Great review on the 500x, I have a 2018 model and I love this bike, so comfortable and so much fun to ride, I have had 7 other bikes all were heavier and more powerful, this bike has really became a friend.
35 years of riding and I’ve never had a gear indicator. I honestly don’t understand the appeal. How disconnected from the experience can a rider be to need a gear indicator?
Thanks for this great review. Its a bike that’s on my radar especially with the Rally Raid upgrade. I don’t do silly speeds these days so I think the low power is not an issue.
Thanks for the review, and great channel. I have a 2018, the gear box is super smooth. Other than that I agree with all your comments. One modification I made that was very noticeable was the addition of a DNA air filter; probably lots of opinions on this, however, for my money it is the best way to gain a noticeable performance increase - obviously not a huge difference, but noticeable.
Great advice - having sold my BMW 1100R recently, this is on my list as a replacement. I'm sure I can adapt to the difference in torque (been riding big beemers for 20 yrs) - need to think about storage though as I've always had top box and panniers on my beemers - am also looking at the NC700/750 as well as the Forza 300 Honda scooter - budget will dictate what I can afford but I'd be happy with any of these 3 machines - mpg also appeals to me. Keep the vids coming and ride safe. Steve
great informative vid like your others that Ive watched. Just swapped my Street triple for one, it was too much for a long day out, love the comfort. looking at your mods to upgrade mine so as to do a little laning using your maps.
That is a great looking cb, thx for the video. I love my 2019, ranks among the top of the list of favorite bikes I've owned including back in the eighties my cb700sc Nighthawk S, a '84 Kaw 750 turbo I picked up in the 90's used, and my Honda XL600r I also got used back in the 90's...all great machines.
Oh and I forgot to mention my '97 Bandit 1200 I had for 23 years and just sold, it was a keeper too, totally different than the cb but both keepers... got tired of carb maintenance had to make it go away sadly.
I'm an absolute beginner(at 49), and the new version is my obsession, but I was genuinely curious whether the previous version could be a consideration. The one thing, as a newbie, that I might be over-the-top concerned with is a gear indicator, which probably rules out picking up a used bargain. Seeing as the issues you bring up seem to have been improved upon on the new one, I might hold off for this a my second bike to work towards - the Suzuki Inazuma is ticking all the learner boxes for now, and can be my learner banger.
A very useful and well-presented review. The headers on your bike look immaculate - most I see are (at best) a shade of orange. What's your secret to keeping them looking that good?
Can't comment on the off road capabilities, but your comments regarding the gear box are spot on. I thought it was my fault for being my first bike ever, but first gear is indeed short and clunky/jerky, not to mention the false gears that you also mentioned (to me it gets stuck into neutral a lot when shifting down to first). Mine's a 2013 :) Did you have trouble installing your barkbusters? I've read quite a few people having trouble with rolling the handle covers to access the hole you use to remove the bar end weights, how was that experience for you? Also, did you find that it hits the windshield and/or the tank at full tilt? Thanks!
Thanks for your comment. The bar end weights were a pain in the bum to remove. Particularly as I installed the bark busters a few days after the bike blew over and snapped my clutch assembly off. The screw holding the weight in on the left side was bent. Required a bit of force.
The guards are close to the tank and windshield, take your time installing. I’ve now got bar risers, lifts the bars and bark busters away from tank. Plus the Rally Raid screen spacer kit gives a little more room when the bars are at full turning lock.
@@andrewstewart106 Thanks! I've seen people solving it with both things you've mentioned, although I really didn't want to have to spend even more money to install them, haha. Do you have a model number/name for the bar raisers? Thanks a lot!
@Semper Fi Thanks for the tip! However, I couldn't find a channel called Camping Biker, is this the actual name? Thanks! EDIT: funny enough, on the following day I got a suggestion from youtube for a channel called The Camping Biker (which for some reason wouldn't show up in the searches before), haha. Go figure.
The bar risers were from eBay, I can’t find the exact model anymore. The one I purchased was around £13 and comes as layers. You have a base that fits the 7/8 triple tree, this part is 20mm, you can add layers to raise the bars up to 35mm. I just raised them 20mm. There are other 7/8 bar risers on eBay for around £15,
Can't agree with you about the gear box,I have a 2018 model and the gearbox is the smoothest I have ever come across,silky and precise,have never encountered a false neutral.It just clicks through the gears both up and down the box with never a clunk to be heard.
Just done some additional research around the clunkiness. From what I can find the 2016 models onwards had a shift component update. It’s not really a problem to me, just something I notice occasionally.
I have a 2019 and it's the best gear box of any bike I've owned or ridden. One thing I do is pre-load the shift lever before every shift up or down taking the slack out of the linkage prior to the shift. I do this on all bikes though and it definitely makes for seamless shifting.
Great review on the 500x, I have a 2018 model and I love this bike, so comfortable and so much fun to ride, I have had 7 other bikes all were heavier and more powerful, this bike has really became a friend.
I'm old school, always know what gear I'm in as I'm riding the bike.
35 years of riding and I’ve never had a gear indicator. I honestly don’t understand the appeal. How disconnected from the experience can a rider be to need a gear indicator?
Thanks for this great review. Its a bike that’s on my radar especially with the Rally Raid upgrade. I don’t do silly speeds these days so I think the low power is not an issue.
Put a 16 gear ( bracket)in the front and the first gear will be okay! Good review sir! like this bike!
