Alright, so I’ve had my Honda 500X for a good while now. Great bike, really comfortable, does everything I ask of it, mostly commuting and some weekend trips. But you know how it is, you read stuff online, you chat with other riders, and the question pops up: “How fast does it really go?” I kept seeing different numbers thrown around, so I figured, heck, let’s see for myself.
Getting Ready for the Run
Now, I’m not some young speed demon anymore. Safety first, always. Finding the right spot was key. I needed a long, straight stretch of road, absolutely deserted, and good visibility. Took me a couple of weekends scouting around, found this access road out in the sticks that’s barely used, especially early in the morning. Perfect.
Before heading out that day, I did the usual checks:
- Tires: Checked the pressure, made sure they were spot on.
- Chain: Cleaned and lubed it the day before, checked the tension.
- Oil: Level was good.
- Fuel: Topped up the tank. Didn’t want to run out halfway!
And of course, full gear on. Leather jacket, proper helmet, gloves, boots – the whole nine yards. Doesn’t matter if you plan to go fast for just a minute, things can go wrong quick.
Giving It a Go
Got out there just after sunrise. Road was empty, just like I hoped. A bit cool, slight breeze, but nothing major. I did a slow pass first, just to check for any potholes or debris I might have missed. All clear.
Okay, time to do it. Pulled over, took a breath. Started rolling, shifting smoothly through the gears. First, second, third… engine felt strong. Fourth, fifth… starting to pick up some real speed now. Got onto the main straight, shifted into sixth. The engine note changed, settled into a hum. I tucked in as much as my middle-aged body allows, trying to get behind the small screen.
Then I just rolled the throttle wide open. Pinned it. The bike pulled steadily, not explosively like a supersport, but definitely determined. The wind noise picked up big time. I kept my eyes glued way down the road, glancing quickly at the speedometer.
Saw the numbers climbing… 150 km/h… 160… It was still pulling, but slower now. The wind felt like a solid wall. Pushed a bit past 165… nudged towards 170… I think I saw 172 km/h (that’s about 107 mph for those using miles) flicker on the display just as I felt it was really struggling to gain any more. Maybe it could have squeezed out another click or two if I held it longer or had a tailwind, but that felt like pretty much its limit for me, on that day, on that road.
So, What’s the Verdict?
Honestly? It felt pretty stable, even at that speed. No scary wobbles or anything. Braking back down to normal speeds was smooth too. That 172 km/h felt about right, maybe a tiny bit lower than some optimistic claims I’ve seen, but totally respectable for a bike like this. Rider weight, wind, road incline – all these things make a difference, of course.
Was it exciting? Yeah, for a minute. But am I going to do it again? Probably not. It’s good to know what the bike can do, but the real joy of the 500X isn’t hitting vmax. It’s the comfortable ride, the easy handling, the ability to just go wherever without fuss. That top end is there if you ever needed it for an overtake on a fast road, I guess, but it’s not its main party trick. Still love the bike, maybe even more now, knowing its limits and strengths firsthand.
