2025 Honda NX500 Review

Anywhere can be your escape. The NX500 brings rugged ADV styling and an upright riding position, ready for whatever journey you desire. And with all-around performance at a price that’s easy on your wallet, adventure is closer than you think. Just pick your route and ride.

Review – Key Features – Features & Benefits – Specifications

2025 Honda NX500: ADVENTURE IS CLOSER THAN YOU THINK.

Introducing the 2025 Honda NX500…

More compact than the average adventure bike, Honda’s NX500 is a great choice for both daily commuting and weekend touring, introducing an element of “True Adventure” to either. Supported by a sturdy, lightweight chassis that provides a comfortable, confidence-inspiring ride on pavement, gravel and dirt, this ADV model is powered by an energetic twin-cylinder engine that delivers more power and performance than its diminutive size might imply. Add it all up, and the NX500 is an appealing choice for entry-level adventure riders and veteran enthusiasts alike.

Unleash your inner explorer
Anywhere can be your escape. The NX500 brings rugged ADV styling and an upright riding position, ready for whatever journey you desire. And with all-around performance at a price that’s easy on your wallet, adventure is closer than you think. Just pick your route and ride.

2025 Honda NX500 Totalmotorcycle.com Key Features

• 471cc liquid-cooled DOHC parallel-twin engine
• Programmed Fuel Injection (PGM-FI)
• Digital instrumentation
• Adventure styling
• Adjustable windscreenEngine Type
  471cc liquid-cooled parallel-twin four-strokeTransmission
  Six-speed

  Front Suspension
  41mm fork; 5.9-inch travel

  Rear Suspension
  Pro-Link® single shock; 5.3-inch travel

  Seat Height
  32.8 inches

  Warranty
  Transferable, unlimited-mileage limited warranty. One year included
  Extended Warranty

HISTORY
Originally launched in 2013, the CB500X (as it was called then) brought crossover adventure style to Honda’s fun-focused twin-cylinder “light middleweight” engine platform. The model’s usefulness was down to a straightforward equation—a perky, well-regarded twin-cylinder engine that produced real torque and drive from low rpm, and revved hard up top, plus a chassis that gave a comfortable ride around town and on the open highway, all wrapped up in distinctive adventure styling.

Driven by customer feedback, the model became more adventurous over time. A 2016 upgrade included a larger fuel tank and more wind protection via an adjustable screen. The bike also gained LED lighting, a spring preload-adjustable fork and an adjustable brake lever. Another evolution happened in 2019, with a switch to a 19-inch front wheel (from 17 inches) injecting even more “True Adventure” performance, and the CB500X delivered competence and adaptability for a wide variety of owners, effortlessly slipping between the roles of short-hop commuter and weekend tourer. Long-travel suspension ironed out irregular road surfaces, a wide handlebar provided leverage and the upright riding position delivered comfort and a wide field of view. In other words, the machine has been an all-rounder in every sense of the term. Having proved its popularity, the CB500X received additional improvements for the 2022 model year, including a high-quality 41mm SFF-BP USD fork, dual front disc brakes, a lightweight swingarm and a redesigned front wheel.

For the 2024 model year, Honda’s equation for this bike improved further, without changing in its essence. The name was changed to NX500, carving out the model’s own identity, with aggressively redesigned styling, premium technology and a variety of detail upgrades.

Honda Updates Lineup for 2025 Model Year

• RoadSync now standard on all Rebel 1100 versions New premium-level Rebel 1100 DCT SE now offered
• Announcement includes seven other two-wheel products

American Honda announced today that for the 2025 model year, its popular Rebel 1100 cruiser lineup receives important updates focused on comfort and convenience. The family also grows by one, with the addition of the Rebel 1100 DCT SE—a premium-level version that shines with a list of eye-grabbing features included as standard equipment, such as fork boots, handlebar-end rear-view mirrors, a color-matched headlight cowl, a short front fender, and a special seat.

“Since its 2021 debut, Honda’s Rebel 1100 platform has proven to be a big hit with American cruiser customers, so we’re excited to both improve and deepen the roster for 2025,” said Colin Miller, Manager of Public Relations at American Honda. “The entire platform now boasts more comfortable ergonomics, and the new Rebel 1100 DCT SE comes straight from the dealership with premium styling features. It’s clear that Honda values cruiser customers and takes their needs seriously.”

