Honda SCL500 Scrambler Review - Episode 1

Motorcyclist Magazine publishes its official review on the 2023 Honda SCL500 scrambler ($6,799).
Check out the story at www.motorcyclistonline.com/re...
Video: ‪@AdamWaheed‬
Photography: Drew Ruiz
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[@gitrdoug]

another great review. I like this bike but wish it had the upgraded suspension and brakes on the cb500x. and the hard to read instrument panel is concerning.

[@KorysRides]

Lots of common parts, maybe it's an easy swap? Rally raid might even have stuff that could fit it

[@AdamWaheed]

Thanks man.

[@nikos-giorgos]

​​@@KorysRides Almost the same price as the cb500x but with worse front and rear suspension and swingarm, 1 front disk instead of 2 illegible instrument vs a much better one on the x, and no weather protection. All because it looks "cooler"? I don't think so.

[@KorysRides]

@@nikos-giorgos My comment was in regard to putting the rally raid suspension on the SCL . I don't know where your tangent came from. And there's plenty of suckers out there that pay more for worse retro styling. Just look at Kawasaki, Indian, Harley...

[@nikos-giorgos]

@@KorysRides I know what you said, you know what i said, let's leave it at that. All I'm saying is it should be better equipped or cheaper to buy, not saying it's a bad bike, i like it myself.

[@siriusblat9269]

I guess the biggest blocker was that the Rebel was too small for taller riders. Sounds like this has sorted that. Regarding bells and whistles, glad it hasn’t got many, that’s the point of bikes like this. Thanks for taking us along for the ride 👊

[@karlfonner7589]

Many moons ago I bought a 1972 CB 500 F for $300 that I brought back to life. I had the best time with that thing. I’m glad they’re bringing back the standard seating position

[@Enrico_Palazzo82]

Everybody who has driven this bike says the same. I have It too and i Love It. It is big fun to ride. It is a complete bike which can more than a lot people think. Price and Quality is good. Perfect Bike for a Daytour or a round to the blocks

[@ker4all]

Great review. Thanks for sharing!

[@steveparish9210]

Good to see a motorcyclist test again been awhile. The CLs of the 70s were so much better looking though this looks ok. Honda quality and reliability a big plus. I still want a Hornet, trans alp! Thanks for the review Waheed stay safe!

[@censored4christ162]

Would be nice to see the tfl bike guys do some drag races across bikes like this.

[@RealCleanCeo]

Good review!

[@RipperJack30141]

300+lbs 6'2 rider, love thise bike. I grew up on dirtbikes and even with my weight, height, and how broad i am, this bike handles great. Only problem is at around 55+ the wind starts going bad and knocks the hell out of me. For smaller - average riders, this bike would be perfect to start/commute with!

[@kalnwi2023]

This bike is too powerful for you.

[@bobjohnson1633]

Wind with no fairing has nothing to do with the bike being powerful. You can. Get a 250 doing 80mph and the wind will slap you around

[@leeinwis]

@@bobjohnson1633 Not my 250 , crf250l rally

[@hvymax]

I think an SCL 1100 would compete nicely with the Triumph scramblers.

[@kalnwi2023]

A 600 lb scrambler...mmkay.

[@bobjohnson1633]

That would be 490# wet. Lighter than the triumph

[@nikos-giorgos]

Not with these looks, it won't.

[@MCTeck]

The first and last Honda Scrambler I owned,was a 1968 CL 450. Bought slightly used in 1973 . 2k miles. At 6k, rt intake valve drooped and destroyed the motor! Glad those days are over. [might have been caused by lack of rev limiter] This new bike looks good for the $. The only thing I do not like, is the exhaust system. The pipes should be up like the CL450 and Triumph 900 scrambler .Some will ride off road and might damage the system. BTW, hwy 150 to Ojai then to coast a great ride!

[@FCT8306onTwoWheels]

11:16 you're totally right! We were on the 5 by Kettleman and im sure we were all cruising at like 85+ miles an hour and we were in a Wrangler :P

[@adam346]

the out-put mpg is always weird.. I thrash around a cb300r and it showed about 4.4L per 100km which is about 53mpg but I tend to fill up when I hit las bar and I only ever put in 7~ liters after riding for about 220+ km and I am easily hitting around 60-65mpg despite riding it hard

[@bradhiggins4813]

There called 'fork boots'. Could the muffler be any bigger?

