In fact, the balanced handling/power combination
is ideal in most riding situations because it makes
all riding/manoeuvring easy and intuitive. The
500X’s ease of use will suit everyone. Experienced
riders will simply enjoy its effortless nature, while
up-and-coming riders will be rewarded with a bike
that nurtures their learning years.
While the suspension is relatively conservative
in design, for the Honda’s intended use it works
well providing a comfortable and stable ride.
There’s 150mm of wheel travel at both ends,
the front being 41mm conventional forks and
the rear a single shock with Pro-Link rising
rate linkage. You can happily hop off curbs
and jump the odd speed bump if that is your
desire and it definitely irons out our pot hole
festooned backroads pretty well.
60 KIWI RIDER
I’d say the brakes are in keeping with the
suspension; somewhat modest but effective,
more than adequate and have ABS. A single
320mm disc with a Nissin caliper works well, with
excellent feel and was only found wanting when
push really came to shove. The rear disc is a
240mm unit with a Nissin caliper that works well.
Overall the Honda CB500X is a bike that punches
well above its spec sheet. Highly versatile, very
capable, attractive and super easy to ride, it is a
bike that should appeal to many. It is more than
a sensible choice and it’s also a fun bike – in a
slightly modest way. It’s well built, all the controls
work great, the LCD dash is clear and easy to
read, it’s super comfortable with a decent screen.
If you’re after a mid-sized all-rounder, you really
can’t go wrong with the CB500X.