In addition to unveiling the Rebel 1100 platform, Honda confirmed the return of several other two-wheel models from five different categories: the head-turning Fury and timeless Shadow Phantom cruisers, the legendary Africa Twin and compact NX500 adventure bikes, the iconic XR650L dual-sport machine, the versatile CBR500R sport bike, and the stylish and affordable CB500F naked motorcycle.

2025 Honda NX500 Totalmotorcycle.com Features and Benefits

DOHC twin-cylinder engine
The 471cc liquid-cooled parallel-twin engine provides smooth, usable power across the rev range, enabling this mid-sized adventure motorcycle to achieve the optimal balance of performance and agility.

Programmed Fuel Injection
PGM-FI continuously monitors several variables to ensure the correct fuel mixture is delivered in all conditions for the crispest throttle response and the most power.

Exhaust
We equipped it with a muffler featuring twin outlets. Although a small detail, it enhances the appearance and produces a sound that’s sure to make you smile every time you twist the throttle.

Inverted fork
The 41mm inverted Showa® Separate Function Fork—Big Piston (SFF-BP) front end enhances rigidity and features a long 5.9 inches of travel. This increases off-road capabilities and provides more precise on-road steering input and feel.

Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS)
Our Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) comes standard, allowing you to make smoother and more controlled stops even in unfavorable riding conditions like rain and gravel.

Pro-Link® rear suspension
Honda Pro-Link® rear suspension, with a nine-stage adjustable preload shock that features large-diameter internals, is designed for improved damping characteristics in various terrains and a smoother ride.

Lightweight swingarm
The swingarm, utilized across the entire Honda 500 lineup, is nearly two pounds lighter and stronger than the previous version. This is one reason for the exceptional handling.

Steel-tube frame
This bike’s diamond-shaped steel mainframe has four mounts connecting to the engine, providing a sturdy base for excellent ride quality, handling, and ample ground clearance.

Multi-spoke cast wheels
The lightweight, multi-spoke, cast aluminum wheels are designed to improve handling and fit various on- and off-road rubber. Plus, they are easy to clean and just plain look good.

Slipper/assist clutch
The slipper/assist clutch reduces clutch-lever effort by 45 percent compared to previous systems and minimizes rear-wheel hop during hard deceleration.

Smooth transmission
Our engineers profiled the transmission shift dogs to help you change gears with reduced effort every time. While you’ll likely never see these parts, you’ll undoubtedly feel their effects.

Adventure styling
Like its adventure abilities, this bike gets the ADV look just right – sleek, stylish, and no-nonsense. Additionally, the upright seating position allows for freedom of movement.

Tall windscreen
A tall windscreen is designed to provide excellent protection from the elements and enhance the rugged adventure appearance.

Passenger handholds
Sturdy passenger handholds offer security for your passengers or can be used as tie-down points for cargo items.

Genuine Honda accessories
You can equip your new NX500 with a range of 19 different Genuine Honda accessories. These include a centerstand, hand guards, heated grips, hard luggage, and more.

Digital instrumentation
An easy-to-read Thin Film Transistor instrument display includes a digital speedometer, tachometer, odometer, trip and fuel meters, and more.

LED lighting
The LED headlight and multifaceted reflectors provide excellent visibility and feature clean, stylish designs

DESIGN / STYLING
Directed by the design theme “Daily Crossover,” the NX500 looks the part wherever it goes—city block, winding road, highway or gravel trail—with styling that mixes compact, adventure-ready usability with an imposing silhouette and solidity of form. An LED headlight design has excellent beam penetration but throws out wide light distribution for exceptional visibility at night. It’s matched to an LED taillight, and all other lighting is also LED.

Premium technology—in the form of a 5-inch full-color TFT screen inherited from the XL750 Transalp—uses optical bonding to maximize visibility in bright sunlight. By sealing the gap between the cover glass and TFT screen with resin, glare is minimized, and backlight transmittance improved. It is customizable between Bar, Circle and Simple display patterns.

A slim seat profile allows for free movement around the machine and aids easy ground reach and, to help maneuverability, the steering angle is 38° from centered to full lock. A gunmetal gray tapered steel handlebar further elevates control. Seat height is 32.8 inches, and the upright riding position is very accommodating, while providing excellent visibility. Overall dimensions are 85.2 inches long, 32.7 inches wide x 55.8 inches tall, with 7.1 inches of ground clearance. The fuel tank holds 4.7 gallons including reserve.

