The Honda NX500 promises a balance between city use and a light escape off the tarmac. Its modern adventure bike looks, its proven engine and its complete equipment make it a model to watch closely if you are looking for a versatile motorcycle that is easy to live with. Below you will find its strong points and the full conditions on its rental page. This model has been a hit with our customers.
- Engine: 471 cm³ twin, 35 kW or 47.5 hp
- Weight: 196 kg with all fluids
- Seat height: 830 mm
- Fuel consumption: around 3.6 L/100 km
- Tank: 17.5 L
- Rental from 68 € per 24 h, price taken from the catalog
- Security deposit: 1,500 €, an amount stated on the model page
A twin engineered for efficiency
Under its bodywork, the Honda NX500 hides a 471 cm³ liquid-cooled parallel twin with double overhead camshafts and 8 valves. The engine delivers 35 kW (47.5 hp) at 8,600 rpm, for 43 Nm of torque at 6,500 rpm. In practice, we found that this unit responded particularly well out of a corner in third gear, especially when you want to accelerate to slot into traffic quickly. In that respect, the torque available from low revs saves you from downshifting too much, which makes city riding a great deal simpler.
On fuel consumption, the NX500 sits at around 3.6 L/100 km in mixed use across urban areas, expressways and small country roads. Its CO₂ emissions are measured at 82 g/km, which places it in Crit'Air 1 and opens the low-emission zones to it.
A diamond frame that absorbs daily life
The NX500 uses a steel diamond-type frame. That design gives it a good balance between rigidity and flex. On our daily route through narrow cobbled streets, we appreciated how stable the motorcycle stayed despite the uneven surface. At low revs, for instance when you are threading between stationary cars, the frame proves forgiving enough to avoid unpleasant jolts.
The 27.5° rake and the 108 mm of trail also make changes of direction easy, including in tight bends coming off a roundabout. We even took the NX500 onto a few dirt tracks (nothing too extreme), and the rigidity of the frame proved reassuring during improvised little jumps over bumps.
Braking and safety: peace of mind, in the city and on the open road
At the front you get two 296 mm discs paired with twin-piston calipers, an effective combination in town, backed up by dual-channel ABS that manages wheel lock under emergency braking. At the rear, the 240 mm disc is enough to correct your line or to slow gently in traffic jams.
The HISS immobilizer and the HSTC torque control (traction control) round out this safety package. On wet or lightly gravelled tarmac, we often saw that under firm acceleration the HSTC kept the tires from losing too much grip. Always welcome when you find yourself on a surface with little bite.
Size and ergonomics: the happy medium for everyday use
On dimensions, the NX500 measures 2,165 mm long, 830 mm wide and 1,415 mm high, with a wheelbase of 1,445 mm. We were able to gauge how easily it slips between lines of cars: despite its adventure bike air, the motorcycle keeps a fairly compact footprint. Its 180 mm of ground clearance also let us clear curbs or slightly tall speed bumps without trouble, which is very handy for avoiding certain obstacles in the city.
With a seat height of 830 mm and a weight of 196 kg with all fluids, the NX500 remains accessible to most riders. Even wheeling the motorcycle into a cramped garage, you do not feel excessive heft, unlike some more imposing adventure bikes. The general ergonomics, in particular the handlebar position and the placement of the footpegs, also make low-speed maneuvers easier.
Gearbox and clutch: smoothness and control
The 6-speed gearbox, paired with a wet multiplate clutch, offers a progressive build-up of revs. In practice, we had the chance to test this in the suburbs, where you often have to juggle between second and third gear. Thanks to the very light clutch, it is easy to meter the throttle precisely and avoid jerks when you pull away from a stop.
On expressways, sixth gear is tall enough to hold a comfortable cruising pace at 130 km/h without the engine screaming. That proved particularly pleasant on our highway runs, where we could ride on a trickle of throttle while keeping a good reserve of power for overtaking.
Connectivity and instruments: modern life on two wheels
The Honda NX500 has a 5-inch TFT screen that stays readable even in bright sunshine. To check that, we took a wide-open main road under a big blue sky, and everything stayed perfectly visible, including the gear indicator and the fuel gauge. The Honda RoadSync system also lets you pair your smartphone to follow a GPS route or answer a call, which is useful if you venture toward a destination you do not know yet.
The motorcycle also has an emergency stop signal function, which triggers the hazard lights under sharp deceleration. That is a real safety plus, especially on the highway or in tunnels where visibility is sometimes reduced.
In a few words, why bet on the NX500?
In the end, and in our view, the Honda NX500 has what it takes to appeal to a broad audience. The 471 cm³ twin is both flexible and energetic enough for mixed use, the suspension absorbs rough surfaces well, and the ABS paired with the HSTC is reassuring on the safety front. Thanks to its modest fuel consumption (3.6 L/100 km) and its 17.5 L tank, you can easily consider longer trips without planning too many stops at the pump.
Our overall impression? On small country roads, the NX500 shows more than decent liveliness and enough comfort to ride for two hours straight without marked fatigue. In the city, its light weight and its turning circle help you feel at ease right away. And if you feel like venturing onto a dirt track, it will not refuse to leave the tarmac, within the limits of classic adventure bike use. All in all, a very good choice if you are looking for a versatile motorcycle that is simple to handle yet rich in sensations.
If you have not tried it yet, we have this model available in several of our cities, for example in Marseille, Nice, Bordeaux and Lyon. It is accessible with an A2 license: book a slot from the Honda NX500 page, and we will be delighted to let you discover it.
