I spend a lot of time in Southeast Asia and I'm 220 lb. I had a Himalayan and I worked it into the ground without one complaint. From Manila to Pinatubo up in the mountains it didn't miss a lick. I come back to the states and purchased a 2020. I just traded it for a 2021. The point isn't to conquer the earth. The point is to put you in touch with the world. If you're horsepower hungry it's not for you. but it is reliable as an anvil it starts and takes the altitude. Ricardo of England engineered the engine, hunter engineering manufactures the frame. It doesn't get better! this June I'm doing the Himalayan ride India through China on a Himalayan... They simply got it right
I have a CB500X and I did the Rally Raid kit to it. Even with that and a bunch of upgrades, I’m still ten grand ahead of a big bore bike, and mine is solid on the highway and way easier to ride in the dirt. I keep looking at other bikes and realizing I have no reason to switch.
Thank you. A great overview. I rode off-road till my mid 40’s, but I’m 60 now and I’ve been on-road the whole time. Very sporty, I ride an MT-10 but at half it’s potential! Now I want to ride dirt roads and mild single track. This is the class for me. Have fun out there.
I have ridden most adventure bikes, right now I have the Himalayan and I go everywhere on this bike. Good fuel capacity and climbs anything. Easy to pick up if dropped, no complaints so far after 13,000 miles. I recently bought a second Himalayan and enjoy them both. SJ
@@1988pmh I'm 193 cm and I don't have any problems with seat height or riding comfort, but maybe my inseam is different idk didn't measure it. Power department is subjective so I won't go deeper into that, but for normal riding is plenty enough 😊
@@SuperCheesyMan I come from an old kawa gtr1000, Yamaha fjr1300 and a BMW f800gs and I understand what you mean. Now on my cb500x I find it also difficult to find any thrill but when pushing it to the 'limiter' it's kinda fun. Also low refs up to 3th gear are nice. Aside from that it's a great, reliable, cheap all-rounder, don't you think?
I have a CB500X and a Versys 300X. Your assessment is pretty good. The Versys motor is tremendous fun and it feels a more light hearted machine. The Honda is a more serious motorcycle and is indeed more relaxed on highways on long haul roads - also more economical. Build quality is better too. But if I just want to go for a hoon round the tracks and lanes I pick the Versys every time.
I have a ninja 300 (so same motor) and I just love the combo of forgiving for the morning sleepy commute but fun keep it reved up along some windy roads. I don't think I'll ever 'get rid of' this bike. I'd certainly trade it sideways for something similar, but I'll always want something in that category
If it's not a giant truck SUV or a Harley Davidson we probable won't be getting it in the States but thanks for showing me how much fun other people are having
I have a 250 Rally and love it. I’ve done several 300+ mile days (mostly on country roads) with no issues. I will look into the new 300, but I’m not convinced for me that it’s worth changing. I have an Africa Twin (1000cc) for longer rides with ‘she who must be obeyed’. Never tried two up on the Rally. I did briefly consider selling them both and getting a 500X but decided that two bikes are better than one 😀
Nice comparison! Don’t be afraid to disclose the prices . Very important information and trust us to understand Canadian price isn’t the same as other countries. We can figure it out.
Me and the wife are getting two G310GS With a stage 2 rally raid kit and knobby tires they can play on dirt and sand quite well. Save a little by buying 2019 with under 5k miles from an individual and the come with a few upgrades to lessen the list to hit the goal. Found one for $4300 windshield, barkbusters, luggage and the other for $5200 with luggage, windshield, pegs, barkbusters, and engine bar upgrades. So not much left to do. By the time I'm done we will have two tricked out baby GSs at the cost of retail new. Both have less than 5k miles on em and look flawless. Had to drive 8 hours for 1 and 5 hrs for the other. But worth it. Just like the GS style. Great video!!! Texas USA here. New Sub
I just finished a Baja 2,000 mile ride where we rode all over Baja, Mexico. I was on my Versys 300X. It did a fantastic job. It surprised everyone on the ride since it cruised all day long at 75 mph. If somebody comes out with a 400-500 cc adventure bike that is 70% road and 30% off road I’ll probably buy it.
I have an F700GS and just bought a 2015 XT250 and love it! It was my first bike in 1981 and it’s such a capable little bike. A T300 I’m sure would be great!
I love your review. I'm thinking of a new bike this spring but having a hard time giving up my 1972 Honda XL 250 motorsport. 49 years old and still a perfect rider.
I have a soft spot for the Hodaka Combat Wombat 125 of same vintage as your Honda. IIRC, "The Bear" (Australian motorcycle journalist, Peter Thoeming) did an around the world trip on your bike in his younger days.
@@MrBenHaynes Cheers, I once had a XL350, and it was my first ride. Even went cross country in eastern Canada with two on the bike and almost three, if you count the luggage. It lasted 3months and It was quite the adventure for sure.
Funny thing, when I was purchasing the bike (financing), I didn't even go to the moto store thinking of buying a bike... There was also the XL500, so it always bothered me (somewhat), that I didn't go for the bigger cylinder guy, I guess I wimped out, lol Actually, with after though...I only had a learner's permit back then, and could only drive bikes under 400cc, so knowing myself, I would of gotten the bigger beast, if I was allowed! But hey, 18yrs old & on a dual 350, free to go almost anywhere, it was fun times indeed.
This video is perhaps the best overview of this segment. Lots of info and reasonable parameters to create the list to review. I have a Ducati Multistrada 1200S for the big tours but just added the KTM 390 ADV for my (modest) off road adventures. Made a few mods to make it more dirt-worthy, and apparently KTM Powerparts is soon offering a spoke wheels kit if that turns out to be really necessary. The Honda CRF or the new Kawasaki KLX 300 would have been a good choice but who knows when we'll see them in North America.
Just bought a KTM 390 Adventure after owning a 650 Vstrom and a WR250R. The KTM is the perfect blend of both, IMO. That said, I would love to see an ADV version of a modernized DRZ400 or a similar displacement Tenere.
Great reviews . Sold my 650 v strom for all the reasons you described in your introduction and bought a 300 Versys for all the reasons you described. I would say you did under rate its capabilities for backroad rides though . Sure it can't scream like a big suspension bike but it handles so nimbly it is joy to tool on and even ride some mild single track. The big bonus with the Versys is a 350 km plus ride range and it is a great bike for short inseam riders. It is revy as you described but the twin motor is so smooth that highway rides at 110 you only have the tach to tell you it's over 8k rpms as there is no excessive vibration.
Thanks for sharing your experience! I'm heavily leaning toward getting a Versys-X; just hard to find decently priced used ones right now. (Budget is right at $5k.) The low availability has me wondering if I should consider looking for a KTM 390 ADV, BMW 310 GS, or a CB500x.
I've been wanting a 300cc class adventure bike since 1975 and the industry finally figured out that 1200cc offroad is needlessly cumbersome. I recently bought a new G310GS for my 60th birthday. I rode dual sports as a teenager and had a DR350 when I was 40 for an urban assault commuter bike. As a "mature" rider (ugh), I'm not up for hard thrashing on single track. My old man adventures will be secondary roads and dirt roads to do some motorcycle camping and the baby GS should be ideal for that. Buying a new 2019 at the end of 2020 and paying cash, I paid the same as three year old bikes with no warranty and 6,000 miles. Crazy. On the down side, it's torture to have a new bike as winter is coming and it's too cold and rainy to ride. At least I'm not in Canada. 🙄 I'd posted elsewhere that a 300cc Tenere would be great, and your rumor was the first I'd heard of it. I hope Yamaha does that. They really need to be in this market.
I love my KTM 390 ADV. Its light enough to ride on the front hitch rack of my truck camper and capable enough to cruise at 70 mph or tackle light off road action. Great value and no squawks after the first 1000 miles. Best upgrade was a 790 windscreen!
Double Agreed! If you ride a motorcycle, expect to drop it. An old adage was: if you can't kick start it, you shouldn't be riding it. Debatable to be sure. But it could also then be implied, if you can't pick it up, you shouldn't be riding it.
