CB500X vs Versys X 300

This is a comparison between my new Honda CB500X and my Kawasaki Versys X 300. It was too long to put the road test in it also, so this is part 1 and in Part 2 you can see the road test, a video of the Santa Rita Copper Mines in New Mexico and a tour of an 1883 mission and a shrine in San Lorenzo, NM.

[@tomelzear]

Your knowledge and thoroughness in discussing these bikes has been worth my time, thanks.

[@spydie]

Thanks you for your kind words and support.

[@Fleeglebutt]

On a Versys-X on a gravel road, you will never wish you had more power.

[@spydie]

ha ha... I guess it fits one niche! I ride gravel on both, you don't have to use the xtra power of the CBX. I really liked the VX when I first got it. I thought it was one of the best adventure bikes I've ever owned (and I've owned several), but after about 9 months and 4000 miles on it I was beginning to doubt my first impressions and getting tired of some of its shortcomings (after spending way too much money to outfit it). Then I bought the CBX and realized exactly what things it was a lot better at than the VX without any shortcomings (compared to the VX, not to other bikes. I realize the CBX is probably not the best lightweight adventure bike in the world, but I haven't found the one that is yet.) But until you own a CBX, you'll never really understand and you'll continue to enjoy the VX. It's a good bike. Not a great bike. But a good, honest bike for the money. And like everything else in this world, you get what you pay for. Motorcycles are no exception. The more you spend, the more comfort you buy and often the more versatility.

[@Fleeglebutt]

@@spydie My other bike is a 2001 R6 (that I bought new 22 years ago). I wanted (and appreciate) the separation of power and performance between the R6 and the Versys-X. They complement each other well. If I had to have only have one bike, I would probably choose the CB500X over the Versys-X. Mind you, the little Kawasaki is great for sub-100 km/h cruising and just enjoying the view.

[@droptuned83]

The cb500x is probably the best adventure bike Honda make. Though I didn't ride the new Transalp 750, certainly better than the Africa Twin.

[@spydie]

@@droptuned83 It has easily become my favorite bike. I did just pick up my 2023 XR150L that Honda just released in April to the US and it's a fun bike. Slow and underpowered like my Monkey, but a lot of fun to ride because it's almost identical to my 1975 Honda XL125 that I had when I was a young man.

[@darkknight1340]

I've been looking for an adventure type second bike and that Honda looks as though it would fit the bill nicely.Thank you for your in-depth,comprehensive review.

[@papachis9535]

Probably one of the better CB500X chats on KZbin. Good job. Always good to have an experienced guy doing some real world assessments with a long history of motorcycling, along with a decent understanding of engineering issues. So I’m going to subscribe to find out how you work out the worms. Thank you.

[@spydie]

You are my new best friend! LOL. Thank you.

[@papachis9535]

@@spydie Watch out for the water pump. I’m sure you’re aware.

[@spydie]

@@papachis9535 Yes, I would be concerned about that if I did any off-road riding with it. I do have an engine guard on it now.

[@goldfish8196]

Your channel is a gem 💎. Thank you. We have the same taste when it comes to motorcycles.

[@blacksmoke9495]

At 42:34 your earned my sub. There is nothing better than taking advice from an older and wiser man like you. Im 28 btw and i just got my versys x this month😊

[@spydie]

Thank you. Enjoy your new bike. I decided to keep the Versys and the CB500X. I just couldn't part with either one. But I did get another bike. I picked up a new 2023 Honda XR150 which I really love also, along with my Honda Monkey.

[@americandude3825]

I had hand guards like the ones on your versys x. Saved my hands from being crushed when I wrecked going 60.

[@LivinProoof]

Glad youre okay!!!

[@SemiDad]

CB500X vs V300X LBS: 439 / 386 Seat”: 32.8 / 32.1 HP: 47 / 39 Torque: 32 / 19 Gears: 6 / 6 Tires: 19&17 / 19&17 FI: Y / Y

[@apexseeker3821]

So glad you discussed the ride differences. That is critical for me due to a bad back. Weight is also an issue but I guess I’d trade that for a better ride. Thanks for the detailed review.

[@spydie]

Thanks for your kind words. I hated that it has to weigh 40+ pounds more also, but it really is a much better bike in many ways, quieter, more comfortable ride, a lot more power.

[@darkknight1340]

Thank you for your very informative review,I am currently looking at adventure type bikes as a second bike and the Honda looks as though it would fit the bill nicely.

[@bsc1463]

Excellent comparison ! I think your going to like the CB500X in the twisty's . I have a 2017 CB500X with the full Rally Raid suspension / wheel conversion . The CB is truly hard to beat . Great bikes !

[@spydie]

I agree it's a great bike. But the Versys X 300 is still my favorite, and I really thought I'd sell it after I got the CB. But the 300 is actually more fun to ride, even though the CB rides better and has more power. The lighter, more nimble 300 is just more fun. So I kept both of them.

[@CGB65]

I really enjoyed this review. Very detailed and excellent job.

[@spydie]

thanks for the kind words

[@CB500Xoo7]

Hi, excellent straight forward review/comparison. Liked and subbed 💪 my 500X is a 22 yr model and I’m really enjoying it. It’s my first bike

[@spydie]

congratulations. I'm sure you will enjoy it.

[@waltergriffin5037]

As usual, a thorough evaluation.

[@brianrand7191]

“The problem is, I’m way ahead of schedule” you got a good laugh outta me on that one. 😂

[@broosewee]

Love my 22 CB500x. It's such a pleasure to ride around and it goes off road quite well!

[@spydie]

I'll be doing another video of all my updates, T-rex crash bars, Happy-Trails pannier mounts with Nelson Rigg saddle bag, handlebar risers, TPMS, Quad-lock phone mount, V-stream windshield, 7/8" GPS mount bar, Exhaust slider, Honda hand guards, Strobe brake lights, Michelin Road 5 rear tire (wore out the OEM Dunlops in 4500 miles), lowered pegs, 12v socket, air deflectors for the knees (Honda), OAT thermometer, Helmet lock, Grip puppies. Just waiting for all the stuff to arrive.

[@broosewee]

@@spydie awesome! I'm looking at the trex bars also. I've done some of those mods myself already but not many. How did you wear out the stock tires in 4500 miles?! They're still good for me after 6k miles.

[@spydie]

@@broosewee They had 3400 miles on them when I got it (used) and they were just about down to the wear bars. Older gentleman, so I know it wasn't hot-rodded, tire spinning, etc. In 1000 miles I'm down to the wear bars. A LOT of guys on the CB500X forums quote the same mileage. Probably a lot of highway miles at high speed. If you run around on secondary roads at 35-55 mph I'm sure they'll last longer. But 4500 miles is pretty much the consensus for the mileage on Dunlop tires. The Michelin Road 5 and 6 are getting up to 14,000 miles. Less off-road capable, though, more of a highway tire, and that's where I ride my bikes 99% of the time.

[@janpow331]

Thanks for that great comparison! I'm buying a Versys 300X tomorrow.

[@spydie]

I still have mine. I decided not to sell it.

[@GeezerWheels]

Great vid! I bought a brand new Versys X300 in the spring of 2019 and I agree with your assessment of it. Great bike in its category. I'm keeping it for some light off-road work, commuting (and a loaner bike) but I decided that I wanted a larger and more powerful bike for longer road trips. I found a brand new (yes NEW) 2017 Vstrom 650XT in summer of 2020 that had been at a dealer in S. Dakota - never sold. I got $2000 off MSRP! I LOVE both bikes, but they are in different categories. X300 is better for Jeep trails, fire roads, etc. (although the Vstrom is more capable on fire roads than some think). And of course the Vstrom is a wonderful travel bike.While it is not as powerful as a GS1250 or a big KTM or Vstrom 1000, the Vstrom 650 is surprisingly quick (some test sites rate it at 3.5 seconds for 0-60 mph). It's wonderfully comfortable and handles like a dream. I don't ever plan to sell either. one If I had to just keep one, I'd keep BOTH, which I have for 2 years now. The Vstrom 650XT weighs 476 wet and I cannot pick it up (I'm 74), so I don't ride alone in remote areas with little traffic/help. (I also have a Husaberg FE390, full on enduro bike (now street legal) for serious off road trails.) If I did have a Honda CBX500, I'd probably be quite happy with that, given all the good reviews and its 40 lbs lighter than the Vstrom 650 (but weight is a good thing in bad winds). GREAT video, Spydie - two great bikes and a good evaluation of each. Thanks loads. - StromGeezer near Durango, CO.