[@marcoluoma3770]

Great to see the return of the UJM. Do you have guess as to how it would do on gravel or fire roads (with the right tires)?

[@CorePathway]

That’s going to be all up to rider skill. 19” front, decent rake, fairly wide bars, narrow engine and tank…the rest is up to you.

[@KorysRides]

I have the CB500X which is very similar, and I just got done doing a 1400 mi ride across Wisconsin on gravel and trails. It did fine, but there is more steering input required versus something with 18/21 wheels and you have to be careful not to bottom the suspension out. Regular old gravel though it does wonderful

[@ewganhoff]

I love Adam and his reviews so much I dont even mind that I have to watch them on 1.5x speed.

[@nikos-giorgos]

That's the right speed.

[@hakimlehaineux]

Hi, Is the seat confortable ? The black seat is 😢

[@FCT8306onTwoWheels]

17:14 my 13' Yamaha Stryker has no techno wizardry on it except for lean angle sensor which is supposed to cut the power when you lean too much but Ive already scraped frame riding in the turns and stuff and it hasnt yet cut the power so yeah. And it doesnt have ABS and everyone that hears that its my motorcycle thinks Im risking it all riding without ABS. Must be nice though

[@aRigato_Hero]

10Q for the review

[@user-zz8yn7xm2c]

I wish 5th and 6th gears were geared higher to provide a bit more top end.

[@AndrewDasilvaPLT]

Do you believe Honda will be putting out more DCTs in bikes of smaller displacement any time soon?

[@censored4christ162]

Dct just has no soul man but on the flip side imagine a hybrid grom that gets 200mpg. I think the grom needs that rebel 300 engine. 6 speed

[@bradhiggins4813]

I hope not; unreliable.

[@mannyechaluce3814]

DCT is too heavy, needs an engine larger than 500 CC, will be a liter bike for DCT

[@MuhammadImran93]

Does it come with spoke wheel version?

[@KorysRides]

Nope. Rally raid offers spoke wheels for the CB500X and there's a company on eBay that also sells them, maybe they will for this also or maybe the correct parts from other bikes could make it possible

[@yamahasuperbike2202]

Honda could've done better making it look like the CL scramblers from the 70s. Those were beautiful bikes.

[@censored4christ162]

Its not based off a 70s scrambler its based off the rebel 500 platform made into a scrambler. Which is intreaguing. I think it srill gets more mpg than the newest prius and look how much money is spent getting a prius to merely mimic its efficiency. This gets bettee fuel economy and i bet its faster at the drag strip than a brand new prius. At a fraction of the cost. Way fewer moving parts.

[@lucianoromero777]

I did wish if Honda uses the same engine they would change some engine parts to make it unique to the style of riding for the bike

[@censored4christ162]

You mean like how they put the exhuast up high so when youre scrambling it doesnt bust as easily on the big rock youre trying to worm around? I think the trail 125 should be a 500 too. Imagine ripping that thing at 85 90 😂😂😂

[@KorysRides]

​@@censored4christ162except the head pipes and the catalytic converter are still low like they are on the 500X and 500f. That's what's skidplates are for

[@PainterD54]

OMG, what's with that big car muffler? That's all you see. It stands out like a sore thumb on that thing. I thought the Rebel muffler looked stupid, but then they made this god awful looking strapped to the side of the seat on this one. Common Honda, you can do better than that. That would be the first thing I would tear off (and sell to a farmer maybe)

[@CraigSmith568]

The exhaust always looks a bit goofy when they bring it out low and then run it up high after it passes the footpegs. It would look a lot better if it ran high from the start. If I were in the market for this size of bike I think I would choose the CB500X over this model.

[@Bugside]

It's all for aesthetical reasons, doesn't make any sense having a high exhaust for ground clearance coming from beneath the bike. Saw one in person yesterday and also noticed that

[@farmoboy83]

I just cant understand the price tag when the cb500f\x comes with better front suspension and twin front discs...Also, honda should rethink all the 500 price range when they have the hornet at 8000eur...

