Well I guess it is the other way around: I'd like to thank you for inspiring and giving confidence. On Most RTW shows or blogs you find these huge adventurebikes, which gives the impression that other options might be valid but a huge hassle none the less.

Yeah you are right: Since my scope is not to ride these single tracks and canyions yet (like you did) it isnt really necessary to get the fanciest stuff. Rather spend a little less and use the money to get to places (or spend it on the bashguard etc.).

Exactly. Maybe it might even be beneficial to be "forced" to ride more deliberatly and with greater foresight to understand the conditions of the tracks better (?). Dunno if that makes sense.
Also in one video where you had to change a tire on your heritage build you chose to just take a single new tube that would fit both the front and rear tire. With the 17"F/17"R setup you dont have to compromise sizes, so that one fresh tube will surely fit both rims.


Yeah I understand that. But there are always some rogues who adapt ideas to their liking . Again the way you do things is really inspiring, however ATM I dont feel capable of doing that myself (yet), eventough it is tempting as heck

Thanks again. Your explanations have been very clear, that helps a lot.

Concidering the new 2017 cartriges: I presume that you are selling the Level 1 sets due to the fact that by 2017 you'll produce the new ones. Will those new Lvl. 1 Sets also have the externally adjustable compression and rebound damping?

Greetings

Alex

Hee hee - just wait until you see the latest video Juan Browne is working on... it will categorically prove why we feel the Rally Raid CB500X is the BEST all-round twin-cylinder adventure bike on the market...

Suddenly, everything else looks bigger, heavier and more of a liability... ;o)



I would totally agree - for a signifcant improvement both on-road and off, and in the dynamics of the machine in general, the LEVEL 1 standard travel kit is the way to go, and use those savings for important accessories like the Adventure engine guard.

This is Lisa's bike - LEVEL 1 suspension, Adventure engine guard, Scorpion Taper exhaust (not essential, but very nice ;o), Giant Loop Coyote luggage (and Solo brackets), Heavy Duty footrests and TKC80 tyres on the stock rims - it works very well indeed for the shorter rider:





Yes, it certainly does... this trip was the first time Lisa had ridden her bike on a series of consecutive days off-road, and she was increasingly impressed with just how capable and manageable it felt - the gearing is nice and low for technical off-road riding, and the fuelling perfect for trickling along at tick-over and then opening up the throttle as required - no nasty surprises to spit you into the dirt!

To clarify, there is still quite a volume disparity between the 17" front tyre (120/70) and the 17" rear tyre (150/70) - but yes, it is not quite as marked as the 19" front which was only 110 width. Therefore you could probably get away with a 130x17" size tube in both - although ideally long-term you'd still want a fatter tube in the rear (see below).

On that particular trip in the video I took a 120x18" rear tube, which would fit in both front and rear tyres if required. for info: It lasted for another 1500 miles until I changed the rear tyre, however I would say a 120 width is a bit narrow for the 150/70 rear TKC tyre, and it was wearing thin after those miles - so it is more a temporary measure until you can get a correct size replacement.

I now carry a 140x18" rear tube (which still should fit in the 19" front tyre ok), but if you have space in your luggage, then of course a separate front and rear tube in the dedicated sizes would mean you ought not to have to change the tube again.

Another option is to just use a top-box for the time being (I did that for a trip around Europe on my XR650R a few years ago) - having lockable storage that keeps the bike nice and narrow (for weaving though traffic in narrow European streets), and with the more expendable stuff - clothes and camping gear - in a soft bag on the rear of the seat?


Yes... the current LEVEL 1 and 2/3 shock bodies needed to be redesigned to fit the new hydraulic preload adjuster to them, as the existing design was not the right shape.

We currently have the new version of the longer travel LEVEL 2/3 shocks available now, with the preload adjuster available as an option at the point of purchase, or retrofittable at a later date if desired.

The standard travel LEVEL 1 and 1b versions of the new shocks will start to be built in the next couple of months, which is why we say they are 2017 model year products.

To clarify - as before, the new LEVEL 1 shock will retain the combined single compression/rebound adjuster at the bottom of the shock, but it will now have the option of fitting the hydraulic preload adjuster collar and remote control knob.

Similarly, the new LEVEL 1b shock will continue to have a separate reservoir with the individual high and low speed compression damping adjusters, while the separate rebound adjuster is on the bottom of the shock, and again will now have the option of specifying the remote hydraulic preload adjuster too.

Hope that clarifies things!

Jenny x

Wow...!! Didn't realise this thread existed but nice to skim through and feel justified at what I built. Just finished my second CRF500L build for a travel mate of mine, can't say enough good words on that engine choice for a true RTW contender...!!

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Hi Scott ,
I have owned a factory 500x I bought used . It had continantal TK knobby's and I loved it . I bought another used 500X with the Rally Raid package and sold my factory 500X . I loved both bikes and still have the RR CB500X . The difference between the 2 bikes is alot . The RR feels and rides like a completely different bike suspension wise and added height with the larger spoked wheels . The power is the same on both obviously but everything else is truly a huge improvement of the already very reliable bike . Yes you can easily drive the RR version around the world . If you want or need loads of power and weight then this is not the bike for you but it is surely enough power and great economy to get you there and back . It has already did at least one RTW trip by a woman named Jenny ? She also had the RR version . I am 6 feet and 225lbs and I find the bike very comfortable to ride on the pavement or offroad .

This is an older thread of course, and as RR2017 mentions above, over the years the CB500X has proven itself countless times as a very solid and reliable RTW style 'adventure' bike - with people having now ridden them all over the world - the length of Africa, through Europe and Scandinavia, from the UK to India, from Asia to Europe, across Australia and all over North and South America - often multiple times on the same bike.

You can of course significantly improve the 'all-terrain' performance and ability of these bike with aftermarket upgrades, but equally plenty of people have also enjoyed some pretty extensive overland trips on more modestly equipped versions too (I wouldn't say 'stock' of course, as most people will be fitting things like better all-terrain tyres, hand-guards and under-engine protection at least) since fundamentally the core bike is very easy to live with, comfortable, ultra reliable, economic (250mile/400km range) and requires very little maintenance other than those things you'd typically check and adjust/replace during a RTW style trip anyway.

It is also substantial enough to carry luggage without upsetting it's overall balance (strong subframe etc.) and handle long stints on the open road; while it's compact dimensions/relative lack of weight and short wheelbase means it remains nimble and easy to ride in more spirited back-road or off-road conditions. In fact I'd go as far as to suggest it is the 'perfect' size for the solo rider with a realistic travelling luggage load.

Indeed there are very few other bikes I can think of [and by that I mean none] which offer the same combination of utter reliability, compact dimensions, and a easy and forgiving twin-cylinder engine (meaning you can comfortably cruise on the open road above the speed limit of any country should you wish, for hours at a time if needs be), while still offering more than enough all-terrain performance [certainly with the right upgrades and accessories] you'd encounter on a RTW style trip.

There are arguably more 'off-road capable' machines on the market, but still I'd consider none which offers the versatility and easy of riding both on and off-road that the smaller CB offers (at least not once fitted with the Rally-Raid suspension and wheels you understand) - of course if you're comfortable handling a taller/larger/heavier bike off-road, have at it - but as the saying goes: No-one* wishes they'd taken a larger bike once they got back from a RTW style trip.

*Well, unless they did it on a Trail-Cub perhaps, that would be pretty miserable unless you're young and impetuous!

Something to consider I trust?

Jenny x