[@spydie]

Thanks for your kind words my old friend. I looked at the V-strom 650 but couldn't find one and the extra money and extra weight ruled it out. The CB500X is $2000 more than the Versys 300X and the V-strom is another $2000 on top of that so that made it a pretty expensive bike. I hear that V engine is going away this fall and it will be a parallel twin like all the other bikes. I wonder if they will still call it a V-strom? Right now my favorite bike is my new XR150. The saddle is actually more comfortable on long rides than any of my other bikes.

[@fluxcapacitor2023]

Best comparison, no bs, between the two. Thanks.

[@spydie]

thanks for your support.

[@stevewzorn]

Good review on both bikes. Honest review without being pretentious.

[@spydie]

Thanks for your kind words, Steve.

[@thenexthobby]

Interesting comparison, thanks. Everything is on a spectrum of compromises, as usual. I’m heavier than you and am interested in some highway riding and would likely prefer the Honda. I’m 57 but just started riding last summer occasionally. Picked up a mint ‘82 CM200T to putt around town on.

[@shawk904]

Excellent job!!

[@p305-mrworldwide9]

Hat off to you sir the best review going and your knowledge of bikes is bang on I was stuck between these two bikes I wanted the kwaka but ended up buying the Honda

[@spydie]

Thank you for your kind words. I still have the Versys because it really is a nice bike and hard to part with, but I know I'll be selling it probably later this year. The Honda is a dream on the highway. I just picked up a new Honda XR150L because it's old school (carb, drum brakes analog gauges, speedometer driven off a cable on the front wheel, etc) and it's the cheapest bike you can buy at $2971 msrp. I'm having a blast on that now. It's number 65.

[@p305-mrworldwide9]

@@spydie I have a Honda varadero 125 touring bike what I don't want to part with and I have put near 60,000 miles on it in 7 years bought it from brand new but was looking for more power as a fun bike but a practical bike for touring and a all round bike so the CB 500 x was the answer and bought a 2021 model in white

[@spydie]

@@p305-mrworldwide9 I love white. I wish we could have gotten that color in the US. I never heard of the Varadero. there are so many bikes we don't get in the US that the rest of the world gets.

[@simob7862]

Thanks for this information very helpful. I replaced the entire exhaust system on the Kawasaki, and got a far bit of bit put on when I got it. Mine in a 2024 and my 2nd. I do a lot of off road and touring and for the money the Kawasaki just wins by a fraction and I can change it out every few years. I also use a Dunlop 50/50 and it helps a lot. The Honda is way more expensive here 10K AUD.

[@spydie]

Yes, it's about $3000 more than the 300 here in the US. I bought a used one and had to pay the price of a new one because there weren't any other used ones nor new ones available. There are things I like about both of them and things I dislike about both of them. I'm thinking about a Triumph 400X scrambler next.

[@normandegeorge6526]

Love your shop. I just got a CBX500. It was hard to find, it is new and I only have 300 miles on it. I like it so far no long trips yet. I am 5’5” and I have to tiptoe both feet, however once I get going it fits very good. I also have a 2002 Goldwing I have put over 100,000 miles on. I like your presentation. I would like to know if you plan on putting crash bars on the CB500X if so what kind. They range in price from $200 to $1000.

[@CB500Xoo7]

I put the oem one Honda calls a “light bar”. Considering the cost associated with a drop it’s well worth it. Was around 235 or so for it.

[@hiramw]

Thanks for the comparison. I haven’t ridden either of those bikes. I am extremely familiar with the V-Strom 650. I have a 2012 V-Strom 650. I bought it new 2013 and now it has 106k miles on it. It has been extremely reliable and I would not hesitate to recommend the 2012 to 2016 design of the bike along with other model years. I adjusted my valves myself at around 84k miles. I should have done it sooner, but no harm done.

[@spydie]

That's good to know. I found my first V-strom 650 what actually needed the valves adjusted! Everyone else says it's a waste of time. How far were they out of adjustment? Too tight or too loose? My newest bike that's on order is the newly released Honda XR150. Just released in the US in April and sold out overnight, so I paid a deposit to get one in the July shipment.

[@hiramw]

@@spydie All of the exhaust valves were too tight. I moved them to the center of the in spec range. Two of the intake valves were right at the minimum and I move those to the middle. The remaining two intake valves were in spec. The new Honda looks like fun. I hope you have many, many safe and fun rides on all of your bikes.

[@spydie]

@@hiramw Thank you for all your kind words. Lon

[@paulelden1051]

@@spydie I owned a 2012 V-Strom for over 70,000 miles, from new. Yes, they DO need their valves checked and adjusted. Exhaust valves can get tight, and I had to re-shim some of mine twice during that time. Not only that, the work is much harder in my opinion, because you have two separate cylinder heads to work on. That rear cylinder was a pain in the rump to get to and work on. (Not to mention the level of disassembly required with all those body panels, gas tank, etc.) I'll take a parallel-twin any day! And I think a lot of mechanics will tell you not to worry about it, because they don't want to put in the work. The way those guys get reimbursed for such a job, unless you're very good and experienced at it, you're not making enough money for it to be worth it. I copied this from the V-Strom section on AdvRider: "Beware the 'Yes but the valves hardly ever move so you don't need to worry' line of hogshyte you may hear. ADVrider axiom #6 is this: the more difficult it is to check or adjust valves, the more you will hear the owner profess the fact they do not need to be checked or adjusted. This allows them to feel good about not checking or adjusting valves. Mine did need adjustment once in the 36,000 miles I owned it...." As to my Versys-X 300, I had to re-shim an exhaust valve at the very first check. I now have 24,000 miles on my 2020 that I bought new in 2021. On the second check, the exhaust valves had tightened again but were still in spec. I expect I'll need to re-shim on the next valve check.

[@spydie]

@@paulelden1051 I sure hate to hear that! I doubt mine will ever get adjusted in either bike. Too much work and too expensive to hire it done. A friend of mine (did I mention it in the video?) paid $1200 for the labor to check the valves on his Concours at 15000 miles and they didn't need any adjustment. I guess the solution is to trade them off at about 30,000-40,000 and let it be someone else's problem. But I've never kept a bike long enough to put that many miles on it anyway.

[@harrymarsh8477]

Wow, I LOVE the way you've set up the Versys... I'd buy it from you with all those nice mods that I'll probably have to do myself if I get the 300! It's a toss up between the Versys-X 300 and BMW G 310 GS right now... Great dual review. You didn't mention knee angle for each bike, I'm 6'2 and can't take severely-bent knees for long at all (one Honda I rode 3 years ago I LOVED except my knees were bent WAY too much, I had to say no to a wonderful machine. Now I'm riding a Triumph Tiger 800 Xca and want something smaller/lighter...

[@spydie]

You brought up a good point. The one thing I don't like about the 500 is the knee angle. And because of that I've decided to keep the 300 also. The 500 has more power, a much better ride and much better mpg, but the 300 is more fun to ride and it fits me better. I'd recommend staying away from the BMW 310 GS. I have a chart which I can't post here in comments (I wish KZbin would allow the ability for attachments in replies) which shows the really poor power of the 310 compared to the Versys. I had a friend that had one for his wife and they got rid of it right away because it was so underpowered. And since I've already complained about the lack of power the Versys 300 has, I'm sure you won't like the 310GS. The 300X is underpowered under certain conditions (riding on hilly road into a headwind with saddle bags). The WOT drops to 54 mph and the mpg drops to 46. But on a reasonably calm day on flat roads it will go as fast as you want it too if you don't have large saddlebags that catch a lot of wind.

[@harrymarsh8477]

@spydie Since I have long legs, I'll avoid the 500X, take your advice and get the 300X, which actually will run similarly to my Triumph Tiger 800. I have, however, heard nothing but good things about the way the 310GS runs except it is not a genuine BMW engine, possible reliability issues (even with the good BMW warranty) and some have found all the body attachment screws stripped... Again, your 300X setup is really nice... It'd be great to have a list of the sources for your add-ons!

