Honda CB500X 2023 — Specifications

The trail has it disappeared from cities? No, it has just mutated. If the era of DRs, XTs, Dominators and other KLRs is now just a distant memory, the crossover era is in full swing. This is where the CB 500 X wants to showcase its strengths: the versatility of the trail bike, accessibility for a wide range of riders, appeal to young license holders as it’s natively compatible with the A2 license, its entry-level positioning, and the Honda reputation.

It’s a motorcycle… Rectify; it’s a family of motorcycles with a teenage profile. Quite the breeding ground for moments of defiance. The X benefited from a Sunday dinner with the F and the R to demand a front fork of a different caliber from Honda. The desire must have been strong because many things have changed, all at once for the three.

You immediately notice the grafting of an inverted fork. Measuring 41 mm in diameter, it’s a Showa SFF-BP with a large piston and separate damping functions. This should bring more rigidity to the front, sensitivity, and increased efficiency. Its attachment required new tés, but no other requirements on the steel tube “Diamond” frame. The latter retains the previous characteristics. At the rear, the swingarm takes advantage of the evolution to be redesigned, losing weight thanks to thinner steel sheets and improving its lateral flexibility.

Since its introduction, the CB 500 X had been limited to a single front brake disc. It was decided that it was time to move on to something more demanding. The 310 mm disc is replaced by 2 units of 296 mm. The calipers are of a very conventional type, with 2 pistons each and a quasi-radial attachment on an axial mount. The gain in power should be more than noticeable, while saving force applied to the lever. ABS is there to regulate excesses.

Engineers also shaved weight from the front wheel, with thinner spokes. We remember that this wheel went from 17 to 19 inches in 2019, allowing for more trail-oriented behavior. Work on the motorcycle also focused on weight distribution. The old CB 500 X displayed an F/R ratio of 48/52%; this shifts slightly to 48.7/51.3%. The front, now more robust, will be more engaged to better utilize the tire.

Well, are we going into that forest with this mini-Crossrunner? Uh yes, with moderation. The machine is more intended for an urban environment and surroundings, with an adventurer look – the potential is limited but with its mixed tires, the CB 500 X is not against a little escapade. For the chipped forest road and a few small challenges. Crevassed randonnée trails would be better avoided. The CB 500 X evolves naturally in the city and its pitfalls, always ready for a quiet corner in the countryside. Its engine is calibrated for that, for young license holders and without extravagance.

Nothing new for this half-liter twin cylinder. It has received all the necessary revisions since its introduction, including power rounding, Euro5 compatibility, and a few tweaks. However, the injection system receives a small update. Still to give a little more torque. No question of seeking more power: the 471 cm3 is legally capped, with 47.5 horsepower. Honda doesn’t want it to be restricted when it originally corresponds to the limit of 35 kW. Engine specialists must therefore play on sensations and power distribution without touching the maximum watts.

Incidentally, they also managed to lighten the radiator, by about 100 grams. All these efforts do not serve to lose weight but to limit its inflation. The CB 500 X has gained 2 kilos in this story. It is now very close to the psychological threshold of 200 kilos; within one unit.

On the styling front, it’s business as usual. Nothing looks more like the new X than the old X. All that the designers have touched up are the colors and the front fender. That’s not a bad thing – the style is quite successful, with nice fairing and a slightly nervous look. You’ll see a small change in its gaze, with new, more powerful LEDs. The dashboard follows the trend, not yielding to the increasingly omnipresent TFT screen fashion.

The Honda CB 500 X concentrates the essence of its evolution on its front chassis. In addition to the expected gain in efficiency, this undoubtedly brings a higher perceived level of quality - without a price increase. This is enough to give more appeal to a machine that is already very interesting to discover.

M.B - Photos manufacturer