In the last few months, Honda Motorcycles has launched quite a few offerings in India including the Transalp XL 750 and the NX500. We recently tested the NX500 for a few days in the city and here is our opinion on it.
The NX500 is a successor to the CB500X. It looks bigger than the CB but is also notably butch and taller. That said, the NX doesn’t get a very flamboyant styling. It looks purposeful and fairly plain.
Moreover, Honda has nailed it on the overall fit and finish of the NX500. From its paint quality to the welds and even the plastic fitments, we like what the NX500 has to offer.
Powering this bike is a 471cc, parallel-twin engine that makes 47bhp at 8,600rpm and 43Nm at 6,500rpm. It is linked to a six-speed gearbox. The NX500’s motor feels relaxed and accelerates smoothly in the real-world scenario.
It builds momentum gradually throughout the rev range and feels refined for the most part. Again, the engine character isn’t as exciting as expected, but the ample torque lets you ride the bike without fiddling much with the gearbox.
On the feature front, the NX500 uses LED illumination, a TFT, Bluetooth connectivity, traction control, and ABS too. The features list is decent and fairly usable. For someone upgrading to the NX as their first big bike, the rider aids should come in handy.
But what about the ride quality, comfort, braking, and overall value for money? Well, we recommend you read our road test review where we have talked about the experience thoroughly.