30000 miles on my KTM1090r ive had since new = 3 state 'BDR' routs 2 of em twice , this is my first 2cyl bike coming from a KTM690/KLR650/XR650L/DRZ400/ATK605/XR400 ect prior and 2 observations , 1:: the HUGE 1090r is actually far more capable off road than id have ever bet before riding it but 2 :: my next bike will be smaller & lighter but not ready to go back to a 1cyl bike yet
i'm not into 'Impressing' anyone but myself! Small Adventure Bikes 'FIT' ME! lightweight...'affordable'...'nimble' on the trails...& i don't even mind a bit of 'Buzziness'...on the Pavement! Cheers from Canada!
I bought an x300 a year ago. It came down to the CBx and the versys, but in the end I found a discounted x300 for $5000 canadian. Cheaper to insure as well. That being said, if the Rally 300 had been an option at the time I would have thought really hard about it.
At 77 years old my KLR 650 at 500 pounds was too heavy and tall. Got my 43 year old Yamaha XT 500 out of storage. With some fresh gas, it started the 2nd kick. At 300 pounds it's just perfect!
Finally, a video that showed exactly what I was looking for. I bought the x300 but I’m liking the Honda class as well. Time to upgrade the x300. Thank you for the honest review.
I ride the Versys X300. It's a great bike, and it is true that while it's not super torquey at low RPM, it's actually extremely capable off road once you know how to ride it. I think it would easily beat all the other bikes in the video off-road except the CRF300L rally and maybe the Enfield.
Thats the model I bought this week, rode it home yesterday, up to 30 miles on it after this morning's ride. I might never go off road, but in Texas some roads can be bad at times.
Very well done video. Like you I have multiple bikes already but decided to purchase an adventure bike last fall. It came down to the 250 rally and the DR650. I ended up going with the 650 and added the windshield, rack and SC seat. If the 300 had been available at the time my decision would have been more difficult but I must say the DR is a fantastic do everything bike with a few basic mods. I also agree that for the rider who only can have one bike the 500x looks very good. Keep up the good work!
500x is best seller in Thailand Great fuel economy Cheap parts (assembled in Thailand) Tons of aftermarket parts Durable and resistant to abuse Decent power for highway cruise, and small enough to maneuver in heavy traffic / narrow streets somewhat lightweight, not too difficult for semi off-road like waterfall, river, mountain, and flood in city Never gone through a day without seeing at least 1 on the road
The KTM is my favorite bike here! We own the Kawasaki Versys X 300 and a Husqvarna Svartpilen 401 (same engine like KTM 390 Adventure). The one cylinder is a dream compared with the Kawasaki twin. The Royal Enfield needs urgently better brakes. Otherwise it would be a serious option for us.
The best answer is still the one, that does what You want to do and which fits You. I ride a Versys-X and when I bought it, there was not that much options in this class. CB500X frame is too small for me, the footpegs are too high and too rear. Same with BMW. KTM is lovely, but the price tag keeps me away from it, at least for a while. Himalayan is not available here in Finland and even if it was, I sometimes need a bit more motorway performance it could offer. And as I'm riding gravel roads but not real offroad, Versys-X performs well for me. Rumours of T3 are interesting, and of course all Versys-X 300 owners wait the day when Versys-X 400 comes true.
I'm also in Canada and there is a bike that weighs less than most of the bikes mentioned with long suspension, proven reliability and costs about the same here as the cheapest bike on the list. Has more torque and power than any of these bikes, has the longest warranty, and is capable where you want to ride it. I've crossed every province in Canada on mine and my favorite feature is what it doesn't have to go wrong - simple, tough and reliable. Twisty roads, highway, dirt roads, trails it's as good as your tires. cc's are a bit arbitrary and here my DR650 is in the same insurance bracket of 401-750cc as the Himalayan or the CB500x. I've done several 1000km days on the highway and you can find lots of videos of how well it does off road. In 50,000km of ownership I had to replace only one little $4 gasket that started a slow drip.
Yep, I like the DR as well. I just saw it more as a big dual sport. You can definitely turn it into a nice ADV bike. Suzuki should look into making one.
Id like to mention this if I may peeps. I'm 5'7" (172cm) I took the KTM 390 adventure out for a test ride and was comfortably touching the road with both feet. I'd heard it was tall so put me off but was talked into a test ride. The seat is made of rock so anyone with a bad back get the comfy seat but I loved the bike itself. I just wanted to mention the height thing as its a big deal to me. After all, I'm the first to know when theres a flood and the last to know when its snowing :-)
I seriously wanted a Himalayan, but the 3000 mile valve adjustment interval was prohibitive. I ride 12000-15000 miles a year, so I was looking at 4-5 valve adjustments per year. And the valve adjustments are a PITA.
@@pilotalan follow itchy boots , she gave a 10,000 km, 30,000 km and 60,000 km review of the Himalayan...(and drove it literally throughout the world)..
@@sagnikdebsarkar169 I know, I watched. Just saying, that this is a crazily low interval for valve adjustments, that people should be aware of it, and for my use it's not a good choice.
In the Latin American market we have the Honda XRE 300, its a pretty nice machine in the off road/trail segment, which came to replace the Honda Falcon 400 and the Honda XR Tornado 250 ✌️
Will people ever stop lumping the adjectives “shorter” and “beginner” together in the context of motorcycle riding? These two characteristics have no logical or empirical connection.
I totally agree. The biggest bike in my garage is a Honda CTX700 - all of my other bikes have less displacement. I do not need to have 1200cc’s to enjoy riding. I choose smaller bikes because I enjoy the way they ride.
Yes thanks for saying. At 5ft 5"/163cm myself, the same thing annoys me in many reviews, & patronizing advice to us shorties like "and when you have learnt how to ride, you will no longer care about that 36"/900mm seat height"...No, that's crap. It remains a PITA (been riding dirtbikes 50yrs so far)
Ive seen people shorter than 5'6 rip thru turns like if it was nothing, on 1200cc cruisers that look like lazyboy chairs. You're standard isle of man or motoGP rider is 5'7 and they are the best if the best. Only thing tall people are good at is having a shorter life expectancy and a life full of complications.
my biggest issue is how a 300cc bike will have cheap plastics and funky designs while the 600cc and up builds will have the nice levers and electronics just once i’d love to see a small bike with premium controls and ergonomics
I hadn't been on a motor bike much at all for 15 years. A friend asked me to go bird hunting with him and we rode bikes in to the cabin he owns. When I first got on the Himalayan liked the looks of it. When we rode down about 16 miles of paved road I was wishing for a bit more power. When we went up nearly 20 miles of rutty dirt road I began to see the charms of the thing. Once you got the thing moving it was very easy to keep it moving. I never had to wind the engine up even on hills. It climbed in and over the ruts really easily. For a guy learning all over again it was very reassuring. Now it looks good in my shed. I still wish for some more power for the open road now and then. I love it when I take it bouncing. Lots of dirt mountain type roads where i live.
This was a very well done and measured comparison. Thank you! I owned a Vesrys X 300 prior to my W 800 and loved it! It was a daily rider and was seamless. I looked at both the 310 BMW and the Himalayan. Both sweet rides but the dealership issues got in the way. Take care and thanks again!!
Been loving my Versys for riding around Europe this year. Next year is Africa, so I'm buying the CRF or even better if Yamaha comes out with a Tenere 300 Im sold.
@@DifferentSpokesTV The L will be better purely off road due to less weight. The rally will be more comfortable on road due to the fairing. Just gotta be honest with yourself, what are you going to do with it it. For me it's the rally, since riding through africa is long distance, not just mud roads.
@@Noadvantage246 It is an easy bike to handle, enough torque to go slow on trails and not spin the rear wheel uncontrollably. If you drop it, it is easy to pick. I have done trails and off road with no issues (I am the limitation). However, it is not made to go fast on such terrain, but i'm in no race, so I really enjoy it.
I have a Yamaha Tenere 600Z which I have done a lot of pavement and off roading with. I also have a Yamaha Tenere 250 which I use to zip around town and run errands. I'll admit the 600Z is on the heavy side (especially now that I am 60). But, also at 60 you tend to not drop it as much as when I was younger and tackled heavy trails.
@@deborahchesser7375 the 430-460 big bore kits are available, as are 17-28 L Safari tanks and you can add a wide ratio gear set ( ACT or Nova) to get a better highway performance. Brittanica Composites make a fairing for the DRZ400. Doing these modifications add to the price, but it is still cheaper than the KTM 500 and Honda 450. I doubt Suzuki will update the DRZ400 as they are still selling well and cost the company nothing on R&D.
