Honda CB500X (2019-2021) Maintenance Schedule and Service Intervals
This is the maintenance schedule and associated service intervals for the Honda CB500X as made from 2019-2021, an update to the previous 2013-2018 CB500X version (which also received an interim update in 2016).
All the CB500X maintenance schedules:
The Honda CB500X is a versatile, do-anything bike that some describe as a mini-adventure bike — though it’s not small, and in many parts of the world this would be much larger than your average bike. You can use the Honda CB500X for anything from daily commuting to adventure distance travel and it’ll do it all with aplomb.
The 2019 revision to the original Honda CB500X adds a larger front wheel, increasing the diameter to 19 inches from 17. The 2019 Honda CB500X also gets new bodywork for more wind protection, more suspension travel due to revised suspension, and an LCD dash.
The 2019-2021 CB500X is still powered by the indomitable 471cc liquid-cooled DOHC parallel-twin motor that makes a user-friendly 35 kW or 47 hp at peak. It’s the same engine as in the Rebel 500 and CBR500R, too, showing how versatile it is — anything from sport riding through to cruising through to adventuring.
The CB500X is a bit of everything — not a dedicated adventure bike, nor a nimble dirt bike, but a motorcycle that can tackle anything you throw at it with grace and take you to a lot of places. The engine is extremely reliable.
Honda revised the 2022 Honda CB500X with new suspension, different brakes (twin front discs), and a few other changes.
This post was originally published on Sep 30, 2021, but has since been revamped.
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Honda CB500X — Service Intervals Overview
Overall, the the Honda CB500X has service intervals of 8000 miles or 12800 km between oil/filter changes and a multi-point inspection check.
The major inspection in which you check the valve clearances and replace the spark plugs is every two oil changes, or every 16000 miles / 25600 km. But as time goes on, valves are less and less frequently out of spec.
Honda recommends you do a handful of things between services, which is why the manual’s maintenance schedule is more granular. For example they want you to check things like brake pads, the clutch system, and emissions equipment between services.
Some other items have odd intervals, like the air filter. And bear in mind that as a liquid-cooled bike, you need to change the radiator coolant periodically — it has a time interval rather than a distance one.
See the full maintenance schedule below for more granular detail.
What you need to service the Honda CB500X (2019-2021)
When servicing the CB500X, apart from standard motorcycle maintenance tools, you’ll need the following consumables.
Note that there were some changes to the CB500X in 2019, which result in a few different parts, e.g. the air cleaner, and the wheel size (below).
| Part | Honda CB500X (2019-2021) specs/codes |
|---|---|
| Oil | Honda recommends SAE 10W-30, JASO T 903 standard MA, e.g. Pro Honda GN4 10W-30 is good. Use a torque wrench to tighten the bolt to 30 Nm (22 lb-ft). |
| Oil filter | Honda’s standard part number for the oil filter is 15410-MCJ-505 (used on many Hondas). You can also use Hiflofiltro HF204RC for the oil filter. Use a torque wrench to tighten it to 26 Nm (19 lb-ft). |
| Air filter | The OEM air filter part is 17211-MKP-J00. You can also use the K&N alternative air filter, whose part number is HA-5019, and is often more available. |
| Spark plugs | Use NGK spark plug part CPR8EA-9. Use a gapping tool to set the gap to 0.8-0.9mm. |
| Brake fluid | You can use any DOT 4 oil, but Honda recommends Honda DOT 4. |
| Brake pads (front) | OEM front brake pads are part number 06455-MGS-D32. Alternative EBC double-hardened front brake pads have part number FA196HH. |
| Brake pads (rear) | OEM rear brake pads are part number 06435-MGZ-J01. Alternative EBC double-hardened rear brake pads have part number FA140HH. |
| Coolant | Use Honda Long-life Coolant, which is based on ethylene glycol. |
You might also need some of the following basic motorcycle maintenance tools.
| Description |
|---|
| Paddock Stand — Makes maintaining your chain or doing other maintenance much easier. |
| Motul chain paste — one of the most highly-regarded chain lubes. Easy to apply, doesn’t fling off. If you need more stuff, get the Motul chain care kit as an affordable package. |
| Always good to have on hand lithium soap-based grease for lubing external pivot points (like the swingarm) and bearings. |
| Use Protect all cable life to lubricate your cables and controls. |
Honda CB500X Maintenance Schedule
Below is the maintenance schedule for the Honda CB500X (2019-2021). It’s in a simplified format from the manuals, and re-ordered in a more logical way.