[@spydie]

@@harrymarsh8477 I think I have a video showing all the accessories. Check that for a list first. Other than that, the crash bar is T-rex, so is the skid plate. Everything else came from Amazon (thermometer, windshield mount, windshield, GPS mount, TPMS, Grip Puppies, KLR tail bag, Nelson Rigg saddle bags (yellow is no longer available), Home-made pannier mounts and home-made tail bag mount/rack). The Barkbusters came from Revzilla.

[@ailtonjunior5889]

Gostei de sua análise, falo aqui do Brasil, comprei uma Versys X300 2023 há 60 dias e estou gostando muito da motocicleta. Tenho 1,70 e 71kg e 51 anos de idade, preferi iniciar na Versys para depois ir para uma motocicleta de maior cilindrada.

[@spydie]

espero que você goste. eles são uma bela motocicleta

[@everaldoalmeida4924]

e para nós, no Braisl, é a melhor moto na relação custo beneficio. estou pesquisando bastante e nao vejo nenhuma outra opção dentro da categoria, até 500 que seja mais interessante, pelo valor é beneficios.

[@spydie]

Estoy seguro de que estarás contento con los 500 que elijas

[@GLHS592]

Nice review. I have a Versys-x 300 and I love it. I feel like it offers a lot for the money. I'd contend that it is the best small adventure bike when considering cost. It has some vibration at times and it is a high winder. I am just now starting to get used to the high revs. I am getting nearly 70 mpg out of it. I don't spend a lot of time on 55 mph or higher roads. Overall, it is a great bike. i see the Honda CB500X as an upgraded Versys-x 300. In fact, both bikes are great looking and look as if they are built by the same manufacturer. The Honda looks like a great bike that doesn't have some of the issues the Versys-x has. I kinda want one, but I don't know if I should look at a Transalp or Africa Twin instead. I rode a friend's Africa Twin and that bike is amazing.

[@spydie]

It all depends on how much power you "need" and how weight you are willing to throw around or lift when you drop it. But if all you do is ride the roads, the chance of dropping it diminishes greatly (but it still happens...I dropped my CBX and broke the clutch lever the other day when the kickstand didn't deploy all the way and I couldn't even lift with my DirtNapper because the peg on the up-side is too far to the rear and it just lifts the rear end and won't stand up the bike. I had to get help from a passerby). I never get over about 60-62 with my Versys X but I'm getting 78-80 mpg with the CBX at the same speeds. Out here I have to drive 70 mph on the secondary roads and 80 on the interstates to get to the slower twisties in the mountains so that kills my mpg also. Today I rode 218 miles on it at 80 mpg. It costs me about 3.7 cents a mile. I used 2.4 gallons which would give me a useful range of 300 miles with 1 gallon left, or enough for 80 more miles before empty. I can't get that with the Versys nor the Moto Guzzi (but I get better mpg with the Guzzi 850cc than I do with the Versys 300cc). The 500 is not a powerhouse by any means, but it does get up to speed a lot faster and gets a lot better mpg, and it rides a whole lot better. At the speeds you drive, you'd probably get about 85 mpg. Everyone wants Kawasaki to put the Ninja 400 engine in the Versys, but I can tell you that won't be enough. After having a 500 I consider that the minimum. I think the ideal size is the 650cc (like the Suzuki V-strom), but with each jump (300-500-650) each bike goes up $2000 and the weight increases about 35-50 lbs so the 650s are really too heavy for me.

[@GLHS592]

@@spydie Yeah, the AT is a heavy bike. They're pricey too. I'm going to check out the Transalp when they start showing up at dealers. The V-Strom 650 looks like it would be a great 2nd bike for me, but they shouldn't cost as much especially considering the pricing of the competition. Your Honda CB500X might be the sweet spot for ADV bikes. I know people complain about the cast wheels, but I'm probably not going to be doing anything to break them. The roughest stuff I ride are the local chert roads with washouts and a few rocks here and there. I do love my V-x 300, but I'd like to have a little more power and less rpms. The CB500X might be the answer and if it gets better mpg, then that's a little icing on the cake. As far as the Ninja 400 in a Versys goes, I think a similar bike already exists. It's called the Honda CB500X and it's probably better than a 400 in a Versys.

[@spydie]

@@GLHS592 I'm glad you brought up the cast wheels. No one else has mentioned that yet. Complaining about cast wheels on an adventure bike has pretty much stopped as we've found out they are as tough as spoke wheels. One guy here on KZbin has an adventure business where he ships his bikes all over the world to do paid-tours on them. He has a lot of CB500X in the stable and says they have NEVER had a wheel break even though his customers have put them through some very tough terrain. And a tubeless tire is a lot less work to fix than a tube tire. You can get bikes, like the V-strom, with spoke-wheel/tubeless tires but they are more rare as standard cast rims are starting to replace spoke wheels on a lot of adventure bikes and I suspect they will also on off-road bikes eventually. They are a lot tougher than most people realize and a hell of a lot easier to keep clean. I really hate cleaning all those spokes.

[@spydie]

@@FreddyMuldoonRides 300cc is not a power rush! LOL (it's all NOISE. Sounds like it's going fast, but it's not). With saddle bags (big drag), on hilly interstate I-25 and going into a headwind it tops out at 54 mph and 46 mpg. Compared to the CB500X it's a gas hog and WAY underpowered in those conditions. The suspension and seat are awful for long rides and rough roads compared to the CBX. Other than that, it's a good bike and I decided to keep it just for some fun riding back and forth to town. But I'd never call it my do-everything-ride-forever bike. It's a nice bike but lacks the refinements and power of just slightly larger bikes. And if Kawasaki ever puts the 400cc engine in it, it won't help it a bit. I know a guy that bought a Ninja 400 engine and adapter and installed it and said it was a big waste of money.

[@govinda102000]

@@FreddyMuldoonRides Same. At 58 I bought the 2020 and no problems since. 5'8" also. I changed the front sprocket to 15t as soon as I got delivery so I could break it in sooner and easier. A great commuter bike as the highways get pretty conjested here in SW Conn.

[@juanpablogonzalezs.v.8319]

That waseally good review

[@richardhretczak536]

First of all thanks for your honest review on these 2 bikes. Because of your personal experience and knowing that you kept Versys 300 I would like to ask for your opinion and advice. Short introduction - I used to ride V Stroms 650. In fact I’ve had 11 of them in 8 years or so. On my last (2017XT) even managed to brake my personal record (42000km or about 27000miles in one year). And used to take them of road but at some point I decided to try Yamaha FJ09. Right now on Tracer 900GT which is great bike but not the same as V Strom when it comes to going off road. So I started to look for second bike. Something that is better for this purpose. Something lighter and with 19” front wheel. Versys 300 checks more or less all boxes but I’m also considering CB500X. Right now I’m looking at 2022 Versys 300X (in fact exactly as yours) with 16000km (10000miles) fully serviced including first valve adjustment, that comes with tall windscreen with extension (original as well) engine guards, rear top case rack and 33l top case , tall Kawasaki seat as well as OEM customized to tall seat. Honda CB500X is a 2019 with 11000km (7000 miles) completely stock. Both bikes are in the same price range of 5000 CAD 3500-3600 USD). In your opinion which one represents better value and why? Keep in mind that I already have a long distance bike and second one I would only use in the city and some backeroads to get me to gravel, fire roads and off road. Your input will be highly appreciated.

[@spydie]

For what you described as your usage, I'd say get the Kawasaki. The Honda 500 is about 38 pounds heavier and it's very noticeable. It's more of a road bike for longer distances in more comfort. The 300X is not as pleasurable on long rides but it's a lot of fun to ride and it's a lot easier to ride off-road because of the lighter weight, and it actually fits me better than the Honda.

[@knightpunk8385]

Try the rally raid sat nav holder it has a 12mm clamp , ideal for the narrow windscreen bar 👍

[@spydie]

I upgraded the bar to a standard 7/8" size. When I get my pannier mounts I'm going to do a video of all my accessories.

[@knightpunk8385]

Great look forward to seeing that. Keep up the good work !

[@trekOCLVone]

I use the Honda Pro Molly lube on my X300. It's goes on white, and you can see any missed links. I clean the chain with WD 40 then use the Honday Pro Molly after about every three rides which is easy as not much work involved. The chain and sprockets will last a long time. I'm at 7,500 miles on my X300 and the chain and sprockets look and function like new. I did put a 15-tooth rubber bumpered front sprocket on my X300 as the stock 14-tooth is just too low of gearing in my opinion.

