Honda has launched an all new 500cc adventure bike…. or have they? Well, yes…. and no, would be the correct answer. Truth be told, the very popular, and a firm favourite in this office, Honda CBX 500 has had a very serious makeover and a ton of fancy new technology added onto it as well as a name change without the price getting silly. We like what we see, and it all puts the CBX 500 in another league.
Honda has kept everything that was really good on the CBX 500 and upgraded or replaced all the bits that were a little bit lacking and completely revised the styling. Power and torque remain the same for the 471cc engine at 35kW and 43 Nm while an ECU update improves acceleration feel and Honda Selectable Torque Control is now standard. New wheels save 1.5kg of unsprung weight, adding to an overall weight loss of 3kg, and are matched by revised settings for the 41mm Showa SFF-BP USD forks and rear shock. Dual discs up front are worked by two piston callipers. A brand-new LED headlight opens up better visibility at night while a new 5-inch TFT screen offers Honda RoadSync smartphone connectivity, operated by a simplified and backlit 4-way toggle switch.
The letters NX have quite a history with Honda and the single-cylinder NX650 Dominator, which debuted in the late 1980s with a unique mix of road and off-road style. NX means ‘New X-over’ (cross over) which is exactly what the new NX500 is. Fun on a winding road, fun on a gravel trail, its all-round credentials are reinforced with its adventure styling. The wheels too are lighter, and the suspension settings front and rear have been upgraded to improve ride quality. The slipper clutch-equipped twin-cylinder engine benefits from the addition of Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC) as well as ECU updates to improve acceleration.
The sharp new adventure style incorporates aerodynamics to improve stability at speed. It also has a new LED headlight and taillight as well as a new 5-inch full colour TFT screen that includes Honda RoadSync connectivity for on-screen turn-by-turn navigation and access to other smartphone functions. A new LED headlight design maintains beam penetration but throws out wider light distribution for increased visibility when riding and cornering at night. It’s matched to a new LED taillight. All other lighting is also LED. The brand new, 5-inch full colour TFT screen inherited from the XL750 Transalp uses optical bonding to improve visibility in bright sunlight, a first for a Honda motorcycle. By sealing the gap between the cover glass and TFT screen with resin glare is reduced, and backlight transmittance improved. It’s customisable and also offers the IOS/Android smartphone connectivity of Honda RoadSync. A slim seat profile allows for free movement around the machine and aids easy ground reach and, to help manoeuvrability, the steering angle is 38° from centred to full lock.
And those are the highlights of Honda’s new NX500 and we will be getting one to ride shortly and will be giving you a full report back on how good it is in a few weeks, keep your eyes peeled for that.
