The Honda CB500X has been launched in India, priced at Rs 6.87 lakh. Reports of the CB500X – Honda’s middleweight adventure-tourer – being set for an India launch surfaced a few weeks ago. Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India have today added to its big bike range, announcing the arrival of the CB500X. It’s important to highlight at this point that the CB500X is being shipped to India in completely knocked-down (CKD) form and marks Honda’s entry into the middleweight ADV segment.
At the heart of the Honda CB500X is a 471 cc, twin-cylinder engine that makes 47.5 hp and 43 Nm of torque and is paired with a 6-speed gearbox with a slipper clutch. The power figures aren’t class-leading – the CB500X’s output is only slightly higher than the smaller KTM 390 Adventure; it makes less torque than the Benelli TRK 502, and the bigger Kawasaki Versys 650 and Suzuki V-Strom 650 XT are vastly more powerful. That said, the Honda – with its twin-cylinder layout – should be a much more relaxing motorcycle over long distances compared to the KTM.
It features a 41 mm fork, a nine-stage preload-adjustable rear mono-shock, a large windscreen, and a claimed 181 mm of ground clearance. Part of the package is cast-aluminium wheels (19-inch front, 17-inch rear) and drilled, petal-type disc brakes (310 mm front, 240 mm rear) with dual-channel ABS. Seat height is rated at 830 mm, and kerb weight is pegged at 199 kg.
On the equipment list of the Honda CB500X are all-LED lights, a negative LCD (which houses the gear position indicator, engine temperature indicator, ABS indicator and more), the Honda Ignition Security System (HISS) anti-theft system and the Emergency Stop Signal, which detects sudden braking and automatically activates the front and rear hazard lights. There are two colour options available – Grand Prix Red and Matte Gunpowder Black. The CB500X will only be available at Honda’s Big Wing dealerships across the country.
At this price, the Honda CB500X is nearly Rs 2 lakh more expensive than the Benelli TRK502 but undercuts the bigger, more powerful Suzuki V-Strom 650 XT by nearly Rs 2 lakh. Simultaneously, the larger Kawasaki Versys 650 (at Rs 6.94 lakh) costs a mere Rs 7,000 more than the Honda CB500X.