I totally agree - the CB500X certainly is the sweet-spot, particularly for the solo rider...

During a rare appearance in front of a camera, I said much the same thing at the Ace Cafe Overland Day recently: video here, and it's an ethos we all share together with our partners Giant Loop in the USA...

Behind the scenes Adventure Rider Radio interview: audio here.



I can't wait to get back to the US and build my own version of the Heritage edition based on my 2014 model.

Jx

Hi, folks. I'm considering seriously to sell my Honda Integra (wich is obviously not able to be an RTW bike and go for a cb500x. I have a question to you, ham46: wich upgrades have you made in your bike? I see stock wheels on the pic. Also, for Jx, I visited the RR webpage and seems to be no longer available (at this moment) the stage 3 wheels. I will use the bike for world trip, aprox major part of those milleage will be on tarmac (asphalt, good or bad) and perhaps 20% on off-road only 5% of this very bad condition. Then, as I am not an off-road rider (no good skills) but an "adventure rider" with some asphalt skills, perhaps is more important to me to have tubeless tyres, due to its easy fit when puncture, and with tubes you need to do an extra job to repair the think. What do you think about this factor, and, being out of topic (please don't laught out loud): I have a rented flat that gives me 400/500 euros per month. Do you think this is enough to travel almost to Thailand by tent and sleeping bag (I am vegetarian)? I choose this bike 1st for the fuel consumption, that is near the half of the travel cost. Sorry for my bad english.

Hi Tosko -

To explain: currently Rally Raid are commissioning a new CNC lathe to machine their hubs more quickly and efficiently in future, bring the current lead/wait time on their spoked wheel set down significantly.

They have chose to postpone orders for a couple of weeks to ensure they don't end up with a huge back-log of orders before the new machine is up and running again.

With regard to the % use you envisage, it would not be essential to have the 17/19" spoked wheels fitted by any means; however, in combination with the +2" longer travel suspension that encompasses the complete LEVEL 3 kit, you would have much more comfortable and genuinely capable all-terrain bike than it is as standard, that is for sure.

The weakest part of the stock CB500X is it's basic and rather harsh suspension. Rally Raid also offer upgraded front and rear components in standard travel length too (LEVEL 1) - available individually front and rear or as a pair, so that would be my first recommendation, particularly if you don't want to increase the seat height and don't feel the need for any extra ground clearance.

The stock cast 17" aluminium wheels would be perfectly fine for the sort of riding you describe - just fit some more all-terrain tread pattern tyres and you ought to feel a lot more confident on broken roads and unpaved trails.

I really would fit a decent engine guard to the CB500X too - particularly if you retain the standard ride-height/ground clearance - as the sump is very vulnerable to damage otherwise.

Hope that helps - whatever you decide, they really are a great and fun bike, whether modified or stock.

Jenny x

ps. with regard to tubeless vs. tubed tyres, without going into every detail (there are well documented pros and cons for both) - regardless of how you chose to contain the air, ultimately, if you chose a quality tyre, then fortunately the occurence of a puncture is relatively rare anyway - especially when you consider how many thousands of miles ridden.

note. if the puncture you do receive in a tubeless tyre cannot be plugged successfully, then you're going to have to remove the tyre and fit a tube anyway - and this can prove more difficult with tubeless tyres on tubeless rims.

Jenny and Ham, your gentile answers are such a treasure to me. It's a joy to get your acknowledgment and experience. Thank you very much for give me your time.

Anyone know if the Rally Raid kit works on the CB400X, which is sold in Japan, Singapore, and some other Asian markets?
We don't get the 500 here in Japan.
I heard that the springs and dampers differ between the two models, but most non-engine parts are the same.

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Japan touring information

Hi Chris - there is no reason why you cannot fit the Rally Raid kit (both the LEVEL 1 standard travel or the LEVEL 3 +50mm longer-travel kit) to the CB400X models - they are physically both the same bikes, and the Rally Raid suspension completely replaces the front and rear OEM components anyway.

Hope that clarifies things...

Jenny x

Thanks Jenny
Now I just need to get the bike and I can get started on a conversion...

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Japan touring information