Leaning toward the Enfield for its looks, torque, and price. I love the look and sound of the Kwak, but I can't buy a test ride. The BMW rides nice but I want spoked wheels.
Remember spoked wheels on these small bikes means tube type tires, which means you not only have to remove both the wheel and tire to fix a flat, you also have to have a centerstand (which the Himalayan fortunately has) and carry a ton of stuff with you like tools to remove wheels and tires, and plenty of tubes, which take up a lot of space that could be used for something else.
A big factor for myself would be to load them up with your camping gear and then compare....there’s thousands of miles/kms of backroads and trails to explore here in BC that can’t be done in one day.
The problem with the crf 450 l it needs every 1000 km (~600miles) a oil change...my last vacation i rode one way over 600 miles just to get there ...this is why it isn't a good choice for a adventure bike
I love my Honda CB500x. It ticks all the boxes. Fuel Economy ✓. Low Maintenance ✓. Comfort✓. Available accessories ✓. Agility✓. Price ✓..... The list goes on
Same here, feels like it just runs on air and is so easy to ride. The suspension is a bit short though, looking at rally raid suspesion kits to fix that.
@@kumarpratyush8218 Its usually happens when riders panic after they r stuck and try to rev their way out of it, that is the only major problem that itchy boots also found.
For 95% of riders who ride on and off road (being generous that 5% have pro off-road needs), the cb500x can fullfil 99% of their riding needs. Personally, I think that choice of tires have more to do with capabilities than anything else (if we are talking about transportation needs and not screwing around). One can adjust speed off-road but, one can't safely cruise 70-80mph on knobbies or in the rain. And the other way around, street tires don't work well on gravel and/or sand. The biggest obstacle for 500x is that there is really not much choice for off-road-ish capable tires. Other than that, I completely agree that 500x is best choice for one only bike.
Continental TKC 80 tyre are very good off road and stick well to the pavement (but have a short service life) These are only available for the 2019 onward Honda CB500X with 19/17 wheelset.
At last !! a review by someone that is not paid to bump up a product ! nice review . I ride a 2003 f 650gs here in europe but going back to honda due to build quality and reliability . be safe .
i have a himalayan bs6 / euro 6 . very good for short riders. at first the size may look intimidating for new riders but fear not. the seating is such that you will feel confident despite the size or weight. the bike is very happy at around 3k to 5k rpm and 3rd or 4th gear the bike crawls , for off road it is a plus point. and for new riders its highway performance is quite good and acceptable. you can cruise at a 100 or 110 kmph and the bike wont even break a sweat.
@KTMARV 1 THEY ALL BEEN BEAT TO DEATH ON HWY AND ITS SLOW ....ALL HAVE SOME LAME ACCY THE DUDE THINKS IS WORTH 1000'S SOME DORK WILL END UP BUYING IT FOR 1000 MORE THAN ITS WORTH....
I have an XT250 that is pretty good for back roads or light trails. I love the light weight and ease of riding. It's not powerful enough to ride with friends with bigger bikes. So, I also own a Suzuki DR650. I love everything but the seat height. (I'm 68 years old, not very spry anymore). I will keep these bikes until Yamaha or Suzuki gets smart and builds a bigger dual sport with a lower seat height. XT400 with electric start? Van Van 450?
Great video as I am looking to change my 1200 GSA for something light and cheap for proper mixed touring. I have taken the GSA along a few gravel roads and a forest but was always worried about dropping it as I would struggle to pick it up again in some situations. I would love a 500CBX if they did it with spoke wheels and a 21" front but it may be a good compromise as is.
I sold mine. It's a series issue. Once the bike falls you have to jump quick, you are not stopping it. Picking it up off a flat road is a feat on itself and I'm 6'3" . On a sloping gravel road or even just one wheel in a ditch and you need to reverse it out, forget about it!
I'm starting to see that we've got too many choices..... lol, while it seems funny to say this I also know that you could hand ANY of these 6 bikes out to people & they would make it work. They might make some mods to help but they'd all work just fine or that's what I'm starting to believe. That said, I'm kinda leaning towards the Rally version of the 300L by Honda but like the Himalayan is also not a bad bike for its cost. Still saving here but will be researching it hard until I get the money together to buy. Thanks for the videos you've done, this one is 3 yrs old & still relevant to my needs. Thanks man & I'll see your new stuff soon ! peace
I've been waiting for a small 400 to 600 preferably V twin for a long time. I've been riding the big bms now KTM 1190 for years always on the dirt but age is catching up with me they are getting to heavy to pick up and I no longer need the power but still would like the low down torque. Thanks for your production and I must agree with most of your comments.
@@ryderwilson7955 if it can do highway, yes, but that doesn't make it well suited for it. It needs to Rev too high to keep the speed. I used to have an fz07, and while 1st to 3rd gear would lift the front wheel, even that one was rather bland at highway speeds (hardly any overtaking power over 100mph).
@@ProDigit80 luckily where I live no one drives 100mph on the highway other than a rare few who just pass everyone, I ride on a 125cc PCX and I'm doing roughly fine on the highway maxing at 62mph and most cars are driving at best at 71-72 mph so having a motorcycle that can do 90+mph is MORE than enough for me so maybe that's where our thoughts differ.
@@ryderwilson7955 You would probably not want to drive around here with that scooter. If it does 70MPH tops, it means 60MPH with a headwind or 2 up, and 55MPH with a headwind/2 up and uphill. Over here most cars do 80MPH on the highway, some do 100MPH. You wouldn't be safe on a PCX here.
That CRF250 rally that you're showing I think that's the 2018 model year cuz I have that exact bike I love it! Perfect 4 what i do. Nice video & 🆒 voice 2 boot👍👍
Still waiting on the Honda CRF450 Rally they teased us 3 years ago now, just make it Honda everyone wants one, going in the right direction with the 300 but a bit more power/torque is all we ask, 350/400cc would probably be the ultimate sweet spot for size, weight and power. If Yamaha could make a bike that fits that bill I would be right on it.
Never heard Honda CBX500 associated with good before. A single cylinder 500 that 300 class bikes leave behind in nearly every catagory. All for a Honda price.....
@@chasefreedom5178 it’s one of the best all-rounders out there, could be your experience but the CB500X has an exceptional reputation for being a do-everything bike.
I ride a 2013 Cb500x. Fantastic road bike especially on Saskatchewan roads. I find myself doing lots of forest and dirt trails, and definitely feel the lack of suspension. Insurance is also crazy here for bikes over 400cc to the point its cheaper to finance new bike under 400c and insure it than it is to insure my cb500x. Absolutely love it and would definitely buy a 2021 if the insurance wasn't a killer here. Currently thinking of getting the ktm 390 adventure.
It's the same here in BC. I was shocked at how cheap the insurance was on my 400 Burgman compared to my 500F.. Still the difference was only about $300. I would rather have Honda reliability.
I want the Kawasaki Versys-X, with 1 inch extra ground clearance, 7-inch suspension travel front and back, and the 400cc engine. Tell them to make it like that :)
Bought my Versys-X back in June and have rode it almost every day until I had to store it for winter. I LOVE this bike. Does everything I need. But, if Kawasaki does what you and all of us are dreaming about - it just might become the perfect lightweight adventure bike.
There are led blinkers on the presentation crf300l but apparently it'll come with bulbs. I hope one day honda will put a 350 or 400, that would cover the performance gap
A Tenere 300 done right would certainly be able to take over those duties currently done by modified WR250Rs (now gone). I would be willing to snap one up if Yamaha did one. I suspect this is what Yamaha may have in mind using that MT-03 engine (just put a little more off-road torque in it). One other thing that Yamaha could do is take their WR250/450F and bulletproof the engines just a bit more to lengthen the service intervals to make dual sport conversions of these models worthwhile in those states which allow it. Especially since their YZ (x) and YZ - F(X) bikes have the competition side covered. The Suzuki DR 400 and 650 are in bad need of two things: 1) Six speed transmission. 2) Fuel injection.
