I own the bike for 2 months now, break in completed, and still enjoy watching the latest reviews! I am an intermediate rider and it really surprises with its acceleration, good corner grip and utility in pothole-filled cities like Athens, GR. Cons: seat can be harsh for your butt especially with pillion passenger, ground clearance is not very confidence-inspiring due to lack of skidplate, forks are too spongy for my taste and I expect upgraded ones to be available soon with adjustable preload and damping, brakes perform poorly unless brought up to temperature. To the contrary of your review, I find the rear shocks pretty good and makes me happy that it came with preload. Looking forward to ADVing it a little bit, and the bike can totally take a beating! Great work Dan! PS. Before purchase I was worried about pillion's comfort with the high mounted exhaust but thats not the case at all - its only the rear pegs that are mounted pretty high that make it a bit tiring during long rides for my wife.
I bought a Honda ADV 350 3 weeks ago. It's so good I'd ignored my CL500. But yesterday I went out on the CL500 and it reminded me what a great little bike it is! Ride safe.
Another superb review! Love the oldskool styling of the headlight and indicators ❤. I doubt that any buyers will take this off road but it's good to know its copes 🔥
Not a bad little machine.....ideal for my daily commute. I’ll have to see how this compares to the new Triumph scrambler . Killing these bike reviews Dan........love it.
Comparable? The cost is for the RE is $2000 less, and why would you buy a Scarm when your riding off road, the CB500X is $300 more, has better suspension, + 3 HP and built for off road with 19 inch front wheel?
I bought one of these about a month ago. Have 1200 miles on it. From day 1 if you went above 5th gear, it would not down shift at least 60% of the time without double clutching. Took it back to the dealer, after a week and a half in the shop all they did was adjust the linkages and told me it was fixed. Took it out for a test ride today, and it wouldn't down shift. Had the dealer ride it (they admitted there was a problem when I brought it back on day one but said it would "wear in"), he agreed with me that there was an issue, then I got a call from them an hour ago after he talked to Honda and he said it was just rider error. I've also got a Rebel that I've put over 5000 miles on in the last year and a Harley with that I've put over 40,000 miles on. I know how to shift a motorcycle, even one that is clunky. This is not rider error. On the bright side, since it's a Honda you'll probably get a good one. On the down side, if you don't, good luck getting anyone to do anything about it under warranty...
I had the same with a Honda cb300r which would not upshift 50% of the time. Took it to the dealer, under warranty, who said it was rider error again, and I have been riding for circa 40 years. Eventually gave up and p/ex it for a different brand. Won’t buy Honda again.
I had a CB500x that was a great bike,although the engine was not bad if a bit gutless at higher speeds and I think it looked pretty good as well 😊 I can’t say the same for the looks of this or the Rebel range as the tank sat on the frame rails looks naff! Imho,although looks are subjective I know 😮
Yeah looks are 100% subjective. I got this bike and green and everyone included myself loves how it looks. I bet there are people who love the ugliest bike and those who hate the most beautiful one.
I've watched this again as I'm close to getting a bike now. Would a small fly screen help with the dash in bright light do you think, especially a tinted one?
I was tempted for a short while. I quite like the look of it and it's going to be reliable. But i think the scram looks better and at £1500 cheaper atm i think it's a better buy. The only thing really the cl has over it is the speed it goes. It's not a scam killer for me.
@@jonathandeeley6276 I went to look at the scram. The build quality looks very nice to me. People mention the welds but it's a bit nit picky imo. The exhaust goes a weird colour but there doesn't seem much else to rust. I think it looks great but for some it's not going to have enough go. If you always ride at the speed limit I couldn't think of a reason to go for the Honda over it myself.
@@EnglishbikerdanI hadn't even considered that, but it makes sense that a very damp and rainy environment would wreak havoc on all that exposed metal. Do you guys put salt based snowmelt on the roads there in the winter too?
I test rode one and really liked how it rode, it was also really fun to ride and feels super light. With the optional tall seat it also fitted my 6'1" frame really well. It just looks so bland and typical Honda. The tank shape and size is terrible, the rear light is too big and ugly and the exhaust offends me in the extreme. Its a real shame Honda never put more effort into its design because it really does ride lovely and you know it will be as reliable as an anvil. Honda should be rightly afraid of the new Triumph 400X, because they got the looks of that bang on.
I test rode one the other day while a fairly decent machine it’s not that great pick up isn’t bad but I’m getting similar from my crf250l , while it rides well and suspension can cope with rough English back roads it felt bouncing around, flick able and easy engine very forgiving, but once I got it upto 70 it was very vibrating through handle bars and foot pegs, for a 471cc engine it felt reved out, the instrument cluster is hard to read in sunlight, it just felt underpowered and stressed when pressed at higher speeds I couldn’t honestly live with a bike like that, it’s a shame is I liked the styling I’m going to try the cb500x but have my eye on the ADV 750.
Hi Dan, been watching your videos for a few years now - great content, keep it up. I make most of my bike buying decisions based on your reviews (I’m same height as you and you do the helpful seat height view) Can you review a KTM SMC 690 R if possible please?
I like it, I'd have one. What I don't like is the claustrophobic country lanes, like a rat run maze. English countryside is beautiful but you're not allowed to see it 😆 Btw before the keyboard warriors get apoplectic, I'm English & it's my observation. I live in a smaller EU country and all the country lanes are open, can see for miles it's so much nicer.
It may have some potential as a Scrambler but since Honda didn't put an ABS Off/Switch on the handlebar it's like Honda itself telling you, Don't go Off road with It.
Normally on these kind of bikes they only fit one side pannier/bag on the opposite side of the exhaust. Basically almost all scramblers are like this except the Ducati.