[@nikos-giorgos]

You forgot rear suspension, swingarm and instrument panel

[@coltonmathews1290]

"Scrambler style-" YEEESSSSSSS! "-Street bike" Oh..

[@CorePathway]

By definition, sunshine. Scramblers are street bikes else they would be Enduros .

[@coltonmathews1290]

@@CorePathway Negative, dingus. Back in the '50s and '60s, when motorcycles were beginning to get popular, there were only street bikes. You'd take said street bike, throw some knobby tires and better suspension on it, then take it off road. Those were called Scramblers. Scramblers are enduro bikes' Grandpappy.

[@CorePathway]

@@coltonmathews1290 you just made my point. Scramblers ARE street bikes.

[@coltonmathews1290]

@@CorePathway They are meant to go off road. If it can't handle going off road, it just looks like a scrambler, and isn't one. Go watch some videos on the history of scramblers, come back when you figure out that you're wrong

[@nikos-giorgos]

​@CorePathway What's with the insults you two?

[@ewganhoff]

How does it only go 85 when a rebel can hit 100+??? My 2012 cbr250 did 90 in a race tuck with about 20 less ponies.

[@paulo7979]

Aqui na Europa é CL

[@nnasab]

Adam I’m sure Honda sells this bike in all 3rd world countries and will never ask $8000+ for it. I don’t think it worth that much for a 3rd world bike.

[@neebob2]

Kind of odd that there was no dirt . Not even a casual fireroad . Makes you wonder what they're hiding or afraid of .A Scrambler has always had some dirt under it's wheels .

[@KorysRides]

Probably the same reason you don't see the CB500X doing that. The oil pan on these things is ridiculously exposed. I didn't even ride gravel on my 500x until I got a skid plate on it.

[@STho205]

You make a good point. It has all the visual cues of a CL scrambler.... it looks a lot like the street bike It has a dramatic high side muffler It has boots on the shocks It has a higher banana seat However the oil pan is exposed and low. Clearance is about the same as the street one. The exhaust pipe runs under the frame then sweeps up after the rider's leg. It doesn't really have dirt suspension. Comes with street tires not proper hybrids. So I'd be happier if they just called this the Rebel tallboy and left a low upswept pair of trumpet mufflers so you could mount saddlebags on either side.

[@neebob2]

@@STho205 Exactly . If you call it a scrambler treat it like one . If it fails report it . If it shines let everyone know or change the name to reflect the use intended .

[@Dobbs6651]

Lol'ed at Built Ford Tough

[@tarnishedsquid2967]

The style of this bike is just off...for some reason.

[@censored4christ162]

Thats what i keep thinking but i hage yet to see one in person or ride one or benefit from the fuel economy of one. Some spots kinda look ugly some spots kinda look good butnits also pretty affordable also pretty good fuel economy and its a twin 500 so itll still pull good at 80mph. It probably beats a prius in fuel economy and at the drag strip bro. The new faster prius.

[@alphacapo]

Just get an sv650

[@bailey8135]

Probably a nice bike to ride but damn its ugly!! I guess honda gave up trying to make it look good 🤢🤮

[@bobtranquilli9985]

That exhaust is horrendous. 😮

[@thewatsonian8111]

Has the HONDA styling department gone on strike or something? That tank shape is hideous, the muffler is comically oversized, and none of the parts (headlight etc) have a cohesive style about them at all. It’s just soo very disappointing to look at.

[@marcoluoma3770]

😢😢😢

[@steveparish9210]

The new triumph 400 definitely better looking. Bet Honda build and reliability better though. The test I've seen from Europe say the triumph is beautifully finished

[@charged]

Rebel looks goofy too. Not sure what’s going on at Honda.

[@KorysRides]

Stock exhaust on almost everything is ugly, because it has to pass decibel and emissions limits. Good thing there's aftermarket. I agree the rest of it's pretty ugly though

[@junalison6452]

Check your eyes dude!

[@gm2256]

meh

[@donaldremington3737]

Lost. Me at 6800 ! Sorry it’s to focused for that money

[@peterhallock9486]

That is some ugly exhaust!!!