Honda CB500X: All You Need To Know

Here’s the lowdown on Honda’s upcoming 500cc adventure tourer

Honda will be getting its 500cc motorcycles to India this year. From this lineup, we expect the CB500X to be launched here as well. The adventure tourer might share its 500cc motor with the CB500R, CB500F and Rebel but offers a vastly different ride experience. Here’s all the dope on the CB500X.

It gets a parallel-twin motor:

The CB500X gets a 471cc liquid-cooled and fuel-injected parallel-twin motor that makes most of its torque between 3,000rpm and 7,000rpm. It delivers 47.58PS at 8500rpm and 43Nm at 6500rpm. According to Honda, the CB500X offers fuel efficiency of 27.8km and with its 17.7-litre fuel tank, should offer a theoretical range of around 490km. The CB500X gets a close-ratio 6-speed gearbox with a slip and assist clutch for lighter clutch actuation and better control during clutchless downshifts. 

Also read: Honda CB500X: Expected Price In India

It should be able to tackle mild off-road duties:

While the CB500X is not a hardcore adventure tourer like its larger cousin, the CRF 1100 Africa Twin, the 500cc motorcycle should be able to cover mild off-road obstacles. For starters, it has 41mm preload-adjustable forks with 150mm of travel and preload-adjustable monoshock with 135mm of travel. It does not get spoke wheels but has 19-inch front and 17-inch rear dual-purpose tyres. The seat height is 830mm and ground clearance is 180mm. Braking is via a single 310mm front disc and 240mm rear disc with dual-channel ABS. Honda has managed to keep weight in check, with the CB500X tipping the scales at 197kg. 

It is reasonably equipped:

The CB500X gets an LED headlamp, tail lamp and turn indicators. It gets a digital instrument console that displays the speedometer, tachometer, dual tripmeters, fuel gauge, average fuel consumption, digital clock and gear position indicator. For safety, it gets an engine immobiliser.

It could cost as much as the Benelli 500cc ADVs:

Honda will initially bring its 500cc lineup to India via the CKD route, and fully localise it later. So initially, we expect the CB500X to be priced around Rs 5.5 lakh, which would park it between the Benelli TRK 502 (Rs 5.1 lakh) and the more hardcore Benelli TRK 502X (Rs 5.5 lakh). Once localisation begins, the CB500X could cost less than Rs 5 lakh (all ex-showroom). 

Also read: Honda CB500X vs Benelli TRK 502: Spec Comparison