Key Takeaways

• The 2023 Honda CB500X is a well-balanced adventure motorcycle that offers both fun and reliability for beginners and experienced riders alike.
• The CB500X features a fuel-efficient 471cc parallel-twin engine that delivers a smooth power surge and can achieve an impressive average of 60-70 MPG.
• With its slim design, flexible suspension, and versatile hardware, the CB500X is comfortable and capable on both on-road and off-road terrains, making it a great choice for urban commuting and touring.

Motorcycling, besides being a breezy commute mode, is a fun way to travel. While not many motorcycles have struck a perfect balance between 'fun' and 'commute', the 2023 Honda CB500X comes close to being perfect on this front. This beginner-friendly ADV is a perfectly balanced motorcycle.

It has a formula that will make both newbies and experienced riders happy. Honda has always been an advocate of reliability and efficiency. The CB500X is one of the most fuel-efficient middle-weight motorcycles with up to 70 MPG.

We have updated this article with more impressive features of the Honda CB500X that makes it a remarkable beginner adventure motorcycle. We delve deeper into how Honda has blended an almost perfect formula of fun, reliability, performance, and ease of usage with the new CB500X ADV.

Then there's its highly-tractable twin-cylinder engine that isn't all pumped up but will surely put a smile on your face. While the 2023 CB500X is on-road-oriented, there is ample confidence in this entry-level ADV to stir up some dirt. Honda gave the CB500X loads of impressive updates for 2022. And so, 2023 MY has been carried over unchanged. We expect the 2024 Honda CB500X, due soon, to also be a carryover model. The hardware is flexible enough to be used on varying terrains. Honda also offers loads of touring accessories to elevate the CB500X's do-it-all character.

Simplicity is the key here, and Honda has nailed it with its sleek and sharp beginner ADV. We tell you what makes the Honda CB500X an impressive beginner motorcycle and a better choice than its competition, including the KTM 390 Adventure, the Royal Enfield Himalayan, and the Kawasaki Versys-X 300.

Related: 10 Adventure Motorcycles With The Most High-Tech Features

Honda CB500X Engine: A Refined Parallel-Twin That Goes The Distance

Engine Specs

Honda engines have always been known for their impressive reliability and refinement. The CB500X carries on the Honda legacy with its refined 471cc liquid-cooled parallel twin engine. This fuel-injected engine churns out 47 hp and 31.7 lb-ft of torque. These are not eye-popping performance figures. But then again, the CB500X is intended to be a beginner-friendly machine. And for that, these numbers are perfect. Power is sent to the rear wheels via a slick six-speed gearbox.

The power band is neutral, with most of the torque available at the low end. This helps the CB500X be punchy both on and off the roads without making the rider nervous. Another impressive aspect of this butter-smooth engine is its efficiency. The linear power surge helps Honda churn out an average of 60 MPG and sometimes tip the 70 MPG mark. This is very impressive, and the CB500X can do 300 miles with ease on a full tank of gas.

Honda CB500X ADV Packs Hardware That Induces Rider Confidence

Being a beginner-friendly motorcycle is not always about linear acceleration or easy maneuverability with a lower curb weight. There are a lot of gray areas that need to be fulfilled to be a proper all-rounder beginner motorcycle. The 2023 Honda CB500X manages to come close to an all-rounded beginner bike in the increasingly popular ADV segment.

2023 Honda CB500X Hardware Specs

The CB500X's slim design and well-balanced chassis construction are major factors contributing to this. The CB500X is now ten years old, and the Honda we know loves to hoon its aging technology. The Japanese bikemakers have always strived to improve existing tech rather than showering us with new bleeding-edge features. The 2023 CB500X weighs 439 pounds with its 4.7-gallon full-tank gas. The weight distribution is linear with a slight forward bias, which allows the rider to always be in control.

Related: 10 Iconic Honda Motorcycles We Would Love To Ride

The On-Road-Focused CB500X Has A Few Off-Roading Tricks

Motorcycle makers always try to bring on-road-inclined ADVs for beginners. This is to break the ice calmly for a newbie when it comes to off-roading. Honda also deploys the same method for its CB500X. It is made to gulp down miles like a breeze.

And to make long rides comfortable, the CB500X gets a flexible suspension setup with inverted Showa front forks and a rear mono-shock. The shocking part of the front suspension setup is that it is non-adjustable. Generally, this is a bad thing.

Honda CB500X Off-Roading Specs

But Honda has tuned the springs to take in a wide range of terrain with poise. Add that to the strong Nissin twin discs up front and a single disc at the rear; this Honda ADV is surprisingly capable of a bit of off-roading. Its rubber is the final ingredient that helps the CB500X excel on and off the road.

This Honda gets Dunlop Trailmax Mixtour tires wrapped around 19-inch front and 17-inch rear alloy wheels. But don't expect to scale rocks and mountains with the CB500X. But that doesn't mean pure off-roading junkies can't do it on the CB500X.

Honda CB500X Beginner ADV: A Cozy Urban Rider And A Dirt-Ready Tourer

A tractable engine, balanced chassis, impressive MPG figures, and a versatile hardware setup make the Honda CB500X both a jack and a master of its trades. The slim body construction and lower curb weight make maneuvering in tight urban jungles easy.

The tall riding stance and dual-purpose tires make the CB500X feel at home on loose soil and the vast unknown as well. This versatility is also where the flexible ergonomics of the Honda CB500X come into play.

Honda CB500X Notable Technology Features

The low seat height, cozy saddle constructions, and upright riding posture make this Honda ADV a touring bike for everyone. Honda has also added a slip-and-assist clutch to make riding the CB500X an easy affair. Besides being a nimble urban machine and a capable off-roader, the CB500X can also munch miles.

And Honda offers a plethora of touring accessories to prepare you for a cross-country ride. It gets an adjustable windscreen and a fixed GPS mount to serve touring needs. Honda's list of touring accessories for storage includes pannier sets, top boxes, and tank bags. Comfort features include a center stand, hand guards, heated grips, a crash bar, and even a 12V socket.

How Much Does The 2023 Honda CB500X Cost?

The 2023 Honda CB500X is priced from an MSRP of $7,299 and comes in a single fully-fledged trim option. All the touring accessories are extras except for the GPS mount and adjustable windscreen. It is offered in one shade - Peal Organic Green and is currently on sale. We expect the 2024 Honda CB500X to be silently launched by the end of 2023.