CHASSIS / SUSPENSION
Light and strong, the NX500’s 35mm diameter steel diamond-tube mainframe has a tuned degree of yield that gives plenty of feedback to the rider as road surfaces change. The shape and position of the engine mounts, plus the frame’s rigidity balance, keep vibration to a minimum. Wheelbase is 56.8 inches with rake and trail of 27°/108mm and front/rear bias percentage of 48.7/51.3. Curb weight is 432 pounds.

With the aim to maximize all-around handling performance, this model uses a Showa 41mm inverted Separate Function Fork Big Piston (SFF-BP) fork with 5.2 inches of travel. By dividing the functions—Big Piston pressure separation damper in one leg, spring mechanism in the other—reaction and ride quality are optimized.

The single-tube shock absorber, with 5.3 inches of axle travel and five-stage preload adjustment, has a large-diameter piston that ensures excellent temperature management. Constructed from 2mm steel, the swingarm employs a hollow cross member that is stiff rotationally and flexible laterally to optimize handling.

Dual front 296mm petal-style rotors and axial-mounted Nissin two-piston calipers are standard. The required lever pressure when braking is minimized, but the small disc size keeps weight low. The single rear brake has a 240mm rotor.

The bike has cast-aluminum wheels with five Y-shaped spokes each, minimizing unsprung weight to optimize handling and feel in all situations. The 19-inch front is matched to a 17-inch rear; trail-pattern tires are sized 110/80-R19 and 160/60-R17.

ENGINE / DRIVETRAIN
The NX500’s 471cc, eight-valve, liquid-cooled, parallel-twin-cylinder layout offers a well-proportioned balance of physical size and willing, enjoyable power output, with an energetic, high-revving character and zippy top end. The engine’s overall performance and character belie its relatively small capacity. Acceleration is impressive, due to good low-to-midrange power and torque in the 3,000 to 7,000 rpm range.

Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC) manages rear-wheel traction for peace of mind. The system compares front and rear wheel speeds to detect rear slip and, when needed, it controls the fuel injection to smoothly reduce torque. HSTC can also be turned off completely if the rider wishes.

Feeding the PGM-FI fuel injection is a relatively straight shot of airflow through the airbox and throttle bodies, and the settings optimize torque feel and character without compromising performance. The exhaust muffler features dual exit pipes, giving a sporting edge to each pulse, as well as a rasping high-rpm howl.

Bore and stroke are set at 67mm x 66.8mm, with a compression ratio of 10.7:1; the crankshaft pins are phased at 180°, and a primary couple-balancer sits behind the cylinders, close to the bike’s center of gravity. The primary and balancer gears use scissor gears, minimizing noise. The crank counterweight is specifically shaped for couple-balance, and its light weight allows the engine to spin freely, with reduced inertia.

Acting as a stressed member, the engine complements the frame’s rigidity with four hangers on the cylinder head. Internally, the head uses roller rocker arms; shim-type valve adjustment allows them to be light, for lower valve-spring load and reduced friction.

A silent (SV Chain) cam chain has the surface of its pins treated with Vanadium, reducing friction with increased protection against wear. Inlet-valve diameter is 26.0mm, while exhaust-valve diameter is 21.5mm.

The piston shape is carefully designed to reduce noise at high rpm. Friction is reduced by striations on the piston skirt (a finish that increases surface area and introduces gaps in which oil can flow for better lubrication). The “triangle” proportion of crankshaft, main shaft and countershaft is efficiently compact. The crankcases use centrifugally cast thin-walled sleeves; their internal design reduces the pumping losses that can occur with a 180° phased firing order. A deep sump minimizes oil movement under hard cornering and braking; oil capacity is 3.2 liters. The slick-shifting six-speed transmission is managed by an assist/slipper clutch to reduce rear-wheel hop under hard braking and downshifting.

