CB500x .....in my near future?? Thinking out loud.

[MacDoc]

CB500x ...arriving today

Always been a fav since I took a demo ride with they first came out and the thread on ADVrider seems there are thousands of happy fanbois.

[video=youtube;Vrlhop2_XSY]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vrlhop2_XSY&frags=pl%2Cwn[/video]

This guy thinks it might be the bike of the decade.

I had hoped for a long cross country tour on the CBF1000 this summer but an earlier than planned trip to Aus for 3 months put the stops to that.

All dressed up and no place to go.

So the red lady languishes in the garage and I plod around on the KLR in Cairns ...hey it's riding.

There are number of things that attract me to the CBX..

Fuel mileage ....likely double what I get now and 50% more range. It annoys me to spend near on $30 on a fill up to get 300 km.

Would be $24 fillup for 450 km on the CBX.

Third party farkles. I was used to having a ton available for the Vstrom, there are very few in North America for the CBF and loads for the CBX..notably third party seat choices and Madstad/Windscreen combos.

A few for the CBF but none do the job the Madstad/Give did on the Vstrom. The CBF offerings all too narrow and can't acheive a "quiet pocket".

Power ...well fugedaboud it. Yeah I like the thrill of the litre bike but most of my riding is gawking along back roads listening audio books and looking for photo opportunities,
I suspect with the lowe fuel cost and longer tank range I'd head out on intermediate ( 3-4 days ) more often.

Brakes...I would miss the superb C-ABS on the CBF -- but likely the art has moved forward

Seating position
I was comfortable with the upright seating on the Vstrom and the CBX is near identical.
The CBF a bit tipped forward 12 degrees versus 0 on the CBX and 1 degree on the Wee....not much but harder on old knees and more weight on my wrists.
I suspect that lean is making it hard to find a long distance seat I'm completely satisfied with.

Weight
Big one for me..getting old and creaky ...curb weight of 430 lb curb weight on the CBX versus 553 lb for the CBX wet.
It's a low seat and does not feel top heavy like the Vstrom at 490 lb wet but it's still a hunk of machinery.

Headlights.
Marginal on the CBF and Wee...have found nothing as good as the Burgman 650 yet.
There are a ton of aftermarket solutions for the CBX if I didn't find them adequate ( I like riding at night )

Suspension - The Wee was comfortable with the fork brace added, the Burgman 650 a joke, the CBF excellent but not as plush as the Wee.
I don't take advantage of the brakes suspension and power of the CBF....the thing tracks corners and brakes with no nose dive far better than I'm capable of appreciating or using. The C-ABS would be missed tho.

I'll need a fork brace for the CBX for my weight - felt that on the first demo ride but the suspension is plush and the bike "handles light"....something all the reviews seem to mention.

Again there are sooo many farkles in North America for this sort of personal tuning.

Luggage will have to sort...have a top case but won't miss either the CBF ( marginal ) Wee stock luggage ( awkward ).
I can do 3-4 days on just a top-case and tank bag. Wait until something rolls around for the CBX ....again so much to choose from.

Be nice to own a new bike. $7400 for a new 2017 CBX just now $120 month full finance - easy either trade or I sell the CBF for cash and use that in the business.


Very tempting

forgot ....lower insurance too tho I might have to get full coverage so might be a wash.

 

[Mad Mike]

Always been a fav since I took a demo ride with they first came out and the thread on ADVrider seems there are thousands of happy fanbois.

[video=youtube;Vrlhop2_XSY]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vrlhop2_XSY&frags=pl%2Cwn[/video]

This guy thinks it might be the bike of the decade.

I had hoped for a long cross country tour on the CBF1000 this summer but an earlier than planned trip to Aus for 3 months put the stops to that.

All dressed up and no place to go.

So the red lady languishes in the garage and I plod around on the KLR in Cairns ...hey it's riding.

There are number of things that attract me to the CBX..

Fuel mileage ....likely double what I get now and 50% more range. It annoys me to spend near on $30 on a fill up to get 300 km.

Would be $24 fillup for 450 km on the CBX.

Third party farkles. I was used to having a ton available for the Vstrom, there are very few in North America for the CBF and loads for the CBX..notably third party seat choices and Madstad/Windscreen combos.

A few for the CBF but none do the job the Madstad/Give did on the Vstrom. The CBF offerings all too narrow and can't acheive a "quiet pocket".