At the end of the maintenance schedule, keep following it in the pattern shown.
Honda’s owner’s manuals give an indication of difficulty levels of each task. Generally they recommend a mechanic do the valve service, attend to steering head bearings, replace tires, and change the spark plugs.
Maintenance Legend
- I: Inspect (clean, adjust, lubricate, or replace, if necessary)
- R: Replace
- L: Lubricate
- C: Clean
| mi x 1000 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 16 | 20 | 24 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km x 1000 | 6.4 | 12.8 | 19.2 | 25.6 | 32 | 38.4 | Notes |
| Engine Oil (Pro Honda GN4 10W-30) | R | R | R | ||||
| Engine Oil Filter (HF204RC) | R | ||||||
| Air Filter (HA-5019) | R | R | Service more often when riding in wet or dust | ||||
| Cooling System (inspect for leaks, kinks etc.) | I | I | I | ||||
| Radiator Coolant (Honda Long-life Coolant) | I | I | I | Every 3 Years: R | |||
| Crankcase Breather | C | C | C | C | C | C | Service more often when riding in rain or at full throttle |
| Engine Idle Speed | I | I | I | ||||
| Throttle Operation | I | I | I | ||||
| Fuel Line | I | I | I | ||||
| Spark Plug (NGK CPR8EA-9) | R | ||||||
| Valve Clearances | I | ||||||
| Lubricate Drive Chain (Motul Chain Paste) | Every 600 mi (1000 km): I L | ||||||
| Brake Fluid (Use Honda DOT 4) | I | I | I | I | I | I | Every 2 years: R |
| Secondary Air Supply System | I | ||||||
| Evaporative Emission Control System | I | ||||||
| Brake Pads Wear | I | I | I | I | I | I | Replace as needed (FA196HH, FA140HH) |
| Brake System | I | I | I | ||||
| Brake Light Switch | I | I | I | ||||
| Headlight Aim | I | I | I | ||||
| Clutch System | I | I | I | I | I | I | |
| Side Stand | I | I | I | ||||
| Suspension | I | I | I | ||||
| Nuts, Bolts, Fasteners | I | I | I | ||||
| Wheels/Tires | I | I | I | ||||
| Steering Head Bearings | I | I | I |
Tyre size and tyre pressure for the Honda CB500X (2019-2021)
The Honda CB500X has the following tyres and tyre sizes standard. It ships with Dunlop Mixtour tyres.
Note that Honda changed the tyre configuration on the 2019 CB500X, increasing the front tyre from 17 to 19 inches.
| Wheel | Tyre size | Pressure (cold) |
|---|---|---|
| Front | 110/80 R19 M/C 59H | 29 psi / 200 kPa / 2.0 bar |
| Rear | 160/60 R17 M/C 69H | 41 psi / 280 kPa / 2.8 bar |
About the 2019-2021 Honda CB500X
The Honda CB500X made from 2019 got a modification that seems to have come from the aftermarket — a larger 19-inch front tyre.
Combined with the better protection from the fairing and screen, and the digital dash, the 2019-2021 Honda CB500X really pulls its weight as an adventure motorcycle machine.
It’s powered by the same engine that powered the earlier models — a 471cc parallel twin. It’s DOHC, liquid-cooled, and has four valves per cylinder. Valve maintenance intervals are a generous 16000 miles (25600 km) apart, and the valves are usually in spec (especially after the first service).
The engine has a gentle 10.7:1 compression ratio, and its mild state of tune means that it’s very, very reliable — definitely one in the category of motorcycles that will break only from neglect or crashing it, before it dies of natural causes.
The running gear on the 2019-2021 CB500X are good but basic. There’s pre-load adjustability on the front forks, but they’re of the conventional (non-inverted) kind.
The front brake is a single 320mm disc with a two-piston caliper.
The combination of the 19-inch wheel and the improved front suspension means that the 2019 Honda CB500X has increased ground clearance, suspension travel, and better ability to absorb bumps. This makes the bike more capable on bumpy roads, though of course it’s still no match in dirt specs for a dirt bike like the CRF300L.
In 2021, Honda announced the 2022 model Honda CB500X. It has much the same motor, but improved front suspension (Showa SFF-BP) and twin brake discs.
Manual for the Honda CB500X (2019-2021)
The above maintenance schedule comes directly from the user’s manual for the 2021 Honda CB500X. It hasn’t changed fundamentally since 2019.
You can download a copy of the 2021 manual below.
You can download it from here.
