Words: Bill Hunter.
It wasn’t so long ago since we tried out the heavily updated 2024 NX500. We came away with praise indeed. This impressive small capacity Adventure bike ticked a multitude of boxes, especially regarding the cost. The wee NX500, and being a Honda, offered a plateful of delightful motorcycling for both new and experienced riders alike. You can still buy one, for around 115k +/-, which is still exceptional value for your cash, and I couldn’t recommend owning one more. However, I now can’t recommend buying that particular NX500 at all. 'Well that’s an abrupt U-turn', you shout out 'and are you maybe related to the orange man currently ruling (dismantling), the US of A with (his) consistently changing and confusing remarks?' you may ask. I can see why you might say that but, wait, carry on reading…
The new 2026 NX500 is just about identical to the 2024 model. The updates it received in 2024 remain, which include a 5-inch TFT display, twin 296mm front discs, new lightweight wheels, vastly improved Showa 41mm SFF-BP USD forks, improved Pro-Link rear shock, new bodywork and other stuff that might have slipped my mind. Good news, because I most certainly wouldn’t change any of those. What Honda has done for 2026 is to install its entertaining new E-Clutch system, exactly like the one found on the XL750 Transalp, right onto the side of the NX’s motor. If you’ve read our previous review on the Transalp E-Clutch you’ll know how much we praised that bike and its clutch.
If you’re still new to the E-Clutch, and why you’d need it, let me quickly run through it again. Basically two small electric motors change the gears for you, both up and down the six-speed gearbox, when you use the customary gear lever. In effect this system is like a fancy type of quick-shifter, however, the clutch lever is still where it normally is in case you prefer to use the bike like the basic manual NX500 version. The E-Clutch system can be deactivated for whatever reason, so essentially you have the best of both worlds, auto and/or manual, awesome I say!
Ok, let’s get one thing out of the way; the E-Clutch on the NX500 is not as refined as the one found on the Transalp. I think it’s down to the gearbox that isn’t as new or as ‘polished’ as the Transalp, seeing as Honda’s, 471cc, DOHC, parallel-twin, has been around longer than Donald’s sun bed, without any form of quick-shifter to begin with. Still it works well with a spot of stickiness between first and second gear. In its defense, the motor had only spun for a few hundred kilometres, so adding a few more, and new, fresh oil after its first service might loosen it up in the near future. If fact, and if you already own one (and a `big-up’ if you do), I just left the NX in second and never bothered with first, it just made for a smoother pull-off.
You can actually pull off in fourth, which I tried, and the little NX did not stall. To be honest, I never used the clutch lever manual option at all, why bother, and again the E-Clutch made the NX impossible to stall, ideal for a new rider for sure. It’s also terrific when navigating traffic for the same reason I’ve just mentioned. One of my most memorable moments during my week aboard was when I rode down a gravel lane in fourth. The NX just cruised along, around 60 to 70km/h, and not once did I have to use the clutch as I revelled in the scenery around me, whilst having one hand on my hip. It was such an enjoyable experience that I actually turned around and went back along the same 12km route. I have never had to urge or inclination to do this on any Adventure bike of any size or capacity, so the NX500 E-Clutch version is tremendous I say!
Now let’s ignore the E-Clutch attribute for while because it also has other attractions. It’s great fun to buzz around with on the road and, with a seat height of 830mm, it does feel rather small dimension-wise encouraging brisk riding. The engine churns out 47hp@8,600rpm and 43Nm@6,500rpm, which is enough to send to around 180km/h. There is a distinct rush after 8,500rpm close to the redline, which is fun to play with, and cruising at highway speeds is well within its capabilities. The NX is also superb regarding fuel consumption where it seemed average out at 4.0-litres/100km, and that’s with my excessively aggressive right wrist. So with the NX500’s 17.5-litre tank which translates to a very healthy and impressive 450km +/- range, the NX500 is certainly something to think about due to exasperating and escalating fuel prices.
While you’re checking out your range on the 5-inch TFT display, you can also fiddle with the three display modes; Circle, Bar, or Simple. Personally I preferred the Circle shaped rev-counter option. There’s also Honda Selectable Torque Control (HTSC), or traction control, which can be turned off, whereas the ABS can’t. There are no power modes because the throttle bodies are still cable operated, but never bothered me anyway. To just get on and ride is refreshing sometimes, right? I did like the four-way, backlit, toggle switch though, which you also use to access the Honda RoadSync App for GPS and phone connectivity and the bike’s other typical features.
With a (wet) weight of 198kg, which is only 2kg more than the basic NX manual, the NX is easy to handle and very stable and planted on the road, helped by a 19-inch front wheel instead of the 21-inch found on some other choices around this capacity. The Showa suspension is set a bit on the firm side for my liking but you can back off the Pre-Load if you find the NX compresses your fifth vertebrae too much, or ride around with a sack of potatoes strapped on the back seat, but maybe just go for the shock option.
One of the best things about the new NX500 E-Clutch is that it won’t compress your bank account too much. With a price tag of only R141,399, it has to be one of the best value-for-money entry level Adventure bikes on the market, and it has that rather unique and wonderful E-Clutch which the others in this competitive class do not have. The NX500 E-Clutch provides a splendid daily ride for anyone, it’s a mild-mannered, accessible, affordable Adventure motorcycle with zero glaring flaws and, more importantly, it oozes a less complicating riding experience, which I thought to be invigorating to say the least!
Images: Rowan V.
Visit: www.honda.co.za. For more information and to discover the latest special offers.
You can also scroll down and find our article on the 2024/25 NX500 manual version, if you’d like to follow up with reading that review too.