Power ...well fugedaboud it. Yeah I like the thrill of the litre bike but most of my riding is gawking along back roads listening audio books and looking for photo opportunities,
I suspect with the lowe fuel cost and longer tank range I'd head out on intermediate ( 3-4 days ) more often.

Brakes...I would miss the superb C-ABS on the CBF -- but likely the art has moved forward

Seating position
I was comfortable with the upright seating on the Vstrom and the CBX is near identical.
The CBF a bit tipped forward 12 degrees versus 0 on the CBX and 1 degree on the Wee....not much but harder on old knees and more weight on my wrists.
I suspect that lean is making it hard to find a long distance seat I'm completely satisfied with.

Weight
Big one for me..getting old and creaky ...curb weight of 430 lb curb weight on the CBX versus 553 lb for the CBX wet.
It's a low seat and does not feel top heavy like the Vstrom at 490 lb wet but it's still a hunk of machinery.

Headlights.
Marginal on the CBF and Wee...have found nothing as good as the Burgman 650 yet.
There are a ton of aftermarket solutions for the CBX if I didn't find them adequate ( I like riding at night )

Suspension - The Wee was comfortable with the fork brace added, the Burgman 650 a joke, the CBF excellent but not as plush as the Wee.
I don't take advantage of the brakes suspension and power of the CBF....the thing tracks corners and brakes with no nose dive far better than I'm capable of appreciating or using. The C-ABS would be missed tho.

I'll need a fork brace for the CBX for my weight - felt that on the first demo ride but the suspension is plush and the bike "handles light"....something all the reviews seem to mention.

Again there are sooo many farkles in North America for this sort of personal tuning.

Luggage will have to sort...have a top case but won't miss either the CBF ( marginal ) Wee stock luggage ( awkward ).
I can do 3-4 days on just a top-case and tank bag. Wait until something rolls around for the CBX ....again so much to choose from.

Be nice to own a new bike. $7400 for a new 2017 CBX just now $120 month full finance - easy either trade or I sell the CBF for cash and use that in the business.

Very tempting

forgot ....lower insurance too tho I might have to get full coverage so might be a wash.

This bike has quite a following -- what perplexes me is that every rider I've met that owns one seems to be looking for a more capable replacement. I'll be frank, I've never ridden the X, I have ridden a CBR 500 and that was about as impressive as the first time I drove a Trabant.

I like the the Versys X a little more, I think they did more to design the bike for the purpose -- tougher off road, more comfortable riding position (particularly for old buys like me) and I think it has about the same performance as the CB500. I see the CB500x as a CBR500 with ADV plastics and a cm of ground clearance gained by swapping clippies for regular bars. If the Versys had the new Ninja 400 powerplant, it might be a category killer.

 

[MacDoc]

Certainly don't get that impression reading online that people want to move up. It has hit a sweet spot in the market from the get go as a Swiss Army knife at the right price.

mimico regrets selling his and there are few on the used market.

The ergos are quite different on the CBR500r 17 degrees more forward lean.
I guess the 500r is the new riders wanna be CBR650F which is a world away.

 

[Flywheel]

You know, there isn't anything wrong with wanting (or buying) another bike. Wants and needs change. An elaborate bullet point justification shouldn't be necessary (though most of us probably do it anyway). If it floats your boat, sell off your other bikes and do it. Then post a thread about the bike. That way, we all get something out of it. I don't want to watch another lousy Youtube video.

 

[Baggsy]

You buy motorcycles like my wife buys shoes. Good for you!

 

[LePhillou]

This thread is why my ears were tingling this morning.

As you've probably read on ADVrider, a bunch of people have actually moved DOWN to that bike from bigger engines and heavier ADV bikes to this ones.

Obviously, stock, it has its limitations. But also, in stock form it can do a lot of fun things. Easy to throw in the corners, comfortable enough for long distance.

Originally, i gotta say, if the 500x hadn't come out when it came out, i would've bought a Versys, and i don't regret waiting for it.

You can probably find used ones for pretty darn 'cheap', especially if you're gonna look at the rally raid kits.

In the first few years i did some short touring and commuting, (going to mtl, qc city and back, going to calabogie area and back, muskokas, etc) then i did a few fire roads/cottage roads and commuting, and now, i don't have much time for those on the weekend with 2 kids, so i use it mainly to commute.

It's a little workhorse.

