[7000plusrpm]

Originally Posted by windiesel

Looks like Honda isn't too keen to push bigger bikes in India. Being a CBU, this is heavily dependent on Govt Policies, so is my inference correct that the product may vanish from the showrooms abruptly like MT07/09, CB500X etc?

It has already vanished from the showrooms. We do not have any clarity if it will ever return to India or not.

H450 looks like a safer bet.

The same H450 where we have multiple instances of a broken chassis? Not a safer bet in my humble opinion.
Anyway, we have a separate thread on this so let's no deviate from the NX500 here.

[lionell]

Recently spoke to the BigWing dealer in Goa and he said we'll 'know' the availability of the next batch of NXs in November 2024.

[pistonbeat]

Originally Posted by lionell

Recently spoke to the BigWing dealer in Goa and he said we'll 'know' the availability of the next batch of NXs in November 2024.

As per the dealer in Hyderabad, the bike may be available around Diwali time.
Seems November may indeed bring the good news

[venksv]

Interesting. Both Mahadevpura and Lavelle Rd dealers in Bangalore indicate a Jan-Feb timeline.

[7000plusrpm]

Got a call today from one of the bigwings here in WB. As per them, the NX500 will be available for delivery at the end of Sept and will be available in Red and White trims. Time to call up the local dealership maybe to check?

[Starscream1188]

Originally Posted by 7000plusrpm

Got a call today from one of the bigwings here in WB. As per them, the NX500 will be available for delivery at the end of Sept and will be available in Red and White trims. Time to call up the local dealership maybe to check?

Tired of waiting. Nothing positive comes from Honda ever. Dealers in Bangalore are still clueless. They say no official information from Honda.

[asininite]

Why should someone go for the NX500 given the rather inflated price tag. It produces Interceptor levels of power for 3 lakhs more, and given how much CB300R/F spare parts are a headache I don't see how a CBU product will fare better.

My opinion is to wait for the leaked Himalayan 650 (or higher cc) with twin front discs, or even the Interceptor Bear 650 (should get better USD forks with more travel).

[sandeepmohan]

Originally Posted by asininite

Why should someone go for the NX500 given the rather inflated price tag.

I have no riding experience on a NX. I'll tell you one thing. You can modify all you want on a Interceptor and it will never be anywhere near as comfortable as an NX. Your rear end will thank you for blowing up the extra cash in the long run.

Also, these are vastly different bikes. I don't see the point in comparing them purely on cost. If you like an Interceptor for what it is, then don't bother looking at an NX. Its that simple.

[shyamg28]

Originally Posted by asininite

Why should someone go for the NX500 given the rather inflated price tag. It produces Interceptor levels of power for 3 lakhs more, and given how much CB300R/F spare parts are a headache I don't see how a CBU product will fare better...

This maybe a bit off topic for this thread, but I do find value in sharing this -
One of the absolute best posts on "value for money" - https://www.instagram.com/p/Cu_sSDqN...ljaXdiNXo1dQ==

I have read, re-read and re-shared this post very often in the recent past.
The usual first response is "they must be rich" or "they don't have kids". Which is why, re-read

[asininite]

Originally Posted by sandeepmohan

I have no riding experience on a NX. I'll tell you one thing. You can modify all you want on a Interceptor and it will never be anywhere near as comfortable as an NX. Your rear end will thank you for blowing up the extra cash in the long run.

Also, these are vastly different bikes. I don't see the point in comparing them purely on cost. If you like an Interceptor for what it is, then don't bother looking at an NX. Its that simple.

I brought up the Interceptor as it was a twin-cylinder smooth engine for half the price, and given how RE is spitting out bikes left-right and center we can see a 650cc ADV very soon. My point is, for that extra 3 lakhs, what do you gain from the NX500? Is the suspension that great? No, even the 390 ADV does a better job. Himalayan 450/ Scrambler 400x/ 390 ADV all have much better and more sophisticated suspension setups. If you can live with the lack of low-end torque and less refinement, the 390ADV does everything the NX500 does a bit better, and it's more exciting to rev out.

