Honda subjected its adventure-tastic CB500X to a rigorous update just one year ago in 2022, so the MY2023 model is a direct carryover. It brings that adventure-bike life to the masses with a budget-friendly sticker and tractable nature due to its non-threatening engine and relatively light wet weight.

Improved suspension parts join with increased braking capacity and a tuned-up frame for better-handling characteristics than the outgoing model. New fuel injection settings and lighter engine components make for an updated lump as well. Too bad there's only one colorway for MY23 as well, but I guess you can't have everything all the time.

Honda launched its CB500X all the way back in 2013 alongside its naked-sport and fully-faired siblings in the CB500F and CB500R, respectively. It quickly became popular, including with the commuter crowd that was looking for a viable alternative to the usual fare.

RELATED: The 10 Best Adventure Bikes For Beginners

2023 Honda CB500X Performance And Capability

Honda powers its littlest ADV bike with a proven and perky parallel-twin plant. It's liquid-cooled for thermal stability under harsh conditions, something that is particularly important for a commuter platform. It runs with a nearly square layout that has a 67 mm bore and 66.8 mm stroke for a 471 cc displacement.

The 2023 Honda CB500X produces 46.9 horsepower and 31.7 pound-feet of torque. These numbers come at 8,600 RPM and 6,500 RPM, respectively. Compression is middling at 10.7-to-1, just right for mid-grade gasoline, so you don't have to use top-hook fuel unless you just want to flex at the pump.

Dual over-head cams time the eight-valve top end while dual, 34 mm fuel-injected throttle bodies manage the induction for this naturally-aspirated mill. This newest engine pumps out three to four percent more torque through the mid-range revs than before with new valve timing for improved throttle response across the board.

A new muffler/catalyst setup opens the exhaust up with tuned backpressure to maintain charge integrity and prevent exhaust-gas reversion. Power flows through a new slip-and-assist clutch that delivers improved engagement with reduced hook-up on downshifts and compression braking. Plus, the clutch-lever pull weight is almost 50 percent lighter, which gives your left hand a break and allows for greater control in the broad friction zone. A six-speed transmission crunches the ratios with a CB500X top speed around the 113 MPH mark.

RELATED: 5 Adventure Bikes We Love (And 5 Touring Bikes We’d Rather Buy)

Design

The current CB500X comes with a more aggressive look due to the new fuel tank and engine-cowl components. The latter improves airflow through the engine compartment to draw off engine heat and vent it away from the rider for improved comfort.

Redesigned headlights come stacked in the front fairing with LED technology to really split the night while ensuring effective two-way visibility around the clock. Up top, an adjustable windscreen allows you to dial in the size of the wind pocket according to body type and preference, even if it is a narrow, rally-style screen that is so typical of the genre. The front blinkers come in the form of LED lightbars and come mounted high up on the fairing and well out of danger in case of a drop or slide.

Long radiator shrouds meld with the large, 4.7-gallon fuel tank, both with edgy details that give the CB500X a thoroughly modern look. The seat is kinda tall at 32.8 inches off the deck, but a narrow, sculpted front half gives you a pretty straight shot to the ground when you go to deploy your training wheels.

Fold-up foot pegs and beefy J.C. handles join with a stock pillion pad, so you can share the fun with a friend right off the showroom floor. The rear end is typical with the taillight tucked into the tip of the tail, and the rest of the gear in the rear mounts to a short mudguard.

RELATED: Five Touring Bikes We Love (And Five Adventure Bikes We’d Rather Buy)

Chassis

The diamond-tube frame on the CB500X has 35 mm tubular-steel members to make up the main part of the frame with the engine serving as a stressed member to complete the structure. A new lighter swingarm completes the bones with a thinner, 2 mm steel plate, down from 2.3 mm, and a hollow cross member to keep unsprung weight nice and low at the rear end. Rake and trail measure at 27.5 degrees and 4.3 inches respectively, which puts the CB500X in fairly agile territory but with just a tad of extra stability at speed. Cast wheels round out the rolling chassis with a 110/80-19 ahead of a 160/60-17.

The suspension falls to the 41 mm Showa Big Piston Forks and coil-over mono-shock, both with adjustable preload settings, so you can dial in for changing passenger/cargo loads. Travel measures 5.9 inches front and 5.3 inches rear to give both ends ample stroke to soak up rough roads and even light terrain with ease. Wave-cut discs bring extra heat dissipation to the table with a 310 mm disc and twin-piston binder up front and a 296 mm disc and a twin-pot Nissin caliper out back. Vanilla ABS protection comes in stock.

RELATED: Top 10 Coolest Adventure Bikes In 2023

2023 Honda CB500X Price And Availability

The 2023 Honda CB500X costs $7,299. Unfortunately, Honda pared down its colorways for 2023 only offering the Pearl Organic Green package in our market. Models hit showrooms in February.

Competitors

Honda finds itself in a fairly rare company at this particular displacement break. I wound up with a pair of bikes that bracket the CB500X.

Suzuki V-Strom 650

At the top of the range, I went with Suzuki's V-Strom 650, which leaves lots of daylight between its and the Honda's displacement, but it's still closer than the alternatives. Naturally, the Suzuki's price reflects the larger engine size with a $9,104 sticker and improved performance, but at least it's a straight-up street ADV, like the Honda, and equally useful as a touring bike and/or commuter sled.

BMW G 310 GS

At the bottom end is BMW's G 310 GS which makes for a proper little ADV trainer. Built for the street with light terrain capabilities, the Beemer can also double as a commuter to put them on fairly equal footing. The engine displaces a total of 313 cc with 34 ponies and 20 pounds of grunt against 46.9/31.7 to cede the performance edge to Honda. This comes with a slimmer sticker with a $5,695 MSRP.

He Said

“For some, this could be a trainer machine. For others, it's a solid commuter that can stand on its own with enough performance to handle the fastest roads in the U.S., to be sure. Chuck on a couple of bags, maybe even a top case, and you have a rolling Swiss Army Knife capable of a number of tasks and roles.”

She Said

My wife and fellow motorcycle writer, Allyn Hinton, says,

“The off-road chops of the CB500X improved with the 2019 update but were even better after the changes in 2022. The new suspension and tweaks to the frame make the CB500X a more serious contender in the adventure market. I'd still like to see laced wheels, and I'd hit the accessories catalog for some bags. It's in a nice in-between displacement range, kinda like a big small-displacement ADV.”

FAQ

Q: What is the top speed of a Honda CB500X?

The top speed on the Honda CB500X is a claimed 113 MPH.

Q: Is Honda CB500X good for a long ride?

Tractable power, a comfortable riding position, and adequate wind protection make the Cb500X suitable for long rides, though it can be a bit vibey when cruising around the 70 MPH mark. It'll cruise all day at 50-60 MPH.

Q: Is the CB500X a good starter bike?

The 471 cc parallel-twin engine produces tractable power and torque making it manageable for new riders. With a top speed of around 113 MPH, it handles highway travel but isn't so fast that it'll let you get yourself in trouble.

Q: How many miles per gallon does a Honda CB500X get?

Honda claims the CB500X gets 78 MPG which gives it a 305-mile tank range.