quietguy_imp
Been there
My CTX700ND was a parallel twin as well... and quite smooth. Mine also had the DCT auto trans. Traded it for my CB1100/A.
Honda CB500x
- Thread starter Papa Weeley_imp
- Start date
the_undecider_imp
Been there
The CB500X is one of several bikes I'd not be opposed to owning. If I were retired and had the money to have a shop full of toys, it would be my dirt road exploring, hill-country cruising bike. While my V-strom 650 does a fine enough job with those tasks, I would like something a bit smaller for the dirty stuff and just to have something a bit nimbler. I almost bought a 500X for those reasons, but I ultimately went with my V-strom as I had owned one before and knew it would have better wind protection and comfort for longer rides. Wealthy retired me would have a fancy sport touring bike for longer rides.
Here's what wealthy retired me would own from smallest to largest displacement:
Honda Grom
Yamaha WR250R dual sport
Honda CB500X with Rally Raid Stage 3 kit
Honda CB1100
Ducati Diavel
Yamaha FJR1300ES or Super Tenere ES, what the heck, both!
Triumph Rocket 3
Also vintage stuff, BMW, Indian, Harley, Bristish, Italian, Japanese, Miscellaneous makes. Might even go crazy and buy a Ural (even though it's not really vintage, owning one pretty much is).
Here's what wealthy retired me would own from smallest to largest displacement:
Honda Grom
Yamaha WR250R dual sport
Honda CB500X with Rally Raid Stage 3 kit
Honda CB1100
Ducati Diavel
Yamaha FJR1300ES or Super Tenere ES, what the heck, both!
Triumph Rocket 3
Also vintage stuff, BMW, Indian, Harley, Bristish, Italian, Japanese, Miscellaneous makes. Might even go crazy and buy a Ural (even though it's not really vintage, owning one pretty much is).
Papa Weeley_imp
Road warrior
Thread starter
Exactly my thoughts. I just don't get the whole idea of a huge, heavy, 1200cc ADV/off-road/etc. bike. I know lots of guys do it, but I don't think that I could handle a bike that big for what I want to do.the_undecider_imp said:
With this bike, I have the added attraction of something light and nimble for canyon riding, too. Win-win.
the_undecider_imp
Been there
Exactly my thoughts. I just don't get the whole idea of a huge, heavy, 1200cc ADV/off-road/etc. bike. I know lots of guys do it, but I don't think that I could handle a bike that big for what I want to do.Papa Weeley_imp said:
With this bike, I have the added attraction of something light and nimble for canyon riding, too. Win-win.
The appeal of the large adv bikes to me is that they are comfortable for tall folks like me and can bomb down a dirt road if needed. I see no need for me to ride one on some overland trip to Tierra del Fuego, but I see them as a good alternative to a sport tourer which is really all they are.
Papa Weeley_imp
Road warrior
Thread starter
Ah. Makes sense.
My complication is that I'm tall (6'), but thin (170-175 lbs.), so I need legroom, but can't/don't want to wrestle a big bike around. This 500 has a surprising amount of legroom and a very comfortable position, but is also light enough that I can feel really confidant riding it.
My complication is that I'm tall (6'), but thin (170-175 lbs.), so I need legroom, but can't/don't want to wrestle a big bike around. This 500 has a surprising amount of legroom and a very comfortable position, but is also light enough that I can feel really confidant riding it.
the_undecider_imp
Been there
I'm close to 6'2" and a lot of that is in my legs and found I would want a tad more leg room. Nothing that one of the Seat Concepts tall seat foam and cover kits wouldn't fix:
http://www.seatconcepts.com/product...egory=0&mode=product&product=50880167
I like the flat profile of this seat because it gives it a dirt bike feel. I recall the 500X being narrow at the hips which would make it easy to ride standing. My Strom is a little bit pudgy in the middle, so standing is a little awkward.
I wish there was a seat that had a flat profile for the V-strom, but it would be way too. I have the OEM tall saddle which has much less dish than the stock saddle. Seat Concepts also has a tall seat foam kit which is a similar height at the Suzuki tall saddle, but with greater thigh support. I have one ready to install, hopefully tomorrow. Wish me luck on that endeavor.
http://www.seatconcepts.com/product...egory=0&mode=product&product=50880167
I like the flat profile of this seat because it gives it a dirt bike feel. I recall the 500X being narrow at the hips which would make it easy to ride standing. My Strom is a little bit pudgy in the middle, so standing is a little awkward.
