Honda Updates CB500 Series for 2024

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For 2024 Honda is renaming the CB500X the NX500, and giving it a fresh look, less weight, and new electronics. (Honda/)

Honda’s midsize CB500 series shares the same engine, electronics, and most chassis components, so it’s no surprise that when updates arrive, they carry over across most of the bikes—as they did back in 2022. Big Red is also now marking 2024 as a time for new improvements, and the on-road made-in-Thailand trio—which consists of the CBR500R sport model, the CB500F naked, and the adventure-ish CB500X—are getting notable changes, including the fact that the CB500X will now be known as the NX500. Although the NX500 is different enough that it receives a few unique additional tweaks, all three get improvements to lighting, styling, and electronics equipment, and all models are available in dealers now.

Related: 2022 Honda CBR500R ABS & CB500F ABS Ride Review

It packs the same 471cc parallel-twin engine and steel tube frame as the outgoing CB500X, but the 2024 NX500 also gets a new 5-inch TFT screen and traction control. (Honda/)

2024 Honda NX500

Despite the new NX prefix and subtle styling tweaks, the outgoing CB500X retains much of its rough and tumble character for 2024. Honda says “NX” means “New X-over,” and the new bike is 7 pounds lighter than its CB predecessor, gets new suspension settings, and adds a new LED headlight as examples to emphasize the change.

The NX’s diet plan consists mostly of new cast aluminum wheels, which went from a conventional Y-shaped seven-spoke design to a Y-shaped five-spoke unit, helping bring curb weight down to 432 pounds. The reduction of unsprung weight combined with the revised suspension settings for the preload-adjustable single shock and 41mm Showa SFF-BP inverted fork are meant to improve handling and feel in all situations, according to Honda. As before, the 19-inch front wheel is matched to a 17-inch rear, with both wearing trail-pattern tires.

In the cockpit is a brand-new 5-inch TFT screen inherited from the XL750 Transalp—-which uses optical bonding to improve visibility in bright sunlight, a first for a Honda motorcycle—from which riders manipulate a simple, backlit four-way toggle switch to get into the settings menu. There they’ll find Honda Selectable Torque Control as a standard feature, which gives them ways to manage rear-wheel traction, or just have HSTC turned off completely.

On the other side of the restyled fairing and taller, narrower shield is a brand-new LED headlight with a wider throw for better nighttime visibility, while out back rides a new LED taillight, with all other lighting also being LED.

Mechanically, however, you won’t see many changes, save for an ECU update to improve acceleration feel; the NX500 retains the liquid-cooled parallel-twin engine acting as a stressed member, a steel tube frame, and the same suspension specs of its CB500X forebear, with a seat height of 32.8 inches and 5.9 inches of travel up front, along with a 4.7-gallon fuel tank. Still, the new tweaks will make an already well-liked machine all the more manageable for more riders, and with only a slight increase in price. The new 2024 NX500, which will be available in Matte Black Metallic, comes with an MSRP of $7,399.

New CBR1000RR-R-inspired styling, an ECU update, and new 5-inch TFT screen with HSTC are the main tweaks to the 2024 CBR500R. (Honda/)

2024 Honda CBR500R

Honda’s twin-cylinder midsize sport offering gets a more subtle but still noticeable refresh for 2024. It keeps the same 500R nomenclature, but dials up the sporting angle, adding sharp, Fireblade-inspired styling cues that include aero bits like a new fairing with winglets to improve handling and front-end grip. Other styling tweaks are more subtle, with the fuel tank, seat, and side panels featuring a narrow profile and smoother surfaces, giving riders a better grip on the bike with their knees to improve control.

As with the other CB500s, the CBR500R also gets an ECU update to punch up acceleration feel, and new dual LED headlights with wider light distribution as well as a new taillight, and the new toggle-switch-operated 5-inch TFT display offering Honda Selectable Torque Control as standard equipment. There are no changes to the 471cc eight-valve liquid-cooled parallel-twin engine, Showa 41mm inverted SFF-BP fork with 4.7 inches of cushion stroke, or preload-adjustable single-tube shock absorber, and seat height remains 31.1 inches, with a curb weight of 421 pounds. The dual 296mm petal-style rotors and radial-mounted Nissin four-piston calipers that were part of the 2022 upgrade are still standard.

The 2024 CBR500R, with its new CBR1000RR-R-inspired bodywork, will be available in Grand Prix Red and Matte Black Metallic, and will carry an MSRP of $7,399.

Honda’s CB500F gets a sharper new look for 2024, and has all the same updates as its stablemates, with a new TFT screen, HSTC traction control, LED lighting, and ECU update. (Honda/)

2024 Honda CB500F

Honda’s entry-level naked bike returns with a few tweaks for 2024, mainly in the form of more aggressive styling, as well as most of the updates you’ve already read about on the other 500s. The 2024 CB500F’s fresh streetfighter-inspired styling is stronger than in past years, with sharper angles in the fairing that also incorporate headlight side ducts to channel airflow around the upper fuel tank. The side shrouds interlock with the fuel tank to emphasize the engine, while the compact front fender is drawn directly from the CB650R.

We’ve already mentioned the new sharply chiseled LED headlight design which aims to throw out a wider light beam, with all lighting elsewhere on the bike now LED as well. The new 5-inch TFT screen shows vital info, with navigation through the settings being intuitive thanks to the backlit four-way toggle switch located on the left side of the handlebar, and Honda Selectable Torque Control is included. The system compares front and rear wheel speeds to monitor rear slip, and when detected, the fuel injection will smoothly reduce torque. HSTC can be turned off completely too.

The CB500F also gets the ECU update to improve acceleration, but otherwise is unchanged in terms of engine, frame, and suspension specs (it shares suspension, wheels, and brake components with the CBR500R).

The 2024 CB500F will be available only in Matte Black Metallic, and will have an MSRP of $6,899.

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