Longest Day Ride

[crofty]

Great pictures Steve, think i recognize some Deeside / Glenshee locations ?

you've renewed my interest in the new cb500x. Thinking about it as a downsizing option as i get older. How do you find it ?

[HoboBeemer]

Thanks for the kind words chaps


HoboBeemer - there is no legal access to off road riding up here without the landowners permission and thus there is no "starting point" for you to use as a reference for dirt riding. I use an open gate policy, taking the chance of an entertaining, one way discussion with an irrate land owner/estate worker.
I know of only a couple of public roads this far north that are so broken you are really off road riding , but I'd prefer not to disclose their whereabouts as even local use is leading to the threat of de-listing them from the public road register, leading them to become private land and thus out-of-bounds.


Steve T

Ok thanks for that, will plan for the worst and hope for the best, as other have said the CB is growing on me....

Regards

[Steve T]

. . . think i recognize some Deeside / Glenshee locations ?

Cheers Steve. Correct on both location guess's

. . . you've renewed my interest in the new cb500x. Thinking about it as a downsizing option as i get older. How do you find it ?

Its lack of up top bulk was one of the reasons for getting the bike. Its an OK machine, but don't expect any pulse racing episodes whilst riding one as its a rather under-welming in the acceleration department. One rider over on the CB500X forum described it well by stating that you dont really accelerate, you just get a bit quicker My 22 year old 600 Transalp has a better feeling of get-up & go.

But for pootling round, taking in the views and smelling the scenery its ideal, IMHO.

Try one, you'll find it more revvy than the NC750.

Steve T

[catcitrus]

I have a 600 transalp, and a Honda CB500 of the same year(1998). I have just fitted a stainless silencer off the later CB500 X (2013) as it happens(requires some welding)--saves weight and is freer flowing than the heavy and rust prone stock black one. On performance I have to say that its the opposite for me--the CB500 picks up its skirts and starts to fly once you hit 7k revs-there is a definite power band---and it will pull hard to 3 figures easily enough. Its low, handles well, and with Brembo brakes stops well. If you want to try a CB500 then look out for a really good old one--even the new ones are coming down in price secondhand and 2.5k will buy you a decent one. I'm going to fit some Ohlins type rear shocks to it soon, but the stock Showas are pretty good. Don't forget that there is a race series for the old CB500s--don't underestimate them.