Ive rode my R1200GS all over the world and was told the same thing about the CB500X just the other day by a friend. Now I REALLY see what he means. Thx!
It's actually 2019 when they changed to the 19" front wheel and 2022 when they changed to the upside down forks, so they do roughly 3 years without changes before introducing changes other than color options. But anyway.... I owned an XR150 when I lived in Vietnam, now I own a CB500X (currently touring Albania with it) and whenever there's small, steep, rocky or single track paths, I just wish I could switch back to my old XR as it makes so many things so much better. I've wrestled the CB through some semi-hard stuff but it's just a lot harder than on a lighter bike. Then of course, crossing the alps on higher speed roads with excellent tarmac, the CB just outperforms the XR massively as you can just take corners and feel like your driving on rails.... But you won't find those roads in Vietnam as you can never trust there won't be a truck coming at you on your side of the road right inside the corner. And then being on rails is suddenly not such an enticing option.
@@dom24363 You can probably still find an old one. In Germany they're still around from the late 90s before carburetted bikes didn't make the emission standards any longer. But bikes registered before that are still regal to ride. There's a cool Documentary on German Television of a retired lady aged 68, former teacher, doing a trip round the black sea and through Russia, Iran, Irak and Turkey on an old XR125 :)
I have a this bike in Australia where it is considered to be on the smaller side but it would be much more bike than I would feel comfortable with in Vietnam.
For people who like to stand and drop their heel that exhaust gets in the way. But those oem pegs are awful for standing. There are cheap off road foot pegs that screw into the same holes as the oem rubber ones. You guys should look into that unless your customers just stay on asphalt.
I can imagine this bike is too big for Vietnam. I'm quite happy on my 390 Duke in Thailand and compared to Vietnam, the roads here are sane... well, fairly sane. Nick J
I'd rather be on the Winner 150... It seem way easier to traverse the country on a bike with a smaller profile plus I want to ride something more of the locals ride
Ive rode my R1200GS all over the world and was told the same thing about the CB500X just the other day by a friend. Now I REALLY see what he means. Thx!
It's actually 2019 when they changed to the 19" front wheel and 2022 when they changed to the upside down forks, so they do roughly 3 years without changes before introducing changes other than color options. But anyway....
I owned an XR150 when I lived in Vietnam, now I own a CB500X (currently touring Albania with it) and whenever there's small, steep, rocky or single track paths, I just wish I could switch back to my old XR as it makes so many things so much better. I've wrestled the CB through some semi-hard stuff but it's just a lot harder than on a lighter bike. Then of course, crossing the alps on higher speed roads with excellent tarmac, the CB just outperforms the XR massively as you can just take corners and feel like your driving on rails.... But you won't find those roads in Vietnam as you can never trust there won't be a truck coming at you on your side of the road right inside the corner. And then being on rails is suddenly not such an enticing option.
XR150 is a great bike. I did Ha Giang Loop on one. Wish we could get them in UK.
@@dom24363 You can probably still find an old one. In Germany they're still around from the late 90s before carburetted bikes didn't make the emission standards any longer. But bikes registered before that are still regal to ride. There's a cool Documentary on German Television of a retired lady aged 68, former teacher, doing a trip round the black sea and through Russia, Iran, Irak and Turkey on an old XR125 :)
I like your approach. Very tempting. Do you cover the HCM Trail through Laos?
I have a this bike in Australia where it is considered to be on the smaller side but it would be much more bike than I would feel comfortable with in Vietnam.
For people who like to stand and drop their heel that exhaust gets in the way. But those oem pegs are awful for standing. There are cheap off road foot pegs that screw into the same holes as the oem rubber ones. You guys should look into that unless your customers just stay on asphalt.
I can imagine this bike is too big for Vietnam. I'm quite happy on my 390 Duke in Thailand and compared to Vietnam, the roads here are sane... well, fairly sane. Nick J
I'd rather be on the Winner 150... It seem way easier to traverse the country on a bike with a smaller profile plus I want to ride something more of the locals ride
Do you take the center stand off the bikes you rent?
The CB doesn't come with a centre stand as standard from Honda. It is an optional extra.