Originally Posted by shyamg28

This maybe a bit off topic for this thread, but I do find value in sharing this -
One of the absolute best posts on "value for money" - https://www.instagram.com/p/Cu_sSDqN...ljaXdiNXo1dQ==

I have read, re-read and re-shared this post very often in the recent past.
The usual first response is "they must be rich" or "they don't have kids". Which is why, re-read

From a pure value-for-money perspective the NX500 is terrible! But at what point do we stop to think 'What will the extra 3 lakhs fetch me that some other cheaper bike won't?'

3 lakhs is a big amount isn't it? If someone is venturing into the 7-8 lakh segment, why should they not get an additional 1.5 lakh and buy the Versys 650 (with adjustable showas, 20 more hp, better spare parts availability).

I don't really see how this NX500 can make anyone go 'wow that's a bike I must get'. For a diehard Honda fan sure, but for anyone else it just ... falls apart.

[7000plusrpm]

Originally Posted by 7000plusrpm

Got a call today from one of the bigwings here in WB. As per them, the NX500 will be available for delivery at the end of Sept and will be available in Red and White trims. Time to call up the local dealership maybe to check?

Booked one in white. The tentative time of delivery is October first week. Patiently waiting now

[sandeepmohan]

Originally Posted by asininite

Himalayan 450/ Scrambler 400x/ 390 ADV all have much better and more sophisticated suspension setups. If you can live with the lack of low-end torque and less refinement, the 390ADV does everything the NX500 does a bit better, and it's more exciting to rev out.

Can you elaborate on this? What sort of advanced suspension do these bikes have that make it better than the NX? From the spec sheet, its nothing special.

My friend. You are comparing Apples to a Dragon Fruit in this comparison! Even if Royal Enfield do plonk the 650 Twin on an adventure bike, I most certainly am not buying one. If there is one thing evident on my Interceptor, its that front end weight. That ain't going to change if they decide to put the 650 Twin into a bigger frame. It is heavy and there is no arguing that. You don't want to be "front heavy" on a Adventure bike.

I most certainly cannot live with poor low end response or lack of refinement. Atleast, that is not my jam. Maybe you're okay with it. Also, with an Adventure bike, nobody in their right might will rev the nuts of it.

You want dependability, a stress free engine, riding comfort and a reasonable amount of luggage carrying capability on an Adventure motorcycle. The NX will do all of this without breaking a sweat.

[CrAzY dRiVeR]

Originally Posted by shyamg28

One of the absolute best posts on "value for money" - https://www.instagram.com/p/Cu_sSDqN...ljaXdiNXo1dQ==

I have read, re-read and re-shared this post very often in the recent past.

Thanks Shyam for sharing this - had missed this!

Any discussion on the 'value for money' of the NX500 is a moot point- whether you absolutely love it or don't see the point of it, one cannot deny the simplest of fact that it is a CBU.

The price tag you are paying is only just about half for the bike, the rest goes for the development of the nation.

That said - going along the lines of Shumi's post - asking people to compromise just because of that price tag doesn't make sense either. IMHO - Himalayan 450 is 85-90% of what the NX500 is and even better in some areas like offroad ability. But for people willing not to compromise on the extra 10-15% (reliability and twin cylinder refinement) - the NX500 is currently the only choice in this A2 entry level ADV market.

Originally Posted by asininite

My point is, for that extra 3 lakhs, what do you gain from the NX500? But at what point do we stop to think 'What will the extra 3 lakhs fetch me that some other cheaper bike won't?'

...

I don't really see how this NX500 can make anyone go 'wow that's a bike I must get'. For a diehard Honda fan sure, but for anyone else it just ... falls apart.

Having ridden the 500X quite a bit, I would say fair point. I personally do see and agree with your POV. But I also do know atleast three CB500X owners and would like to remind you that another POV also exists.

There are primarily two category of buyers - the ones who value the product more and the ones who value the product as a tool that could add to their experiences more. From your arguments, you (and I) often seem to gravitate towards the former category and want the bike itself to be an instrument of fun - something which can throw a smile on your face everytime you take it out, be it for a commute or for covering 500kms in day. The NX500 is not for that person, period! It can feel quite boring - especially in comparison with the machines similar money could buy!