Great video, informative and slick presentation, with the classic Dan side on stationary shots staring at the camera 😀 It's a lovely looking bike, got a lot of personality for sure. It's interesting that for £1k more, you can buy the Hornet (which is also A2 compliant). I do wonder if the CL500 is a touch too expensive in that regard, but Honda know what they're doing so I'll shut up 😅
My motorcyclist brothers, please answer my question... I will buy my first bike. I don't want aggressive bike and I want to take long distances with it. So is Honda CL500 suitable bike for long distance travels? Please illimunate me :D
Now atleast I have somebody that I can consider my idol when it comes to motovlogging... The funniest thing is, your as tall as me, 😅... Thanks boss idol watching here from Philippines.. RS..
Nice review Dan. Nice middle weight bike from Honda. I would prefer the CB500F or CBR500R but they do a different job that the scrambler. Love the 500 range though but not as much as I love that pouting from you 😂 Carnt wait for the next videos. Have a nice weekend sir 👍🏻
That 500cc engine is amazing, my wife has the CBR500R and what a motor very quickly gets to naughty speeds and with an after market can it sounds good too.
A bike I like very much. My favourite in the sub-500cc category. I like the front light and fork gaiters. A successor to my my 390 Duke Mk2 as my second bike in northern Thaland, perhaps. My SCR950 has the same bar-lock system. They all used to be like that. I'd have preferred a rev counter. The SCR doesn't have one, either. I like the Scram, too. Singles are great. You can still get an Yamaha SR400 here, but it's so expensive, otherwise I'd get one and customise it. I used to have an XT500 years ago. Good review. Nick J
I think since Honda didn't bother to put spoked wheels and an ABS disconnect Switch, they are basically telling you don't go Offroad. So basically don't fall😂
You forgot to mention at what rpm the power and torque are produced. Scram has low end torque which is more important for a scramble up the hill! No way is this highly strung engine going to challenge the Scram.😅
i was soo looking forward to this bike... but its failed miserably... the scram might be a slug in comparison.. but it has the character..ideally the honda engine in the scram frame... BUT.. the triumph 400 scrambler is going to slay this Honda.... AND .. Royal Enfield due to release a 500 classic.... now the manufacturers cannot sell 1000cc race reps... the bike models are getting much more interesting
Nice bike , and it's a Honda. But seriously, scram to RE. Not at $2000 more then RE. Not Not to mention the Honda and multi dealerships are seriously price gouging OTD prices, whereas the RE only dealerships are being reasonable.
I’ve seen quite a lot of affordable low mileage Rebel 500s on the market ever since the 1100 dropped. I’m not one for cruiser bikes, and was more interested in the CL500, but it’s hard to ignore the savings! Is the CL500 really that different and worth the higher new-bike price?
Says scram? Rly? Let me check: 1.Price (half time more expensive) 2. Looks (imho ugly as hell) 3. Sound (sounds like 125) 4. Exhaust pipes go to low (big nono for me in scrambler) 5. Did i said ugly as hell?
It's just so...boring. I've seen and ridden them and they're...ok I guess. Even the RE Scram 411 has more character. Honda just always feels good but bland in this category of motorcycles. Their sportbike on the other hand is a bit more fun.
Considering Honda designed and made so many truely iconic, retro motorcycles in past decades, it's a sad disappointment that they are now churning out ugly machines like this one now. It's a rebel converted to remotely look like a scrambler but is just so wrong. Squat and stubby, mag wheels and a big radiator sticking out. The RE scrambler may be basic, but can be maintained at the roadside, where as this monstrosity needs a workshop to deal with valve adjustments. I guess Honda's are now being designed by the same feckless morons that they aim to sell them to!
@@romeldiasthey are so lazy that they even decided to transform a cruiser into a scrambler 😅 look how well it worked for yamaha with there bolt/scrambler, I think it's even discontinued😅 not only that, but they even had the audacity to say that they designed this scrambler to look like the original Old Honda CL..sure the resemblance is uncanny😅😅.
I would buy one in an heartbeat if it had a low revving torquey and characterful 500cc single cylinder engine instead of that boring rev-thrashy parellel twin 😐
I like Hondas and appreciated the brand's high overall reliability. This bike is so ugly though... Giving it a better looking tank, tail and side panels would make a huge difference. I do imagine it is a fun ride.
As if anyone is going to pay $9200 including PDI/freight and then adding $1200 tax in Canada for a recycled 500 Honda ! If Honda priced it the same as the Scram at $7000 plus tax then people might go for it. Royal Enfield is a far better buy.
Honda and other Japanese companies seem to be ok with rolling out this dull dishwater crap... when are they going to bite the bullet and bring out something interesting, all this safe shite is tiring, same engine, same frame...different name blah blah blah, come on Honda, you're better than this.
@@kalnwi2023 Lol. At this point, i2 180 is like engine for the poor & low end motorcycles, specifically reserved for the boring people. Literally no advantages but boring af. Want cheap & lightweight? Go big thumper engine. Want power and FUN? Get at least an i2 270+ crank and beyond
Considering that it costs 3 times (*estimate) more than Scram 411 as well as Triumph Street/Scram 400 in India, looks hideous, and pillion will end up with roasted thighs after every ride, I think this is specifically targeted for EU/US market.
Absolutely terrible looking machine that Seal 500 (think that's what it's called) and don't like that engine either... no character. I ride one of the other models and hope the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 will replace it.
The CRF250L is surely more scrambler than this...Thing. I had a CRF250L once, if they made it with another 1 or 2 inches less of sear height, put on a round headlight, a different design fuel tank and a bench seat it would be far more better than this CL.
