My 2015 Honda CB500X - The motorcycle I would take on a round the world adventure

[@ukjeeper]

Bought my 350 miles on the clock ex-demo 2017 CB500X from Rally Raid, at Jenny's suggestion. 6 years, 10 countries and 89,000 miles on my CB500X, including an 11,000 miler across the US (Including the TAT) and French, Belgian, Spanish, Netherlands TAT's. Still smile when i walk in the garage. It's been, and continues to be, a great all rounder bike. Zero real problems or mechanical issues, apart from the cush drive bearing in the rear wheel failing at about 50 something thousand miles. No surprise, as it's a Honda. Upgraded, after a few years, to the Level 2 setup, which made it even better. But... if (IF!) i ever move on from the CB, the Rally is my choice if i go smaller. The Tuareg is the choice if i go bigger.

[@idratherberiding3456]

That''s quite the accomplishment. I would say the CB500X is the perfect adventure machine. Just the right displacement, two cylinders., light weight, competent. And it was basically under the radar for the general public until it became NX500 and now it looks more official as an adventure machine. I would love to take a Touareg for a test ride.

[@jerronimo6874]

I absolutely like this video because I felt the same. I have 22 cb500x now. I had naked bikes before but they are really boring to ride. This bike is made for guys who want to ride for cheap without any reliability issues (bmw actually didn’t know what reliability word means) . Stock cb500x is just okay, nothing special on first sight, but with few mods it’s really great bike. Incredible amount of available parts right now. This bike can show anybody who can ride and who can’t. In my opinion this bike isn’t beginner bike. It’s real adventure bike in any means but not beginner. Mine 2022 model was extremely aggressive on first and second gear so I got 16t front sprocket and for strange reason I felt much more available torque for much longer time. My friend had cb500f which was extremely slow on low RPMs while mine X was like shotgun straight from bottom end. Same engine but totally, I mean really totally different throttle, low end power tune. 500f felt like 125cc to me. Good video brother, be safe!

[@idratherberiding3456]

Thank you for your comment. It adds value to this video. Great idea about changing the front sprocket size.

[@paulstanley3612]

This is one of the best, most comprehensive & informative motorcycle reviews I’ve either seen, or read, since 1973 when I started riding. (Meaning I’ve seen and read a few). That it was done in what seems to be not your first language makes it even more remarkable, and an example to others. Well done, keep it up!

[@idratherberiding3456]

Thank you, your comment is much appreciated!

[@randomkadrmas2630]

Great video. I love stumbling onto videos by other people in Oregon. I have the same color scheme and year of CB500X. I do not have the Ralley Raid upgrade though. One of the things i did was swap the front sprocket out for a 16T one. It made a huge difference in the on road and highway performance. Sometimes i will be cruising at 60 mph and realize that I am still in 5th gear where before I was trying shift into 7th gear at 60 mph. If i ever do sell this bike it will be to buy one that already has the Rally Raid upgrades installed. Hope to see you on the road,

[@idratherberiding3456]

That's a great idea, make gears "longer" for cruising on the highway. Because I use mine mostly on dirt roads, I like it with shorter gearing. But I like what you did to yours! And thank you for your comment!

[@matthewclark2065]

excellent video. Best I have seen about these kind of bikes

[@idratherberiding3456]

Thank you so much!

[@roberthambly9926]

Great review thanks.

[@idratherberiding3456]

Thanks!

[@rongray4587]

I really enjoyed watching this video, great job! And I enjoyed your sense of humor too! I started riding BMW motorcycles in 2002. I purchased my first BMW from a banker whose wife told on their first trip as she's getting off the bike "This certainly isn't for me!", so he purchases a sports car and sold his bike to me at a reasonable price. R1200 CLC nice bike for cruising but boring, would not go over 80 or so mph! Sold it and purchased a brand new 650 GS, but I never had it off road. Fantastic gas mileage and would go 100 mph as solid as a rock but sounded like a weed eater. My favorite bike is a R1200 RT Sport touring bike. LOVED IT! It was very hard for me to stay out of triple digits and took curves like a dream. I retired in 2016 money got tight and I didn't have any insurance on myself, so I sold the bike I loved. A friend of mine told me he's selling his 2016 Honda CB500X. At the time I'd never heard of that bike. But because John purchased it new, and I knew he took excellent care of it, I showed some interest, and he invited me to ride it. I was impressed! And Sunday, 3/23/2024 I pick it up. I'm 70 years old in April and I'm excited to ride again. I've put over 400,000 miles on BMWs and never got hurt, but I've lost a good friend who was only 38 years old. I have always played the what if game, so if some idiot did something stupid, I already had my escape route in mind. I imagine, with all the illegals, drugs and cell phone users, one has to be more careful than ever.

[@idratherberiding3456]

The CB500X has to be one of the most unassuming motorcycles out there. It's difficult to hear someone who is unbiased making a negative comment about it, even if the CB500X does not fit their particular needs. I hope you enjoy your CB500X! Thank you so much for commenting and I wish you an early happy birthday!

