Honda Trademarks Hint at New Scrambler and Dual Sport 500 Models

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• Stuki Moi on May 08, 2022

  Compared to Ninjas and KTM track bikes, all Adventure Touring bikes will have a tough time "keeping up....." Doesn't make them "turds.' If the new Honda is supposed to pick up where the last Dominator left off, the KLR is the current gold standard. That one wasn't designed for beating Ninjas around tracks either.

• T L on May 08, 2022

  You no read good. They compared the CBR500R, not the X. And calling any of those track bikes is a stretch.

  Yes, the 500 Honda twin not being able to keep up with a 390 KTM single makes it a turd. Imagine if KTM learned how to build a reliable engine.

• T L on May 09, 2022

  ...and do you realize that the Honda 500 twins (X, R, F) were all built to be compliant with Europe's A2 motorcycle license tier for inexperienced riders? Honda limits these motors with an artificially low redline to cap performance.

• Stuki Moi on May 09, 2022

  The RC bikes are effectively track bikes. More so even than supersports 600s, the Daytona and R6 aside.

  The whole point of the 500s, is under stressed. Which I agree makes for a strange pairing with a CBR moniker, but NOT for an Adv bike. I've ridden the 390 Adventure, and the Ninja 400, a bit. And I'd much prefer the 500 twin engine, in a bike aspiring to do any sort of touring.

  Whether a 470cc A2 twin is a match for the KLR 650 single, is another question. I'd be inclined to believe so, since I'm not a big fan of big singles on longer, higher speed stretches. They may rev lower than a smaller twin, but even at lower revs, they are more vibey. There probably are good reasons why big singles have been THE goto format, for adventure touring for so long, though. I just prefer more cylinders, for anything involving long and steady at a decent clip.

  The Versys 300, is a bit too small to feel up to climbing inclines at altitude at freeway speed. It will do it, but you're pretty much racing get it to do so. But the 500s... : At least to me, they would seem pretty Goldilocks for the task. For true long distance Adventure touring, while you want enough size and power to get it done in an unstressed fashion, you don't want to be dragging around more weight, complexity and fuel consumption than you absolutely have to. Hence the enduring appeal of the KLR. As well as 250 single dualsports, in most parts outside the US and Western Europe; where suitability for freeway riding aren't such a big deal.

  I'll admit to preferring the demeanor of the 750 NC engines even more. But the way that engine is packaged, makes it much less suited to slot into anything resembling a traditional dualsport chassis. Not to mention a scrambler..... It's also much heavier. And may well have _too_much_ torque down low, for lower gear maneuvering in lose and technical terrain (For regular people adventure "touring." As opposed to Chris Birch Youtube roosting.)

• GreggJ on May 09, 2022

  Hello T L,
  The aftermarket can give you more performance if you like everything else about the bike. I found this site on my first try; there are probably others: Honda Rebel 500 MAGNUM Dyno-Boost Motorcycle Performance Chip.

By Dennis Chung