2021 Honda CB500X ABS Guide

2021 Honda CB500X ABS: LIGHTER. FASTER. AND RAZOR SHARP.

Introducing the 2021 Honda CB500X ABS…

Honda’s CB500X proves that adventure is everywhere. Light, powerful and rugged, the bike embraces Honda’s “True Adventure” concept while simultaneously offering easy-to-access performance that is suited for commuting. Driven by customer feedback over time, the CB500X has become more adventurous than ever with a bump-absorbing 19-inch front wheel, long-stroke 41 mm fork offering 5.9 inches of travel, wide handlebar and touring-focused features such as a tall windscreen. On the city streets, gravel backroads or dirt roads leading into the mountains, the CB500X is a machine that’s both practical and rewarding to ride. New for 2021, the model is available in a Matte Black Metallic color scheme that adds to the bike’s rugged, adventurous style.

The CB500X – originally launched in 2013 alongside the naked CB500F and fully-faired CBR500R – brings crossover adventure style to Honda’s fun-focussed twin-cylinder ‘light middleweight’ trio. It is a motorcycle that, without fanfare, quietly gets on with the job of being supremely competent and adaptable in use for a wide variety of owners.

The CB500X’s usefulness is down to a straightforward equation – a perky, well-regarded twin-cylinder engine which produces real torque and drive from low rpm, and revs hard up top – plus a chassis that gives a supremely comfortable ride both around town and out on the open highway.

It slips between the role of short-hop commuter to weekend tourer effortlessly. Long travel suspension irons out irregular road surfaces, wide handlebars provide leverage and the upright riding position offers both comfort and a wide field of view for the rider. In other words, the CB500X has proved an all-rounder in every sense of the term.

In 2016, a first upgrade saw the CB500X receive a larger fuel tank, more wind protection and a taller screen. It also gained LED lighting, spring preload-adjustable front forks and an adjustable brake lever.

Its 2019 evolution delivered more sophisticated adventure style, more engine performance and a number of chassis upgrades, ensuring that while the CB500X remained confident in its wide-ranging abilities, its ‘X’ factor was amplified a good deal louder.

Model Overview

From urban commuter to weekend explorer, the CB500X is ready for anything. Its styling has a sharp adventure edge, and is complemented by long travel suspension, high-specification single-tube shock absorber, comfortable rider ergonomics and a 19-inch front wheel.

The CB500X’s 35kW engine is A2 licence-compatible and benefits from the 2019 upgrades to the inlet, exhaust and valve timing, which added 4% more power and torque between 3-7,000rpm compared to the previous model, and were accompanied by an enhanced exhaust note and a new assist/slipper clutch.

LCD instruments include a Shift Up and Gear Position indicator, and all the lighting is LED.

2021 Honda CB500X ABS Totalmotorcycle.com Key Features

ENGINE / DRIVETRAIN

• Fuel-droplet size optimized for excellent spray penetration in intake, resulting in good combustion, which creates linear power from first crack of the throttle through to rpm redline.
• Small battery, plus positioning of components combine to enable good air-intake volume. Straight velocity stacks and separators between the cylinders make for minimal turbulence, resulting in good power across the rev range.
• Valve timing maximizes torque for good roll-on response.
• Model-specific fuel-injection settings allow linear power delivery, with emphasis on low- and midrange power and precise throttle response.
• Muffler has large volume before and after catalytic converter. Backpressure is optimized for strong low-end and midrange power. The dual-outlet muffler tip results in a sporty-sounding exhaust note to match the power.
• The design of the slipper clutch enables it to adapt to load stresses for good hook-up under heavy acceleration and minimal engine braking under downshifting.
• The clutch design, with engineering found in the CBR1000RR, enables light lever pull, which is especially helpful in stop-and-go traffic.

CHASSIS / SUSPENSION

• Large, 19″ front wheel for good bump absorption and high-speed handling.
• The rear tire is designed with a deep-grooved tread for good off-road traction.
• The shock features an advanced pressure-separation design from Honda’s large sport models, resulting in stable and predictable performance for good rear-wheel tracking and traction.
• Long-travel suspension provides strong performance through the stroke, as well as minimal bottoming and good ground clearance.
• The full-featured display has a large screen and a thin bezel. It includes an upshift indicator that can be set to different rpm levels.
• The tall, adjustable windscreen offers great wind protection during high-speed cruising.
• The seat is narrow above the foot pegs to aid touching feet to the ground at stops.
• The tapered handlebar provides good feedback, control and style, while the rubber-mounted handlebar clamp minimizes vibration to the rider’s hands.
• Adventure styling looks aggressive, while the shroud design helps direct radiator heat away from the rider’s legs.

One-year, transferable, unlimited-mileage limited warranty; extended coverage available with a Honda Protection Plan.

• Meets current EPA and CARB standards
• California version differs slightly due to emissions equipment

2021 Honda CB500X ABS Totalmotorcycle.com Features and Benefits

ADVENTURE IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER
The Honda CB500X is always ready for adventure. It’s also ready to get you to work, and to offer a relaxing ride home at the end of a long day. Its 471cc twin-cylinder engine provides easy-to-access power and torque that’s perfect for a quick run to the store or to help you find the end of your favorite trail. Its got long-travel suspension and a tall windscreen. And new for 2021, our Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) now comes standard. It’s all designed to make this bike ready to handle tough conditions, rough roads, and years of exploring. The Honda CB500X is the everyday ride that’s built for so much more.

ENGINEERING
DOHC TWIN-CYLINDER ENGINE
Offering plenty of power and torque in the midrange, the CB500X’s 471cc, liquid-cooled engine features parallel cylinder engines with dual overhead cams. Light, narrow, and powerful, it just strikes the perfect balance of what a mid-sized motorcycle engine should be.

