The Honda NX500 weighs 198kg wet, has a seat height of 830mm and 180mm of ground clearance, and makes 47.6hp. Expect about 71 mpg, for a range of around 270 miles from its 17.5-litre tank.
4/10
Holloway Green Lane Score
A road-biased A2 adventure bike that handles gravel and dry byways comfortably but is not built for mud or technical lanes. Rider ability, terrain, weather and tyre choice still move the real answer more than the bike alone does.
Four separate scores, not one blended number, so you can see what's actually driving it.
Beginner friendliness
5/5
Road usability
3/5
Technical off-road capability
2/5
Green-lane suitability
2/5
Full specs
Price (new, OTR)£6,999
Engine471cc
Power47.6hp
Torque43Nm
Weight (wet)198kg
Seat height830mm
Fuel tank17.5L
Real-world range~270 mi
Economy~71 mpg
Wheels (f/r)19" / 17"
Ground clearance180mm
Suspension travel (f/r)Not officially published
ABSYes
Traction controlYes
Ride modesNot confirmed
Service interval8,000 miles
Licence requiredA2
Stock tyre sizes (f/r)110/80-19 / 160/60-17
Stock tyresDunlop Trailmax Mixtour
Where the Honda NX500 sits
Wet weight against ground clearance for every bike in the finder that publishes both. Light and tall, top left, is where the easiest green lane bikes sit. Tap a dot to open that bike.
Figures are manufacturer claims. Clearance is measured differently by different makers, so treat small gaps as a draw.
Will your feet reach?
The Honda NX500 has a 830mm seat. Enter your inside leg for a rough idea of how much foot you'll get down when stopped.
A rough guide only. A wide seat needs more leg than a narrow one, the suspension settles 20 to 40mm under you, and boots add a little. Many bikes offer a low seat or lowering link. Sit on one before you buy.
Range against similar bikes
Real-world range from tank size and typical economy, against the bikes closest to it in weight and type. Out on the lanes, fuel stops are often further apart than on a road ride.
Range only. Hard off-road riding and headwinds use more fuel, so plan fuel stops with margin.
Tyres that fit the Honda NX500
It runs a 110/80-19 front and a 160/60-17 rear, on Dunlop Trailmax Mixtour from the factory. 27 tyres in our Tyre Finder are made in at least one of those sizes, ranked by green lane score.
Sizes are for the standard UK model and can change between model years. Check the size on your own tyre sidewall, and ask your dealer before fitting a different size. Our size lists come from maker and retailer listings and can miss sizes, so a tyre shown for one end may still be made in your other size. Check the maker's size chart.
The NX500 is Honda's refreshed CB500X, and its 19-inch front wheel and 160/60-17 rear on Dunlop Trailmax Mixtour tyres tell you it is road-first. Reviewers praise the engine, brakes and suspension, but none of the reviews found include proper off-road testing. Honda says the suspension settings improve feel on and off road, and the bike has 180mm of ground clearance. For green laning, it suits dry gravel and light byways rather than deep ruts.
Pros for green laning
Reliable and cheap to run: 8,000 mile services, strong resale and a claimed 78.5mpg, with a reviewer seeing 71mpg over 600 test miles.
Long range: a 17.5 litre tank and a claimed 302 miles to empty suit long road links between lanes.
Switchable traction control: Honda's HSTC can be turned off on dirt or gravel.
Comfortable on the road: reviewers praise the engine, brakes and suspension for motorway and A-road transits.
Cons and limitations
Road tyres: the stock 160/60-17 rear on Dunlop Trailmax Mixtour is a road-biased fitment that struggles in mud.
ABS cannot be disengaged: 1000PS reports no off-road ABS option, which helps on tarmac but not on loose surfaces.
Modest ground clearance: 180mm and a 19-inch front wheel mean deep ruts and rocky steps are a risk.
Little protection as standard: Bennetts notes no hand guards and an unchanged short screen.
Before taking it seriously off-road: Handguards, a bash plate and crash bars, and a dual-sport tyre swap if you want to move beyond dry gravel. Keep to easy byways.
Remember: a rank here assumes reasonable stock tyres and a competent rider in decent conditions. The right tyres, or the wrong weather, can move a lane from easy to genuinely hard regardless of what bike you're on. Check a lane's own difficulty and hazards on the map before you go, don't rely on a bike score alone.
Find where to actually ride it
Browse legal green lanes and byways across England and Wales, filtered by difficulty, on Holloway's map.