[@spydie]

I use the Honda pro-moly also, but it's not as white and thick as the factory coating on the chain. I wish we could buy some of that factory stuff.

[@BillySBC]

A very very in-depth informative review of these bikes by an adult owner, probably the best on KZbin, thanks for posting it. The one thing on the Honda that I think I would try to address in some way is the front coolant hose, it is just hanging out in the front ready to be cut by something, maybe a stick or a branch on the trail or something, in which case you're going to lose all your coolant and be stuck someplace. I think I would fashion some sort of metal shield in front of it to take an impact. Great video. Thank you.

[@spydie]

Thank you for the kind words. And you're right. Honda did live that hose semi-exposed (it's guarded on two sides but a stick at just the right angle could pierce it). However, in all fairness, I don't know anyone that's doing hard off-road riding with a bike this big that wasn't really designed for that (but I'm sure somebody has to prove me wrong). My on/off-road bike is my new Honda XR150L... air-cooled, no hoses! LOL. Video review coming soon.

[@samdog1096]

That's why I bought the Honda cb500x. Fuel consumption and the fairly accurate gas gauge. If they can get that right im sure the rest of the bike is really well built. My previous Honda cb300r was super accurate to in that department as well Nice review

[@spydie]

Thanks for your support. What I really like is the speedometer is right on the money. It's the only bike I own with an accurate speedo.

[@bondradman7353]

Thanks for the video. In 2020 I almost bought a new 2018 Versys 300, partly because the dealer was offering a great deal. I didn't go ahead in the end owing to the tubed tyres, as I was riding into remote areas. I bought the CB500X and am very happy with it. Interesting about the chain, mine came fitted with a DID (and RK sprockets!) and began to get tight links at about 16000kms, 10000miles, despite being well lubed and tensioned. DID don't list the chain model on their website, so maybe they made a "cheap" batch for Honda? I normally get at least 40000kms,25000miles on my bikes before the chain/sprockets show significant wear. Apart from that, great bike.

[@spydie]

I did finally decide to keep the Versys and if I sell either bike it will be the Honda. The CB gets better mpg, has a more comfortable saddle and nicer suspension and has a lot more power, but I don't like the position of the pegs (too far back) and it doesn't fit me as well as the Versys. The Versys, in my opinion, is just more fun to ride so I seldom ride the Honda. It's a great bike, but I like the Kawasaki more.

[@bondradman7353]

@@spydie I didn't test ride the Versys, but it seems to be a nice bike. So many bikes to choose from now, we are spoilt for choice! Thanks for your reply.

[@SB-fe4gt]

@Spydie...do you still have both the CB500X and the Versys X 300 and if yes, what are your plans at this point? Thanks to your reviews and the fact that I am a weight weenie (I like lightweight bikes), I went with a '22 Versys 300 instead of the CB500X. After riding the Versys for a little while, I think I made the right choice for me but the 500X would be better if I was only going to ride on paved roads. A couple ideas for the future...A. Consider a Honda CRF300L for a lightweight bike and I'd add a Bajaworx windscreen if you feel like you need more wind protection. B. I saw you got a XR150L Honda...if you come across a decent deal on a 2008-2009 CRF230L Honda I like it better than the 150...the CRF230L is carbureted and air cooled so super simple and has 18/21 wheels like your old XL125 Honda plus the 230L (~268 lbs full of gas) is actually lighter than the XR150L (282 lbs). Only problem is the CRF230L was only brought to the US in '08 and '09 and it is getting hard to find a good one. The CRF230F is a different animal and does not come street legal from the factory. If you haven't bought the Shinko 804/805 tires yet, consider the Bridgestone AX41 Adventure tires. This video is a pretty good review of 80/20 and 50/50 tires with ratings at the very end "2020 Adventure Tire Shootout by ChapMoto.com"...it was done by Kyle Bradshaw back when he worked for ChapMoto.

[@spydie]

Yes, I still have both. My plans were to sell the 300 but I couldn't do it. I actually like riding it more than the 500, although the 500 has more power, better ride and better mpg. The 300 is just more fun to ride, more nimble and lightweight. And it fits me better because the 500 has my knees bent more. I too like lightweight bikes and that's why the Monkey and the XR150 are my two favorite bikes. The CRF300L is way too tall for my 32" inseam. A 2008-2009 Honda CRF230L is getting too old and finding one with low miles and in good shape would be hard to find. And in a lot of states you can't convert an off-road bike to a street bike and obtain a title and license for it. I'm not sure how hard it would be in NM, but I don't want to screw around with that particular problem. Off-road-only bikes are always lighter. I will not be updating the tires on the 300X for awhile yet, and when I do, I hope to find a decent street tire because they last longer and I don't do any off-road riding with the 300 or 500. I do all that on the XR150L. I did get a new rear tire for the 500 and I bought a Michelin Road 5 which is a 12,000-14,000 mile tire. The factory tire was wore out in 4500 miles.

[@alant779]

Thanks for the review! I'm still leaning towards the Versys-X. The reduced power is probably a good thing as my first bike, but I'll probably invest less trying to upgrade it. Since I'm a new rider, it'd probably take me a lot longer to run it through its paces. If or when I get tired of it tho, I'd probably consider the CBX too! I hope there are some 400cc adventure bikes on the market by then, that'd be cool. Speaking of, have you seen z400 adv conversions? You seem like you have the setup and expertise to do something like that. What are your thoughts on them?

[@spydie]

There's always a chance the Versys X will go to a 400 Ninja engine in a few years but there's no hint of that yet. It would take a completely new redesign of the frame to accommodate the Ninja 400 engine. I don't think updating to the 400 is the answer. 100cc is a very small update. After having a 300 and a 500 I can see the 500 is the minimum you could update and still make a noticeable difference. The 500 is not a 650 powerhouse. But it's a nice gentle update. I have not seen the z400 conversions and I'm not sure going to a 400 will be enough of an improvement to warrant spending a lot of money to make an adventure bike out of it.

[@spydie]

I've been reading up on the Z400 and Z650. The Z400 is in the same price range as the Versys X 300. The Z650 isn't much more than the Honda CB500X. The problem I've found with naked bikes is there's no way to actually combat the wind in the face. They don't have much of a fairing and no real windshield, and it's difficult to add taller windshields to a naked bike. Not impossible, but more difficult than a bike that comes with a windshield and has a dedicated windshield mount. I believe they are both running a high-rpm ninja engine so you still have to live with the sounds of a high-revving engine all the time (and that's getting quite tiresome on my Versys X). The lower RPMs of the CBX makes the engine inaudible at road speeds (the tires make more noise than the engine). I like the analog tach on the Z400. I wish the CBX had that (like my Versys X does). I'm sure the Z-bikes are good bikes and with their low seat height they'll fit almost any size rider, but I still like the CBX and Versys X adventure-bike looks better and it's easier to outfit it for adventure use. But it's possible to dress up almost any bike for limited off-road work and call it an adventure bike. Hell, all bikes are adventure bikes, right? We have our adventures on all of them. I like the Z900 but it looks more like a naked retro bike. But I'll bet that 4 cylinder engine is smooth as glass. But again, it's a city bike and has no fairing or any comforts for highway riding. After owning a couple naked bikes (Moto Guzzi V7 and Kawasaki W800), then outfitting them with bolt-on windscreens and saddlebags/panniers I swore I'd never buy another naked bike. The windscreens don't block the wind like they do when they are part of a front fairing (aerodynamics).

[@alant779]

@@spydie A follow up. I didn't expect to pass the road test and get a bike so quickly, but I bought a 2014 V-Strom 650 following my MSF instructor's advice. It felt too big and unwieldy at first, but the low end torque is really confidence inspiring - I can lug the bike from 60 to 100km/h in 6th! Though, I didn't feel comfortable riding in the street until I practiced everyday for a couple weeks in the parking lot. Test riding z300 afterwards just to see how it'd feel (they still didn't have any versys 300 in stock), the vibrations are pretty unbearable once I got up to highway speeds. My hands were numb after a 30 min ride, though it was probably poor technique on my part. I think I would've gotten out on the streets earlier if I got a lighter bike, but I can't imagine getting a lower cc one anymore. Except maybe the DRZ400, I can't stop wondering how fun it'd be to do gymkhana stuff on one of those.

