Honda NX500 Deliveries Begin in India, Priced at Rs 5.90 Lakh

Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI) has commenced the deliveries for the NX500, their latest model in town. The brand-new tourer from the Japanese bike manufacturer arrived on the Indian market last month for a launch price of Rs 5.90 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). When it comes to the available paint jobs, the motorcycle can be had in three exciting colour options - Grand Prix Red, Matte Gunpowder Black Metallic, and Pearl Horizon White. Notably, the NX500 makes its way to Indian shores via the CBU route. The bookings for the bike began last month for a token amount of Rs 10,000. Interested buyers planning their next bike purchase, can visit the brand's premium Big Wing dealerships. Here are all the important details regarding the new Honda model. 

Honda NX500: Appearance

From the looks of it, the Honda NX500 is the CB500X's spiritual successor. Among the primary upgrades over the bike it replaces are more contemporary stylistic cues. The motorcycle exudes a rugged adventure tourer vibe with its rally bike-inspired front fairing, large 17.5-litre fuel tank, and well-balanced rear end. The ADV stance is maintained, with 19-inch front and 17-inch rear wheels that include five-spoke Y-shaped wheels along with dual-purpose tyres. It comes equipped with a USD fork setup and a Pro-Link mono-suspension at the back with a 5-stage preload adjuster. The standard dual-channel ABS braking system features two 296mm front discs with two-piston callipers and a 240mm rear disc with a single-piston calliper.

Honda NX500: Mechanical Specifications

On the mechanical front, the bike is powered by a 471cc parallel twin-cylinder engine with a DOHC configuration and impressive liquid cooling. The unit is capable of putting out 47bhp of maximum power at 8,600rpm and 43Nm of peak torque at 6,500rpm. Furthermore, it is coupled to a six-speed transmission with slip and assist clutch. 

Honda NX500: Features

 All-LED headlight and taillight, together with an emergency stop signal function that flashes turn signals to alert drivers about approaching braking, are standard on the Honda NX500. Additionally, it has a switchable Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC) system to control the traction of the back wheel when riding in slick conditions. The instrument cluster includes three display modes—bar, circle, and simple—a 5-inch TFT colour display with optical bonding for improved visibility in direct sunlight, and a choice of three background colours: auto, white, and black. Moreover, the model boasts a backlit 4-way toggle switch for controlling call and music playback via a Bluetooth headset, in addition to on-screen navigation.

Honda NX500: Price and Rivals

With a new, more aggressive pricing strategy for their premium bikes, Honda has moved in a different direction after facing criticism in the past for their pricing on large and mid-capacity bikes. Priced at Rs 5.90 lakh, the NX500 goes up against the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450, which costs Rs 2.85 lakh, and the KTM 390 Adventure, which retails for Rs 2.81 lakh. The model is imported into India as a CBU, which means it is subject to a greater tax than a bike that is made locally or as a CKD. This is the primary cause of the high price tag. All mentioned price figures are ex-showroom.

HMSI January 2024 Sales Figures

Honda registered significant growth in both local and international sales last month. In January 2024, it sold 4,19,395 units, a 42 per cent increase over the previous year's sales of 2,96,363 units. Out of this, the company delivered 3,82,512 vehicles in the domestic market, representing a sales surge of 38 per cent over the 2,78,143 units sold in January last year. In the export segment, the firm reported selling 36,883 units, clocking a 102.43% increase over the 18,220 units delivered at the same time last year.