Price: £6,799 | Power: 46.9bhp | Weight: 196kg | Overall BikeSocial Rating: tba
All three of the perennially popular Honda 500s are getting a makeover for 2024 but the NX500 is the most noticeable with its new name. Yes, the artist formally known as the CB500X is now the NX500. A ‘Honda NX’ – standing for ‘New X-over’ is nothing new though on these shores it’s not been seen since the 650 Dominator of the 90s, the air-cooled single-cylinder urban trails bike.
The 2024 A2-licence friendly manifestation of this mini-adventurer fits in alongside the CBR500R and CB500 Hornet which all continue to use the same 471cc parallel twin in the light middleweight category.
Updates to the 2024 Honda NX500 include an ECU update to improve acceleration, new wheels to help weight saving, revised suspension settings, better headlight and a new screen and switchgear with enhanced tech.
Pros & Cons
- Upgrades to an already peppy motor
- 3kg shaved off the old bike
- New switchgear and TFT adds to desirability
- No improvement to the short windshield
- Lacks hand guards
Review – In Detail
Price & PCP
For and against
Engine & Performance
Handling & Suspension (inc. weight & brakes)
Comfort & Economy
Equipment
Rivals
Verdict
Specification
What’s the price for the 2024 Honda NX500? £6,799
This CB500X replacement is due in UK dealership in ‘early 2024’ and we’ll be seeing it available in three colour options: Grand Prix Red, Matt Gunpower Black Metallic and Pearl Horizon White… which replaces the lovely Pearl Organic Green.
The price is just £100 more than the outgoing model, which appears to offer significant value considering the additional features. Though Honda, like others, are guilty of ‘introductory prices’ which will be increased once the model is initially established.
A typical PCP deal is likely to see a 17% deposit paired with a £99/month offer over 3 years offer. Stand by for official details.
The firm’s 471cc liquid-cooled parallel twin should be bullet-proof, and being compatible with an A2-licence, it makes a peak power figure of 35kW, which is 46.2bhp in real life. And that is way up there at 8,600rpm – a heady figure that encourages you to use all the revs available. Peak torque can be found at 6,500rpm which registers 43Nm / 31.7 lb ft which is still high enough for a bike whose prowess is in the low-mid range. Fuel injection setting had been improved for the previous version though some still complained of a ‘jumpy’ low speed throttle connection.
You’ll have no problem climbing to three figures if the opportunity arose, and winding on from 40mph for an overtake in third gear will be easy pickings, though momentum is key if you’re familiar with more powerful machines instead.
Traction control is an addition for the 2024 model as a bonus for the rider’s peace of mind, though it can still be turned off.
New wheels and revised suspension settings are part of the attraction and headlines with the new model, The 19” front and 17” rear cast aluminium wheels are completely new and move being a Y-shaped 7-spoke design to one with 5-spokes to save a combined 1.5kg between them which should marginally improve handling with an emphasis on turning quicker. The already lightweight package now weighs in a total of 3kg less than before, at a total of 196kg.
New spring rate and damping settings in the Showa 41mm Separate Function Form Big Piston (aka SFF-BP) Upside Down (USD) forks are said to “improve reaction and feel for both road and off-road riding”. Meanwhile, similarly new settings can be found in the monoshock at the rear – an area of the CB500X that I noted during my time with it in the UK during the early part of 2022 required improving, writing, “I found the rear compression a little too soft while the rebound matched.”
The chassis mainly comprises of a diamond-tube mainframe to which the engine is mounted. It sits low keeping the bulk of the weight low too, handy for agility which is also accentuated by how narrow the bike is and how much steering angle from lock-to-lock is available.
The NX500’s price point is the USP and to achieve that Honda has had to be careful with what equipment has been included as standard and what can be fitted as part of the accessory range (see below). Accessories add weight too. So while we can (and I have previously) complain about the lack of hand guards or heated grips, they are available as extras. Nevertheless, like its predecessor, the NX500 is a narrow, lightweight crossover adventurer with a very comfortable saddle and riding position that lacks frills but promises a unintimidating yet fulfilling ride with build quality and an excellent dealer back-up to boot.
Classy handling and a strong engine were among the highlights of the outgoing CB500X, and there’s nothing in the details we have so far to suggest the NX500 will be any less good.
