2023 Honda CL500 Scrambler UK Review 

I am 60 now I was born on 2 wheels, road raced, was a motor cop for 20 years and have owned 60 bikes, everything from a dresser to a 2 stroke 125, 2 months ago I picked up this little gem and I have never had more fun on 2 wheels than the 500 scrambler, btw have had mine all over the woods

I just bought one and love it. I went into the shop wanting to buy something else but when I saw it, I had to have it. I have no regrets with my purchase because it drives amazing.

Nice representation of the bike,so happy to hear Honda will be bringing them into Canada.Thanks for showing it off along the picturesque British countryside .Cheers

It's good to see a CL model to come to the UK after missing out on all the previous incarnations. 👏

Nice bike, I could imagine myself on one of these. Good review as always. Cheers

The pegs are in the same place as my Yamaha SCR950's. This little Honda is a gem. Not so keen on 180-degree cranks, but that's only the sound. Nice wheels. The dash can't be as basic as my 950's. The CL500 could well replace my second bike in northern Thailand: a KTM 390 Duke Mk2. Not that I really need two bikes and a small scooter. Excellent review. Old username: 1990 [Nick John]

Fantastic clouds!

Thank you very much Sire for the review 👍 only thing i don't like is that Ugly exhaust. another one on it. then 2 side bags. and off to a long trip. some where 😀

I know this isn’t related, but I loved the video on the keeway rkv 125, but are we gonna get a video on the new keeway v cruise 125. Would love to see it, as I’m very interested in the bike. Love the channel been watching for years 👍🏻

looks good, the swing arm looks a bit odd

Good to see a CL model back in the UK, the only bug in the butter for me is that exhaust.

I got one, typical Honda reliable and functional, which means people will dislike it 🤣disagree on the MPG 1000 miles on mine averaging 87mpg (Imperial). Comfy all rounder for me, exhaust is poop although already a few aftermarket pipes on the market. The slipper/assist clutch is great, dash has 5 levels of brightness (although still not that bright), great back lane bike, that can manage a faster road although best avoided.

This is a strange one for me. When I first saw the pics a while ago, I thought it was a really ugly bike. Now I think it looks great. I couldn't have the extra plastic bits though, like it to look naked.

I will have to disagree completely with saying this isn’t a off road bike. I have taken mine all the way to the top of brown mountain ohv trails. No I didn’t ride #9 but it went without any problems except it scraped on the whoops. It jumped and rode great. So take it off road and have fun

Oh Mark… the sound quality 🤦‍♂️ The big sounds as though it’s a lot better than I thought too. Thank you

Great looking bike with minimal electronics. You’re dead right about the suspension, if the bike is going to have fixed damping there is no point in over damping it so it can’t use its full travel, what would be the point. As you say, pick another bike with different characteristics if it’s not to your taste. Would make a great country runabout.

Is it this or the 500 caballero?

My problem with the exhaust is that it’s flat black. They should do what Royal Enfield does and use a satin black finish. Not so cheap looking.

Yessh, I'm trying to refrain from calling it ugly, but it is a mess. It's a pretty straight forward formula to create a retro bike, and Honda screwed it up. Think Triumph scrambler with Honda reliably, affordability with a paint scheme inspired by the CL bikes of the 70s, and they would have a win. It's strange, because they knocked it out of the park with the CB1000, CB350R, 350 H'ness, and the Monkey.

I prefer better suspensions and its perfect for the price and the usability!

Seems like everyone consistently says the Honda 500s in general are good but not great, reliable but a bit dull

Promo sm

12L = 3.17 US Gallons .

Why is it SO achingly dull to look at?

Boring bike. It hurts to see the big four being overtaken by the Chinese manufacturers…

Bardzo fajny stylizowany na retro styl motocykl. 👍❤🇵🇱