Thanks for the review, and great channel. I have a 2018, the gear box is super smooth. Other than that I agree with all your comments. One modification I made that was very noticeable was the addition of a DNA air filter; probably lots of opinions on this, however, for my money it is the best way to gain a noticeable performance increase - obviously not a huge difference, but noticeable.
Thoroughly enjoy your channel.Great review of a great bike.
I love my 2015 CB500X. Great review.
Great advice - having sold my BMW 1100R recently, this is on my list as a replacement. I'm sure I can adapt to the difference in torque (been riding big beemers for 20 yrs) - need to think about storage though as I've always had top box and panniers on my beemers - am also looking at the NC700/750 as well as the Forza 300 Honda scooter - budget will dictate what I can afford but I'd be happy with any of these 3 machines - mpg also appeals to me.
Keep the vids coming and ride safe.
Steve
great informative vid like your others that Ive watched. Just swapped my Street triple for one, it was too much for a long day out, love the comfort. looking at your mods to upgrade mine so as to do a little laning using your maps.
That is a great looking cb, thx for the video. I love my 2019, ranks among the top of the list of favorite bikes I've owned including back in the eighties my cb700sc Nighthawk S, a '84 Kaw 750 turbo I picked up in the 90's used, and my Honda XL600r I also got used back in the 90's...all great machines.
Oh and I forgot to mention my '97 Bandit 1200 I had for 23 years and just sold, it was a keeper too, totally different than the cb but both keepers... got tired of carb maintenance had to make it go away sadly.
Good review. Great channel! We do a LOT of off road and zero problems. Amazing all rounder. /R
Love to come riding with you guys some time
I'm an absolute beginner(at 49), and the new version is my obsession, but I was genuinely curious whether the previous version could be a consideration. The one thing, as a newbie, that I might be over-the-top concerned with is a gear indicator, which probably rules out picking up a used bargain. Seeing as the issues you bring up seem to have been improved upon on the new one, I might hold off for this a my second bike to work towards - the Suzuki Inazuma is ticking all the learner boxes for now, and can be my learner banger.
Aiylic, I have fitted a gear indicator on my 2013 CB500X. It was purchased cheaply from e-bay and plugs straight in under the seat.
A very useful and well-presented review. The headers on your bike look immaculate - most I see are (at best) a shade of orange. What's your secret to keeping them looking that good?
Orange..... what are people doing to their bikes haha. A couple of times a year she gets a coat of ACF50.
I love the tires...
If 1st is too short can you start from a stop in 2nd gear?
Can't comment on the off road capabilities, but your comments regarding the gear box are spot on. I thought it was my fault for being my first bike ever, but first gear is indeed short and clunky/jerky, not to mention the false gears that you also mentioned (to me it gets stuck into neutral a lot when shifting down to first). Mine's a 2013 :)
Did you have trouble installing your barkbusters? I've read quite a few people having trouble with rolling the handle covers to access the hole you use to remove the bar end weights, how was that experience for you? Also, did you find that it hits the windshield and/or the tank at full tilt? Thanks!
Thanks for your comment. The bar end weights were a pain in the bum to remove. Particularly as I installed the bark busters a few days after the bike blew over and snapped my clutch assembly off. The screw holding the weight in on the left side was bent. Required a bit of force.
The guards are close to the tank and windshield, take your time installing. I’ve now got bar risers, lifts the bars and bark busters away from tank. Plus the Rally Raid screen spacer kit gives a little more room when the bars are at full turning lock.
@@andrewstewart106 Thanks! I've seen people solving it with both things you've mentioned, although I really didn't want to have to spend even more money to install them, haha. Do you have a model number/name for the bar raisers? Thanks a lot!
@Semper Fi Thanks for the tip! However, I couldn't find a channel called Camping Biker, is this the actual name? Thanks!
EDIT: funny enough, on the following day I got a suggestion from youtube for a channel called The Camping Biker (which for some reason wouldn't show up in the searches before), haha. Go figure.
The bar risers were from eBay, I can’t find the exact model anymore. The one I purchased was around £13 and comes as layers. You have a base that fits the 7/8 triple tree, this part is 20mm, you can add layers to raise the bars up to 35mm. I just raised them 20mm. There are other 7/8 bar risers on eBay for around £15,
What is the seat height after RR stage 1 application? Great looking bike and video. Thank you!
It’s the same as the standard bike
Can't agree with you about the gear box,I have a 2018 model and the gearbox is the smoothest I have ever come across,silky and precise,have never encountered a false neutral.It just clicks through the gears both up and down the box with never a clunk to be heard.
Fair enough, maybe the lever position or oil used is the source of mine. It doesn’t happen that often but I do notice it.
Just done some additional research around the clunkiness. From what I can find the 2016 models onwards had a shift component update. It’s not really a problem to me, just something I notice occasionally.
I have a 2019 and it's the best gear box of any bike I've owned or ridden. One thing I do is pre-load the shift lever before every shift up or down taking the slack out of the linkage prior to the shift. I do this on all bikes though and it definitely makes for seamless shifting.
what's it like two up on the motorway, will it pull 70mph up a steep hill? Great review.
It’ll pull 70 no problem. Not used this bike 2 up though.
@@andrewstewart106 thanks Stewart
Nice one mate.
What kind of tayers are you using with the cb500x
Continental tkc80
Have you moved on to a different bike now or still on this one?
I don’t currently have a bike.