ANTI-LOCK BRAKES
ABS comes standard on the CB500X, helping you make smoother, more controlled stops under less-than-ideal riding conditions.

EXHAUST
Who doesn’t love the sound of a twin-cylinder motorcycle? We gave the muffler on the CB500X twin exit pipes. It’s a little thing, but it’ll make you smile every time you ride.

PROGRAMMED FUEL INJECTION PGM-FI
The injector bodies help the CB500X make even more power. The bike’s PGM-FI continuously monitors several variables to ensure the correct fuel mixture is delivered for the existing riding and atmospheric conditions for crisp throttle response throughout a wide variety of riding conditions.

SLIPPER ASSIST CLUTCH
The slipper/assist clutch lets us lighten up the clutch-lever effort by 45 percent, but automatically locks up tight when you release it.

HANDLING
LONG-TRAVEL FRONT SUSPENSION
The long-stroke 41mm fork yields 5.9 inches of travel. A wide handlebar allows for easy steering inputs.

DISC BRAKES
The front 310mm disc brake and 240mm rear feature drilled, petal-style rotors that provide strong stopping power.

PRO-LINK REAR SUSPENSION
A sophisticated chassis with Honda Pro-Link® rear suspension, with 9-stage spring preload and 5.3 inches of travel gives you a comfortable ride over small bumps, while capably absorbing bigger bumps to increase riding comfort and handling. The shock absorber features large-diameter internals for even better damping characteristics and a smoother ride.

SMOOTHER TRANSMISSION
Our engineers profiled the shift dogs in the transmission, to help you get smoother shifts every time. You’ll never see these parts, but you’ll feel their effects.

STEEL-TUBE FRAME
A motorcycle’s frame is the basis for its handling. The CB500X’s diamond-shaped steel-tube mainframe ties to the engine with four mounts, offering a rock-solid foundation for superior ride and handling. It also contributes to the CB500X’s generous 7.1-inch ground clearance.

STYLE
UNIQUE STYLE
Like your favorite blue jeans, the CB500X just looks right—tough, capable, no-nonsense. Plus, the adventure-bike posture and seating position let you move around freely—just like your jeans!

DIGITAL INSTRUMENTATION
An easy-to-read LCD screen features a digital speedometer, tachometer and more, including a clock, odometer, trip meter, real-time and average fuel consumption meters and illuminated engine diagnostic indicators.

LED LIGHTING
With a clean, rough-and-ready look, the CB500X’s LED headlight and multi-facet reflector project plenty of light on the road for visibility.

MULTI-SPOKE CAST WHEELS
Strong and stylish, the CB500X’s lightweight multi-spoke cast-aluminum wheels—19-inch diameter in front and 17-inch rear—are easy to keep clean, look great, enhance handling and are another CB500X feature that just makes sense.

COMFORT
TALL WINDSCREEN
The CB500X’s windscreen offers superior wind protection.

STEP SEAT
The CB500X seat gives you an open, unrestricted riding position that’s perfect for both touring and commuting, and that still offers room for a passenger. The seat’s narrow shoulders make it easier to put your feet down at stoplights or in parking lots.

2021 Honda CB500X ABS – Totalmotorcycle.com USA Specifications/Technical Details
US MSRP Price: $6999 USD
Canada MSRP Price: $ See Dealer CDN
Europe/UK MSRP Price: £ GBP (On The Road inc 20% Vat)

*Includes all standard equipment, required fluids and full tank of fuel—ready to ride
Meets current EPA standards
Models sold in California meet current CARB standards and may differ slightly due to emissions equipment

2021 Honda CB500X ABS – Totalmotorcycle.com Canada Specifications/Technical Details

Engine & Drivetrain
Engine Type Liquid-cooled parallel-twin
Displacement 471 cc
Bore & Stroke 67 mm x 66.8 mm
Compression Ratio 10.7:1
Valve Train Chain-driven DOHC, 4 valves per cylinder
Fuel Delivery PGM-FI electronic fuel injection
Transmission Six-speed
Final Drive #520 O-ring sealed chain
Chassis & Suspension
Front Suspension 41 mm telescopic fork with spring preload adjustment, 136 mm (5.4 in) travel
Rear Suspension Pro-Link® single shock with 5-stage spring preload adjustment; 135 mm (5.3 in.) travel
Additional Information
Tires Front: 110/80R-19
Rear: 160/60ZR-17
Brakes Front: 310 mm single wave hydraulic disc with 2-piston caliper
Rear: 240 mm single wave hydraulic disc with single-piston caliper 2-channel ABS
Seat Height 830 mm (32.7 in)
Wheelbase 1445 mm (56.9 in)
Curb Weight 197 kg (434 lb.) including required fluids and full tank of gas—ready to ride
Fuel Capacity 17.5 litres
Colour Grand Prix Red, Mat Gunpowder Black Metallic
Warranty 12 months, unlimited mileage, freely transferable warranty; extended coverage available with Honda Plus

2021 Honda CB500X ABS – Totalmotorcycle.com European Specifications/Technical Details

All specifications are provisional and subject to change without notice.

# Please note that the figures provided are results obtained by Honda under standardised testing conditions prescribed by WMTC. Tests are conducted on a rolling road using a standard version of the vehicle with only one rider and no additional optional equipment. Actual fuel consumption may vary depending on how you ride, how you maintain your vehicle, weather, road conditions, tire pressure, installation of accessories, cargo, rider and passenger weight, and other factors.

Manufacturer Specifications and appearance are subject to change without prior notice on Total Motorcycle (TMW).