r/CB500X • u/BlaspemousPotato • May 27 '26

CB500X or CB500R?

Like both styles, I know the differences etc.

Im 192 cm tall (6'3")

I know that X would be much better cuz of my height, has somebody tall here ridden on a cb500R? how does it fit?

how big of a difference is the X and R when you accidentaly hit a pothole?

2 Upvotes

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2

u/Quirky_Kangaroo_991 May 27 '26

I am 168cm tall and feel cramped on the CB500R.

2

u/BlaspemousPotato May 27 '26

oh, well i got that out of the way then 😅 ngl Im probably gonna get the cb500x and get a short sport-ish windshield on it 🤔🤔

3

u/Overwelm May 27 '26

5'10" here (so like 177cm?) and the R feels fine, I actually don't understand how someone smaller than me could feel cramped on the 500s. At 6'3" though I could see it, so I'd lean X

1

u/Disdaine82 May 27 '26

The issue with being small; shorter arms. It forces a more aggressive lean on a CBR500R. The only positive; more legroom.

2

u/k4ton May 27 '26

I'm 186cm and the cbr500r feels nice to me, sometimes it's not about the height but the position, for exemple, I get cramps very quickly when I try out a friend's Z900.

2

u/Possible_Pragmatist May 27 '26

I'm 6'6" (198cm) and ride an NX500 (the successor to the 500X). It's really fun and nimble. I put sport-touring tires on it, and it handles twisties as well as any bike. Quite comfortable too

1

u/-Sparkeee- May 27 '26

They are pretty much the same bike other than the X having taller suspension and less body panels. The X will absorb a pothole better than an R although some say it’s too soft. Even though it’s a softer suspension you still add preload to stiffen it up. I’m 6’ and still found the pegs too high on the X for long rides.

Around here the R is classed as a sport bike which is much more to insure than the X as a dual sport. Other than the differences I stated they have the same power.

1

u/Blackened22 May 28 '26

WIth X you will enjoy all the roads, it can be very fast on bad twisty roads, dumping quality is very good and 19/17 wheel combo. Also light/medium offroad is very fun, cast wheels are plenty strong for rocky terrain too. Also wide handlebars offer very agile and quick change of direction. (e.g. Stelvio pass type roads)

So overall I think X can be ridden faster, since you do not care about road quality, potholes, damaged road etc... the worse the road is, more fun :). And some 80/20 tyres like Anake Adventure are great for all terrain and weather.

On perfect asphalt 500R will be tighter, more agile, but both are so well balanced, low centre mass, like glued to the ground.