Very thorough and informative review. I really like the channel. That CBF 300 looks really good to me. I’ve had my eye on the CBF 250, but an extra 50 cc would be even better. I hope Honda will make a non-rally version though. I’d rather not pay for a fairing that would only add weight and bulk and get beat up in the trails.
500cc is still fairly small but definitly not the same engine class as the others, so I think power wise it can't be compared to the others in this class, since Honda's 500cc (and pretty much all 500cc) are are there to offer the most power/lowest weight possible for A2 license riders who have to wait before jumping on a Tenere or Africa Twin... there's a reason I started riding on a Honda Rebel 500 and not some other detuned Cruiser that weights twice as much with the same power
@@PliskinGr uhm, that's exactly my point, 500cc is fairly powerful and a way different tier than than ~251-499cc And this list is composed of below 500cc bikes, so everything above needs to be compared to equal tier bikes. You also cant compare 500cc bikes with 700cc or 700cc with 1000cc options 🤷🏼♂️
Honda makes a 400X for Japan and some other markets but not North America. I’ve seen photos and it looks nice. I’m very short so lower bikes with above average power get my attention.
I work with a guy who has a CB500X. He rides it in all weather, without fail. It seems to be a great bike. I know someone else who has a Himalayan, a 2018 model, and that bike is completely indestructible, surprisingly smooth, and dead simple mechanically. I would buy one myself if I didn't already have a DR650.
I rode Suzuki GS 150 for more than 4000 KM across Pakistan and had no issues, not even a flat tire. It did not heat up after continuous hours of riding at full throtle, started every time after long journey and brief breaks for refreshments. Light weight and way economical on fuel; I was getting 40-45KM per Liter on Highways depending upon your speed, Way better than all those 600s and 1200s. Imagine in a place like Pakistan where roads are not so good at many places and there is not much support on the road side if anything bad happens to your bike (except for the people who will come to help). I don't know why people are so crazy about those big bikes for touring. May be its because they have not experienced what I have.
KTM 390 Adv is the best all round and by far best value for $. But it really needs a facelift/update for 2021.Lateral optics are bad w ugly exhaust and oddly shaped tank panels. Also needs a few more cm ground clearance.
Great video tests anything going off road needs spoke wheels some did others not, easy to handle with 21 inch front wheel and duel sport tires other wise they are street only bikes..
Can't say how much it would be in US dollars, but there is Fantic Caballero 500 in EU. Kinda like a mix between Honda CRF250 and the 500X one. You also can buy Rally version and I've heard it's pretty capable in the dirt. You just need to get used to the pipe that goes in "scrambler" style, near your tigh.
I got a cb500x for 5300 because it was last years model. unfortunately it's a 2017 with the 17 inch front wheel. Great bike for weekend random road trips with some dirt roads thrown in and weekday commuting.
I actually was considering that CB500X as my first motorcycle back in October! Then my wife pretty much surprised me with a brand new iron 883 instead? I’m not complaining, love my iron, but still have that itch for something “off-road “ capable!
Since you have a good bike for the roads you can go with an inexpensive dual sport for the trails and it will be better on dirt than the CB. Best of both worlds.
I like the Honda 500 as i ride mostly country roads and is capable of some countries bad dirt roads rather than full out off roads ,i chose for what i mainly ride rather than rare roads or tracts i may encounter in my travels , plus side Honda is reliable and most countries repair Hondas
Curious which would be the choice for my sweety and me on improved dirt roads(USA appalachians)?My klr650 is just too tall&heavy=squirrelly riding double.Our speeds no more more than 40 locally dirt roads.
I spend a lot of time in Southeast Asia and I'm 220 lb. I had a Himalayan and I worked it into the ground without one complaint. From Manila to Pinatubo up in the mountains it didn't miss a lick. I come back to the states and purchased a 2020. I just traded it for a 2021. The point isn't to conquer the earth. The point is to put you in touch with the world. If you're horsepower hungry it's not for you. but it is reliable as an anvil it starts and takes the altitude. Ricardo of England engineered the engine, hunter engineering manufactures the frame. It doesn't get better! this June I'm doing the Himalayan ride India through China on a Himalayan... They simply got it right
I live in SEA too and that segment is the best choice around here 🙌
I have a CB500X and I did the Rally Raid kit to it. Even with that and a bunch of upgrades, I’m still ten grand ahead of a big bore bike, and mine is solid on the highway and way easier to ride in the dirt. I keep looking at other bikes and realizing I have no reason to switch.
Thank you. A great overview. I rode off-road till my mid 40’s, but I’m 60 now and I’ve been on-road the whole time. Very sporty, I ride an MT-10 but at half it’s potential! Now I want to ride dirt roads and mild single track. This is the class for me. Have fun out there.
👍 I'm 69 and the off-roading I do is the mile and a half of gravel road I have to get to the highway.
I have ridden most adventure bikes, right now I have the Himalayan and I go everywhere on this bike. Good fuel capacity and climbs anything. Easy to pick up if dropped, no complaints so far after 13,000 miles. I recently bought a second Himalayan and enjoy them both. SJ
U have two Himalayans. For what?
Love my halfrica twin CB500X 19 model 3-3.5l per 100km, comfy, decent power, with only one downside : you can't get enough of riding that thing🤣
Yeah, thats a nice bike. Sadly,its a bit too low for me. If i wasn't almost 190cm tall,i would buy a small bike. Nobody needs 100ps on a bike. :-)
@@1988pmh I'm 193 cm and I don't have any problems with seat height or riding comfort, but maybe my inseam is different idk didn't measure it. Power department is subjective so I won't go deeper into that, but for normal riding is plenty enough 😊
yea I can't stay off mine It's a 2020 cb500x bought mine in august and I already have 5000 miles on it check out my channel
My first bike,.gosh I hated the engine as it didn't give me any thrills at all. Glad you are enjoying yours tho
@@SuperCheesyMan I come from an old kawa gtr1000, Yamaha fjr1300 and a BMW f800gs and I understand what you mean. Now on my cb500x I find it also difficult to find any thrill but when pushing it to the 'limiter' it's kinda fun. Also low refs up to 3th gear are nice. Aside from that it's a great, reliable, cheap all-rounder, don't you think?
I have a CB500X and a Versys 300X. Your assessment is pretty good. The Versys motor is tremendous fun and it feels a more light hearted machine. The Honda is a more serious motorcycle and is indeed more relaxed on highways on long haul roads - also more economical. Build quality is better too. But if I just want to go for a hoon round the tracks and lanes I pick the Versys every time.
I have a ninja 300 (so same motor) and I just love the combo of forgiving for the morning sleepy commute but fun keep it reved up along some windy roads.
I don't think I'll ever 'get rid of' this bike. I'd certainly trade it sideways for something similar, but I'll always want something in that category
If it's not a giant truck SUV or a Harley Davidson we probable won't be getting it in the States but thanks for showing me how much fun other people are having
I have a 250 Rally and love it. I’ve done several 300+ mile days (mostly on country roads) with no issues. I will look into the new 300, but I’m not convinced for me that it’s worth changing. I have an Africa Twin (1000cc) for longer rides with ‘she who must be obeyed’. Never tried two up on the Rally. I did briefly consider selling them both and getting a 500X but decided that two bikes are better than one 😀
Nice comparison! Don’t be afraid to disclose the prices . Very important information and trust us to understand Canadian price isn’t the same as other countries. We can figure it out.
Me and the wife are getting two G310GS
With a stage 2 rally raid kit and knobby tires they can play on dirt and sand quite well. Save a little by buying 2019 with under 5k miles from an individual and the come with a few upgrades to lessen the list to hit the goal. Found one for $4300 windshield, barkbusters, luggage and the other for $5200 with luggage, windshield, pegs, barkbusters, and engine bar upgrades. So not much left to do. By the time I'm done we will have two tricked out baby GSs at the cost of retail new. Both have less than 5k miles on em and look flawless. Had to drive 8 hours for 1 and 5 hrs for the other. But worth it.
Just like the GS style. Great video!!!
Texas USA here. New Sub
I just finished a Baja 2,000 mile ride where we rode all over Baja, Mexico. I was on my Versys 300X. It did a fantastic job. It surprised everyone on the ride since it cruised all day long at 75 mph.
If somebody comes out with a 400-500 cc adventure bike that is 70% road and 30% off road I’ll probably buy it.
