Motorcycles BS Thread 2.0

Since you asked

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSNb23UdwpY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tT2ixb3exQE

Edit: it's wild how well simple how-to videos for this bike do. I think the coolant change overview video I have for it is my second highest view count video overall.

 

pic dump


blue wheel appreciation here lol





all these pics are from last weekend when out practicing on dirt roads and gravel roads.

 

I will take some pics today, gonna take the 500 out when it warms up on the mtn.

I took them all out yesterday, only went up the mtn to the top of the ridge to see how the 890r did. I must say it’s WAY more nimble than my 1190r, and the power delivery is proper.
The 1190r required you to throttle thru a lot, even if you could balance it well. Had a way of skipping off logs, reminding you it was a beast.
I do miss the insaine Power the old bike had, but wasn’t worth burning my balls into oblivion. Also I can plant my feet properly when it comes to the technical shit.

Reminded me of my canam outlander 1000xmr…hells yeah it was a quad with massive balls, to bad your balls would get nuked riding it!

 

So, who is gonna sidecar their Grom?

 

haha more offffff what lol

 

Pictures! You take some good quality ones. Plus, if we ask for more pics we know you'll ride it to new places for new backdrops.

 

Id monkey the shit out of that thing.. whos driving?

 

I am down.

 

When are you getting yours!?

 

I am actually headed to buy a couple KLX 110s, with wide pegs and tall bars.
Been wanting to race my gf up the mtn, and this seems to be the safest way lol!

 

Only if we can get these sparkley gold helmets though

 

I painted one of my MX helmets a golden flake, buddy of mine wanted it so bad lol

 

It's been a blessedly quiet shift tonight, so I had time to poke around and review things with the impending bike purchase. Basically, I'm a kid before Christmas and can't wait. Unfortunately for you guys, that means I get to jabber on about the maybes and maybe nots about owning the bike and such.

So, full future dream/plan/layout for the bike and gear follows. I'm tossing some links in, and lots will be Revzilla. Don't buy through these links! Find a youtuber you like that does affiliate links in their descriptions and use those. Costs you nothing and a creator you enjoy gets a paycheck for it.


The Bike: 2022 Honda CB500X
Color: Pearl Organic Green


Bolt ons:

1. Crash bars. Originally gunning for Outback Motortek, but I prefer the T-Rex Skid and that their crash bars are 1 piece per side instead of 2. https://www.t-rex-racing.com/2013-2021-Honda-CB500X-Engine-Guards-V2-p/n47-13egb2.htm
2. Skid/Bash plate. As previously mentioned I like the T-Rex one. https://www.t-rex-racing.com/2013-2022-Honda-CB500X-CB500F-Skid-Plate-p/n47-19sp.htm
3. Radiator Guard. Again, going with T-Rex. https://www.t-rex-racing.com/Honda-CB500F-CB500X-Radiator-Guard-p/n41-19rg.htm
4. Foot Pegs. If the budget allows at the time of purchase I want to get some Knight Designs wide/lowering pegs. http://www.knightdesignllc.com/Prod...500X/Honda-CB500X-1-Wide-Front-Foot-Pegs.html
5. Rear Hugger. I don't like most, so I was trying to think of a way to make a bracket between the passenger pegs and have a mud flap like Rally Armor cut to fit. Then I found this. https://www.motomachines.com/pyramid-shock-shield-honda-cb500x-2022
6. Dash Protector. I live in a dirt road and I know I'm gonna wipe the speedo with a dirty glove at some point. Hoping this will prevent scratches. https://www.motomachines.com/eazi-grip-dashboard-screen-protector-honda-cb500f-x-2019
7. Exhaust. I give zero shits about boosting performance but I like things that sound good. This one is my favorite (baffle in), is recommended by a guy who reviewed the bike really well, and he made the best exhaust comparison video I've ever seen. Watch the video and tell me it shouldn't be used as the model for all exhaust comparisons for every vehicle.

https://youtu.be/-a50ksxL-A0





Luggage:

