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27 Jun 2015
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I am beginning to think that this bike is really the most underrated machine in existence! Its weight, fuel economy, price and now with the RR kit... I am 99% sold on it as being my purchase.
I did get to sit on one the other day and was pleasantly surprised. It feels and looks really good in person. The pictures don't do the bike justice imho. I just need to book a test drive! 
Would love to hear from folks who have actually gone long distance on it, including any intrepid RTW adventurers, so to speak. I know that your out there busy enjoying your X's but if you can spare a moment, I'd be appreciative. Not least of all because the bike has been out for so many years now.
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29 Jun 2015
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R.I.P.
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It probably IS underrated ... probably among ADV travelers who have off road travel in mind. The only weak area I see on the bike is it's lack of off road ability ... it's ability to take a hammering over 1000 miles of wash board, plowing through deep sand/silt or getting through Rock mine fields litered with Baby head rocks.
I figure if that sort of riding beats the shite out of my well set up DR650 (a bike SUBSTANTIALLY lighter weight and better handling off road than the Honda in question) ... then seems logical it may cause the Honda rider (and the bike) problems riding such conditions.
But for mostly ON ROAD travel, or easy dirt roads (not tracks) ... it would make a spectacular travel bike.
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20 Jul 2015
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After 2 years thinking it over, just found a cheap CB-X.
Plan to give it some RRP treatment.
More here.
First fill up shows promise for long-range desert travels…
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20 Jul 2015
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R.I.P.
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Good looking kit!
I'd love to hear how the kitted up bike performs out on the road, fully loaded.
Looks like the kit gives more (much needed) ground clearance with 19" front and longer forks/custom triple clamp. 
But is it enough? With a lot of weight on the bike, after market fuel tank, all bash guards in place ... seems like it may get a bit on the heavy side?
But I'm sure for most travel it will be good if terrain not too severe. Love the mild mannered motor. Honda are one of the best producing such "go forever" motors.
My DR650 was weighed on a certified industrial scale with Panniers, Wolfman duffel, tools, bash guards and 5 US gallons of fuel on board.
430 lbs. (195 kgs.) No featherweight and only 50 MPG ... but still rideable off road in deep Baja sand and rocky tracks.
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21 Jul 2015
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Well the X weighs 197kg fully wet which is a lot - but feels much lighter compared to the previous 222kg Versys. Must be a lower CoG and less of everything.
Needs a bashplate of course (RRP = 3.4kg) and all the usual travel paraphernalia but not a bigger tank IMO (OE = 17.5 they say) unless that mpg was a total fluke.
I agree 200kg on the trail is a realistic limit for an all-road travel bike, but looks like JMo managed her 12,000-mile back-to-back Trans Am (non-camping?) which is my sort of riding.
Tyre choice and rider skill would come in to it.
Seen this on adv? A CBR500R (same motor as X) in a CRF250L frame! 165 wet. 500 motor is only 8 kilos heavier (40/48kg).
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21 Jul 2015
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Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Back into the hamster wheel again, in Oslo - Norway. Did a 5 year RTW trip/250 k kms, 2014-2019
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Agree with Chris here about the gastank size. I rode the 500x to 100 mpg and I wasnt exactly lean on the throttle all the time. And that means you will get 550 km out of one tank. Lets say 500 km to be sure. That will do for most overland distances and riders, Not many bikes can beat that with OE tank....
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31 Jul 2015
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Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Birmingham on Sea - England
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Don't be fooled
See it as a road bike which is what it is. My mate has one and loves it however just because Honda give it a beak and list it as a 'trendy' adventure bike it is still a road bike with road tyres small wheels and low ground clearance. There is a lot of pretty plastic in there too.
Im not going to suggest alternatives because it may be the perfect RTW bike for you. As always it comes down to what suits your own personal criteria and the biggest thing on my personal list is you've simply gotta really like the bike
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2 Aug 2015
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There are a couple of pictures of the rally raid adaptation of this particular bike in the site linked below (which also has feedback from some other riders/owners of the CB500).
http://www.adventurebikerider.com/fo...it=10&start=20
As posted by "that postie".