I have an F700GS and just bought a 2015 XT250 and love it! It was my first bike in 1981 and it’s such a capable little bike. A T300 I’m sure would be great!
I love your review. I'm thinking of a new bike this spring but having a hard time giving up my 1972 Honda XL 250 motorsport. 49 years old and still a perfect rider.
I have a soft spot for the Hodaka Combat Wombat 125 of same vintage as your Honda.
IIRC, "The Bear" (Australian motorcycle journalist, Peter Thoeming) did an around the world trip on your bike in his younger days.
@@MrBenHaynes Cheers, I once had a XL350, and it was my first ride. Even went cross country in eastern Canada with two on the bike and almost three, if you count the luggage. It lasted 3months and It was quite the adventure for sure.
Funny thing, when I was purchasing the bike (financing), I didn't even go to the moto store thinking of buying a bike... There was also the XL500, so it always bothered me (somewhat), that I didn't go for the bigger cylinder guy, I guess I wimped out, lol
Actually, with after though...I only had a learner's permit back then, and could only drive bikes under 400cc, so knowing myself, I would of gotten the bigger beast, if I was allowed! But hey, 18yrs old & on a dual 350, free to go almost anywhere, it was fun times indeed.
I suggest you keep it if you can as it is already a classic.
My second bike was a 72 XL 250. Gave it to a friend when I went into the Air Force in 1984. Probably still running. Good combo of power and weight.
This video is perhaps the best overview of this segment. Lots of info and reasonable parameters to create the list to review. I have a Ducati Multistrada 1200S for the big tours but just added the KTM 390 ADV for my (modest) off road adventures. Made a few mods to make it more dirt-worthy, and apparently KTM Powerparts is soon offering a spoke wheels kit if that turns out to be really necessary. The Honda CRF or the new Kawasaki KLX 300 would have been a good choice but who knows when we'll see them in North America.
Just bought a KTM 390 Adventure after owning a 650 Vstrom and a WR250R. The KTM is the perfect blend of both, IMO. That said, I would love to see an ADV version of a modernized DRZ400 or a similar displacement Tenere.
Great reviews . Sold my 650 v strom for all the reasons you described in your introduction and bought a 300 Versys for all the reasons you described. I would say you did under rate its capabilities for backroad rides though . Sure it can't scream like a big suspension bike but it handles so nimbly it is joy to tool on and even ride some mild single track. The big bonus with the Versys is a 350 km plus ride range and it is a great bike for short inseam riders. It is revy as you described but the twin motor is so smooth that highway rides at 110 you only have the tach to tell you it's over 8k rpms as there is no excessive vibration.
Thanks for sharing your experience! I'm heavily leaning toward getting a Versys-X; just hard to find decently priced used ones right now. (Budget is right at $5k.) The low availability has me wondering if I should consider looking for a KTM 390 ADV, BMW 310 GS, or a CB500x.
I've been wanting a 300cc class adventure bike since 1975 and the industry finally figured out that 1200cc offroad is needlessly cumbersome. I recently bought a new G310GS for my 60th birthday. I rode dual sports as a teenager and had a DR350 when I was 40 for an urban assault commuter bike. As a "mature" rider (ugh), I'm not up for hard thrashing on single track. My old man adventures will be secondary roads and dirt roads to do some motorcycle camping and the baby GS should be ideal for that.
Buying a new 2019 at the end of 2020 and paying cash, I paid the same as three year old bikes with no warranty and 6,000 miles. Crazy. On the down side, it's torture to have a new bike as winter is coming and it's too cold and rainy to ride. At least I'm not in Canada. 🙄
I'd posted elsewhere that a 300cc Tenere would be great, and your rumor was the first I'd heard of it. I hope Yamaha does that. They really need to be in this market.
Congrats on the new bike! Hopefully the winter is short and you get a lot of enjoyment out of it next year.
I love my KTM 390 ADV. Its light enough to ride on the front hitch rack of my truck camper and capable enough to cruise at 70 mph or tackle light off road action. Great value and no squawks after the first 1000 miles. Best upgrade was a 790 windscreen!
For how much did u buy it
These make sense to me. I couldn't imagine riding a 550+ pound SUV bike in the dirt. Or trying to pick it up after dropping it.
Agreed. I switched to dirt bikes where 250 lbs is considered on the heavy side.
Double Agreed! If you ride a motorcycle, expect to drop it. An old adage was: if you can't kick start it, you shouldn't be riding it. Debatable to be sure. But it could also then be implied, if you can't pick it up, you shouldn't be riding it.
I had an F800GS, you're not wrong :(.
30000 miles on my KTM1090r ive had since new = 3 state 'BDR' routs 2 of em twice , this is my first 2cyl bike coming from a KTM690/KLR650/XR650L/DRZ400/ATK605/XR400 ect prior and 2 observations , 1:: the HUGE 1090r is actually far more capable off road than id have ever bet before riding it but 2 :: my next bike will be smaller & lighter but not ready to go back to a 1cyl bike yet
i'm not into 'Impressing' anyone but myself! Small Adventure Bikes 'FIT' ME! lightweight...'affordable'...'nimble' on the trails...& i don't even mind a bit of 'Buzziness'...on the Pavement! Cheers from Canada!
I love your wife she looks like a nice person, and the world needs more of them.
you can give her some LDS like tyron would do
I bought an x300 a year ago. It came down to the CBx and the versys, but in the end I found a discounted x300 for $5000 canadian. Cheaper to insure as well. That being said, if the Rally 300 had been an option at the time I would have thought really hard about it.
T 300 sounds great. Will purchase 1 if it comes to South Africa
At 77 years old my KLR 650 at 500 pounds was too heavy and tall. Got my 43 year old Yamaha XT 500 out of storage. With some fresh gas, it started the 2nd kick. At 300 pounds it's just perfect!
Finally, a video that showed exactly what I was looking for. I bought the x300 but I’m liking the Honda class as well. Time to upgrade the x300. Thank you for the honest review.
Man, I got a 2020 X300 love it so far !
@🎲 L U C K Y 🎲 man, nice since then I traded in my 300X for a new 2022 KLR650, I have over a thousand miles on it, it's a hoot to ride !
I ride the Versys X300. It's a great bike, and it is true that while it's not super torquey at low RPM, it's actually extremely capable off road once you know how to ride it. I think it would easily beat all the other bikes in the video off-road except the CRF300L rally and maybe the Enfield.
Thanks for sharing. I like that it comes with wire wheels unlike the KTM and BMW.
Yeah, just shift to one or two lower gears, and it has plenty of torque.
All a dirt bike really needs is 250cc anyway, and the wheels start spinning.
Thats the model I bought this week, rode it home yesterday, up to 30 miles on it after this morning's ride. I might never go off road, but in Texas some roads can be bad at times.
Very well done video. Like you I have multiple bikes already but decided to purchase an adventure bike last fall. It came down to the 250 rally and the DR650. I ended up going with the 650 and added the windshield, rack and SC seat. If the 300 had been available at the time my decision would have been more difficult but I must say the DR is a fantastic do everything bike with a few basic mods. I also agree that for the rider who only can have one bike the 500x looks very good. Keep up the good work!
500x is best seller in Thailand
Great fuel economy
Cheap parts (assembled in Thailand)
Tons of aftermarket parts
Durable and resistant to abuse
Decent power for highway cruise, and small enough to maneuver in heavy traffic / narrow streets
somewhat lightweight, not too difficult for semi off-road like waterfall, river, mountain, and flood in city
Never gone through a day without seeing at least 1 on the road
Yep, Honda did a good job with that one. If they ever update it I hope they give it a 270 Degree crank and spoked wheels.
I will rent a CB500X to do the Mae Hong Son loop from Chiang Mai in northern Thailand when the borders open up!
wise choice!
by the way, some rental shops in Chiang Mai offer new CRF 300 L / Rally, you might wanna try them out.
The KTM is my favorite bike here! We own the Kawasaki Versys X 300 and a Husqvarna Svartpilen 401 (same engine like KTM 390 Adventure). The one cylinder is a dream compared with the Kawasaki twin.
The Royal Enfield needs urgently better brakes. Otherwise it would be a serious option for us.
