Honda Motorcycles and Scooters is gearing up to introduce the NX500 in India soon. First unveiled at the 2023 EICMA in Milan, recent media reports confirm that the Japanese auto giant will bring the new middleweight adventure tourer to the country in the near future. It is considered as a spiritual successor to the existing CB500X.
BigWing showrooms, Honda’s premium dealership network in India, have reportedly begun accepting unofficial pre-bookings for the NX500 for a token amount of Rs 10,000. It will join the likes of other flagship ADVs in the BigWing lineup like Transalp 750 and Africa Twin. Deliveries of the NX500 are expected to commence from February-March 2024.
Honda NX500: Design & features
Despite being visually similar to the outgoing CB500X, the new NX500 gets several key updates over its predecessor. This includes a slightly larger fairing, a new LED headlight, and a taller windscreen up front. The dual-tone paint scheme with blacked-out internals give it a slightly sportier edge. It gets a seat height of 830mm.
The floating tail section of NX500 houses split pillion grab rails, as well as a revised taillamp. Internationally Honda offers three paint schemes– Grand Prix Red, Matt Gunpowder Black Metallic and Pearl Horizon White for the NX500, whereas in India it will be offered in red and black shades.
In terms of features, the upcoming NX500 gets a new LED headlight with better illumination, a new 5-inch digital TFT instrument console that comes with Bluetooth connectivity via Honda RoadSync, in-built navigation, and a backlit four-way toggle switch.
Honda NX500: Engine, Hardware specs
Powering the NX500 is the same 471cc liquid-cooled, parallel-twin engine that did duties on the outgoing CB500X, however, this unit gets its fair share of updates. For starters, it receives a new ECU which Honda claims to make this unit smoother. The engine has been updated with a crank counterweight and balancer shaft for a smoother riding experience. That said, output from the engine remains unchanged at 47 bhp and 43 Nm of peak torque.
Crucial changes have been made in the hardware department as well. NX500 is equipped with a 41mm Showa upside-down fork and a monoshock at the rear. Braking is handled by dual 296 mm discs at the front and a single disc at the rear. The bike rides on lightweight wheels that are said to reduce unsprung weight by 1.5 kg, adding to an overall weight loss of 3 kg, thus tipping the weighing scale at 196 kg.
Source: Bikewale
