HONDA CB500X Motorway review 

Cheers, thanks, glad you like it 👍👋

Thanks. Yep, that's it. Cheers 👋👍

Have to agree with you mate, Mine handles the highway in Australia fine. I ride it every single day of the year no worries.

Thanks Brad, glad you like it 👍👋 Cheers

You need 2005 1200 RT with cruise control. $5000 USD. I live in So Cal and see these bikes pop up all the time used.

Thanks, glad it helped, cheers 👍👋

Thank you 👍👍👋

Thank you, glad it was useful. 👍 Just bare in mind, with sprocket change you'll have wrong speed readings on the dashboard. 👋

You will lose a lot of acceleration and passing power. I really don't think it's worth it. I've gone all the way across Wyoming at 80mph with a 48 tooth rear sprocket and the stock 15 tooth front. The motor is very happy at higher revs.

@@tahoehiker i think you mean a 38 tooth rear sprocket

Thanks for sharing your experience👍👋

My speed readings will be out of sync, don't like that otherwise I'd consider this upgrade. 👍👋

Yes, grip puppies are from eBay. For 190cm wind will be a factor, all 3rd party windscreens are about the same height it's possible you'll need an extension as well hard to say. I've purchased a Givi windscreen because it's tall enough and a little wider than stock. 👍👋

Yeah, doable but not enjoyable 👍👋

Thanks, 500cc and customized works great, I'm thinking to even go smaller on 300cc or something. 👍👋

If one needs to ride motorways every time for few hours or more yeah higher cc bike would be much better. For occasional rides no issues with CB500X 👍👋

Yes, overtaking and stability are not an issue at all even on higher speeds, and I'd say this is a perfect bike to start with. It has enough power but not intimidating, linear pull and up right riding position. It's perfectly balanced in terms of weight and power, I was under strong side winds and bike just kept the line without issues. Regarding upgrades I'd recommend as must have, larger windscreen, hand guards and lower crash bars. If you'll ride long distances some soft seat cover (I have sheep skin), and if you're in colder place, heated grips. Hope that helps. 👍👋

Thanks Terry, Givi is good, but not excellent. I have a video in pipeline for next week about Givi windscreen. Stay tuned 👍

Hehe, yeah no probs for that 👋👍

Could be. I decided not to touch gearing for now because my speed readings on the dash will be wrong and bike will lose some torque on low revs, regarding wind blasts, yeah lighter bikes have that issue not much we can do, but on CB500X is manageable, for example my GS don't have that issue at all but that's +230kg bike, regarding grip puppies I can only recommend them, they've sorted out an issue with vibrations for me, for the price I think well worth. They'll go on my every bike in future. Maybe good windscreen, a little wider and slightly tilted can help you move the wind away? Cheers 👍👋

Pozdrav, ponosni vlasnik istog modela ovdje..Nema nikakve stete, to su razumni okretaji za ovu masinu i inace ljudi koji putuju jako duge dionice koriste istu taktiku bez obzira na kubikazu i konjazu, 6 brzina i drzat okretaje na pola od maksimalnog broja, netko ce moci ici 160 komfortno netko 120 ovisno o motoru. Ako imas na umu da su duga putovanja maraton a ne utrka onda sa ovom Hondicom mozes i na kraj svijeta...Slazem sa svime sta je receno u videu, nije bas najbolji i najkomforniji za autoceste, dosta je lagan motor pa te mogu iznenaditi naleti vjetra koji su vise izrazeni nego inace al jednom kad se naucis sve postaje stvar navike i ne vidis problem vise..Znao sam voziti po najvecoj Senjskoj buri jadranskom magistralom i dok se nisam priiviknuo moram priznat bilo je dosta neugodno, al poslije je bila samo stvar navike..Ono sta sam primjetio na svom motoru sta se tice vibracija na cijelom motoru ima dosta vezano i uz gume, tvornicke gume su dobre gume al su dosta brujile po autocestama i asfaltu, kad sam se prebacio na sport turing gume ( Pirreli Angel GT) vibracije i voznja je postala mnogo ugodnija a samim time i vibracije kao da su postale manje izraženije, iako sam ja tip koji nema velik problema sa vibracijama ostao sam ugodno iznenadjen sta druga guma moze napravit motoru

@@Geo_Okami Hvala na konkretnom i opsirnom odgovoru 😀👍

Hvala 👍 za to nikakav problem za CB500X sto se tice masine i opterecenja. Uzmi u obzir vjetar, vibracije i to da ruka mora stalno bit na gasu - nema tempomata. Ako ces se vecinom vozit po autoputu 650cc ce mozda biti bolji izbor. Hvala i sretno s izborom 👍

@@Geo_Okami zanimljivo, hvala za info! 👍👋

I ja sam razmisljao o tome, ali sam ostao nekako pri tome da je Honda izbalansirala optimalno brzine i za sada odustao od izmjene. Pozdrav 👋👍

Hi, thanks! Not at all 👍 it pulls linearly throughout all gears (I'm 90ish kg + 5-7kg of luggage).

Hope review cleared some doubts 😁👋👍

What exactly about it do you find "not so good on the motorway? You said it was "naked" does that mean you currently do not have wind screen, and if not can you fit even an aftermarket windscreen? If it is engine noise and/or vibration at high speeds, then consider changing sprockets. If it suspension and handling, and you have adjusted as best you can, then consider a different bike.

This bike loves speeds up to 120km/h, above it's doable but not enjoyable 😁👍👋

@@shiftupadventure 120 km/h its smooth?

Nope, I actually like how gearing is set up. Is the lost in lower rpms noticable while accelerating?

@@shiftupadventure from what I saw on Chris Smith's video "Best Honda CB 500X upgrade" and the comments you get a decrease of 6% RPM when you swap from the 15 to the 16 T sprocket. 15/16= 0,9375 example: 4900 RPM at 60 MPH (96,5 km/h) with the 15 T sprocket gives 4900 x 0,9375 = 4593 RPM with the 16T sprocket . Reduction of 307 RPM. My 500X is actually in Thailand, and I hope to be back at Phuket next july to install the 16 T sprocket and so my best friend will do. By checking the RPM at different usual speeds you can calculate what will be the decrease of RPM. In fact the 16 T will give you more usable first and second gears than with the 15 T, and if speed is not your goal i'm sure you will like the 16 T. When cruising at 110 km/h on a highway you will enjoy the decrease of 350 RPM and subsequently more kilometers per liter of gasoline and less engine wear. Please check Chris Smith video and read the comments. If you can have a GPS you will aslo be able to check the difference of speed between the speedo and the GPS. 12oclocklabs sells a speedo calibrator if needed. I also have bought it but I will need help to fit it on my CB 500 X. Wishing you to do the modifications and to watch a nice video about the subject after. The idea of POLYTRON oil additive is another good project too, especially for my best friend who hates the vibrations... I also have offered him a pair of Grip Puppies and he said it makes a really more confortable ride.

Hi, it depends on type of touring. For asphalt roads 4c is a little less vibrating so it would be better. For mixed terrains better twin. I'm touring with twins because I don't want to be limited by type of terrain. Good luck with choice 👍

South Croatia 👍

Honda CB500XA 2020 model

Thanks. Do you think the 2021 model makes any difference from 2020 in terms of engine power/performance?

How hard is it to twist throttle and go 130 kmh which he shows in the video? It is not a matter of skill, it's a matter of enjoyment.

I wasn't that bad 👍👍👋