CB500X, madness?

[Hugo Stiglitz]

On a bike I ride like I'm retired. Now don't get me wrong, I'm cheeky, I'll filter to the front; overtake 2-3 cars in one sitting but on the motorway I hit 70 and that's it really.

I need a cheap, reliable bike that I can ride tired, all weather's for thousands of commuting miles cross WYorks into Manchester for work and back.

I don't care for big bhp. I've ridden a few bikes with big engines and I don't want a heavy bike. I can't stand heavy bikes wheeling them backwards out of the garage at 5am.

But I can get something like a Tiger 600 Sport I hear you say. How much more than a new CB500X is that?

[paddy1970]

Get a scooter

[KTMsm]

A quick google shows a cb500x is 199kg - that's heavy for a 500

My KTM 990 only weighs a smidge more

A 690 only weighs 150kg

[Hugo Stiglitz]

KTMsm said:

A quick google shows a cb500x is 199kg - that's heavy for a 500

My KTM 990 only weighs a smidge more

A 690 only weighs 150kg

True, 199kg wet. The 690 is dry weight... and 10k new v 6.6k

[KTMsm]

Hugo Stiglitz said:

True, 199kg wet. The 690 is dry weight... and 10k new v 6.6k

I wasn't suggesting you buy a 690 - it's just a weight I'm aware of

I wouldn't buy a new bike either - fair enough for the latest thing or a complex / unreliable bike but not for a dull commuter

[TheInternet]

What proportion of 70mph roads are you planning to do? If much then you might find an NC750X a better bet. Friend bought a CB500X for similar reasons as you're suggesting, but finds it harder going than expected for the higher speed sections.

[Captain Obvious]

I had one for a couple of years as my first bike, absolutely loved it for what it was, and I sold it for not much less than I paid.

[Speed addicted]

Buy something specifically for the commute and keep something fun for the rest of the time?

Honda deuville has good weather protection, shaft drive, built in luggage, reliability and you won’t care if it starts to look a bit rough. Pretty much the ideal boring commute bike!

That way you don’t ruin your good bike and it still feels like fun when you take it out.

[javavodka]

I had a cb500x and chopped it in for a cb300r last year, the 300r is only 15hp down on the 500x but it's 60kg lighter so feels faster. It's like a 125 to ride and push around but twice the power.
It's only really let down by short gearing.

[mersontheperson]

I road a CB400X and CBR400 back to back when I was living abroad, and the X was a much better bike and I remember thinking for all practical purposes it was the perfect motorcycle.

A ninja 650 or CBR650F (with the updated engine) might be the perfect bike for this and you should be able to get a good used one at a reasonable price

[black-k1]

Be careful of being sucked into judging low speed and drive-way maneuverability solely on the weight number in the specs. Aside from the dry vs. wet weight issue already identified, how a bike carries it's weight is also just as important, even just for pushing it into or out of the garage.

[Krikkit]

Surely the answer is the NC750X here? DCT for traffic too.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/bike-details/20220727...

[Marquezs Stabilisers]

black-k1 said:

Be careful of being sucked into judging low speed and drive-way maneuverability solely on the weight number in the specs. Aside from the dry vs. wet weight issue already identified, how a bike carries it's weight is also just as important, even just for pushing it into or out of the garage.

And particularly true for commuting on a windy day. My old Honda CBF1000 was very stable at speed, even in high winds, as a lot of the mass was carried low. A four cylinder bike engine is about 100kg give or take so where it sits is important. Light clutch and plenty of power made it a good commuter in those respects, but it was also heavy on fuel (32mpg!) due yo the weight.

[IAN1967]

Think i've mentioned on here before about the Honda CBR650F

I don't use mine as much as before, due to WFH, but the first one I had I did almost 50K miles and the latest one is on about 25K

Ideal for getting through traffic, easily keeps up with motorway traffic and on my 120 mile round trip commute I can get 180 miles to a tank

HTH

[A500leroy]

javavodka said:

I had a cb500x and chopped it in for a cb300r last year, the 300r is only 15hp down on the 500x but it's 60kg lighter so feels faster. It's like a 125 to ride and push around but twice the power.
It's only really let down by short gearing.

Was my thought as well.

[Hugo Stiglitz]

A500leroy said:

javavodka said:

I had a cb500x and chopped it in for a cb300r last year, the 300r is only 15hp down on the 500x but it's 60kg lighter so feels faster. It's like a 125 to ride and push around but twice the power.
It's only really let down by short gearing.

Was my thought as well.

Change the front sprocket to make the gears longer?

[outnumbered]

“Riding tired” is one of the last things you should (or will) do on any bike.

[Marquezs Stabilisers]

outnumbered said:

“Riding tired” is one of the last things you should (or will) do on any bike.

Years ago, RIDE magazine did some tests on private land as to what impacted reaction times when riding (including getting someone to ride after a few cans of Stella!). Being tired was just as bad as being under the influence - being cold and wet was worse than being drunk.

[HairyMaclary]

KTMsm said:

A quick google shows a cb500x is 199kg - that's heavy for a 500

My KTM 990 only weighs a smidge more

A 690 only weighs 150kg

I like this logic. A super adventure is only 215kgs so get that

I'm with the scooter guy. If you have no interest in bikes, it's just a commuter tool a 125 or 300 scooter is your best bet for economy. Then a Nc750. Dct if you have really given up on life (yes I wanted one once and yes I've ridden one)

[carinaman]

Marquezs Stabilisers said:

outnumbered said:

“Riding tired” is one of the last things you should (or will) do on any bike.

Years ago, RIDE magazine did some tests on private land as to what impacted reaction times when riding (including getting someone to ride after a few cans of Stella!). Being tired was just as bad as being under the influence - being cold and wet was worse than being drunk.

I can't find any news links for it now, there was an accident around 2013 to 2015 when a middle aged son and his father on separate bikes were on their way home after a touring trip and the son did an overtake and for whatever reason shortly after his father went for the overtake and hit an oncoming car. I think the news coverage of that accident made it about tiredness.