be sure of what you are getting into.

There is no perfect motorcycle, so knowing what you value is important. Watching hours of videos on YouTube and/or reading ownership experiences is great, but you should definitely get a test ride, decide what is important for you. Figure out how long you plan on keeping the bike, what you will do with it, how much weightage do you give to each aspect of a machine, etc., I have answered these questions to myself and don’t regret buying the CB500X.

Some questions I see coming my way -

Should I have waited for the Triumph 400 twins?

The Speed and Scrambler 400 were announced a couple of days after I made token payment for the CB500X. At the time, I had doubts of getting the first batch of vehicles and Triumph’s service (though Bajaj is expected to correct it). That said, I tried out the Speed 400 a couple of times and walked away impressed with few aspects of the bike, but it’s not a holistic package like the CB500X is (at least for me). I’m told the Scrambler 400X is a more versatile motorcycle, but I’m doubtful it will make me sell the CB500X.

What about the new Himalayan?

At the time of purchase, the new Himalayan was only seen in spy shots and RE had not officially announced anything. Seeing many positive reviews, I am tempted to rent and ride it for a couple of days before commenting on it. Even if I walk away impressed, I don’t plan on selling the CB500X anytime soon (probably never?).

How is the service?

The CB500X is serviced at Honda’s Bigwing service centres and so far the experience has been great. Service managers are prompt, transparent and mechanics are competent. Service interval is every six months or 6,000 kms - which is not per modern standards, but I’ve seen this across other Japanese manufacturers. The two services I’ve got done so far have cost me about INR 16,000 - which is within acceptable limits for a premium bike.

Mods

The first owner spared no expense in kitting out this bike and I’ve had to add very little to make it more suitable for my requirements.

Pro spec ‘Easy Ride’ wind screen deflector