2025 Honda NX500 – Totalmotorcycle.com USA Specifications/Technical Details
US MSRP Price: $7,399 USD
Canada MSRP Price: $9,516 CDN (includes Freight, PDI and Fees)
Europe/UK MSRP Price: £6,829 GBP (On The Road inc 20% Vat)

*Includes all standard equipment, required fluids and full tank of fuel—ready to ride
Meets current EPA standards
Models sold in California meet current CARB standards and may differ slightly due to emissions equipment
Specifications subject to change

2025 Honda NX500 – Totalmotorcycle.com Canada Specifications/Technical Details

Engine:

• Type: 471cc liquid-cooled 18° parallel twin
• Valve Train: DOHC; 4 valves per cylinder (26.0mm inlet, 21.5mm exhaust)
• Bore x Stroke: 67.0mm x 66.8mm
• Compression Ratio: 10.7:1
• Induction: Fuel injection w/ 34mm throttle bodies
• Ignition: Full transistorized ignition
• Starter: Electric

Transmission:

• Clutch: Multiplate wet
• Gearbox: 6-speed manual
• Final Drive: 15T/41T; #520 O-ring-sealed chain

Suspension:

• Front: 41mm telescopic inverted Showa Separate Function Fork Big Piston (SFF-BP) fork; 5.2 in. stroke
• Rear: Pro-Link single shock w/ nine-position spring preload adjustability; 5.3 in. travel

Brakes:

• Front: (2) axial-mounted Nissin two-piston calipers w/ 296mm petal-style discs; ABS
• Rear: (1) one-piston caliper w/ 240mm petal-style disc; ABS

Tires:

• Front: 110/80-19
• Rear: 160/60-17

Dimensions:

• Rake (Caster Angle): 27°
• Trail: 108mm (4.3 in.)
• Length: 85.2 in.
• Width: 32.7 in.
• Height: 55.8 in.
• Ground Clearance: 7.1 in.
• Seat Height: 32.8 in.
• Wheelbase: 56.8 in.
• Fuel Capacity: 4.7 gal.
• Curb Weight: 432 lbs.

Other Features:

• Color: Pearl White
• Warranty: Transferable, unlimited-mileage limited warranty. One year included, with an option for extended warranty

2025 Honda NX500 – Totalmotorcycle.com Europe Specifications/Technical Details

Engine

Bore × Stroke (mm)

67mm x 66.8mm

Carburation

PGM-FI electronic fuel injection

Compression Ratio

10.7:1

Engine Displacement (cc)

471cc

Engine Type

Liquid-cooled 4-stroke DOHC parallel twin

Max. Power Output

35kW [47hp] / 8,600rpm

Max. Torque

43Nm/6,500rpm

Starter

Electric

Throttle Bore

34

C02 Emissions (g/km)

82

Oil Capacity (Litres)

3.2L

Wheels

ABS System

2 channel

Brakes Front

Dual 296mm x 4mm disc with Nissin axial mounted two piston calipers

Brakes Rear

Single 240mm x 5mm disc with single piston caliper

Suspension Front

Showa 41mm SFF-BP USD forks

Suspension Rear

Prolink mono with 5 stage pre-load adjuster, Steel hollow cross swingarm

Tyre Size Front

110/80R19M/C (59H)

Tyre Size Rear

160/60R17M/C (69H)

Wheels Front

19M/C X MT2.5 Multi-Spoke Cast Aluminium

Wheels Rear

17M/C X MT4.5 Multi-Spoke Cast Aluminium

Dimensions and Weights

Battery Capacity (VAh)

12v 7.4Ah

Caster Angle

27.5°

Dimensions (L×W×H) (mm)

2,165mmX830mmX1,415mm

Frame type

Steel diamond

Fuel Tank Capacity (Litres)

17.5L

Fuel Consumption

27.8km/l [3.6L/100km]

Ground Clearance (mm)

180mm

Kerb Weight (kg)

196kg

Seat Height (mm)

830mm

Trail (mm)

108mm

Wheelbase (mm)

1,445mm

Turning Radius

2.4

Noise Level

Lurban 74.0dB Lwot 77.0dB

Transmission

Clutch

Wet multiplate, Assisted slipper clutch

Final Drive

Chain

Gearbox

6-speed

Instruments and Electrics

Headlights

LED

12v Socket

Optional

Instruments

5in TFT Meter with customisable layout, including but not limited to Speedometer, Tachometer, Clock, Gear position, Shift UP Indicator.

Tail Light

LED

Connectivity

Honda RoadSync

Emergency Stop Signal

Yes

Security

HISS

Manufacturer Specifications and appearance are subject to change without prior notice on Total Motorcycle (TMW).