Bikieman

In 2018, I traded in the Honda CBF600 for the Honda CB500X. Some might see that as a “downgrade”. I still don’t to this day.
The CBF was old, tired, had already broken down on me as I tried to get to Scotland on the M6 and I’d lost trust in it really. Time for a more reliable workhorse.

I knew the 500X was a cracking bike, I’d done my research for years and as the 2016 model came out, it had ticked even more boxes for me. Same reliable 47HP engine, but with sharper looks. I knew this would work for me.

I got one. Second hand, 4000 miles, basically new. I remember picking it up and riding it home along A roads and motorways, nothing seemed to stress the bike out at all, what a cracking motor this is. The bike was a lot thinner than the CBF600, less weather protection, but felt “commanding” as I was in a very upright position.

It was a modern bike, with modern touches such as a digital dash! I felt like I’d hit the jackpot.

This bike, I really have taken everywhere. It’s been through thick & thin, sometimes not ending well, but it has taken it all in its stride. The bike almost whispers to you… “Hey, take that road over there. Hey, let’s try that muddy track”. It just works. And mine is tailored to the road, no wonder those who make it off-road variented love it so much!

It’s no longer as standard as it was. It has hand guards, a tinted screen, a Pipewerx exhaust and a Denali horn (yay for more noise!). The poppies have to be on show, of course.

I’ve hammered this bike. In a previous job, I was doing 50 miles a day, 5 days a week (maths) in all weathers all year. For 2 years. The only problem I’ve had is that the wires feeding into the indicator relay went, meaning the indicators stopped working entirely. Easy enough to resolve (by a workshop, fuck electrics).

I have a ton of photos of the 500X, it was my dream bike and I got it. I still own it now and it makes me smile every time I ride it.