Making the case for the BEST motorcycle // 2024 Honda SCL500

[@SFSomega]

I have a history of like 20 years of permanently owning 4 bikes, and every year I replace 1 or 2 of them. Usually I have a cruiser and a sports bike, and something to get me to work and then something else... Recently I replaced my drive to work-bike which was a cb125f with the CL500 and I enjoy it so much that I will sell all of my other bikes. It really surprises me, that this small bike satisfies all my motorcycle needs in one bike. It's fun, reliable, cheap to own and can do everything. It just feels good to hop on it and go somewhere. It just feels so good to ride it. Not sure about the title of best bike, but it is up there for me.

[@srandyt2]

I had a Honda ST1300. I could load enough to be away for two weeks and still be able to ride backroads like yours or take on the twisties of the Appalachians. It was MY perfect bike. After being sideswiped on it, if I ever buy another, it will be another ST.

[@KirkKreifels]

What a bike!

[@hctim96]

I loved the ST so much I had three of them!! Two 1100's and a ST 1300. Rode all over the US and Canada..The only problems I ever had with the bike were "pilot" induced...

[@srandyt2]

@@hctim96 I met a guy in WV a few years ago that was from Canada. He also had a 2005. It had 250K miles on it and he said all had done to it was change the rear shock.

[@andregrastyan3403]

I also love my SCL500 honda. Put 7,400 miles on it and no problems. Changed things a bit. The muffler and the break levers are painted black. Got an oil temp gage on the block and a luggage rack. Put a screen on the front headlight and changed the mirrors for the Rebel 500 mirrors. They are shorter and look a lot better. Buy the way, I had a Monkey, and I'm sorry I sold it. I also sold my Rebel 1100cc DCT, because it was hurting my shoulders and lower back. 14,700 miles was enough.Weird ergonomics, but a lot of powe 87hp. The CL 500 is 47hp and more than enough ,very comfortable here on the Jersey Shore.

[@behavei]

If I replace it with a genuine Rebel 500 mirror, will it look that good?

[@eikonise]

I wanted Honda to de-ugly the Honda CB500f like they did for the 300 and 650.... This comes close I guess.

[@srandyt2]

Yay for the even firing sequence.

[@KirkKreifels]

Haha it's so vanilla

[@srandyt2]

@@KirkKreifels ... and reliable. It will be ten years before we can really evaluate the t-plane.

[@TRFInferno]

It's absolutely criminal that Honda doesn't bring the new CB750 Hornet to the US market. I like the SCL500 from an aesthetic standpoint, but the 471cc parallel twin that Honda uses in these just don't have the right characteristics for a scrambler; Honda really needs to replace/update it with a 270 degree crank.

[@KirkKreifels]

I agree with everything you said.

[@TRFInferno]

@@KirkKreifels If your Honda rep is giving you an option to swap out, I definitely recommend the Trans Alp or if you really want something with spunk, the CRF450RL.Nothing in Honda's current road legal lineup is more temperamental than the CRF450RL and plus you'll get to try a dual sport. 🤣

[@shivamarya5225]

There's no mechanical difference between a 270 and 180 crank. 180 is even slightly better for balance

[@BakerBikerGeshe]

10,000 miles and a year with my SCL500 as my daily beater. Its a lil honda....what more do you want?! ^.^ really though, its no frills all thrills and keeps its chill.

[@jimgordon3468]

I love Honda. I have two. Goldwing DCT and rebel 1100dct. Love them. I bought the triumph scrambler 400x over the SCL because it looks SPECTACULAR. i rode the 1200 scrambler xc then the 400x. I was blown away with the 400x. Fit and finish us perfect. The 1200 is very top heavy and the heat that comes off that exhaust is extreme. I hated it. I bought the 400x on the spot. Had it a month and put over 3000 miles on it.

[@KirkKreifels]

That speed 400 and scrambler 400 from Triumph are the real deal....So tempted to get one!

[@jimgordon3468]

@@KirkKreifels get the scrambler. The speed looks and feels very cheap to me. When you see them side by side you will see the difference. The extra 500 bucks is well worth it.

[@fsurjadi]

thanks for put positive review on the honda scl , been follow your channel about lexus and i had been a lexus owner many2 years. so im not mistaken to buy the scl.

[@davidlowe4093]

Got my 72 BMW R60/5 new in Athens and toured Turkey for 1 1/2 yrs. still have. I have a 82 CBX WOW. Love looking at them! Almost bought a Peugeot MP3 400 very cool. Enjoy! Thanks for your videos, Kirk.

[@co92715]

how about a Goldwing 500 or relaunch again the Silverwing in 500cc, not as a maxi-scooter but as a lighter version of the Goldwing for touring?

[@Asiansxsymbol]

GW should never be that small in displacement!!!

[@mikespeaks6038]

My perfect bike is, well I have a SCL500 for every day riding, a Yamaha TW200 for my dual sport adventures, and a Honda Trail 125 for errands.

[@FrankOsman]

I see your SCL500 and I raise you the Suzuki SV650.

[@KirkKreifels]

Best all rounder ever?

[@Asiansxsymbol]

Nah, not for the best rounder.

[@rustybeatty6567]

I just wish they made an 1100 version of this bike for the US.

[@theantiqueactionfigure]

I once owned 8 street motorcycles at the same time. Wouldn't be perfect even if you could combined them all😂😂!

