Source: MotorcyclistOnline.com
[[{“value”:”If Honda’s new NX500 looks familiar, that’s because it’s the bike formerly known as the CB500X. Upgrades this year include a new TFT display, sharper styling and traction control as standard. (Honda/)Launched in 2013, the CB500X quickly made its mark within Honda’s middleweight twin-cylinder engine platform, thanks to its straightforward mix of solid torque, a revvy top-end, plus a chassis that delivered a comfy ride in town as well as on the highway, all decked out in distinctive adventure styling. (Read or watch our official review during the 2020 Honda CB500X MC Commute Review). Over time the CB500X got even more adventurous, gaining a larger fuel tank, adjustable suspension, and more wind protection in 2016, and a couple of years later, switching to a 19-inch front wheel (from 17 inches). In 2022, we saw more significant upgrades with the addition of a stout 41mm SFF-BP USD fork, dual front disc brakes, a lightweight swingarm, and a redesigned front wheel.For 2024 the biggest change is the new name, but don’t worry, there’s more; the now-renamed NX500 also receives aggressively redesigned styling, a dash of premium technology, and a variety of smaller detail upgrades.Editor’s note: Honda Motor Europe announced this vehicle last year during the Honda Replaces the CB500X With Its NX500 Adventure Bike article.The 2024 NX500 is 7 pounds lighter than its predecessor as well, with the new aluminum wheels saving more than 3 pounds in unsprung weight. (Honda/)Despite the new NX prefix and styling refresh, the outgoing CB500X retains much of its rough-and-tumble character for 2024. Honda says the NX (which stands for “new X-over”) is 7 pounds lighter than its CB predecessor, due primarily to its new cast aluminum wheels, which went from a conventional Y-shaped seven-spoke design to a Y-shaped five-spoke unit, helping bring curb weight down to 432 pounds.That reduction of unsprung weight also gave Honda the chance to revise the suspension settings on the single-tube preload-adjustable shock to better match the front 41mm Showa SFF-BP inverted fork settings (which were also apparently tweaked, though Honda does not give details). Together the changes are meant to improve handling and feel in all situations; as before, the bike rolls on a 19-inch front and 17-inch rear wheel, with both wearing trail-pattern tires. The braking package returns unchanged, with dual 296mm discs clamped by two-piston calipers up front and a single 240mm disc acted on by a single-piston caliper at the rear, with ABS on both ends.Related: 2023 Honda CB500X First Look PreviewThe new full-color 5-inch TFT display is borrowed from the XL750 Transalp model, but uses optical bonding for a clearer image in sunlight. (Honda UK/)In the cockpit, another big improvement comes in the form of a new 5-inch TFT screen stripped right off the XL750 Transalp, but in this case Big Red says the unit uses optical bonding to improve visibility in bright sunlight, which is a first for a Honda motorcycle. Riders can manipulate the simple, backlit four-way toggle switch to get into the settings menu, and there they’ll find Honda Selectable Torque Control—also new for this year—as a standard feature, giving them ways to manage rear-wheel traction, or just have HSTC turned off completely.Honda says the seat profile is slimmer for an easier reach to the ground; LED lighting appears on the headlight as well as the taillight. (Honda/)The NX500′s face also gets a noticeably different look than the CB500X, with the former’s hint of a beak eliminated in favor of a flush, more menacing grimace dominated by a brand-new vertically oriented LED headlight with a wider throw for better nighttime visibility. In fact, the NX500 now gets LED lighting all around. The windshield, too, looks reshaped to be narrower, though there’s no word on whether it’s adjustable or not. Honda says it’s given the seat a slimmer profile for an easier reach to the ground, though its height is still listed as 32.8 inches—same as last year’s model.As usual, Honda continues to taunt us by giving European riders three slick color options like this Pearl Horizon White. As for here, in the States? Hope you like just basic black. (Honda UK/)Engine-wise, you won’t see many changes, with the same steel tube mainframe and 471cc liquid-cooled P-twin powerplant acting as a stressed member, along with the same suspension components (albeit with revised settings) of its CB500X forebear, with 5.9 inches of stroke up front, along with a 4.7-gallon fuel tank.There is, however, an ECU update this year that’s said to improve acceleration feel and will likely make the already-zippy engine even more fun. Although this year’s updates may seem small, they’re sure to make an already well-liked machine even more manageable for more riders, and with only a slight increase of $100 in price for an MSRP of $7,399. Unfortunately you don’t get any color options this year: The 2024 NX500 will be available only in Matte Black Metallic.2024 Honda NX500 Technical Specifications and Price
MSRP:
$7,399
Engine:
471cc, DOHC, liquid-cooled parallel-twin; 4 valves/cyl.
Bore x Stroke:
67.0 x 66.8mm
Compression Ratio:
10.7:1
Transmission/Final Drive:
6-speed/chain
Clutch:
Wet, multiplate slipper/assist
Fuel System:
PGM-FI w/ 34mm throttle bodies
Frame:
Tubular steel
Front Suspension:
41mm telescopic fork; 5.9 in. travel
Rear Suspension:
Single shock, spring preload adjustable; 5.3 in. travel
Front Brake:
4-piston calipers, dual 296mm discs w/ ABS
Rear Brake:
1-piston caliper, 240mm disc w/ ABS
Wheels, Front/Rear:
Cast aluminum; 19 in./17 in.
Tires, Front/Rear:
110/80-19 / 160/60-17
Rake/Trail:
27.0°/4.3 in.
Wheelbase:
56.8 in.
Seat Height:
32.8 in.
Fuel Capacity:
4.7 gal.
Claimed Wet Weight:
432 lb.
Contact:
powersports.honda.com”}]]
