Dual-Threat Honda CB500X Returns For 2023 Ready For Off-Road & Urban Adventures

    Posted On: February 22, 2023

    Honda says the 2023 CB500X adventure bike’s light yet strong 35-millimeter-diameter steel diamond-tube mainframe gives riders plenty of feedback across varying road conditions. (Photo courtesy of Honda.)

    Honda has returned its CB500X adventure motorcycle for 2023 with the same ruggedly handsome Pearl Organic Green paint scheme it introduced in 2022. Equally at home barreling down canyon roads and darting through busy city streets, the CB500X has a comfortable upright seating position, thanks to its narrow, 32.8-inch (833-millimeter)-high step seat, and the enhanced handling that results from its just-right 439-pound (199-kilogram) curb weight. Its lightweight, twin-cylinder Honda DOHC 471-cc eight valve, liquid-cooled engine produces ample power to take on a range of off-road, highway, and urban riding environments.

    A History Of Improvements

    Introduced in 2013, the CB500X has undergone numerous changes over 10 years to bring it to its present form. In 2016, Honda added a larger fuel tank plus an adjustable windscreen for improved wind protection. Three years later, the company switched to a 19-in. (482-mm) front wheel for even better off-road performance. Last year, the manufacturer introduced the bike’s front inverted 41-millimeter Showa Separate Function Fork-Big Piston (SFF-BP) front suspension, which returns for 2023 with 5.9 in. (150 mm) of cushion stroke.

    Form & Function

    Honda says the CB500X’s long radiator shrouds and fairing set just the right tone for adventure. The gunmetal-gray tapered handlebar and multi-spoke cast wheels also look great while enhancing handling and control. The sleek windscreen, meanwhile, can be adjusted to a low position for better aerodynamics or moved higher for greater protection from the elements. Riders will also appreciate the chiseled styling of the headlight, which uses powerful LEDs and a multi-facet reflector to enhance visibility. On the other side of the handlebar is a multi-surfaced LCD with digital speedometer, tachometer, odometer, real-time and average fuel consumption meters, and other indicators.


    Returning for 2023 is the CB500X’s best-in-class inverted, 41-millimeter Showa Separate Function Fork-Big Piston (SFF-BP) front suspension. (Photo courtesy of Honda.)

    Specs & More

    Like the 2022 CB500X, the 2023 version includes anti-lock brakes system (ABS). Two axial-mounted Nissin twin-piston calipers with large 296-mm (11.7-in.) petal-style discs are in place up front, and a single one-piston caliper with 240-mm (9.4-in.) disc provides stopping power at the rear. The Pro-Link single rear shock has nine-position spring-preload adjustability with 5.3 in. (134 mm) of travel. The bike rolls on a 110/80-19 front wheel and a 160/60-17 rear wheel. The wheelbase measures 56.8 in. (1,443 mm), and the bike has 7.1 in. (180 mm) of ground clearance. The fuel tank has a capacity of 4.7 gallons (17.8 liters).

    Find Honda Motorcycles

    You’ll find a selection of new and used Honda motor sports vehicles for sale on MotorSportsUniverse.com, including a number of Honda motorcycles.

    Source: Honda

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