The hima 450x with liquid cooling, 40+ bhp engine and better brakes will storm the western market....
What different segments would you say the KTM 390 Adventure and Husqvana? Thanks
@@Twilight_Charger The KTM is a small adventure Bike, the Svartpilen is more or less a scrambler.
The best answer is still the one, that does what You want to do and which fits You. I ride a Versys-X and when I bought it, there was not that much options in this class. CB500X frame is too small for me, the footpegs are too high and too rear. Same with BMW. KTM is lovely, but the price tag keeps me away from it, at least for a while. Himalayan is not available here in Finland and even if it was, I sometimes need a bit more motorway performance it could offer. And as I'm riding gravel roads but not real offroad, Versys-X performs well for me. Rumours of T3 are interesting, and of course all Versys-X 300 owners wait the day when Versys-X 400 comes true.
How tall are you?
I am 1.90mt and really like the honda CB 500. Just I'm worried about my height.
@@MarceloClasico 182cm with long legs and short back.
I'm also in Canada and there is a bike that weighs less than most of the bikes mentioned with long suspension, proven reliability and costs about the same here as the cheapest bike on the list. Has more torque and power than any of these bikes, has the longest warranty, and is capable where you want to ride it. I've crossed every province in Canada on mine and my favorite feature is what it doesn't have to go wrong - simple, tough and reliable. Twisty roads, highway, dirt roads, trails it's as good as your tires. cc's are a bit arbitrary and here my DR650 is in the same insurance bracket of 401-750cc as the Himalayan or the CB500x. I've done several 1000km days on the highway and you can find lots of videos of how well it does off road. In 50,000km of ownership I had to replace only one little $4 gasket that started a slow drip.
Yep, I like the DR as well. I just saw it more as a big dual sport. You can definitely turn it into a nice ADV bike. Suzuki should look into making one.
Fantastic video guys , people actually don’t understand when they call KTM adventure 390 a small bike
Id like to mention this if I may peeps. I'm 5'7" (172cm) I took the KTM 390 adventure out for a test ride and was comfortably touching the road with both feet. I'd heard it was tall so put me off but was talked into a test ride. The seat is made of rock so anyone with a bad back get the comfy seat but I loved the bike itself. I just wanted to mention the height thing as its a big deal to me. After all, I'm the first to know when theres a flood and the last to know when its snowing :-)
I love my Himalayan!
Its perfect for me in India and I dont cruze at more than 110kmph.
Perfect for my wildlife adventures
I seriously wanted a Himalayan, but the 3000 mile valve adjustment interval was prohibitive. I ride 12000-15000 miles a year, so I was looking at 4-5 valve adjustments per year. And the valve adjustments are a PITA.
@@pilotalan follow itchy boots , she gave a 10,000 km, 30,000 km and 60,000 km review of the Himalayan...(and drove it literally throughout the world)..
@@sagnikdebsarkar169 I know, I watched.
Just saying, that this is a crazily low interval for valve adjustments, that people should be aware of it, and for my use it's not a good choice.
@@pilotalan yeah , absolutely you should buy the product that fits you the best🙏🏻
Is it ok on muddy offroad??
If Yamaha made a T500, I'd buy it right now. Currently holding out for a T7 used as new, they cost bit much for my wallet.
In the Latin American market we have the Honda XRE 300, its a pretty nice machine in the off road/trail segment, which came to replace the Honda Falcon 400 and the Honda XR Tornado 250 ✌️
Will people ever stop lumping the adjectives “shorter” and “beginner” together in the context of motorcycle riding? These two characteristics have no logical or empirical connection.
I totally agree. The biggest bike in my garage is a Honda CTX700 - all of my other bikes have less displacement. I do not need to have 1200cc’s to enjoy riding. I choose smaller bikes because I enjoy the way they ride.
Yes thanks for saying. At 5ft 5"/163cm myself, the same thing annoys me in many reviews, & patronizing advice to us shorties like "and when you have learnt how to ride, you will no longer care about that 36"/900mm seat height"...No, that's crap. It remains a PITA (been riding dirtbikes 50yrs so far)
Ive seen people shorter than 5'6 rip thru turns like if it was nothing, on 1200cc cruisers that look like lazyboy chairs.
You're standard isle of man or motoGP rider is 5'7 and they are the best if the best.
Only thing tall people are good at is having a shorter life expectancy and a life full of complications.
my biggest issue is how a 300cc bike will have cheap plastics and funky designs while the 600cc and up builds will have the nice levers and electronics
just once i’d love to see a small bike with premium controls and ergonomics
Not for beginner riders, but smarter riders. Bigger is for people usually compensating for slack of ability.
I have a XT250 ‘17
Not new to riding but new to off rd.
Wanted light weight. Fits nice 5’10”
I’d be interested in a T3
I hadn't been on a motor bike much at all for 15 years. A friend asked me to go bird hunting with him and we rode bikes in to the cabin he owns. When I first got on the Himalayan liked the looks of it. When we rode down about 16 miles of paved road I was wishing for a bit more power. When we went up nearly 20 miles of rutty dirt road I began to see the charms of the thing. Once you got the thing moving it was very easy to keep it moving. I never had to wind the engine up even on hills. It climbed in and over the ruts really easily. For a guy learning all over again it was very reassuring. Now it looks good in my shed. I still wish for some more power for the open road now and then. I love it when I take it bouncing. Lots of dirt mountain type roads where i live.
This was a very well done and measured comparison. Thank you! I owned a Vesrys X 300 prior to my W 800 and loved it! It was a daily rider and was seamless. I looked at both the 310 BMW and the Himalayan. Both sweet rides but the dealership issues got in the way. Take care and thanks again!!
Yes
I think he got it wrong on the Baby Versys
Great package! short but firm suspension quite capable in the right hands.
What would you choose again, w800
or x300?
Been loving my Versys for riding around Europe this year. Next year is Africa, so I'm buying the CRF or even better if Yamaha comes out with a Tenere 300 Im sold.
Yep, we have our eye on the CRF as well, the regular one or the Rally, not sure which one yet.
@@DifferentSpokesTV The L will be better purely off road due to less weight. The rally will be more comfortable on road due to the fairing. Just gotta be honest with yourself, what are you going to do with it it. For me it's the rally, since riding through africa is long distance, not just mud roads.
Love my Versys-x 300. Fits my style of riding perfectly 👌
How is it off road and in trails?
@@Noadvantage246 It is an easy bike to handle, enough torque to go slow on trails and not spin the rear wheel uncontrollably. If you drop it, it is easy to pick. I have done trails and off road with no issues (I am the limitation). However, it is not made to go fast on such terrain, but i'm in no race, so I really enjoy it.
"Because everyone knows 10 inches is better than 5"
That hurts man, that really hurts
That's what she said
My wife would certainly disagree on that point with me within earshot.
@@Wheelo40 we always wait until you leave
5 inches doesn't hurt
5 inches doesn't hurt
I have a Yamaha Tenere 600Z which I have done a lot of pavement and off roading with. I also have a Yamaha Tenere 250 which I use to zip around town and run errands. I'll admit the 600Z is on the heavy side (especially now that I am 60). But, also at 60 you tend to not drop it as much as when I was younger and tackled heavy trails.
As a former owner of a DRZ 400 It would need a larger Gas tank Fuel Injection and 6 speed Transmission. Also a fairing
Those would be perfect mods for the DRZ, maybe even just bump it up to 500cc too.
@@deborahchesser7375 the 430-460 big bore kits are available, as are 17-28 L Safari tanks and you can add a wide ratio gear set ( ACT or Nova) to get a better highway performance. Brittanica Composites make a fairing for the DRZ400. Doing these modifications add to the price, but it is still cheaper than the KTM 500 and Honda 450.
I doubt Suzuki will update the DRZ400 as they are still selling well and cost the company nothing on R&D.
Leaning toward the Enfield for its looks, torque, and price. I love the look and sound of the Kwak, but I can't buy a test ride. The BMW rides nice but I want spoked wheels.
You are right about the cool looks of the Enfield. I had a Versys 300 X, LOVED IT!!
Remember spoked wheels on these small bikes means tube type tires, which means you not only have to remove both the wheel and tire to fix a flat, you also have to have a centerstand (which the Himalayan fortunately has) and carry a ton of stuff with you like tools to remove wheels and tires, and plenty of tubes, which take up a lot of space that could be used for something else.