Part of its charm is its low running costs - the 17.5-litre tank and a claimed economy figure nearing 80mpg should easily have you covering 275-mies between petrol stops.
The average Bennetts premium for the 2022 CB500X is £216.60
For a relatively ‘simple’ bike, there’s little in the way of complex rider modes or wheelie control settings but instead the rider is blessed with a new 5” full colour TFT screen that makes its way over from the 2023 Transalp which is operated via new and simplified switchgear that is, praise the lord, backlit. Honda offers a RoadSync connectivity app for on-screen turn-by-turn navigation for IOS and Android devices. You’ll need a Bluetooth helmet headset to enjoy the other functions such as making calls or listening to music.
As mentioned above, the bike now comes with Traction Control which is new for the 2024 model.
In addition to the plethora of individual official accessories comes four packs from Honda known as Adventure, Travel, Urban and Comfort, which include the type of accessories the manufacturer believes will enhance your kind of riding, from heated grips or a centre stand, to fog lights and panniers.
The fight for the A2 licence holders and/or those wanting to experience a light and upright option perhaps as their first bike, additional bike, or when coming back from a bigger adventure machine.
KTM 390 Adventure | Price: £5799
Power/Torque: 42.9bhp/27lb-ft | Weight: 158kg (dry)
BMW G 310 GS | Price: £5890
Power/Torque: 33.5bhp/20.7lb-ft | Weight: 175kg
Triumph Tiger 660 | Price: £8945
Power/Torque: 80bhp/47.2lb-ft | Weight: 206kg
Updates to already brilliant value-for-money mini adventurer sounds like a recipe for success. We’ll let you know once we’ve ridden it.
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New price
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£6,799
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Capacity
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471cc
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Bore x Stroke
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67mm x 66.8mm
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Engine layout
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Parallel twin
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Engine details
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Liquid-cooled, 4-stroke DOHC
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Power
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46.9bhp (35KW) @ 8600rpm
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Torque
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31.7lb-ft (43Nm) @ 6500rpm
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Transmission
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6 speed, chain final drive
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Average fuel consumption
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78.5mpg claimed
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Tank size
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17.5 litres
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Max range to empty
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302miles
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Rider aids
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None
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Frame
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Steel diamond
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Front suspension
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Showa 41mm SFF-BP USD forks
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Front suspension adjustment
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n/a
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Rear suspension
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Prolink monoshock with steel hollow cross swingarm
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Rear suspension adjustment
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5 stage preload adjuster
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Front brake
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Dual 296mm x 4mm disc with Nissin axial mounted two piston calipers
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Rear brake
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Single 240mm x 5mm disc with single piston caliper
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Front wheel / tyre
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Multi-spoke cast aluminium, 19M/C X MT2.5 / 110/80R19M/C59H
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Rear wheel / tyre
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Multi-spoke cast aluminium, 17M/C X MT4.5 / 160/60R17M/C69H
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Dimensions (LxWxH)
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2165mm x 830mm 1415mm
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Wheelbase
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1445mm
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Ground clearance
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180mm
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Seat height
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830mm
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Weight
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196kg (wet)
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Warranty
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Tba
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Servicing
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Tba
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MCIA Secured Rating
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Not yet rated
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Website
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www.honda.co.uk/motorcycles
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Looking for motorcycle insurance? Get a quote for this motorbike with Bennetts bike insurance
What is MCIA Secured?
MCIA Secured gives bike buyers the chance to see just how much work a manufacturer has put into making their new investment as resistant to theft as possible.
As we all know, the more security you use, the less chance there is of your bike being stolen. In fact, based on research by Bennetts, using a disc lock makes your machine three times less likely to be stolen, while heavy duty kit can make it less likely to be stolen than a car. For reviews of the best security products, click here.
MCIA Secured gives motorcycles a rating out of five stars (three stars for bikes of 125cc or less), based on the following being fitted to a new bike as standard:
- A steering lock that meets the UNECE 62 standard
- An ignition immobiliser system
- A vehicle marking system
- An alarm system
- A vehicle tracking system with subscription
The higher the star rating, the better the security, so always ask your dealer what rating your bike has and compare it to other machines on your shortlist.