[@spydie]

@@alant779 Glad you are enjoying your new bike. If you are a large fellow and not old like me, a 650 is going to be perfect. If you are a lightweight or old, you are going to want something lighter. I got rid of my KLR650 just because of the weight. I have no idea what gymkhana stuff is. I looked up the word but it has nothing to do with motorcycles. Getting a larger/heavier bike for your first bike can be daunting at first. I don't know why he recommended you do that as most instructors want you to start off smaller and lighter until you become proficient. It's much safer and if you have an accident with the heavier one, I've seen guys give up biking because then they are scared of it. But I wish you lots of luck.

[@NCRealEstate]

Great comparison. What is the valve adjustment cost/difficulty difference with the Honda?

[@spydie]

All bikes with shim/bucket valve adjustments are very costly to adjust if you have to pay for it. On my KLR650 it requires removing the camshafts. And these bikes with fairings are more labor intensive to get to the engine so they cost more than say a Honda Monkey. Bikes with the old standard adjustment (lock nut and center adjuster) cost a lot less because any shade-tree mechanic can do them in a few minutes. Getting at the top of the engine on these bikes with fairings (and gas tank removal) takes a lot of time and then changing out the shims can be a real chore, and water cooled bikes are just more costly (time consuming) to work on. On one bike I had, the Kawasaki W-800 retro bike (air cooled), it had shim/bucket but was the easiest I've ever seen. When you take the valve covers off (but first you have to remove the tank which is very time consuming) the tappets are on springs which allows them to slide sideways. then you can lift out the shim with a magnet and after measuring and determining which new shim you need, just drop in the new shim and slide the tappet back in place. Most bikes, after removing all the fairing pieces and then the tank, require removal of the cam chain and usually the camshaft to get at the shims. Some bikes (very few) like my Moto Guzzi where the heads are right out in the open, don't require removal of the tank or any fairing, just pop off the valve covers and adjust the old-style valves. As for the cost, it's all about labor time. I've seen guys pay as much as $1200 just to get the valves checked without the labor of removing the cam chain(s) and cam to get at the shim. On the older style (air cooled bikes) the labor would be maybe a couple hundred dollars, but most guys can do them themselves. Just like cars, the art of doing all your own maintenance is going away on bikes.

[@SB-fe4gt]

@Spydie...when you are riding off road, purely from a suspension perspective which bike works better for you? Curious because they both have between 5"-6" of travel front and rear. Thanks

[@spydie]

I don't do much off-road riding, at least not enough that requires off-road suspension, but just on normally rough blacktop roads in bad condition and gravel roads the CB500X has both the best (softest) suspension and best saddle. But if you are looking for something with a stiffer ride, then the Versys 300X has the stiffest saddle and firmest suspension. The amount of travel isn't nearly as important as how they utilize that 5"-6" of travel. Do you want a stiff ride or a soft ride? The 300X is a lot firmer suspension all the time.

[@SB-fe4gt]

@@spydie Not sure what I want yet. Thanks for the input.

[@alkaholic4848]

17:50 haha exactly, i always say that about mpg indicators. Cars or motorbike. What they should do is have an averaged MPG over the last 30 seconds or something, that could actually be useful. How many seconds would work best i'm not sure, i'd have to experiment with it to see which would be most useful. Might be difficult to imagine but i think that could really work.

[@toprad8396]

I've had my Versys since last fall, a 22 model. It's my first bike and has been good for my initial training and experience on motorcycles, however I've recently become very aware of its shortcomings compared to other bikes. The short gears and high revs are bothersome to me, especially when I'm riding on a highway at 60+. The light weight feels sketchy when I'm passing larger vehicles and getting that wind blast. The seat should be considered a torture device. I wasn't planning on keeping this bike for more than a year or so, so I haven't spent the $$ on a new seat. I spent $40 on Amazon and got a gel seat cover which works, however long rides are, literally, a pain in the butt! The other issues I'm dealing with are the small size of the bike and engine...I'm 6-2 and about 230 lbs, and with wanting to do some BDR travel and moto-camping, carrying a load of camping gear on this little bike along with myself would be problematic in some aspects, although I haven't done any of that yet. I'm currently leaning towards the new Suzuki V-Strom 800 DE for a replacement. I have liked this little bike, but I've outgrown it and am ready for the next one.

[@spydie]

I understand. I have a friend that's 6'2" and she loves her Versys X 300 bike but she's thinking about moving up also. She is a newbie so she is still learning about riding off-road but when she gets a little better she is planning on going all the way up to a Triumph 900 adventure bike. It's awfully heavy so I don't know if someone with limited experience should be getting something like that for off-road work, but it's her decision. I have been really enjoying the jump to the CB500X and at age 72 and 130 pounds I probably won't go any heavier. In fact, I've already ordered another bike for my stable. The Honda XR150 which Honda just released in the US in April and everyone sold out right away. It reminds me of my old 1975 Honda XL125 which I loved and the XR is old school with analog speedo, trip odo, carb and fuel pet-cock, drum rear brake, all incandescent lighting and $2971 (cheapest bike you can buy, I think... even the Grom and Monkey cost more than that). I have been looking at the KTMs but the 390 weighs 30 pounds more than the 690 Enduro, but the 690 is not really an adventure bike because it has no windshield or fairing. It's more of a naked enduro bike. And the 890 weighs 90 pounds more and costs another $1000 over the 690 (or $3000 more if you get the Adventure R version). Also the 390 is made in India and I'd never own another bike made in India. The workmanship is terrible. I am looking at the Triumphs too, but they are pretty expensive. I just sold my 2021 Moto Guzzi V7 Stone as I'm tired of naked bikes and I might consider another MG with a fairing and windshield if I can afford one.

[@jimh2061]

I bought a used Versys 300 because I got a pretty good deal. It's my first bike at age 60 and Ive put 2k miles on it. I'm going to keep it til the end of the year and than I'm going to be looking to upgrade. My experience and ability are growing and I really want a full size bike that can manage highways, back roads and gravel. Can't decide between the vstrom 650 or 800 de. I sat that 800 and it doesn't feel much heavier than my Versys. The weight is down low and has a great suspension on it with ergonomics. Oh well the decisions are always tough. I did sit on a cb500x and I think the fit and finish is excellent but it is a small bike and ergonomics were just ok for me.

[@spydie]

@@jimh2061 I only weigh 130 lbs and am 72 years old. The 500X is the heaviest bike I'd like to ride now. It is twice the bike the 300X is, much more comfortable and smooth, but I can't pick it up if I drop it. I bought a Honda XR150L for my off-road riding, which I really don't do much of, and the Versys X and CBX are really too heavy for me to be doing any real off-road riding beyond gravel roads and forest roads.

[@jimh2061]

@@spydie I hear what your saying about weight. When I bought the Versys my intention was to do some light off road maybe jeep trails but limited experience and the weight told me I'm too old to be practicing and falling all the time. Yes I can pick the Versys up but I wouldn't want to risk picking up a heavier bike. I was trying to stay away from 500lb bikes but since I will pretty much be road riding maybe gravel too I'm just going to buy the moto winch. The thing about riding is after while you can get fatigued and it's not worth hurting your back trying to pick up a bike in that condition. That's the other reason I'm just going to get the moto winch. And just buy the bigger bike.

[@spydie]

@@jimh2061 I use the DirtNapper. I have a video on here picking up my Himalayan with that you should watch. It's a good tool.

[@mikefilarski97]

First of all you comparison of the two bikes is excellent. I am considering buying the 300x and have read on a number of forums that the 15 t sproket greatly reduces the revs. Did you consider doiing the sproket change on your 300x and if not what made you decide not to. ? Your comparison has given me a renewed interest in the CB500x, since you are an experiienced rider and thoughtful and targeted in the comparison.

