Updated 2016 Honda CB500X Unveiled in Tokyo
New styling and technical updates for Honda's smallest Adventure Tourer.
The free-revving, fuel-efficient Honda CB500X is getting updates for 2016. Honda has announced their smallest-displacement adventure-touring model will receive improvements in both form and function. Honda unveils the updated CB500X at the Tokyo Motor Show this week.
The 471cc parallel twin middleweight will benefit from more aggressive styling, a 100mm taller windscreen, LED lighting for the headlight and taillight, and a stylish new muffler design. Other upgrades include externally adjustable front fork preload, an adjustable front-brake lever, plus a hinged fuel cap, a “wave”-style key and an improved shock setting. Finally, a revised gear shift mechanism makes for smoother-feeling gear changes.
The CB500X will be made available in two colors in the US — Matte Black Metallic and Matte Brown Metallic. The new models will begin arriving in US dealer showroom floors this February 2016. Pricing is $6,499 USD for the standard model and $6,799 USD for the ABS model.
The updated 2016 Honda CB500X will be on display, alongside the NC700X, VFR1200X and CRF1000L Africa Twin, at the November 20-22 International Motorcycle Show in Long Beach, California.
Author: Rob Dabney
Rob Dabney started a lifelong obsession with motorcycles at the age of 15 when he purchased his first bike – a 1982 Honda MB5. Through his 20’s and 30’s he competed in off-road desert races, including the Baja 250, 500 and 1000. Eventually, his proclivity for exploration led him to dual sport and adventure riding. Rob’s never-ending quest to discover what’s around the next bend has taken him on Adventures in Mexico, North Africa, Europe, and throughout the American West. As a moto journalist, he enjoys inspiring others to seek adventure across horizons both near and far.
Related Stories
Related Stories
Honda CB125X: Honda R&D Reveals 125cc Adventure Bike Concept For the fourth successive year, Honda’s booth at EICMA featured futuristic concept machines...
2019 Honda CRF450L Review – First Ride The announcement of the all-new 2019 Honda CRF450L has been one of the...
Honda CRF450L Unveiled: The Dual Sport Everyone’s Been Wanting? Honda has just made a ton of people very happy. The bike...
Notify me of new posts via email
I have a 2015. It’s a wonderful bike; very versatile.
That’s a badass little bike, very underestimated!
As much as I like a KLR 650 this little bike with a stage 3 Rally Raid kit makes the KLR look like it was built in the 50’s!
The difference is the KLR is actually meant to go off-road. It has a 21″ front wheel, a lot more ground clearance, and a lot more suspension travel. I’ve never been a fan of the KLR (too heavy), but it’s a much better off-road bike than the CB500X ever will be.
Actually, as Paulo says, with the Rally Raid level 3 kit — giving it a much-improved suspension, larger wheels, more ground clearance, etc. — this becomes a very capable little off-roader, and is apparently much nicer for long-distance travel than the KLR.
In an upcoming story, we evaluate both the CB500X with Rally Raid Adventure Kit and the KLR650 on technical off-road trails. Keep an eye out for it Rob.
Wondering when the CB500X vs. KLR article will be released. Very interested in the outcome.
Just in case you didn’t see it yet, here it is!
http://www.advpulse.com/adv-bikes/rally-raid-cb500x-review/
Why would any one want to spend $3k on an aftermarket kit, + labor to install, on a mundane machine such as this? Like putting earrings on a pig!
Hi TurbineWinder.
I think the main reason someone would do this are:
– Fuel-injected twin-cylinder engine
– Fairly light and compact
– Honda reliability
– Fuel efficiency
– Good off-road capability and durability (with the kit)
– Adequate power and comfort for highway use
– Still cheaper than buying an F800GS
Another turd. From Honda!
Wait a minute. Last year, it was a bike for commuting, with a tame engine, supposed to get great fuel mileage. Now suddenly, it’s an “adventure” bike! Sounds a little fishy.
Hi Trails4FortyYrs. The CB500X is still the same tame commuter it was last year. Honda classifies it as an Adventure Bike but in stock form it really is a street-biased motorcycle. check out the off-road kit from Rally Raid if you want to transform the CB500X into a much more versatile adventure bike!
More Info Here:
http://www.advpulse.com/adv-bikes/cb500x-adventure-great-bike-for-the-tat/
http://www.advpulse.com/adv-bikes/honda-cb500x-off-road-kit/
Anxious to see more on the Rally Raid CB500x!
We got more for you here!
http://www.advpulse.com/adv-bikes/rally-raid-cb500x-review/
The suspension travel for the 2015 and 2016 CB 500 X models on the Honda Canada website are listed as different for the stock bikes.
2015 front = 5.5 and rear = 4.7
2016 front = 4.9 and rear = 4.6
Does anybody know if this is correct? Seems odd that Honda would reduce the travel on their “adventure” bike. No matter how small the reduction, it’s wrong to reduce travel on an “adventure” bike that already does not have large amounts of travel.
Hi Chris. That is strange. Honda has not reduced front suspension travel for 2016 here in the US. On the U.S. website it says front travel is 5.5 inches for 2016.
http://powersports.honda.com/2016/cb500x/specifications.aspx
It’s hard to know what is correct and what is the mistake. The link you showed does describe the suspension travel as the same for 2016 as in 2015…but, you’ll notice there is no mention of the fork preload. They added preload to the fork for 2016, at least that is what I have read, so it’s not hard to imagine that the info could simply be a copy of the specs for 2015. I got a reply from Honda Canada saying that the 2016 CB 500X info is not released in Canada yet so I don’t understand.
Here are the Honda Canada website links:
http://motorcycle.honda.ca/model/adventure/cb500x/2015
Front Suspension 41 mm telescopic fork; 140 mm (5.5 in.) travel
Rear Suspension Pro-Link single shock with spring preload adjustment; 119 mm (4.7 in.) travel
http://motorcycle.honda.ca/model/adventure/cb500x/2016
Front Suspension 41 mm telescopic fork with spring preload adjustment; 125 mm (4.9 in.) travel
Rear Suspension Pro-Link single shock with spring preload adjustment; 118 mm (4.6 in.) travel