[@Lemon-kq9bh]

Definitely considering the Triumph Scrambler 400X as a first bike

[@jimgordon3468]

I have the scrambler 400x. I am 6ft 3, 230lbs. It absolutely FN rips. And it looks amazing. I get compliments all the time. I have it a month and put over 3000 miles on it. I love it. 40 hp is plenty. I also have 2 Honda motorcycles. Rebel 1100dct and goldwing DCT tour.

[@AERoVALKYRiE]

I’d love to see you do a motorcycle trip video to the keys.

[@wimperelly]

Nice review, I've had more than 27 motorcycles and the same amount of years in riding bikes. I've tested this CL500 and I loved it. In the same period I've tested the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 and Guerrilla 450 and the Z500 (the Eliminator 500 wasn't available for a test, the bike that I had ik mind) and the Triumph Scrambler 400x. Among the many bikes in my ownership, I've also had the duke 390 and the Vitpilen 401. My conclusion.....I've had to many single cilinder bikes and I still believe they are awesome but for on the road I prefer a more refined multi cilinder engine. The CL500 is a true contender to be my next bike together with the Kawasaki Eliminator 500. The négatifs for me on the CL500. No tachometer and the black painted exhaust pipes which will discolor when riding in lots of dirt and water. Stainless steel exhaust pipes also discolor but it is a natural proces of that kind of metal. The exhaust pipes on the Honda are powder coated and it is a great solution if the exhaust system in not in the orbit coming from the front wheel. I don't buy the Himalayan not guerrilla 450. Although they are very good as well. They are not so refined. Some call it character and some call it more buzzy. The most disappointed testride for me personally was the triumph scrambler. It is more smooth than the Himalayan/ guerrilla 450 engine but I like that character of a single cilinder BUT now I can choose between a single and twin cilinder. I go for the last but haven't decided which to take. Did you testride the Eliminator 500? So if yes, what were your thoughts on that bike and how will you compare it to the Honda CL500? Great review and eventually thx for your answer. Best regards from Belgium

[@cascarification]

Yo tengo el nuevo vitpilen 401 llevo 3000 kilomentros con el pero no me emociona.. estoy buscando algo mas potente y con un motor de mas de un cilindro. El vitpilen por debajo de 7000 rpm se siente lento y arriba tampoco tiene mucho ..

[@wimperelly]

@cascarification I can't copy this text nor any translation so thx for your reaction but I can't understand it.

[@wimperelly]

Try the CL500. More torquey​@@cascarification

[@cascarification]

@@wimperelly el problema del cl500 es que el motor no tiene un calado de 270, no tiene horquillas invertidas y cambio quickshift. Pero aun asi es tentadora.

[@davidbethke1849]

Kawasaki ZRX for my favorite looking bike. Doc's beachhouse often has nice looking Harleys there.

[@Klooney9mm]

Not a big fan of this engine. It's outdated, old & heavy and this bike would be better served with the Hornet 755cc. I've seen this and the Rebel side by side with the Hornet and TransAlp altogether. Otherwise the bike looks great.

[@hctim96]

You forgot to mention it's F'N UGLY..

[@barrymacneil1471]

interesting! A mihi moto/grom review while riding an SCL500 bike??

[@doziershaw9765]

Instead of a minimoto why not a Honda ADV 160 or Yamaha Zuma 125 for your Florida beachy habitat ?

[@KirkKreifels]

Love scooters, but I think I'd rather have a clutch and gears at this point in my life.

[@doziershaw9765]

@@KirkKreifels I had 2 scooters, Honda Metropolitan and a Honda Reflex 250, put about 11k miles between them. Very practical with under seat storage and just twist and go on the throttle.

[@user-FTRU6GJ]

Is that suppose to be a Naruto suit?

[@KirkKreifels]

Nope. Just Florida orange

[@ramiretz]

honda monkey is the best bike to explore any places, its small, its lightweight, u can turn it arround even on the tightes places ever, nobody is mad at you even on places u shouldn't be with it because its cute..... 😉

[@TheProvinceOfRC]

43 HP? Interesting. In Europe the CL500 has 48 HP.

[@simmysharma6845]

👍😊🙏

[@mikehunt3559]

Florida = state bird is the mosquito. Hot as balls.

[@logangodofcandy]

Not a scrambler, but a standard. Standard bikes are the best all around bikes.

[@LeoTheShortGuy]

Cool

[@alexnutcasio936]

Look Ma, its a water cooled Rebel. Top speed, about 80 MPH.

[@rickkern5785]

Not the perfect bike. I hate the upper position of the stock pipe. Putting small panniers on the rear are nearly impossible. Storage with just one pannier on one side is lame.

[@worldwide_wes]

Bot city

[@KirkKreifels]

They're hungry

[@worldwide_wes]

@ 😂

[@johnmacangus2634]

I can't take it any longer

[@Digiphex]

The helmet ruins it for me. In Indiana we didn't wear helmets and I rode for years with no problems as well as my friends and brother. You have to stay away from dumb people is the thing. But in NC we have to wear helmets so I might as well be inside a car. I love this bike and the retro syle. It has just enough power. Hate the Shadow, hate Harleys, hate Groms. Love the Monkey.

[@オルフェーヴルの夫]

How can you stay away from dumb when you're dumb yourself

[@alq1967]

Shadow is cool 😎 monkey 🐒 is crap 💩

[@shivamarya5225]

Don't do that my man, everyone makes mistakes even if you're completely sober and within speed limit mistakes are still bound to happen, helmets are for your own good and wear an arai with great venting or open face and bikes are just as enjoyable

[@deltabluesdavidraye]

Moronic

[@dilly2023]

Wear a helmet