I wish there was a seat that had a flat profile for the V-strom, but it would be way too. I have the OEM tall saddle which has much less dish than the stock saddle. Seat Concepts also has a tall seat foam kit which is a similar height at the Suzuki tall saddle, but with greater thigh support. I have one ready to install, hopefully tomorrow. Wish me luck on that endeavor.
Elipten_imp
Road warrior
Where are the snorkels on those bikes? That is amazing as that is a fast flowing and deep river!
2014 CB1100 DLX
2013 CB1100 Std
1990 BMW K75 RT
2014 CB1100 DLX
2013 CB1100 Std
1990 BMW K75 RT
rboe
Road warrior
Holy Moly!!!! Can't believe they still ran after doing the submarine thing. The flow rate is so high I would not consider it. Jeez, just amazing. And Crazy!
flynrider
Road warrior
How is it that the plugs didn't short out? I tried that once on a KZ400 during a flood. As soon as the plugs got soaked, she quit.
rboe
Road warrior
If the cap has a good seal at the base they won't short. Right away anyway.
But how do they not suck in a bunch of water?
But how do they not suck in a bunch of water?
the Ferret
Road warrior
Sat on one of the 500s today. Feet actually touched the ground. Nice little bike.
quietguy_imp
Been there
As most can tell by now, I spend a LOT of time on Youtube...
Here's a brief vid comparo for your viewing entertainment:
Here's a brief vid comparo for your viewing entertainment:
the_undecider_imp
Been there
Here is a motovlogger I used to enjoy. He did these weekly ride videos, often aboard a new bike loaned by an area dealership. When Competition Accessories changed hands and moved to Indiana, he stopped doing videos. Competition Accessories still does videos, but it's area different person. Anyway, I like this guy's take on the 500x.
quietguy_imp
Been there
Yup... I used to watch his 'rides' every week - loved that guy.
LongRanger_imp
Road warrior
Great video. Thanks for sharing!
Papa Weeley_imp
Road warrior
Thread starter
Yup, watched both of those videos, myself. They, amongst a dozen or so others are what convinced me to take the leap.
Got another ride in Saturday morning in between rain storms here, and so far, my first impressions still stand. It's a lot of fun to ride, handles great, and has a lot more pick-up than I would have expected. Took a short jaunt down a dirt drive, and it felt very stable. I think the light weight helps that feeling a lot.
Got another ride in Saturday morning in between rain storms here, and so far, my first impressions still stand. It's a lot of fun to ride, handles great, and has a lot more pick-up than I would have expected. Took a short jaunt down a dirt drive, and it felt very stable. I think the light weight helps that feeling a lot.
rboe
Road warrior
Anyone do a comparison ride between a Suzuki SV-650 and CB500?
the_undecider_imp
Been there
The more I think about the 500x, the more I compare it to the V-strom 650. They are certainly two bikes that will be cross-shopped, but they don't directly compete. The NC700X is really a closer competitor to bikes like the V-strom, Versys, or F700GS.
What I mean is that the CB500X punches well above it's weight class. The fact that it gets compared to its larger brother (and frequently favored over the NC) and the aformentioned mid-weight adventure touring bikes. There really is no directly comparable bike available, at least in North America.
I really have been thinking about this bike a lot. I seriously considered buying one. As much as I like my V-strom, my 2nd V-strom, I sometimes wish I had bought something different just to experience something else.
What I mean is that the CB500X punches well above it's weight class. The fact that it gets compared to its larger brother (and frequently favored over the NC) and the aformentioned mid-weight adventure touring bikes. There really is no directly comparable bike available, at least in North America.
I really have been thinking about this bike a lot. I seriously considered buying one. As much as I like my V-strom, my 2nd V-strom, I sometimes wish I had bought something different just to experience something else.
Undecider....since you're in Texas, .....a vast, but mostly flat state, with interstates where average speeds are 80+mph, and never ending off pavement dirt roads.... A large ADV bike like a Vstrom/Tiger 800/S-Ten is, imo, ideally suited to our state's geography. If we're talking COLORADO or UTAH or IDAHO, yes, a lighter ADV bike is better served. But in TX, where we have long travel times, long distances to get to....Twisted Sisters, Big Bend, Hill Country, Gulf coast, and Mexico,.... one can't do any better than a Vstrom 650. So give yourself a pat in the back for having the right tool for the right job.
