I red that the magadan were difficult to install on cb, cause of the height which would touch the exhaust.
Did you check the caribou soft commander, an interesting compromise between hard and soft?

Hi Alex,
just came over this thread and agree to the PITA TÜV approval procedures with the RRP Level 3 kit. I am from Germany, I do own myself a CB500X, and had a very decent look into this conversion, and at the same time modifications with already TÜV-approved parts. So contact me if you still think about changing more on the bike (and we can of course discuss in German ).
There is also a long thread about the RRP conversion in the German CBR500R forum (in the 'X' subsection).
Currently I know of exactly one (!) CB500X with the RRP Level 3 kit running on German registration, but still some parts were not recognized by TÜV, so strictly speaking the bike is not legal.
I think you made a good decision and the Level 1 kit should improve your riding comfort a lot. I did similar, and installed a Wilbers suspension kit, now a whole better class bike. With the TKC70 tires on the original cast wheels this works perfect, and will be fine for me 99% of the time, as I do not fancy jumps or hardcore offroading. Not yet .
Rgds

Hey great to hear that. Ill write you soon, when i am a little less busy so that I can focus my thouths on the topic.

Also I looked into the Wilbers suspention, and called up the engeneers, but they said that the original 6 inch plastic spacer would not be replaced on their suspention, so that didnt suit me. If you faff around with the suspention, get rid of that useless thing, IMHO.
Also: Are the TKC 70 legal on the bike? I havent seen them on any registration chart (in Germany, the state dictates which tires you are allowed to put on... O.o).
Ill check out the thread in the german forum. I skimmed it but didnt really pay much attention to it. It is interesting which parts werent recognised. But as I now my TÜV guys in Pinneberg or Göttingen, they'll make anything happen for a crate of , that is .

Greetings

Alex

Now comes the bad news. The modified fork with the spacer was the problem were TÜV did not give approval to the specific bike I was mentioning.

(Sorry int'l readers, this paragraph comes Germany-specific):
As this model doesn't have a tire brand obligation you can put any set of tires on it that comes in original size. (I would always stick to the same make, though.) The TKC70 meets that criteria. It is legal, but the mysteries and stories and a strong tire lobby get many riders nervous. Some insurance companies do not help, and try to refuse compensation in the event of damage, and heavily irritate through this unfair behaviour. But that still doesn't mean you are illegal. Lastly, the TKC70 is a well-engineered, perfectly-balanced tire, and it is doing extraordinary well on the CB-X.
And where is the point in choosing an approved tire, when it turns out to wear quickly, steers with less confidence, and finally makes the bike wobbly, and less safe, as I needed to experience with the Scorpion Trail II on my fully laden Super Ténéré?! Approval does not mean 'more safety'.


Back to the initial subject: As stated before, I also believe that the CB-X is highly underrated through many potential buyers, if not through Honda itself. It was not on official sale for several months in Germany, now it is back on Honda Germany website. Good decision, Honda!
The bike is simple, reliable, and there is lots of proof in this forum and elsewhere on the internet about what it can do and take.

As also been said, it depends on what you are after. For the backcountry and single trail riders you won't be happy in factory config. On the other hand, there was a rider taking the CB-X off-the-shelf from UK to Mount Ararat and back, on roads mainly, but without major issues, and she loved it! (it was not J-Mo, btw )

Upgrading between OE settings and the RRP level3 kit (and maybe beyond) everything is possible. And the total bill is affordable, even after modification, compared to what the industry wants us to buy for 'adventure' and travelling. The majority of readers here, you guys are lucky, you don't have to cope with TÜV restrictions, but modify whatever you want, whenever you want.

Therefore I believe the CB-X is THE perfect platform to customize your very own adventure bike. I have mine now for 10.000km, running it in comparison to Yamaha XT1200ZE, which I own also. The next bigger trip I plan doing on the CB-X, and that's why I decided to give it an upgrade first. Now, finally done, and very confident, I can't wait to take it out there!

to thread entries #108 and #172 quoted above:

Nice to hear that RRP is developping a solution for an external PA to come soon. For all those seeking an alternative (sorry, J-Mo, no offense meant, but product-wise you might be prejudiced ) there is another manufacturer out there offering a shock with external PA for the CB-X.

It comes from Wilbers, and the particular model is the '631 competition'. You can have it in standard height, or with 10mm raise which I chose. This one has by default the external reservoir, and PA as an option. It mounts to the original Honda linkage bone and side plates.

It works on the ABS version and even has the TÜV approval needed for Germany if you strictly mount the PA the designated way. By default the manufacturer puts it right on top of the exhaust, but I convinced them that opposite to the frame where the reservoir sits is also a good place, although that did cost me the default manufacturers built certificate, and I needed separate TÜV approval inspection (yes, we are a bit complicated...)

The PA has 60 clicks, meaning it tunes very fine. Make sure to tell Wilbers where you want to mount it in order they put the connector and hose in right length towards the correct side.

In terms of riding enhancements I am very happy with the improved suspension during all road riding and on (short) good gravel stretches I did so far. Have not been testing all config options yet but very confident it will master all, there is so much more safety and riding potential in this suspension!