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2 Aug 2015
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26 Aug 2015
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Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: California
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Howdy all... just checking in - been rather busy these past couple of months as Chris has alluded to ;o)
Any questions about the all-road and trail worthiness of the CB500X with the Rally-Raid kit fitted, please ask away - I've just finished riding one over 12,500 miles - including a 1000 mile Iron-Butt, the whole of the Trans-America Trail and a week on the rocks in Moab.
Honestly, this bike is epic.
The KLR is dead, and so is the Transalp ;o)
I'll also be posting up a copy of my detailed ride report here on the HUBB shortly - in the meantime, a few photos that hopefully illustrate what I mean:
photo. Kane Creek Canyon, Moab UT.
photo. The TAT east of Monticello UT.
photo. Dead Horse Gulch nr. Salida CO.
photo. Pikes Peak, CO.
photo. TAT in Oregon.
photo. Lockhart Basin, Moab UT.
photo. Top of the World trail, Moab UT.
photo. Top of the World trail, Moab UT.
photo. Mengal Pass, Death Valley CA.
More soon,
Jenny x
Last edited by JMo (& piglet); 10 Dec 2015 at 17:34.
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28 Aug 2015
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Location: Lutterworth,Midlands, UK
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seems like a great all rounder, I wonder how long before Honda realise and put the price up?
The MT07 engine seems like it would make a great basis for a modern day super tenere, lightweight skinny and capable.
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28 Aug 2015
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Quote:
Originally Posted by stuxtttr
seems like a great all rounder, I wonder how long before Honda realise and put the price up?
The MT07 engine seems like it would make a great basis for a modern day super tenere, lightweight skinny and capable.
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Hi Stu - yes I agree, I've always felt the XT660Z Tenere is the best off-the-shelf adventure bike out there, and with that 700cc twin cylinder engine it would be even better... and they really wouldn't/shouldn't change all that much to be honest - perhaps a simpler/lighter exhaust system and a slightly lower seat height?
As you are probably aware, I have/had a good deal of experience with the 660Z - having bought one of the first ones when it came out in 2008, and certainly the XT was very much one of our benchmark bikes (along with the BMW F700GS) we used when drawing up the specification for the CB500X Adventure kit.
Having just completed a very similar trip on the CB that I did with the XT back in 2008/09, I can honestly say the CB (with the Rally-Raid kit fitted of course) was just as capable if not moreso on the Trans-Am Trail... and appreciably less intimidating on the more gnarly trails in Moab - primarily due to it's lower seat height, lower centre of gravity and shorter wheelbase.
It also destroys big road miles in a way only a multi-cylinder bike can, and is an absolute hoot on the twisty backroads too - it really is that good!
Jenny x
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29 Aug 2015
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Location: Idaho
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what is the price of such a conversion?
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29 Aug 2015
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Quote:
Originally Posted by yokesman
what is the price of such a conversion?
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Hi Yokesman - Rally-Raid have a dedicated website for the bike here: cb500xadventure - that explains the various options available.
Basically the full Adventure kit with the spoked wheels (17" rear, 19" front) and front and rear TracTive suspension is the level 3 kit.
In simple terms, if you had two grand in your pocket, you could afford a Big Mac meal on your way home ;o)
Jx
PS. Ah, I see you are in Idaho - Rally-Raid actually have partnered with Giant Loop as their US distributor for the Honda kit and associated accessories (to save North America on individual shipping and import duty costs etc.) - more info here: http://giantloopmoto.com/reserve-you...adventure-kit/ I believe the price is around $2800 USD all in.
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29 Aug 2015
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with good used examples costing around 4k that means you can have a very useful bike for around 6k.
For this price the supsension and added components are of far better quality than that offered by Yamaha on the tenere, bmw on the gs and triumph on the tiger, with the latter two bikes costing a great deal more to boot.
with the fuel economy etc I'd say your getting a damn good bike with a lot of the off road agility only offered by maybe KTM or CCM and yet a much better bike for soaking up the road miles.
I can't really see what a larger adventure bike would offer for RTW riding other than more weight, cost and speed (in reality how fast do you travel in countries where road safety and conditions are far more risky than in the UK)
Last edited by stuxtttr; 29 Aug 2015 at 14:02.
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