2024 Honda NX500 Review
The NX500 breathes new life and a little more attitude into Honda’s most practical ADV rig.
As for the engine, the NX sports the same beloved 471cc two-banger as the outgoing CB500X, albeit with revised tuning for improved acceleration. The 2024 NX500 also gets Honda’s latest 5-inch TFT display (essentially the same unit we saw during our recent test ride on the E-Clutch 650 machines), as well as new LED lighting front to back to round out the modernized package.
Riding the 2024 Honda NX500
The 2024 NX500 sees minor tweaks just about everywhere that matters.
Don’t let the sexy new clothes fool you: Honda’s NX500 isn’t some hard-nosed, laser-focused version of the CB500X, and that’s a very good thing. In fact we’d go as far as to say the two bikes are essentially identical, save for the fact that the NX is slightly better in every way that matters.
Take that tried-and-true 471cc engine, for example. Low- to midrange torque is still great, and the engine still starts to really hustle above 5,500 rpm. It’s quite literally the exact same powerplant found on the CB500X, yet acceleration is improved thanks to Honda’s ECU tweaks.
Is the difference minor? Yes, absolutely. Is it a better motorcycle because of it? Hard to argue otherwise.
We’re a fan of the new look as well as the sharp new LED lighting.
The same applies to the tweaked chassis. Where the old bike was always light, nimble, and confidence inspiring around town, the NX is a bit lighter and a bit nimbler still, thanks in part to those lighter wheels that make direction changes that much more effortless.
Get out of town and pick up the pace a bit, and the difference becomes even more apparent. As anyone who’s ever owned a CB500X will tell you, the bike delivers a much larger fun factor in the twisties than its easygoing personality implies. The NX500 is the same, but… You know… Better.
Simple, yet effective: The left bar now includes a straightforward on/off for traction control as well as a backlit joystick to navigate its new menus.
The dual-caliper Nissin brakes remain unchanged from the CB500X, which means they deliver the same great stopping power and progressive feel at the lever. Improved damping on the Showa SFF-BP fork makes for even less brake dive when shedding speed into a corner and an even more planted feel through the apex.
Those suspension improvements carry over into the NX500′s off-road performance as well. While the bike feels much the same as its predecessor, it’s also a bit more willing to push the boundaries in the dirt. We even managed to take it off a few small jumps on our local double-track trails, and we’re happy to report landings were surprisingly plush despite the NX’s limited 5.9 inches of travel.
The Showa Big Piston/Separate Function fork returns with added refinements for improved damping.
The NX500 is happy to fly down gravel roads all day, and with the right set of tires (we spooned a set of Bridgestone’s AX41 tires onto our tester) it’s the kind of bike that would feel right at home tackling just about any Backroad Discovery Route trails in the country.
With that being said, the NX isn’t designed for more technical pursuits, and its limited ground clearance (7.1 inches), 19-inch cast front wheel, and road-biased suspension aren’t the sort of thing you’ll want to go hopping logs with. We’ll also note that while the switchable traction control makes the NX a fun machine to slide around in the gravel, you’ll want to keep in mind that the ABS can’t be turned off by conventional means.
Out on the highway, both ergonomics and wind protection feel identical to the previous CBX. It’s comfortable, relaxed, and happily cruises at 80 mph with only minor vibrations, although a slightly taller windshield would make big improvements to buffeting around the helmet.
Top-gear passing power isn’t exactly bottomless, but you can haul the NX up to around 100 mph with a little patience when desired. The bike still feels a bit small for riders taller than 6 feet and a little cramped with a passenger, but overall it’s plenty comfortable on the long haul and we wouldn’t hesitate to take it on a cross-country epic to pretty much anywhere.
Verdict
What else to say about Honda’s beloved little do-it-all 500? The new 5-inch color TFT looks great, the new backlit joystick makes the menus simple to navigate, and the updated bodywork and LED lights look sharp and modern. Fuel economy is still excellent, which means the 4.7-gallon tank still yields an adventure-worthy 230–300-plus mile range.
The fact that all of this, plus traction control, only comes at a $100 premium over the outgoing CB500X means the NX500 still offers the same great value, but better.
It’ll also come as good news for current CB500X fans that, because the NX500′s underpinnings are essentially identical to the previous bike, the lion’s share of aftermarket upgrades for the CB carry over to the new model. That includes all the usual Rally Raid goodies like suspension kits, engine guards, luggage racks, and spoked wheels, as well as Seat Concepts’ popular “tall/rally” seat kit.
All things considered, that means the new NX500 is both a handsome redesign, a major upgrade, and the same budget-friendly do-it-all motorcycle that’s easily transformed into a globe-trotting ADV with a few simple bolt-ons. Same, but better across the board.
Get a cool deal on the 2024 Honda NX500