This Honda adventure-style middleweight was introduced for the 2013 model year as part of Honda’s new global 500cc family, alongside the CB500F and CBR500R. Honda positioned it as the taller, more versatile member of that trio, aimed at riders who wanted everyday practicality with light touring and unpaved-road capability rather than a full-size adventure bike. The nameplate was launched internationally after its debut at EICMA in late 2012, and it quickly became one of Honda’s most accessible entry points into the adventure/touring segment.
Over its life, the model evolved through several updates to styling, chassis tuning, equipment, and engine calibration, but it remained clearly rooted in the original 500-series formula: approachable, affordable, and easy to use. In Honda’s European lineup, it was part of a family that built a strong reputation with A2-licence riders and commuters looking for a practical all-rounder with a bit more presence than a standard roadster.
For 2024, Honda replaced this nameplate with the NX500, reviving the NX designation for a redesigned successor and describing the outgoing model as the CB500X. That means the CB500X ran as a single continuous production line from its 2013 introduction through the 2023 model year before being superseded by the NX500.