1. Tank Bag. 99% sure I'll for the Giant Loop Diablo bag in black because they just tamed down the logo in that color. Primarily going with this one to give a little back to Dork in the Road for helping light the fire under me to get back on a bike. https://www.giantloopmoto.com/product/diablo-tank-bag/
2. Soft panniers. Heavily leaning toward the Alt Rider Hemisphere Saddlebag. I like the "holsters" for potential use without the bag. They are made in America, and I'll pay a bit extra for that. https://www.altrider.com/altrider-hemisphere-saddlebag/pid/1467/cid/17
3. Backpack. I'm torn. @spencermarkd and RyanF9 make me want the Kriega Trail, large or small. The Klim Nac Pak looks good on a budget, but I can't decide. This video has both in it.

https://youtu.be/mCZBdtvjJ5Q





Gear

1. Helmet. Got the Arai XD4 in the Depart white/blue graphic and love it, but that's just based on a 30 minute test session. Also, the pics on some sites make it look like it has red highlights and a white mouth vent, but the highlights are definitely orange and the vent up front is black. Rocky Mountain ATV MC has the helmet in their best of 2023 ADV helmets video and you can see the true colors there. https://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/arai-xd-4-depart-helmet
2. Gloves. I have the Rev'It Dune gloves in the "silver" option. Formerly known as the Sand3. I tried these on at cyclegear when I visited, but I was so pissed off that they didn't have any of the helmets they claimed to online that I didn't buy them. I used a link from a youtuber and bought them from Revzilla. https://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/revit-dune-gloves?sku_id=10024010
3. Boots. I have waffled around a bit, but it was actually this thread that turned me onto the Icon Stormhawk boots. They are a budget decision to just get me on the bike sooner instead of waiting for boots that cost twice as much. Have not ordered or decided on color yet. https://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/icon-stormhawk-wp-boots
4. Jacket. I'm going for a hot weather jacket that I can layer up, because that is way easier than trying to stay cool in cold weather gear. Currently eyeing the discontinued Icon Mesh AF in grey or the Icon Contra 2 in red. The light/bright colors should help me be more visible and they have shoulder, elbow, and back armor on a budget. Contra 2 https://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/icon-contra-2-jacket Mesh AF https://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/icon-mesh-af-ce-jacket-2018
5. Pants. This is where I'll probably skimp for a while. In my previous involuntary dismounts I never had any issues with my legs being hurt. I'm open to suggestions, but I need something I can take off or wear at work. For now, jeans are it.

Good way to kill time for the end of my shift.

 

Yay! I suggested the Icon Stormhawk boots and funnily enough, I bought those as a stop gap since I couldn't buy the Forma Terra Evo Low in my size at the time. I figured I'd just use the Stormhawks for rainy day weather and use my track boots for everything else (I have some TCX RT-Race boots). Since getting the Icons I haven't even worn the TCX more than a handful of times. The Icons are even easier to put on than regular boots due to the Boa system and are comfortable enough for all day walking or light hiking. I also rode in a very severe (at least for 2023 California standards) thunderstorm and my socks did not get wet at all, so the waterproofing is great.

I really like the tank bag you linked. It's pricey but seems to be very innovative. I like the unzip and flip for fuel ups. I'm still using an old $20 Cortech bag I bought off FB marketplace and it has served me so well. I've never had issues with the magnets and have even trusted my phone and iPad in it while riding.

For pants, I like the Bull-it Icon II straight jeans. I got mine on sale with the CE Level 2 hip and knee armor for ~$120 so deals are out there. I'm just not comfortable with regular jeans, seeing how quickly they shred. I wouldn't even use these riding jeans on more than a short trip (I got them to use on the Navi). https://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/bull-it-icon-ii-straight-jeans

 

Random but found out that with the stock turn signals the hooks for my cargo net don't interfere with anything with the tail tidy on the Navi.

 

Wish I wasn't going to be on vacation, always wanted to check AOAA out on the bike.

FRO is tons of fun but you need to be close enough to make it worth it.

Here is some FRO action:

https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cqkk48rLHyy/

And some North Jersey stuff back when I still had the DRZ.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CquG2YWs608/

 

Yes! Thanks for the Stormhawk recommendation. My old brain forgot who popped them up. The only thing giving me pause is a review that stated the toe was not firm enough to handle shifting but was firm enough to get stuck with a dent into the toe box. I assume you have not experienced any such thing?

 

No issues with shifting on the bikes I've ridden, but it does have a shifter impression. I kind of wish it had a shifter pad but I also like the worn look so I don't mind it.