The latter category considers the bike as a tool on their adventures - One that should be able to complete a long trip in absolute reliability and with excellent efficiency and refinement, one that should offer a premium experience but not be intimidating enough to become the center of that experience. A Himalayan would certainly fit the bill here - but there is no denying that the Honda brings a peace of mind that is a lot more worth than the additional 10-15% of product capability that the bike initially suggests on paper. It is a fill it-shut it-forget it experience which neither a KTM or RE can offer. The whole package does come together well for this category of buyers - so there are people who are willing to pay the premium and wait the extra months for this experience.

That said - the NX500 is best enjoyed as part of a larger garage. All three owners I know have larger machines which they use for the fun element - one friend has a ZX10R and Ninja 1000 (wait, does that ring a bell?), another has a Ninja 1000 and the third bought a Street Triple RS after getting bored of the 500X for anything but tours. But for those tours - they would swear by the Honda.

A used Versys 650 or VStrom 650 for the price is a LOT of extra machine - unless the buyers are ready for it. Both these are much heavier and are more demanding from the rider, becoming a part of the experience than just being a tool. That makes it more rewarding as well - hence for people who value the product more - these are like almost 50% more capabilities for 20% more price, even when new. So this category of people is not going to agree to the POV of the others, ever! The segment is going to explode soon though - with the entry of the (old, but reliable) Kawasaki Versys X 300, Aprilia Toureg 457, Tiger 400 and the RE Himalayan 650 - many different machines that are going to question the relevance of this CBU even more!

Originally Posted by sandeepmohan

Can you elaborate on this? What sort of advanced suspension do these bikes have that make it better than the NX? From the spec sheet, its nothing special.

Ride the two back to back (I have) and the Himalayan 450 has a much better chassis-suspension tune (till the chassis breaks, may be?). The CB500X/NX500 is on the more softer side and while it feels plush during a city TD or highway touring - it doesn't bring a smile in the corners or on some of our patched-up highspeed highways. On the other hands - Himalayan is a bike that could probably survive a trackday with a better set of tyres thrown in, while being able to tackle bad roads and offroads as well. (Don't believe me? Watch the Motorinc Guerilla 450 review where they discuss on the Himalayan 450 chassis and suspension setup - despite the 21 inch front wheel!)

[sandeepmohan]

Originally Posted by CrAzY dRiVeR

Ride the two back to back (I have) and the Himalayan 450 has a much better chassis-suspension tune (till the chassis breaks, may be?)

It maybe a better suspension setup. Thats just how each manufacturer decided to setup and sell the bike. I won't call it more sophisticated suspension setup.

If you've experienced the two bikes, I'll take your word and give it a go. However, the new 450 is still on a proving ground as far as its engine goes. For me, its more a wait and watch for a couple of years to see how the engine holds up.

There are folks who vouch for the dependability of a Honda. The NX is aimed squarely at them.

[asininite]

Originally Posted by sandeepmohan

Can you elaborate on this? What sort of advanced suspension do these bikes have that make it better than the NX? From the spec sheet, its nothing special.

Ride the two back to back (I have) and the Himalayan 450 has a much better chassis-suspension tune (till the chassis breaks, may be?). The CB500X/NX500 is on the more softer side and while it feels plush during a city TD or highway touring - it doesn't bring a smile in the corners or on some of our patched-up highspeed highways. On the other hands - Himalayan is a bike that could probably survive a trackday with a better set of tyres thrown in, while being able to tackle bad roads and offroads as well. (Don't believe me? Watch the Motorinc Guerilla 450 review where they discuss on the Himalayan 450 chassis and suspension setup - despite the 21 inch front wheel!)

Royal Enfield has managed to tune a non-adjustable Showa suspension in such magical fashion that it punches MUCH higher. That chassis and suspension is frankly superb, and it's impossible to believe you can get it for 2.85L ex-showroom. You gotta ride to believe it, and Shumi and Karthikeya also laud that bike for the same. The problem with the Himalayan is that unfortunately Royal Enfield didn't make the bike indestructible, which is what they should've considering how the Himalyan 411 broke off parts in its promo video. They should've engineered it so that no nincompoop with zero bike knowledge can dent the bike. Best example is the Hero Honda Splendor. Go on a Ladakh trip and you'll most likely find a 3-up Splendor with 800rs helmets overtaking you, Honda Japan built that chassis to never break and it shows. Unfortunately RE made it so that incompetent crash guards can break the chassis, and thus built a name for the Himalayans. Fix the vibes that annoy you right at the speeds you wanna cruise, improve the Q&C, shed some weight and this bike will be unstoppable.