Waiting for KTM 490 adv to roll out. This should be a blast.
Until then, my 390 adv is doing pretty well.
I hope they put bigger wheels on the 490. If they do 21/18 it will be close to the perfect ADV bike.
@@DifferentSpokesTV is it already official that a 490 adventure is coming out? 2021?
@@sportify4849 probably mid 2022,
@@revzzrider hi thanks for the reply. Is it only for the Asian and Indian market?
@@sportify4849 Usually KTM machines are launched worldwide, 490 //twin is developing in Pune, India. I hope 490 will also be a global product.
A big factor for myself would be to load them up with your camping gear and then compare....there’s thousands of miles/kms of backroads and trails to explore here in BC that can’t be done in one day.
Enjoyed very much thanks , I think a 300/ 400CC Tenere would be cool.
Honda cfr450 Rally would be nice. With a 4 gal tank, heated grips and a slightly wider softer seat.
Is it road legal
The problem with the crf 450 l it needs every 1000 km (~600miles) a oil change...my last vacation i rode one way over 600 miles just to get there ...this is why it isn't a good choice for a adventure bike
It’s also way too expensive here in the Uk.
Versys X for me. Fit what I needed perfectly.
Love it.
I love my Honda CB500x. It ticks all the boxes. Fuel Economy ✓. Low Maintenance ✓. Comfort✓. Available accessories ✓. Agility✓. Price ✓..... The list goes on
Same here, feels like it just runs on air and is so easy to ride. The suspension is a bit short though, looking at rally raid suspesion kits to fix that.
@@milanstepanek4185 Team CBX! :)
Nice review & nice model for consistency (sitting on each of the bikes )!
Thanks! My wife and I made the bike show rounds before the pandemic shut it all down.
I also appreciated seeing the same person on all of the bikes for a good realistic comparison.
How tall is she please? Just for a real world idea of seat hight. Thank you.
I want to ride a Himalayan, the styling is great.
I like it too. It looks like an old school military bike.
Happy to own the himalayan
Idk why but Himalayan tend to burn clutch plates often
@@kumarpratyush8218 it mostly depends on riders
@@kumarpratyush8218 Its usually happens when riders panic after they r stuck and try to rev their way out of it, that is the only major problem that itchy boots also found.
For 95% of riders who ride on and off road (being generous that 5% have pro off-road needs), the cb500x can fullfil 99% of their riding needs. Personally, I think that choice of tires have more to do with capabilities than anything else (if we are talking about transportation needs and not screwing around). One can adjust speed off-road but, one can't safely cruise 70-80mph on knobbies or in the rain. And the other way around, street tires don't work well on gravel and/or sand. The biggest obstacle for 500x is that there is really not much choice for off-road-ish capable tires. Other than that, I completely agree that 500x is best choice for one only bike.
Continental TKC 80 tyre are very good off road and stick well to the pavement (but have a short service life)
These are only available for the 2019 onward Honda CB500X with 19/17 wheelset.
Exactly the kind of review I was looking for. Great job!
At last !! a review by someone that is not paid to bump up a product ! nice review . I ride a 2003 f 650gs here in europe but going back to honda due to build quality and reliability . be safe .
T3 with good suspension and a large tank under 360 lbs would be sweet!
i have a himalayan bs6 / euro 6 . very good for short riders. at first the size may look intimidating for new riders but fear not. the seating is such that you will feel confident despite the size or weight. the bike is very happy at around 3k to 5k rpm and 3rd or 4th gear the bike crawls , for off road it is a plus point. and for new riders its highway performance is quite good and acceptable. you can cruise at a 100 or 110 kmph and the bike wont even break a sweat.
Same conclusion, and after trying the little Yamaha WR155R i will love to see a Yamaha T3 !!!! Great job !
I want XT 350 returne.
Man, a XT350 would be sweet !
With electric start!
@KTMARV 1 THEY ALL BEEN BEAT TO DEATH ON HWY AND ITS SLOW ....ALL HAVE SOME LAME ACCY THE DUDE THINKS IS WORTH 1000'S SOME DORK WILL END UP BUYING IT FOR 1000 MORE THAN ITS WORTH....
@KTMARV 1 WTF ARE YOU YAPPING ABOUT?
@KTMARV 1 DOES IT TRIGGER YOU THAT HARD? EASIER FOR ME TO SEE WITHOUT MY READERS....GET OVER IT.....
I have an XT250 that is pretty good for back roads or light trails. I love the light weight and ease of riding. It's not powerful enough to ride with friends with bigger bikes. So, I also own a Suzuki DR650. I love everything but the seat height. (I'm 68 years old, not very spry anymore). I will keep these bikes until Yamaha or Suzuki gets smart and builds a bigger dual sport with a lower seat height. XT400 with electric start? Van Van 450?
I owned a KLR650 and found it scary on rough dirt or gravel roads. I switched to a DR650 and enjoy it immensely. It's a keeper for me.
Incroyable.
13:08 - This is the XTZ 250cc Ténéré. It was produced and sold only here in Brazil until 2019. Téneré fans are looking forward to 320cc version.
Great video as I am looking to change my 1200 GSA for something light and cheap for proper mixed touring. I have taken the GSA along a few gravel roads and a forest but was always worried about dropping it as I would struggle to pick it up again in some situations. I would love a 500CBX if they did it with spoke wheels and a 21" front but it may be a good compromise as is.
I sold mine. It's a series issue. Once the bike falls you have to jump quick, you are not stopping it. Picking it up off a flat road is a feat on itself and I'm 6'3" . On a sloping gravel road or even just one wheel in a ditch and you need to reverse it out, forget about it!
I'm starting to see that we've got too many choices..... lol, while it seems funny to say this I also know that you could hand ANY of
these 6 bikes out to people & they would make it work. They might make some mods to help but they'd all work just fine or that's
what I'm starting to believe. That said, I'm kinda leaning towards the Rally version of the 300L by Honda but like the Himalayan is
also not a bad bike for its cost. Still saving here but will be researching it hard until I get the money together to buy. Thanks for
the videos you've done, this one is 3 yrs old & still relevant to my needs. Thanks man & I'll see your new stuff soon ! peace
I've been waiting for a small 400 to 600 preferably V twin for a long time. I've been riding the big bms now KTM 1190 for years always on the dirt but age is catching up with me they are getting to heavy to pick up and I no longer need the power but still would like the low down torque. Thanks for your production and I must agree with most of your comments.
350 to 450cc seems to be the sweet spot IMO. I don’t know why this range is so neglected.
Depends. For a twin it's good. The ktm 390 adventure is just barely ok for highways. I would prefer a 600cc twin.
@@ProDigit80 doesn't the KTM 390 reach 150kmh on the highway?
@@ryderwilson7955 if it can do highway, yes, but that doesn't make it well suited for it. It needs to Rev too high to keep the speed. I used to have an fz07, and while 1st to 3rd gear would lift the front wheel, even that one was rather bland at highway speeds (hardly any overtaking power over 100mph).
@@ProDigit80 luckily where I live no one drives 100mph on the highway other than a rare few who just pass everyone, I ride on a 125cc PCX and I'm doing roughly fine on the highway maxing at 62mph and most cars are driving at best at 71-72 mph so having a motorcycle that can do 90+mph is MORE than enough for me so maybe that's where our thoughts differ.
@@ryderwilson7955 You would probably not want to drive around here with that scooter.
If it does 70MPH tops, it means 60MPH with a headwind or 2 up, and 55MPH with a headwind/2 up and uphill. Over here most cars do 80MPH on the highway, some do 100MPH. You wouldn't be safe on a PCX here.
I will keep my old KLR 650. Best ADV bike EVER!
I've always wanted 1
Hopefully Kawasaki will release a KLR 700 in late January
That CRF250 rally that you're showing I think that's the 2018 model year cuz I have that exact bike I love it! Perfect 4 what i do. Nice video & 🆒 voice 2 boot👍👍
Still waiting on the Honda CRF450 Rally they teased us 3 years ago now, just make it Honda everyone wants one, going in the right direction with the 300 but a bit more power/torque is all we ask, 350/400cc would probably be the ultimate sweet spot for size, weight and power. If Yamaha could make a bike that fits that bill I would be right on it.