 

[MacDoc]

Then don't participate. It's hardly elaborate ...it's how I make a decision. No one is forcing you to click.

Read the title

CB500x .....in my near future?? Thinking out loud.

not interested ?? move on.

Have something cogent to contribute - I'm all ears.

$1000 off an already popular model that's only $8k to begin with is pretty enticing for anyone interested in the category.

The 300 +/- ADV bikes are a growing category ...for Australia down the road I'd consider the Versys 300 ...good post on the Vstrom board by an owner as he farkled it up.

I would not do distance on The Versyx X in North America - I would on the CB500X. I think there is $1000 of extra value in the Honda at the current sale price. ( Versys is $6400 )
10 more HP on the Honda and at at a lower RPM and more torque. There is little or no off pavement for this in Canada and I've demoed the bike.

The Versys X would be perfect to replace the KLR in Aus.

One review surprised me was the CB500x versus Vstrom 650 ...I would not have thought to class them together but the CBX came out quite well.

I've been thinking about a CB500x for a good long while and a few things conspired to tip me towards a buy ..$1000 off helps the hit I'll take on the CBF1000.

 

[i-WERKS]

With the lack of power, you have to really twist the throttle. Personally, I've never gotten 450km on a tank. When I did the iron butt, I was running on reserve by 240km averaging 120-130km/h.

I'm very happy with the bike. I've had it since new and don't think i'd be replacing it anytime soon.

 

[MacDoc]

Pretty sure they upped the tank size in 2017.

Feb 7, 2018 - 2018 Honda CB 500 X Motorcycle Review / Specs - Adventure Bike | Matte ... A slightly larger fuel tank extended range between fuel fill-ups,

If it's only on the 2018 I'll get that instead.

This is pretty thorough.
http://www.hondaprokevin.com/2018-honda-cb500x-review-specs-motorcycle-adventure-bike-cb500-x

70 mpg 4.4 Gal tank ...that works out to 490 km and some have gotten 500 km.
It's not going to do that at slab speeds but the CBF drinks fuel at all speeds,

That's a nice rig ....what was cost of the top box? I could maybe tour with just that and my tank bag.

Factory side bags are $600+

What are you getting in tire life?

 

[LePhillou]

What are you getting in tire life?

I got about 22k out of mine on the stock tires.

I've currently got Metzeler Tourance Next on them for the past 10k and they've still got lots of life left to them.

 

[GreyGhost]

I got about 22k out of mine on the stock tires.

I've currently got Metzeler Tourance Next on them for the past 10k and they've still got lots of life left to them.

How do you like the Tourance on gravel? On the ape, when you got into loose gravel I didn't like how they felt.

 

[Baggsy]

What's the GVWR and the wet weight?

 

[MacDoc]

Curb weight is 430 lb....550 on the CBF ...big change.

408 lb GVWR. Enough for my use.

I'm entirely solo touring, don't camp, know how to pack light. I bought the Vstrom to be a mule as my kids FZ8 carried very little.

Times change ...Dad wants a lighter bike with a long fuel range.....I'll never see the top end of that CBF1000 anyways....scary numbers.

 

[Baggsy]

Are the horn and turn signals reversed on that model as well?

 

[MacDoc]

no idea? I thought horn had to be a standard spot opposite the starter.

 

[GreyGhost]

no idea? I thought horn had to be a standard spot opposite the starter.

I don't think anything "has to be" anywhere. BMW notably moved things around on some of their bikes (turn signal switches where starter and horn are on most bikes).

 

[Wingboy]

Are the horn and turn signals reversed on that model as well?

Yes.Stupid Honda.

 

[MacDoc]

sue da bastids...

Is this new ?

 

[LePhillou]

no idea? I thought horn had to be a standard spot opposite the starter.

By opposite they mean up/down opposite.. so at first instead of signalling you may or may not honk at someone by mistake. Don't know how it's setup on the cbf though

How do you like the Tourance on gravel? On the ape, when you got into loose gravel I didn't like how they felt.

Meh, they work but haven't done that much gravel riding with them like i used to. Tore my achilles last summer so my last summer with only one kid (have 2 now) was scrapped, missed out on a few longer rides i wanted to do. On hard packed dirt it did alright... but i don't expect much from 90/10 tires.

 

[Baggsy]

NC700 is the same. It makes it interesting when switching between bikes.

If you only use one bike, you'll get used to it.