Scrambler 400x is proven to have a supple and great suspension. It's not advertised as a proper off-roader, but it can handle bad terrain more capably than you think. Watch FortNines 390ADV video and how he praises that adjustable WP Apex suspension, and I think you will be surprised.

NX500 suspension simply isn't as good as these entry-level suspension setups.

Having ridden the 500X quite a bit, I would say fair point. I personally do see and agree with your POV. But I also do know atleast three CB500X owners and would like to remind you that another POV also exists.

There are primarily two category of buyers - the ones who value the product more and the ones who value the product as a tool that could add to their experiences more. From your arguments, you (and I) often seem to gravitate towards the former category and want the bike itself to be an instrument of fun - something which can throw a smile on your face everytime you take it out, be it for a commute or for covering 500kms in day. The NX500 is not for that person, period! It can feel quite boring - especially in comparison with the machines similar money could buy!

The latter category considers the bike as a tool on their adventures - One that should be able to complete a long trip in absolute reliability and with excellent efficiency and refinement, one that should offer a premium experience but not be intimidating enough to become the center of that experience. A Himalayan would certainly fit the bill here - but there is no denying that the Honda brings a peace of mind that is a lot more worth than the additional 10-15% of product capability that the bike initially suggests on paper. It is a fill it-shut it-forget it experience which neither a KTM or RE can offer. The whole package does come together well for this category of buyers - so there are people who are willing to pay the premium and wait the extra months for this experience.

That said - the NX500 is best enjoyed as part of a larger garage. All three owners I know have larger machines which they use for the fun element - one friend has a ZX10R and Ninja 1000 (wait, does that ring a bell?), another has a Ninja 1000 and the third bought a Street Triple RS after getting bored of the 500X for anything but tours. But for those tours - they would swear by the Honda.

A used Versys 650 or VStrom 650 for the price is a LOT of extra machine - unless the buyers are ready for it. Both these are much heavier and are more demanding from the rider, becoming a part of the experience than just being a tool. That makes it more rewarding as well - hence for people who value the product more - these are like almost 50% more capabilities for 20% more price, even when new. So this category of people is not going to agree to the POV of the others, ever! The segment is going to explode soon though - with the entry of the (old, but reliable) Kawasaki Versys X 300, Aprilia Toureg 457, Tiger 400 and the RE Himalayan 650 - many different machines that are going to question the relevance of this CBU even more!

While I do agree with most of your points, there is something I'd like to point out. Being able to buy a NX500 as the third bike in your garage is a terrific luxury very very few Indians will be able to happily accomplish. Indians are mostly about the 'one-bike garage' lifestyle, and prefer motorcycles that can do a lot of things. A person who is looking to step up to a 7-8L motorcycle buys a NX500 and then finds themselves bored due to the linear smooth power delivery and the suspension being not suited on rougher terrain, and that will be a terrible blow.

The NX500 does one thing very well and that is highway touring. It's not fast for that price bracket, it doesn't handle that amazingly well, suspension isn't capable off-road... it doesn't do the 'one-bike garage' trope well enough. Again bringing up the pricing, 7-8lakhs for a strictly highway tourer is a hard pill to swallow. If you load it with accessories like racks, USB charger, guards.. you'll be looking at a near 1 lakh increase! That's why I suggest going up to the powerful and more capable Versys, or going down to the Himmy. Versys is costly, while the Himmy is vibey but both are better motorcycles and can do a LOT more than the NX500. The ability to do a lot more with your bike means your experience with your bike will be a lot more enjoyable, and you'll think about keeping the bike for longer. Obviously in a 3-bike garage, where you can swap out to another bike as your mood dictates, the NX500 shines for those occasional tours. Anything else and ... you'll be thinking about that price tag.