The motorcycle industry is currently in the middle of a pretty big slump, but while pretty much every segment struggles, one remains in rude health. Adventure bikes continue to be popular all the way throughout these trying times for the industry. High-end bikes have lost their luster as customers now see the value in lighter, more accessible, altogether more capable middleweight and entry-level alternatives.

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There may be a fairly long list of bikes which can do dirt roads better than the NX500, but we feel that it might actually be one of the very best motorcycles for daily rides. Its simple parallel-twin has proven to be extremely reliable and by all rights should handle high mileages without too much fuss as long as you keep up with the maintenance. It is comfortable, has decent wind protection, and is fairly economical. There are, however, several alternatives in this space, almost all cheaper and almost all more dirt-worthy.

CFMoto is on a roll and the Ibex 450 might actually be the best entry-level adventure bike. Extremely capable off-road, and comfortable enough to handle your commute, it is certainly worth considering if you don’t mind where it comes from. Another option from the PRC is the Moto Morini X-Cape 650. It might be made in China, but it boasts an attractive Italian design and an old Kawasaki engine. Benelli offers the TRK 502, but it is hard to tell how well it will hold up over time.

Kawasaki has reduced the price of the Versys-X 300, and it is arguably the most like-for-like alternative. BMW also still offers the G 310 GS as an entry-level alternative, but even though it is a lot cheaper, it is a little outdated and outgunned. Suzuki still makes the even more outdated V-Strom 650 if you are willing to spend a bit more to get more, but it isn't necessarily a direct competitor. The best value alternatives are both from India. The Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 certainly won’t be as comfortable, but it won’t let you down, and the Indian-made KTM 390 Adventure X might be new, but we know what to expect from the 390 platform.

From the Honda CRF300L Rally to the BMW R 1300 GS, these ADVs are reliable, fun, and built to last

471 cc Parallel-Twin, liquid-cooled

Honda puts this engine in every kind of motorcycle, from the CBR500R sports bike to the Rebel 500 cruiser, and it is very easy to see why. In Europe, 47 horsepower is the limit for the A2 license, and it is pretty clear that is what Honda was targeting. It is very much the entry-level platform, and even though Honda also has the more approachable 300cc bikes, this works a lot better on the highway.

This is an incredibly versatile little engine and is relatively under-stressed, too. If you want to get more power out of it, we suspect it won’t take much effort, but that is not explicitly necessary as Honda has optimized the efficiency rather effectively. It is able to comply with the current Euro 5+ emissions restrictions and still deliver a decent amount of torque. The NX500 is by no stretch of the imagination a fast motorcycle, and nor should it be. It is designed to be reliable and efficient, and with a fuel economy of 65 MPG this combination makes it an ideal commuter bike.

The Kawasaki Z500 sits in a sweet spot, offering a balance of comfort, performance, and affordability.

Practicality is not a particularly attractive attribute. For that reason, the NX500 is often criticized for being a little boring, but it is still a motorcycle, and even the most boring motorcycle is still objectively fun. Honda just has a knack for making bikes that just work, and this appliance-like efficiency needs to be appreciated. What you get with the NX500 is a motorcycle that can go almost anywhere over the weekend, then happily gets you to work and back through the week.

It certainly isn’t the most capable off-road adventure bike, but with the right tires it will still handle tricky trails as well as any other heavy adventure bike. The fact that it simply weighs less than most of those bikes helps more than any 21-inch wheel, or added ground clearance. It also comes packed with a few nice-to-have modern features which were reserved for bigger bikes in the past, but increasingly we are seeing traction control and TFT dashes on entry-level bikes. The traction control is mercifully switchable, so once you do get off-road you are able to turn it off.

ABS is also a must for any entry-level bike, and that also comes as standard fitment. While the NX500 gets a fair bit of flak from all corners, most of that criticism is rooted in a misunderstanding of what kind of motorcycle this really is. This is a bike built to be as practical as possible, offering both new and old adventure enthusiasts an affordable tool for travel. It is not an off-road bike per-se, but it certainly can handle the odd stretch of unpaved road and will do more if you choose to modify it accordingly. No matter how much you spend on it, it will never be a Transalp, though.

Source: https://www.topspeed.com/honda-nx500-is-perfect-for-daily-rides-and-dirt-roads/