Yep either a Honda or Yamaha T4
Nice reviews. I've been looking at the CB500X as a 80 road and 20 dirt / dual track. I think it would be a good bike for that.
I think 78.5 road 20 dirt and 1.5 sidewalk is better
Never heard Honda CBX500 associated with good before. A single cylinder 500 that 300 class bikes leave behind in nearly every catagory. All for a Honda price.....
@@chasefreedom5178 its a twin cylinder engine and is an awsome bike std. With some smart mods is a very good off road capable bike.
@@chasefreedom5178 it’s one of the best all-rounders out there, could be your experience but the CB500X has an exceptional reputation for being a do-everything bike.
@@chasefreedom5178 ahh yes. The internet. Where people who don’t know what they are talking about get to adamantly state their opinion.
Great take on the subject. I've been watching a lot of video like this and this is among the very best!
I've just bought a 390 adventure but haven't got my hands on it yet. hopefully I'll be happy. The first trip (I hope) will be to romania and Bulgaria.
I ride a 2013 Cb500x. Fantastic road bike especially on Saskatchewan roads. I find myself doing lots of forest and dirt trails, and definitely feel the lack of suspension. Insurance is also crazy here for bikes over 400cc to the point its cheaper to finance new bike under 400c and insure it than it is to insure my cb500x. Absolutely love it and would definitely buy a 2021 if the insurance wasn't a killer here. Currently thinking of getting the ktm 390 adventure.
It's the same here in BC. I was shocked at how cheap the insurance was on my 400 Burgman compared to my 500F.. Still the difference was only about $300. I would rather have Honda reliability.
DRZ crew here! I will however concede that my DRZ is not great for eating up highway miles.
My DRZ400S 2020 with way more torque, lighter, and I'm loving it.
Good grouping of bikes and lots of information. Thanks.
Our pleasure!
I want the Kawasaki Versys-X, with 1 inch extra ground clearance, 7-inch suspension travel front and back, and the 400cc engine. Tell them to make it like that :)
That's possible since they have 399cc engine for Z400.
Bought my Versys-X back in June and have rode it almost every day until I had to store it for winter. I LOVE this bike. Does everything I need. But, if Kawasaki does what you and all of us are dreaming about - it just might become the perfect lightweight adventure bike.
There are led blinkers on the presentation crf300l but apparently it'll come with bulbs.
I hope one day honda will put a 350 or 400, that would cover the performance gap
A Tenere 300 done right would certainly be able to take over those duties currently done by modified WR250Rs (now gone). I would be willing to snap one up if Yamaha did one. I suspect this is what Yamaha may have in mind using that MT-03 engine (just put a little more off-road torque in it). One other thing that Yamaha could do is take their WR250/450F and bulletproof the engines just a bit more to lengthen the service intervals to make dual sport conversions of these models worthwhile in those states which allow it. Especially since their YZ (x) and YZ - F(X) bikes have the competition side covered. The Suzuki DR 400 and 650 are in bad need of two things: 1) Six speed transmission. 2) Fuel injection.
Very thorough and informative review. I really like the channel. That CBF 300 looks really good to me. I’ve had my eye on the CBF 250, but an extra 50 cc would be even better. I hope Honda will make a non-rally version though. I’d rather not pay for a fairing that would only add weight and bulk and get beat up in the trails.
500cc is still fairly small but definitly not the same engine class as the others, so I think power wise it can't be compared to the others in this class, since Honda's 500cc (and pretty much all 500cc) are are there to offer the most power/lowest weight possible for A2 license riders who have to wait before jumping on a Tenere or Africa Twin... there's a reason I started riding on a Honda Rebel 500 and not some other detuned Cruiser that weights twice as much with the same power
Well power wise , you can totally compare them. The horsepower of the Honda Cb500x is 47 and that makes riders with A2 license eligible to ride it.
@@PliskinGr uhm, that's exactly my point, 500cc is fairly powerful and a way different tier than than ~251-499cc
And this list is composed of below 500cc bikes, so everything above needs to be compared to equal tier bikes.
You also cant compare 500cc bikes with 700cc or 700cc with 1000cc options 🤷🏼♂️
Honda makes a 400X for Japan and some other markets but not North America. I’ve seen photos and it looks nice. I’m very short so lower bikes with above average power get my attention.
I've never ridden before and want to get into the sport. I couldn't imagine a better first bike than a T3.
I work with a guy who has a CB500X. He rides it in all weather, without fail. It seems to be a great bike. I know someone else who has a Himalayan, a 2018 model, and that bike is completely indestructible, surprisingly smooth, and dead simple mechanically. I would buy one myself if I didn't already have a DR650.
I rode Suzuki GS 150 for more than 4000 KM across Pakistan and had no issues, not even a flat tire. It did not heat up after continuous hours of riding at full throtle, started every time after long journey and brief breaks for refreshments. Light weight and way economical on fuel; I was getting 40-45KM per Liter on Highways depending upon your speed, Way better than all those 600s and 1200s. Imagine in a place like Pakistan where roads are not so good at many places and there is not much support on the road side if anything bad happens to your bike (except for the people who will come to help). I don't know why people are so crazy about those big bikes for touring. May be its because they have not experienced what I have.
KTM 390 Adv is the best all round and by far best value for $. But it really needs a facelift/update for 2021.Lateral optics are bad w ugly exhaust and oddly shaped tank panels. Also needs a few more cm ground clearance.
How is it best it has limited off-road capabilities as well .
Great video tests anything going off road needs spoke wheels some did others not, easy to handle with 21 inch front wheel and duel sport tires other wise they are street only bikes..
A T3 would be awesome!! Nice video!
You totally forgot the best of them all the Honda Trail125/CT125!!!!!
I guess it does qualify as a small ADV bike. I don’t know about long distance touring on it though :)
@@DifferentSpokesTV Ed March
@@DifferentSpokesTV And so far, those bikes have forgotten about Canada, like much of Honda's smaller bikes & scooters.
@@DaBinChe You can do it. But you will find the 125 painful on long straights.
I would love a 400-550 cc ADV bike with Japanese quality priced around $5K US dollars.
Can't say how much it would be in US dollars, but there is Fantic Caballero 500 in EU. Kinda like a mix between Honda CRF250 and the 500X one. You also can buy Rally version and I've heard it's pretty capable in the dirt. You just need to get used to the pipe that goes in "scrambler" style, near your tigh.
I got a cb500x for 5300 because it was last years model. unfortunately it's a 2017 with the 17 inch front wheel. Great bike for weekend random road trips with some dirt roads thrown in and weekday commuting.
Got my used Suzuki Drz400s on Craigslist for $2500. I live in Idaho. Great bike, very reliable. Just keep looking. Good luck.
Royal Enfield , simple . Fortnine tested used engine oil from several brands Royal Enfield was at the top above many premium brands .
I actually was considering that CB500X as my first motorcycle back in October! Then my wife pretty much surprised me with a brand new iron 883 instead? I’m not complaining, love my iron, but still have that itch for something “off-road “ capable!
Since you have a good bike for the roads you can go with an inexpensive dual sport for the trails and it will be better on dirt than the CB. Best of both worlds.
Checkout " itchy boots " series 3, she goes to Iceland, Denmark etc etc on the cb500x , great wee series 👍🏴
It was love at first sit for me on my REH!
I'd be interested in a T3. I currently have an MT03, looking at getting a T7 or R7 next. Would be nice to try a T3 first though.
Good day Sir.. May i ask where did you buy the headlight and wind shield? 😊
A Yamaha T5 with two Yamaha WR250R welded together for a parallel twin 500 (270 degree firing order)
Heaven!
Love the old school Honda XR650L
Yes ....only el start.
Great review!
I hope to see soon the T3 model!
I like the Honda 500 as i ride mostly country roads and is capable of some countries bad dirt roads rather than full out off roads ,i chose for what i mainly ride rather than rare roads or tracts i may encounter in my travels , plus side Honda is reliable and most countries repair Hondas
Curious which would be the choice for my sweety and me on improved dirt roads(USA appalachians)?My klr650 is just too tall&heavy=squirrelly riding double.Our speeds no more more than 40 locally dirt roads.