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ADV BikesNew Off-Road Kit Makes the Honda CB500X More Dirt Capable

New Off-Road Kit Makes the Honda CB500X More Dirt Capable

Honda CB500X gets a serious off-road upgrade with the CB-X Adventure Kit.

Published on 04.03.2015
cb500x CB-X adventure kit

UK-based Rally Raid Products has developed an off-road performance upgrade kit for the Honda CB500X. The CB-X Adventure Kit is a suite of components that turn the stock Honda CB500X into a more dirt-capable, globe-crossing adventure touring motorcycle. Rally Raid Products chose the Honda CB500X as an Adventure Bike platform because of the bike’s affordability (US MSRP $6,299 for non-ABS model), reliability and low maintenance requirements, readily available parts and service on every continent.

The stock CB500X offers a counterbalanced 471cc parallel-twin with a 6-speed transmission that provides a smoother highway ride compared to other single-cylinder dual sport bikes in the middle-weight category. A 4.5-gallon fuel tank gives the CB500X a range of roughly 200 miles with a burn rate of around 50 mpg. With a wet weight of 430 lbs (195 kg), low seat height and smooth power output (roughly 45 hp), it’s less intimidating than many of the 800cc+ Adventure Bikes that dominate the class.

The CB500X has always been a versatile machine but it’s never been known for its off-road capability. With 5.5 inches of suspension travel in front and 4.7 inches in the rear, along with the 17 inch cast wheels and only 6.5 inches ground clearance, the stock CB500X is limited to light trail work.

cb500x off-road upgrades
CB-X Adventure Kit upgrades include a long-travel suspension (170mm or 6.7 inches front and rear), wire-spoked wheels (19 inch front/17 inch rear) and optional off-road guards and platform footpegs that are designed to improve the off-road capability of the stock Honda CB500X.

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Rally Raid has addressed the Honda CB500X’s off-road limitations with the CB-X Adventure Kit. The basic Adventure kit includes replacement wire-spoked wheel set, longer travel suspension and low front fender designed to accommodate knobby tires. The standard kit increase suspension travel to nearly 7 inches and ground clearance is just over 9 inches. Optional accessories include a protective skid plate, heavy-duty platform footpegs and tail and side racks designed for attaching saddlebags, panniers or soft luggage components.

The CB-X Adventure Kit is designed to be a straightforward DYI swap and set up, with no specialized tools required. Although, any element of the conversion can also be carried out by a professional workshop if the buyer prefers.

Adventure motorcycle luggage maker Giant Loop has been designated as the exclusive North American distributor for the new Rally Raid Products CB-X Adventure kit for the Honda CB500X. The kit’s luggage racks are designed to be compatible with the Giant Loop’s line of off-road soft bags.

CB500X Rally Raid Kit
The CB-X Adventure Kit is designed to securely attach soft luggage, panniers, and other components like RotopaX fuel containers.

The CB-X Adventure Kit for the CB500X offers the promise of a fairly light, reliable and affordable adventure bike with a smooth highway ride and good off-road performance. Details of what’s included in the kit are provided on the next page, although some features and pricing may change slightly before the launch date.

Click the “Next Page” link to continue to full specifications of the kit.

The Rally Raid CB-X Adventure Kit turns the CB500X into a more dirt-capable adventure touring machine.
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Author: Rob Dabney
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Isaac VanHaverbeke
Isaac VanHaverbeke
April 3, 2015 4:01 pm

The pricing is going to be what makes or breaks this conversion kit. At some point, it will have been way cheaper to just buy a more expensive bike, and with just a set of wheels running over $1000, I can’t fahom how they’re going to keep this at a reasonable price point.

trackback
CB500x off road kit
April 4, 2015 6:58 am

[…] window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); I wonder if any of the suspension parts will fit he NC700 New Off-Road Kit Makes the Honda CB500X More Dirt Capable – ADV Pulse 2013 NC700x 1999 TW200 1968 Mini-trail 50 Reply With […]

RobG
RobG
April 11, 2015 10:54 am

$2500 is waaaaay high, but also understandable given what’s included. It’ll make sense for people who already have this bike and wish it was more capable, so they can buy it later as they can afford it. But to buy the bike and plan to do this kit? I’d suggest a V-Strom instead, even though it still has cast wheels… or get the new “XT” model that came out in 2015, which has spoked wheels. I’d like a set of those, but I priced ’em up and it’d cost $2000 just to get those wheels for my bike. Ouch.

Peter Harris
Peter Harris
April 29, 2015 12:55 pm
Reply to  RobG

This will be lighter and far smaller than the v-strom. This adds up to better offroad characteristics. New, the cb is a great value but yuo can get very good used prices. The kit also comes in stages so you can upgrade as need and money allows.

John Basler
John Basler
May 6, 2015 7:52 pm

Africa Twin is on my list.

trackback
CB500x - Lets ride - Page 2
June 20, 2015 12:31 am

[…] to see who was still around. Sadly quite a few I see. I reckon this is right up your street Bob. https://www.advpulse.com/adv-bikes/ho…-off-road-kit/ Last edited by McVicar; 29-05-15 at 11:40 AM. Reply With […]

BikerDad
BikerDad
July 6, 2015 6:56 pm

It seems as though the low fender is a shortcoming. Mud and low fenders don’t play well together.

Stephen smith
Stephen smith
May 2, 2017 1:55 am

Can I get the cb500x off road kit in Australia

ADV Pulse
ADV Pulse
May 2, 2017 7:11 am
Reply to  Stephen smith

Check with Rally Raid Products UK…
http://www.rally-raidproducts.co.uk/honda-cb500x-cb500f

trackback
New Off-Road Kit Makes the BMW G310GS More Dirt Capable - ADV Pulse
March 28, 2018 9:57 am

[…] now turned their attention towards improving this new baby GS in a similar way to their popular Honda CB500X Adventure kit — making it even more capable both on and off-road as a light[er]-weight, all-terrain […]

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