[@spydie]

Yes, you can reduce the revs on the 300, but you won't like it. That engine is designed as a high-revving racing engine. It's already underpowered under certain conditions. Gearing it up will make it worse. For instance, going into a 20-30 mph headwind on a hilly interstate with saddle bags the top speed is only 54 mph. And gas mileage drops to 46 mpg (at the pump, not built-in computer which is off by 11 mpg). If you gear it up, it will struggle more on the hills and going into the wind, not to mention the time it takes to get to cruising speed. Trust me. 55 years of riding and experimenting on 65 motorcycles gives me a little insight. The 300 is best ridden without saddle bags and on 55 mph roads. On flat roads with no wind and no saddle bags and no Barkbusters causing more drag and no tall windshield (like most of us put on the bikes to keep the bugs off our face shield and reduce helmet buffeting) the bike will do pretty close to 100 mph, and 85 is a good cruising speed on the interstate, until you start adding drag, hills, and headwind. On the other hand, the CB500X runs at a lower RPM (because it's designed to) and it has a lot more power. Headwinds, saddlebags and hills don't affect it. On top of that it gets 20-30% better mpg and it rides like a Cadillac compared to the Versys (better suspension and saddle), but at the cost of 44 pounds more weight and $2000 more cost. And if you have ANOTHER $2000 to play with and don't mind a bike that's even more heavy, the Suzuki V-strom 650 is an even better bike according to everything I've read, but I've never owned one. So your decision all depends on what you expect and what you want to do. If you want to go on 200-400 mile rides and a lot of that time is spent on the interstate at high speeds, you're gonna want the Honda. If you want to do 100 mile cruises and you want a lighter and less expensive bike, the Kawasaki is a better match, especially if you live where a lot of the roads are not too hilly and the speed limit is 55mph. I didn't end up selling the Versys as I was going to because I actually jump on that one more for my short rides in the country than on my Honda. I like the lighter feel and handling and I love the sound of the Ninja engine (which sounds like you are really going fast, but you aren't). That engine was designed for bikes that you are laid-down on, breaking the wind with no drag. It was never really designed for a bike you sit up on with a big windshield and Barkbusters with all that your upright body creating so much drag that it robs the performance.

[@mikefilarski97]

Thanks for taking the time to give me a very detailed response to my question. Looking forward to following you on your adventures. I'm 75 years old and inspired by what you do.

[@metaldreams3595]

Very good video comparison. Some people just do a better job going through stuff we actually want to know.

[@spydie]

Awwww, you're too kind! LOL. Thank you

[@SB-fe4gt]

@Spydie...which one is better off road in your opinion? I can't get the video to work right now. Thanks

[@spydie]

The video is working fine. I'm guessing it's your internet connection. Off-road the lighter bike, the Kawasaki is probably going to be better. It's more nimble and lighter, but it might lack power depending on the situation and what you're actually trying to do with it. If you are just going to ride trails and forest roads, the bigger CB500X will have a better ride and more power, but it also depends on how large you are. If you are 6' and weigh 180 lbs you are going to want the bigger bike. The 300 works best for lighter people like me at 5' 10" and 130 pounds. I know a lot more people that are using the 300 for serious off-roading like on the TAT. I don't know anyone using the 500 for serious off-roading, but I'm sure there are some.

[@SB-fe4gt]

thank you

[@teucer4]

Excellent video in general.

[@spydie]

Thank you for your kind words and support.

[@mmmarv]

Thank you Dr McGill for confirming what I thought all along.

[@spydie]

Who is Dr McGill and what are you talking about?

[@regorschneid5245]

I'm with you about doing valve checks. :)

[@spydie]

When adjusting mechanical lifters on an air-cooled engine, I often have to adjust them a little. But water cooled engines don't seem to ever be out of adjustment for some reason.

[@johnconwell6357]

I noticed the Can-Am Ryker (I believe) in the background. How do you like it. I know it’s a completely different machine but just curious your opinion on it and, it if it makes any sense, how it compares to the other 2 bikes and how you use it. Thanks and enjoyed the video very much.

[@spydie]

The Can-Am Ryker is my wife's trike. I haven't ridden it much but it's not as nice as the Can-Am Spyder I had the second year they launched them. I think that was about 2008. But it had a lot of problems so I got rid of it. We've been told they've really improved since then, but the Ryker doesn't have power steering and it rides rougher than the Spyder, so I don't really like it.

[@CCc-ve2yj]

I like the seat on the versys but i had an r6s before and im 190 so

[@xd1700]

I agree the opinion on honda horn

[@takashichacon3510]

go with what you love. just remember the bigger you go its harder to do adventure style of riding. depending on what you like to do

[@spydie]

Yes, that's always the problem. The more road-comfortable the bike, the heavier it is. But I find that I do mostly road riding and adventure bikes in general are very comfortable for long distance for me. I just sold my Moto Guzzi V7 Stone and I've decided I'll never buy another naked bike. They are OK for riding back and forth to town or around town, but as highway bikes go, they need a windshield. But I get so much buffeting behind the windshields. You really need a bike with a fairing for road riding. The Guzzi was a great bike but not good in the wind with all the buffeting regardless how many windshields I tried on it. I might get a Guzzi with a fairing on it if I get another one, but I also won't buy another bike without a fuel gauge. In this day and age every bike should have a fuel gauge. Even my Honda Monkey has one!

[@KF1]

for the mpg, may I ask what grade of fuel you are using?

[@spydie]

I never use anything but the lowest grade, unleaded with 10% ethanol. My Moto Guzzi and Vespa required premium unleaded, but everything else is factory rated for regular fuel.

[@AK-gg2yk]

Great comparison! What type of TPMS you have?

[@spydie]

Nothing special. Just some cheap Chinese one on Amazon, there are lots to choose from there.

[@MagicCarpetRide8669]

Love the video sir thank you. I'm most surprised at the difference in fuel efficiency. 75-80mpg sounds great. I wonder if it can do that at highway speeds?

[@spydie]

Depending on what you call highway speeds. Here a lot of our roads are 55 mph so 78 mph is not uncommon. But on the 75 mph roads it will drop to 62-68 mpg, while the Versys X will drop from the low 60s down into the upper 40s mpg at that higher speed.

[@MagicCarpetRide8669]

@@spydie I wonder if different sprockets on the Versys could make it perform better at highway speed in terms of MPG and also vibration. Thanks for your insight

[@spydie]

@@MagicCarpetRide8669 No, it's a compromise. If you gear it up so it runs at lower rpm then it will lose more power in the hills and it's already underpowered (that's why I bought the 500). I ran into a 30 mph headwind and on a hilly stretch of interstate and wide open throttle only produced 56 mph. Gearing it up would make it worse. If you gear it down for more power, then it runs higher rpm and more vibration and really sucks the mpg. Trying to second-guess the professionals (Kawasaki engineers) if quite futile.

[@johnherian781]

​@kevinmcgillick2029 On my versey 300 with 1200 miles. I get an average of 56.25 mph driving 50% hi-way and town. With a 15 tooth sprocket it is 7000 rpm at 65 mph.

[@spydie]

@@johnherian781 Do you mean 56.25 MPG? I get a little better than that running the stock front sprocket, whatever that is. I get in the low 60s all the time with combination riding town and country, but mostly in the country. Just pass through town to get to the country roads.

[@basedpatriotLT]

Which would be best to do cross country trip in Spain or Italy?

[@spydie]

Cross-country by road or off-road? There's a lot of variables to consider. For instance, if you are going cross-country off-road, and you weigh 125 lbs, I recommend the Versys. If you weigh 160-180 pounds you'll like the heavier CB500 better. Either bike is easy to get repairs in a foreign country because both are sold worldwide and Honda and Kawasaki and Yamaha and Suzuki are very easy to get worked on anywhere in the world. There's very few pannier mounts available for the CB500X. Lots more for the Versys X. The Honda will get better mpg, give you more power and ride better, but the extra weight might be detrimental if you are a lightweight and plan on going off-road. The Versys fits me better, but it's terribly underpowered and that's before you load it up with cross-country gear. However, on the highways around where I live, I still like riding the Versys more. It just fits me better and is more fun.

[@davidmatthews3093]

I’ve never had an issue with the indicators and horn on my Honda.

[@philipfreeman72]

Good comparison , I was considering the 300 but the 500 is better .