As I had to decide whether to go illegal or emigrate and register the bike under foreign flag, I (very sadly!) dropped the option of the RRP kit. Even a very warm welcome through John himself at RRP in England (thanks for the tea!) did not help overcome TÜV issues for why I got the Wilbers shock and fork springs replacements.

Sure this solution meant a compromise, and limits future upgrade possibilities, such as 19"/17" spoked wheels. But to me this was the best option to enhancing the bike. Together with some other parts I now have my very personal and street legal modification which will still cover 99% of my demand.

cheers


Wilbers '631 competition' rear shock for CB500X next to Honda original


how I mounted the shock reservoir and PA on my CB-X (this needed separate approval)


how Wilbers suggests you to mount shock reservoir and PA (this comes with manufacturer's built certificate, recognized from TÜV and authorities)

While the keyboard warriors here were busy comparing the 500X with other "more off-road worthy" bikes and discussing about the RR kit upgrade, a couple in their late 50's from Australia has answered the TS question by actually COMPLETING a RTW trip on their 500X - TWO UP!

Only minor mods were done - bash plate, tires, phone mount + USB, aluminum boxes and a home-made windshield (which apparently didn't hold up too well).

Get inspired here: If you have taken a photo of us riding please share it with us and I will put them here! Please indicate where it was taken

I met that couple in Chile and their "RTW-trip" was 40 000 kms, so distance vise not that impressive. I did about the same distance in SE-Asia and another 40 k kms in Oz and NZ. Anyhow - great people and a good test for the bike. Would like to mention that the man had ordered a brand new BMW GS 700 which he had waiting for him back home in SA Australia....

Said it before - that engine in a lightweight adv set up with 21 and 18 rims - a killer machine indeed.

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In the end everything will be fine. If its not fine its not the end....

For anyone interested, there is now a condensed video version of the AV seminar I presented last summer at various Overland events in the UK and USA about my ride across the US and back (including all of the revised Trans-Am Trail) in early summer 2015:

www.CB500XAdventure.com

Grab a coffee (tea, or beer) and enjoy the next 23 minutes!

Jenny x

EDIT! No movie there, it links to 7 year itch ride report on ADV Rider. (WRONG!)
My mistake, clicking on wrong link!

Found it, loved it. Very well done. Loved the comment regards our whacky Church zealots ... careful, they're running things now!

Packing Vid is silent, very brief, things kind of go by in a blur. A longer, slower, narrated version might be more useful, IMO. But all the basics are there.

Hi Molly' - yes, the Trans-Am video is embedded in the website window, although you can click to watch it full screen too of course.


for info. The link to the 'packing light' slide-show they've included is actually just the slides I used for my presentation last year (I didn't realise they'd uploaded/linked to that too), so you'll need to pause on each one to study the contents...

Obviously it would make a lot more sense if you were at the presentation, although if you read back to the beginning of the Trans-Am 500 ride report (in the link and here on the HUBB) there is a full description of the tools and packing I took on that trip, to which many of those photos relate.

It is my intention to put together an updated a proper narrated/captioned video regarding packing over this summer.

Hope that clarifies things!

Jenny x

I'm looking for a bike to do long road miles on tar and the occasional blast up dirt or dusty tracks to wild camp in the evenings I'm thinking the CB500X fits the bill in standard form with maybe slightly more aggressive tyres for the off road treks.

Some great information and video's on here, I've test ridden the CB500X in standard form today and loved it but on the recommendation of the store staff I'm testing a year older NC750X tomorrow (same price) for comparison. TBH the 750 is going to have to be pretty impressive for me to choose it over the 500.

The two bikes I would say designed for different things I have ridden them both if you look at a bike to do serious rugged miles I would've thought 500 better when I rode 500 to Laos standard tyres ok on v rough roads ,but as always both good bikes.
safe riding
Paul

Seems that from 2017 model, the engine is a stressed member ( engine used as an active structural element of the chassis rather than being passively contained by the chassis). Anyone know if this would be an advantage or disadvantage on an adventure bike?

I’m not sure either model’s frame has changed that radically since introduction, has it, Chris?

Apart from dirt bikes, I think it’s long been the modern way, and for all the right reasons.
On a typical gravel-roading travel bike in this weight category it makes little difference.
One good point mentioned by JMo to me recently, is having the top shock mount on a part
of the frame (as on CB-X, below) not the engine cases. A harsh bottom-out – a conceivable travel
bike scenario: fully loaded, at night, pothole – could break an engine lug off.

Attached Images

 

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Morocco Overland 4 (2025) • Trans Morocco Trail

Maybe I just misinterpreted an article about the 2017 release where it says saying "The 2017 CB500X engine acts as a stressed member". I thought it meant that was a change starting in the 2017 model. Guess it just meant the 2017 engine acts as a stressed member... as does the 2016, 15, 14...
Reading the comments in that article just now, seems the author apologized for not being clear on what was actually changed...
Looks like the muffler changed in 2017.

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Japan touring information