Journey bike homeowners love so as to add “farkles” from corporations resembling Nationwide Cycle to their bikes. A farkle, as lots of you realize, is an adjunct, usually a flowery one, {that a} motorbike proprietor is prone to brag about. Some say the phrase is a mashup of “perform” and “sparkle,” however we’ve additionally heard it’s an acronym for Fancy Accent, Actually Kool, Probably Costly. (Once I Googled “farkle,” the highest end result was from Dictionary.com: a mix of fart and chuckle, an involuntary fart attributable to laughter. Gotta love the web.)
Greatest identified for its windscreens and windshields, Nationwide Cycle additionally makes equipment for choose motorbike fashions. As a part of its Excessive Journey Gear (XAG) line, it makes equipment for the ADV-styled Honda CB500X, and we put in some XAG equipment on our 2022 check bike.
Associated: 2019 Honda CB500X | First Experience Evaluation
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One of the crucial in style upgrades for journey bikes is supplemental safety in opposition to rocks, highway particles, and tip-overs. We began off with Nationwide Cycle’s XAG Polycarbonate Headlight Guard (P/N N5400, $84.95), which is product of powerful 3.0mm polycarbonate bolstered with the corporate’s proprietary Quantum hardcoat – mentioned to offer 10 instances the power and 30 instances the scratch resistance as acrylic, a declare Nationwide Cycle backs up with a three-year guarantee in opposition to breakage.
The guard is thermoformed for an actual match over the 2019-2022 CB500X headlight, and its crystal-clear optics don’t distort or cut back illumination. Set up is easy: Simply clear the headlight, take away the adhesive backing on the marine-grade Velcro tabs, and press the guard onto the headlight lens.
Subsequent, so as to add crash safety in addition to a spot to mount auxiliary lighting, we put in the XAG Journey Facet Guards (P/N P4200, $429.95), that are additionally accessible for the Yamaha Ténéré 700. Fabricated from black powdercoated metal, they complement the CB500X’s styling, particularly the Pearl Natural Inexperienced/Black coloration scheme on our 2022 mannequin. The guards are additionally handled inside and outside with an electrophoretic coating to eradicate rust and corrosion.
The set up directions present a listing of primary instruments wanted in addition to a QR code that hyperlinks to a useful video. Set up is easy and took about half-hour, with the one problem being a bit of further effort wanted to line the guards up with the engine mount holes.
The left and proper guards connect to the engine in two locations, and so they bolt collectively within the center just under the headlight. As soon as put in, they supply stable, sturdy safety. A flat steel tab with an open bolt gap that’s welded to the decrease a part of every guard gives attachment level for auxiliary lights.
As Reg Kittrelle says in his Triumph Tiger 900 GT Low evaluation within the upcoming February situation, an ADV is a “motorbike that may comfortably take me to distant locations carrying numerous stuff.” The Honda CB500X is snug, however in inventory type, it doesn’t present many choices for carrying gear, so we put in the XAG Baggage Rack (P/N P9304, $184.95). Just like the aspect guards, the bags rack is product of black powdercoated metal.
Additionally just like the guards, set up of the rack requires solely primary hand instruments, takes about half-hour, and is clearly demonstrated within the directions and video. On a inventory CB500X, set up requires removing/reinstallation of the passenger seize handles because the mounting brackets share the identical bolt holes. On our check bike, the seize handles had already been eliminated when Honda’s accent saddlebag mounts have been put in. And be suggested: Nationwide Cycle’s baggage rack will not be suitable with Honda’s accent saddlebags.
The rack is a stable, fashionable, sensible add-on. It measures 8.625 inches entrance to again and has a tapered width that narrows from 6.75 inches on the entrance to five inches on the rear. The rack’s slotted floor and two holes on both aspect present anchor factors for straps or bungee cords. It sits a bit greater than the passenger portion of the seat, however collectively they supply a platform as much as 23 inches in size for carrying a drybag, duffel, or tailbag.
Associated: Bike Tenting on a Honda CB500X and Husqvarna Norden 901
Though we didn’t request one for our check bike, Nationwide Cycle additionally makes the XAG Decreasing Package and Kickstand (P/N P4900, $119.95) for the CB500X. It features a shorter sidestand and two aluminum suspension hyperlink arms that decrease the seat top by about 1.5 inches (from 32.8 to 31.3 inches). Solely primary instruments are required, set up takes 30-45 minutes, and also you’ll want a wheel chock and a hydraulic jack or carry. As with the opposite equipment, along with the step-by-step directions with photographs, there’s a useful video.
We put as many miles as doable on our check bikes, so we’re all the time enthusiastic about equipment that enhance consolation. We’ve examined Nationwide Cycle’s VStream windscreens on many various bikes through the years, and we’ve persistently been impressed with their skill to enhance wind safety whereas additionally lowering turbulence and buffeting. With their patented “V” form, VStream windscreens are made of three.0mm Quantum-hardcoated polycarbonate – the identical sturdy materials used for the headlight guard (and with the identical guarantee in opposition to breakage).
The VStream windscreen is available in three sizes for the CB500X, as seen under.
The Low windscreen is 16.75 inches tall, simply barely taller than inventory, and it’s accessible in darkish or mild tint for $121.95. We opted for the Mid windscreen ($133.95), which is nineteen.25 inches tall (greater than 2.5 inches taller than inventory), a lot wider than inventory close to the highest, and accessible solely in mild tint. The Tall windscreen ($139.95) is 21.75 inches tall (greater than 5 inches taller than inventory), even wider close to the highest, and accessible solely in clear.
In comparison with inventory, the Mid-size VStream pushes air greater up and across the rider. Airflow hits at helmet top, however there’s no buffeting. There’s additionally glorious visibility excessive of the windscreen, offering an unobstructed view of the highway forward.
In contrast to most farkles, Nationwide Cycle’s XAG equipment are sensible and fairly priced. Should you’ve obtained a Honda CB500X, examine ’em out by clicking on the linked product names above.
