Honda NX500
The 2024 NX500 replaces the long-running CB500X — same Honda 471cc parallel-twin and chassis, more upright adventure-tourer styling, and a 19-inch front wheel that handles light gravel without drama. A genuine commute-plus-weekend-tour bike at A2-friendly cost. The taller seat (830mm) rules out shorter riders but the upright bars and adventure ergonomics make long days feel short.
- Engine
- 471 cc
- Power
- 47 PS
- Weight
- 196 kg
- Seat height
- 830 mm
- A2 licence
- —
Liquid-cooled DOHC parallel-twin
wet
The short version
Forecourt score
Value 61 · Insurance 50 · Theft 100
The Honda NX500 holds its value about as well as most bikes (around 26% lost over three years, against the 25-32% bike norm) and costs about average to insure (group 9). Theft risk is low. It's A2-licence legal in standard form.
A bike-specific blend of value retention, insurance and theft risk (weighted 40/35/25). Bikes carry no MOT reliability data, so reliability isn't scored. Higher is better.
Variant: NX500
Engine
Petrol · 471cc
Power
47 ps
Torque
43 Nm
Weight
196 kg
Seat
830 mm
Transmission
6-speed manual
Economy
70 mpg
Volume NX500. Same 471cc engine as CB500F. 196 kg wet. 830mm seat. 19-inch front wheel, semi-block tyres. Full LED, TFT, A2-friendly 47 PS.
Tell us about the one you're looking at
Tidy and well looked-after for its age — the typical clean bike.
Estimated market value
£5,436
Range £4,621 – £6,251
MEDIUM CONFIDENCE
Holding value
Bikes hold value far better than cars — typical motorcycle 3-year depreciation is 25–32%, against cars' 40–50%. Some bikes (Hayabusa, Gold Wing, classic Z1000) actually appreciate in the 7–15 year zone as cult demand outstrips supply.
New
£6,899
At 5 years
£4,450
At 10 years
£3,201
Value loss by phase
Each band shows the share of original value lost during that window — not cumulative. Appreciation (green, marked +X% gained) is real for bikes that develop cult status.
UK new price by year
How we estimate this
Phase depreciation derived from observed UK used-bike pricing — classified ads, dealer asking prices, and end-of-auction figures. Bike residuals depend heavily on theft history, service-stamp count, and crash-damage signatures. The figures here are indicative for clean, fully-stamped examples.
What it costs to own
Indicative running costs at 8,000 miles a year — the UK rider average. Chain-drive bikes carry a chain/sprocket consumable line; tax (typically £25–£100/yr) and depreciation are excluded — see the section above for value retention.
3-year total
£4,137
Per year
£1,379
Per mile
£0.17
Service costs assume independent specialist labour and OE parts. Tyre intervals reflect typical UK road riding — track-day usage burns through rear tyres in <2,000 miles. Fuel uses the variant MPG at £1.45/L. Lower-mileage riders see proportionally lower totals; higher-mileage commuters pay roughly linearly more.
Estimated insurance
Group 9 of 17 (mid — mainstream) · Comprehensive · 5 yr NCB
Indicative annual comprehensive premiums for this bike. Bike insurance is far more sensitive to licence tier and rider age than cars — pick the combination closest to your circumstances.
Licence
Age
No-claims bonus
5 yearsRisk profile
Estimated annual premium · typical, age 30-39
£520/ year
Roughly £43 per month
Typical
Suburban postcode, 3+ years NCB, standard security (Thatcham chain + disc lock), no recent claims.| Age band | Lower risk | Typical | Higher risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age 17-21 | £858 | £1,144 | £1,602 |
| Age 22-29 | £527 | £702 | £983 |
| Age 30-39Selected | £390 | £520 | £728 |
| Age 40-49 | £343 | £458 | £641 |
| Age 50+ | £312 | £416 | £582 |
How we estimate this
Premiums combine licence tier, rider age, no-claims bonus and a risk-profile multiplier on top of a bike-specific baseline. Bike insurance is materially more sensitive to licence tier (CBT / A1 / A2 / A) than car insurance, and young riders pay considerably more than older riders even on the same machine. Always get individual quotes before buying.
Theft risk
Bike-specific · Met Police + insurance reporting
UK bike theft rates are an order of magnitude higher than car theft. Nakeds and supersports lose more to professional gangs; large adventure bikes and tourers are statistically much safer.
Theft risk score · 1 to 4
1/4Low risk
Low risk
Not a typical theft target. Basic locking deters opportunists; standard insurance terms apply.What this means for you
Adventure bikes are stolen less often than nakeds — heavier, harder to wheelie into a van, and the demographic that owns them tends to garage them. Standard chain + disc lock sufficient.
How we set this band
Bands derived from Met Police bike-theft reporting (most-stolen lists) cross-referenced with insurance industry underwriting data. Model + postcode are the two biggest factors in motorcycle theft risk in the UK, materially more than vehicle value.
What goes wrong
4 known issues · sorted by severity
Documented failure modes from UK owner forums, dealer service bulletins, and aggregated mechanic feedback. Mileages are approximate — different riders see different intervals depending on use and maintenance. Always address "high"-severity items before resale.
High severity
0
Medium
1
Low / cosmetic
3
| Severity | Part / issue | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| medium | Chain stretch 18-22k mi | £200 |
| low | Fork stiction (cold weather) any | £100 service |
| low | Suspension sag under load loaded touring | £350 spring upgrade |
| low | Battery every 3 years | £70 |
How we score severity
High — strands the bike or causes consequential damage if left. Medium — service item that affects ride quality or risks failure. Low — cosmetic or minor inconvenience. Costs are independent-specialist UK rates for parts and labour together; main dealer prices typically run 30–50% higher.
Safety recalls
Manufacturers occasionally issue safety recalls to fix a fault free of charge. You can check whether the Honda NX500, or your exact vehicle, has any outstanding recalls on the official DVSA service.
Check on GOV.UKOpens the Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency recall checker. Choose the make, model and year of manufacture — no registration needed.
Variant comparison
The default A2 adventure-tourer. Cross-shop Honda CB500F (same engine, naked styling), Yamaha Ténéré 700 (proper adventure, full A only), Suzuki V-Strom 800DE (more powerful but pricier). NX500 wins on running costs and A2 friendliness; loses to Ténéré on serious off-road.
Known issues
- Too new for proven long-term issues (post-2024)
- Inherits CB500F engine track record — robust
- Chain stretch ~20k mi (£200)
- Suspension softens at higher load — owners fit progressive springs
- Watch for fork stiction in cold weather
Strengths
- +A2-friendly 47 PS — same proven 471cc engine as CB500F
- +Adventure ergonomics — upright bars, comfortable over distance
- +19in front wheel — handles light off-road competently
- +Replaced CB500X with sharper styling, TFT dash, full LED
- +Frugal at 70+ mpg
Watch-outs
- −830mm seat too tall for shorter riders
- −47 PS feels modest when fully loaded for touring
- −Suspension travel modest vs proper adventure bikes (CRF300L/450L)
- −Soft luggage system rather than aluminium panniers as standard