[@spydie]

In many ways the 500 is better. Quieter engine on the highway, deeper sounding/more throaty engine going through the gears, better mpg, much better suspension and saddle. The only cons are it's not as comfortable seating position as the 300 (legs are bent back further making it feel more cramped (I'm only 5' 10" with 32" inseam)) and it's quit a bit heavier. However, I decided to keep the 300 also because it's more fun to ride, lighter/more nimble, the engine sound is fun going through the gears (like a Ninja race bike) and it fits me better. I actually enjoy riding it more than the 500 on shorter trips.

[@davidmatthews3093]

I would have thought a $2000 dollar saving on a 2022 CB500X was more than a good deal especially as new ones are hard to find. Why do you think that you paid too much?

[@spydie]

because I paid new price (minus setup fees). If I could have found a new one, it would have the same MSRP as I paid for a used one, that's why!

[@jonasylaballena]

Can I ask what windshield mount you put on the Versys?

[@spydie]

Sorry, I can't help you.. I thought I ordered it on Amazon or Ebay, but after looking through my past orders on both, I can't find it anywhere.

[@jonasylaballena]

@@spydie No worries at all, thanks for looking!

[@tordamsleth7460]

Your gps bar is 11mm and fits both garmin and tomtom gps, probably others also.🙂 Ps look up Madstad engineering they have an adjustable windscreen for your bike.

[@LarryJones-ts3ho]

I have a 2022 versys 300x with the same colors as yours, your right about the speedometer mine is 3 miles faster (63 is really 60) I changed the rear sprocket to lower the RPMs but it didn't change the miles per hour one bit (strange) at 70 mph very slight buzz in grips and even with a performance muffler and a full-face helmet hardly any noise. The seat is OK I've road for 3 hours without stopping, I've road bikes with a lot harder seats and some with softer but I'm 180lbs that could be the difference. According to my GPS I'm getting around 65 MPGs.

[@spydie]

You're right. Changing the gearing on new bikes has always changed the speedometer on every bike I've had in the last several years. I don't know why it didn't change the speedometer on your bike. I would never gear the Versys down to lower the RPMs because it's already underpowered, but if you live on flat roads and no heavy headwinds you might not notice it. Out here in NM if I get into hilly roads like interstate 25 and going into 30 mph headwinds with saddlebags my top speed WOT is in the mid 50s mph and fuel mileage drops into the mid 40s mpg. I've ridden for four hours but I have to say it almost the hardest seat I've owned, the Honda CT125 being the very worst. I get anywhere from 62 mpg to 67 depending on if I'm slowly riding backroads or doing 65 mph on the highway. My Honda CB500X gets mostly in the upper 70s. It has a lot more power, much better suspension and saddle for a better ride and much better mpg. But the Versys fits me better and I decided to keep it as I like riding it more than the Honda.

[@SB-fe4gt]

How do the gas mileage and the range compare? Thanks

[@spydie]

I believe I talked about that in the video. 300x about 62 mpg, CB500 about 78 mpg. Range on most road bikes is about the same at 250 miles.

[@shironeko8971]

Sorry I am quite late. But I’m also considering these two options! I’m relatively new to adventure riding and living in Vietnam. I had experience riding on WR155R and figured out that what I want isn’t hard core enduro, but trails and exploration. So, I’m looking into 2 options and want your opinion on which one to get, given that I have never ride an adventure bike. For more context, VietNam doesn’t have a high speed limit. I’m mostly riding at 80km/h on long trips and not planning to do much more than 100km/h. So, both of these bike should easily cruise for my need. Furthermore, I can only afford either a cb500x with 10,000km or more with my budget (not that I really doubt Honda’s reliability). From my research, I’ve gathered that cb500x is better than the versys on almost every aspect (torque, comfort, riding experience) except for “fun reving” and weight. However, given my context, do I really need those advantages or the versys will suit me better? Thanks for reading!

[@spydie]

For Vietnam I'd rather have the Versys 300X. But you might also consider the Honda XR150. It will cruise at 90 kph and get over 100 mpg and is great for trips on and off road. I ride it on 140 mile trips (225 km) all the time. It's comfortable and has plenty of power for one person and light gear. It's very lightweight and its really inexpensive. The least expensive bike Honda makes for the US ($2971 USD). If you plan on longer rides on good roads and the ability to put panniers on the bike, the Versys is a better choice but almost twice the cost.

[@shironeko8971]

⁠​⁠@@spydieI already have the WR155R for enduro and normal everyday rides. Sub 150cc are in the sweet spot in term of power in Asia for sure! I just want a second bike for longer ride because dual sports are really uncomfortable for long, 2 people rides while still can do exploration. The CB500X is more popular in Vietnam but I guess I better save those few grands for the trips. Definitely looking into versys around my place now. Thanks for your respond! Cheers

[@Durnyful]

Yamaha Tracer 700 also has the horn switch there. At least i have that and a cb500x so there in the same place. A dumb idea as you need to be able to get the horn fast on occassion, not the indicators.

[@spydie]

That's interesting. Where do you live? I had no idea anyone else was screwing us like Honda started doing a few years ago. It's such a bad idea to be moving the control buttons around on a bike when they have been standardized for so many years.

[@florme6494]

Sorry, what windshield do you have on the versys?

[@spydie]

I have a V-stream on both bikes.

[@florme6494]

@@spydie thanks for the quick reply

[@lawrencemontinola5774]

Honda has a lot of X's in their lineup ; X-ADV 750, NC 750X, CMX 500, CB150X, CB200X.

[@spydie]

You must be from another country. We don't have most (or any?) of those in the US, so that's why I said that. I'm only familiar with US bikes.

[@bratcafe5632]

Don't forget the inline-6 Honda CBX from the early 80's...

[@jhackett9482]

Please update. Have you decided the one to keep?

[@spydie]

I've decided to keep the Versys X. If I do sell one, it will be the Honda. The reason is, even though the Honda has better suspension, softer saddle, a lot more power, better gas mileage, and quieter, the Versys fits me better and the lighter bike is more fun to ride.

[@jhackett9482]

@@spydie thanks for the info!

[@andrewroberts6123]

Your rear tires have a similar tread pattern, but not the same.

[@alkaholic4848]

30:37 You don't notice the dual/single rotor difference on a single stop, but when you're riding aggressively on fast country roads where you're repeatedly having to brake hard for corners etc, for quite a while. In that case the single rotor or smaller rotors get hot too easily and then the brakes get very spongy. I think you mentioned riding it on trails or something, sounds like you're mostly using an adventure bike for what they're designed for, but adventure bikes have become very popular these days with people who's bikes will never see anything except tarmac (here in the UK at least), so for those people the single/dual rotor could be significant. The type of people buying the adventure bikes for on-road, are usually not the type of people to push them that hard anyway, but some may do.

[@spydie]

Actually it would only make a difference in off-road riding if you were riding very aggressively, like young kid might do, trying to be a crazy racer! LOL. Mild off-road, trail riding isn't any harder on the brakes than a guy that rides them only on the road. I have never noticed much difference in stopping power of a larger singe disk or two smaller disks. It's the rear brakes that I notice when they aren't very good, and I've had few of those, like my Moto-Guzzi and my Kawasaki W800.

[@the.communist]

42:35 wise decision.

[@tymobyrne4451]

which is easier to pick up?

[@spydie]

the much lighter 300, of course

[@kalaharimine]

I would suggest the new Transalp, its not far off the 650 v-strom and superb.

[@spydie]

The 750 Transalp is only about 20 lbs heavier than the 500X, but it's $2200 more money. The V-strom is 470 lbs or about 31 pounds more than the CB500X and at $8900 its' only about $1600 more than the CB500X. It's always a compromise. the 500 is all most people would ever need.

[@speedbird3955]

What about the Versys running hot?

[@spydie]

Water cooled engines never run hot.

[@constpegasus]

I was worried about you. No videos for a while.

[@spydie]

Awww shucks... why would you do that? LOL. You don't have ANY videos... now I'm worried about you! ha ha

[@normandegeorge6526]

Keep them both.

[@spydie]

OK, you talked me into it.

[@govinda102000]

I noticed my X300 is quicker when slightly before operating temp.

[@cyclonus01]

Wouldnt a honda cb500x be more comparable to the versys 650?