[@J2Wlz]

Great video! Thnx I have a 2020 model. I've upgraded the suspension with Hyperpro rear shock and progressive fork springs. Last summer I did ACT Italy solo which required me to ride 1400kms in 2 days on the highway first to get there, and after 1200kms of ACT the same 1400kms back home again without any problems. While sometimes I wished I was on a lighter bike, I can't imagine doing these kind of distances on a smaller bike in such a short period of time. Long time I was considering a Himalayan (and maybe on some day I will buy one) but if you're alone in the middle of nowhere, riding a Honda bike gives you a piece of mind, even considering the fact that also the most reliable brands can have breakdowns.

[@idratherberiding3456]

I agree 100%, the CB500X seems to be, in my opinion, the right compromise. Any motorcycle will always have a compromise some place or another. And thank you for commenting on this video!!! I actually saw your video on the ACT. Didn't you get stopped by a fallen tree or something and a guy working on a tractor came to help you? Great story. I speak Italian, so I know he asked you: is it far? And you answered something else, I don't remember what now, it was funny, but he went with you anyway to check it out.

[@J2Wlz]

@@idratherberiding3456 Haha, thanks for checking out my video. I indeed couldn't understand a single word from what that guy was saying to me but we made it 😅

[@idratherberiding3456]

@@J2Wlz I actually posted about the ACT in my video after I saw your video and other videos of the ACT in Portugal. It is similar to the BDR routes here in the USA. Great job riding the ACT in Italy!

[@J2Wlz]

@@idratherberiding3456 Thank you! I've seen BDR videos, the tracks look awsome! Totally understandable, this is how it works. I bought my cbx when I saw on YT what these bikes are capable of.

[@idratherberiding3456]

@@J2Wlz That's why I call it unpretentious. It's under the radar, but it delivers so well on the BDR types of roads.

[@the_katman2181]

Great vid. Very balanced and informative. May I ask how much you ended up spending with Rally Raid?

[@idratherberiding3456]

At that time it cost me exactly 3K dollars. Not sure that specific kit is still available, though. If you will buy a CB500X new (or NX500) perhaps a new Transalp is better deal?

[@damhieu]

Hello from VietNam Great video, very detail ❤

[@idratherberiding3456]

Thank you!

[@TwoWheelsThreeSheets]

Great video and synopsis! I agree with just about everything you said! I upgraded to the rally raid level 1, only because I did not want to increase the seat height of the motorcycle for my wife. But even with that, I've ridden many of the same roads around Death Valley, as well as both the Dalton and the Dempster highway in the Arctic. The only issue I've had (after replacing the stock suspension) was the fuel gage sender.

[@idratherberiding3456]

Yes, I remember that, I wonder what happened to the fuel gage sensor on your motorcycle. And well, I agree, the seat height is important for Rosie. It's important for me too, I have short legs. LOL. I hope she gets to ride it.

[@idratherberiding3456]

And thank you for your comment.🍻

[@TwoWheelsThreeSheets]

@idratherberiding3456 apparently it's a common issue. The wire at the base of the tank / fuel pump is venerable...

[@idratherberiding3456]

@@TwoWheelsThreeSheets Great to know. I'll keep and eye on it. Thanks!

[@flooid]

What a great video. Well done!

[@idratherberiding3456]

Thank you!

[@andymcm6902]

Excellent video. Cheers

[@idratherberiding3456]

Thanks!

[@Heart_of_Darkness1956]

How do you care about the the chain during the trails? You surely need a lot of chain cleaner and so on..?

[@idratherberiding3456]

I oil it at about every 200 mph and clean it each time I complete a long ride and wash it when I have it back home.

[@robertgoetz2678]

Awesome!!! Do you find tyres which are more offroad oriented in the US in 160/60r17 or do you use 150/70r17?

[@idratherberiding3456]

Thank you!!! About tires, I use the Continental TKC 80 tires. For where I ride and my type of riding, those tires are plenty good.

[@robertgoetz2678]

Which size? They donot have a 160/60; so you go on 150/70? @@idratherberiding3456

[@sp3associate]

Whats the total odometer reading of this bike and what fuel efficency did you get ? And you should also check suzuki 800 DE its a fantastic bike

[@idratherberiding3456]

It has 3,400 miles. I get between 50 and 60 mpg consistently. Yes, the 800DE is a great bike, but it is heavier than the CB500X, by a great margin. :-)

[@the.communist]

Cb500x aint a small bike, it weights 200 kgs

[@idratherberiding3456]

@@the.communist it’s all a question of comparison to something else. At 195kg, it is lighter than a Tenere 700, KTM 890, Transalp, etc. And it is more compact and therefore easier to maneuver in tight spaces. But if you are comparing to a single cylinder machine, then you could be right if it is not a Himalayan.

[@ondieflorano623]

Kawasaki barako lang katapat ng adv nyo 😂

[@idratherberiding3456]

Maybe Kawasaki will improve its Versys X300 model?