[@spydie]

I can't compare them because I don't have one, but the price difference is significant. Over $3500 more. going from the Versys X 300 to the CB500X is only an $1100 step up. Power wise, there's almost the same difference between the 500 and 650 as there is between the 300 and the 500. The 650 weighs almost 100 pound more than the 300 and about 60 pounds more than the 500. It's all about price, power and weight. In reality you can't make side-by-side comparisons between bikes so dissimilar as the 300 and 500 and 650. I only did it because I own both bikes and guys that are looking at a mid-weight (or are these light-weight?) adventure bikes wanted to see the difference so they could make a decision. I'm sure the comparison between the 500 and 650 would be as significantly different as this comparison was.

[@trotamundos4365]

Hola. Propongo una comparación entre la transalp 700 y versys 650 😅

[@spydie]

@@trotamundos4365 English, English

[@dangunn6961]

I've been riding for over 50 years and I use a Airhawk motorcycle seat cushion on my scooter and my Yamaha Bolt. It's nice and comfy it's like sitting on Dolly Parton's boobs. It makes any motorcycle seat great to sit on. I'd never buy a new seat.

[@spydie]

The only thing I don't like about any seat cushion is it adds height to the seat and most of my seats are the same height as my inseam.

[@davidmatthews3093]

The 19” front wheel came in 2021

[@spydie]

Yes, I know that.

[@user-to2cf9un9i]

For the handling versys x more fun than cbx, the others cbx is the winner.... Versys x absolutely value for money when u compare with cbx with the twice price

[@airadaimagery692]

I wish the Honda had spoke wheels.

[@spydie]

Why? Spokes are harder to clean, and they appear to be no stronger for off-road work than cast wheels as has been reported by Adventure Rider companies that ship their bikes all over the world for customers to do extreme adventure rides on. They report never having a cast wheel failure of any type. And of course unless you get a very special wheel, most bikes with spoke wheels are tube-type tires and tubeless are a lot easier to repair. It's probably good to have spokes on extreme motocross bikes, but adventure bikes? nah. they don't do anything extreme off-road.

[@airadaimagery692]

@@spydie of course the manufacturer aren’t going to speak down on their products... But if you care to listen to an actual person, who rides the bike, in actual riding situations, yeah, we have to use tubes and rim locks to air down for traction and not have to worry about breaking the wheel or the tire coming off the rim. With xtra heavy duty tubes we can ride the bike on a flat to a convenient spot to repair it. Cast is just a step in the wrong direction for some of us. There’s a reason why bikes like the T7 don’t come with mag/cast wheels!

[@spydie]

@@airadaimagery692 That wasn't a manufacturer, that was a tour company giving their opinion of the cast wheel. What you are talking about it very aggressive off-road (Moto-cross style) riding, not something 99% of the people on mid weight or heavy weight adventure bikes ever use their bike for. Your "actual riding conditions" are not what most people would ride the CB500X in. So you are the exception to the rule, not the rule, and that's why it has cast wheels. Rim locks only come on very dedicated off-road bikes so you are comparing apples and oranges.

[@flippy66]

1:35 - there is another, the NC750X

[@spydie]

There are several of them actually, I should have said "there are no other CBX bikes in Hondas lineup."

[@don_alex_97]

i just don't know why i don't like the HONDA CBX 500 engine sound....

[@spydie]

I don't either. I guess you didn't grow up with the CB450 engines like I did. It's nostalgic for me.

[@SB-fe4gt]

A slip on muffler can make the CBX sound really great. I had a '17 500X and the Yoshimura slip I used was a game changer as far as the sound. Awesome job with the review/comparison...but you didn't talk me out of buying the 300 :), assuming I can find a '22 model for a decent price since that is the only year that I really like the color of the 300.

[@spydie]

@@SB-fe4gt I agree with you on the color. I couldn't talk myself into getting rid of the 300. While the 500 is a much better bike in the most important ways (better mpg, a lot more power, and a much smoother ride), the 300 is just more fun to ride. And dude, I would NEVER change the factory exhaust on anything because I like how quiet they are. And with fuel injection, unless you re-map the computer, putting a less restrictive exhaust on your bike only creates noise. You can't gain any hp or mpg until you re-map the computer.

[@the.communist]

That bike looks great for 34000 miles, if i did that milage on a bike, it would be aesthetically destroyed.

[@spydie]

3400 miles, not 34,000 haha. I’ve got over 5000 on it now in three weeks

[@gromitdaddy]

NC750X

[@petereddy458]

Try motoz tyres

[@spydie]

I have never heard of those, but I put Michelin Road 5 on the rear. Guys are getting 12,000-14,000 miles out of them. MotoZ doesn't have any roadable tires in 160/60-17.

[@SemiDad]

CBX = 6 cylinder icon 🤪

[@spydie]

??

[@SemiDad]

@@spydie 1979/80 CBX1000 is a motorcycling legend with it’s 6 cylinder engine. A notorious widow-maker with the roar of a race car. So when CBX is mentioned the immediate rush of emotions & flashbacks is for that icon 👍

[@spydie]

@@SemiDad I see. I didn't make the connection, having never owned one. the closest I came in my youth was a Honda CB550F four cylinder SuperSport (only made for two years, 1975-76), four into one exhaust gave it a formula one race car sound. One night I was high-tailing it up a highway in Wisconsin past a bar where some of my friends were hanging out, outside, and as I went past the bar at 110 mph, engine screaming like a Ferrari, one of my friends told me later, "I turned to Joe and said, 'That was Lawrence.'"

[@SemiDad]

@@spydie my only sports bike was an ‘86 VF500FII. Quite a bike too. My son rides a CBR500R. To me a CBR is an inline 4 not a P-Twin 🤪

[@spydie]

@@SemiDad Yes, I'd say a CBR should be an inline 4 IF it's old enough. Of course now they are mostly twins.

[@hedsy]

Use wd40 chain degreaser. It's foamy and strips the chain super clean.

[@spydie]

Thanks for the advice, but You can't get a chain really clean unless you can immerse it in something and wash away the debris. Everything else is just a surface cleaning and very messy on the tires and the entire run of the chain. I've done it both ways and nothing beats taking the chain off and swishing it around and brushing it in diesel fuel or kerosene. Gasoline cleans better and faster but it's too hard on the "O" rings.

[@orionswitness]

Versys in Oz almost three grand cheaper ride away new

[@spydie]

yes it's about 2 grand cheaper here

[@graantmnz]

6 to 9000 revs is 50% more

[@spydie]

You're right. I was dividing a pie into thirds, 1/3 (or 33 1/3 or 3300 rpms) of the pie, 2/3 (6600 rpms) full pie at 9000 rpms, each piece is about 34% (33 1/3 more) of the pie. rounded off to 6700 rpms plus 34% is 8978 rpms (6700 + 34%= 8978. But if you take 6000 and add 34% you only get 8040 rpms. You do have to take 6000 + 50%= 9000. Now wasn't that fun? LOL. Overall that was close enough to make my point.

[@petereddy458]

Try motor tyres they last around 11000km/6600 miles

[@spydie]

I don't consider 6600 miles a high mileage tire. Michelin tires are double that, and MotorZ don't come in my tire size 160/60-17 (I didn't look at the extreme off-road tires but I looked at the Tractionator tires).

[@thanosa2206]

Less weight more fun

[@spydie]

Better/softer ride, less noise, more power....more fun! LOL

[@thanosa2206]

​@@spydiei dont like speed so i don't need too much power

[@spydie]

@@thanosa2206 Power and speed don't always go together. On the Versys X I was going into a strong 30 mph headwind on the interstate highway and I had the saddle bags on it which catch wind like a sail. I had a top speed of 54 mph wide-open. That's where the power comes in. I'm not interested in high speed either, but I need enough power to go into a wind on road with some hills.

[@thanosa2206]

@@spydie i think only the super tourers bikes can beat the wind or the cruisers I ride a 125 bike with top case I know what you talking on wind days Adv bikes and wind its a problem

[@spydie]

@@thanosa2206 No, I disagree. My CB500X can beat the wind. It only takes about 500CC and a fairly light bike to beat the wind. A 650 is actually the ideal size for all the power you'll ever need, but it's also too heavy. The 500 is the heaviest bike I want, and it's 44 lbs heavier than the Versys X 300. I like the weight of the Versys the best, but it does run out of power. Anything above 650cc that is wasted power. But the CBX gets about 16-18 mpg better than my 300cc and has enough power to overcome the wind. My 411cc Himalayan is impossible going into a wind it is so underpowered.