Is scrambler styling enough to draw in even more customers? With the introduction of the 2024 Honda SCL500, Big Red is looking to appeal to an even wider audience. Or at least to those who couldn’t see themselves atop the sportier CBR500R, the more adventurous CB500X, or even the laid-back Rebel 500. Find out how this new styled Rebel 500 performed.
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https://www.cycleworld.com/motorcycle-reviews/honda-scl500-first-ride-review/
Full Story
https://www.cycleworld.com/motorcycle-reviews/honda-scl500-first-ride-review/
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SportsTranscript
00:00 This is the 2023 Honda SCL 500,
00:03 the newest addition to the Honda 500 lineup.
00:06 The difference here is you get that scrambler look.
00:09 Now, is that design enough to make this bike
00:12 something you're gonna wanna keep around
00:14 when that newness wears off?
00:16 And what is Honda really trying to accomplish
00:18 with this bike?
00:19 Now, I'll start by saying that Honda is honest
00:23 in that this is not an off-road machine.
00:25 It pays homage to the CL 72 of the early '60s
00:29 that was really the first street scrambler motorcycle
00:32 and popularly known for being the bike
00:35 that was taken down into Baja
00:37 is really what was the genesis of the Baja 1000.
00:41 In this case, you're getting styling
00:43 that kind of brings back all of those feelings and emotions,
00:46 but it's still gonna be an on-road motorcycle
00:49 based on the Rebel 500.
00:52 Now, let's look at some of the changes
00:53 that are gonna make this machine what it is.
00:57 We're gonna start with the engine
00:58 because this thing is an absolute gem.
01:00 There is a reason why Honda has built so many bikes
01:03 around this platform.
01:05 It is really fuel efficient, smooth,
01:09 and has just enough power.
01:11 So, it is the 471cc engine
01:14 that you're gonna find in the Rebel 500.
01:16 There is a really small difference
01:18 to the air intake on this bike,
01:20 mostly because of the difference at the tail of this bike.
01:24 The packaging is just gonna be a little bit different,
01:26 but it is essentially the engine
01:28 that you're finding in the Rebel 500.
01:31 Last Rebel 500 we had on the dyno
01:33 made just about 41 horsepower.
01:35 Gives you a rough idea of what you're working with
01:38 with this bike.
01:40 What we really like about this engine
01:43 is just how smooth it is and how user-friendly it is.
01:47 Anyone from a new rider can jump on this bike
01:50 and be comfortable with the throttle application,
01:53 with how it makes power, it's not overwhelming.
01:56 And yet there is just enough power
01:58 for the more experienced rider to jump on this thing
02:01 and not really get tired of the thing
02:04 as they start doing longer rides.
02:06 Now, today we rode this bike about 110 miles,
02:11 mix of highway, back roads, city street stuff.
02:15 It's happy place is right at about 60 miles per hour.
02:19 Now, it will run about 75, 80, six gear
02:23 when you're on the highway.
02:24 You do start to get a little bit of vibration at that point,
02:28 but you can get this thing on the highway,
02:31 still have enough power to make passes, get around cars.
02:34 Again, that sweet spot's gonna be right around
02:36 the 60 mile per hour mark,
02:38 and it's an absolute gem around town.
02:41 Now, the other thing we wanna talk about
02:43 as it relates to that package is the slip assist clutch.
02:47 Honda's really proud of this clutch and for good reason.
02:50 The clutch pull is extremely light.
02:53 That's gonna be nice for newer riders
02:56 who are just getting comfortable.
02:57 They don't have to fight that stiff clutch pull,
02:59 and it's just nice if you're putting a lot of miles
03:01 on this bike, a lot of city street riding,
03:03 stoplight to stoplight.
03:05 You're not gonna feel that in your forearms.
03:07 Just makes this bike an easy bike to ride around town.
03:11 Now, we briefly mentioned it,
03:13 but this engine is really fuel efficient.
03:15 We did about 110 miles today.
03:18 Now, the fuel gauge was only at about half level.
03:21 So, am I saying you're gonna do 200 plus miles
03:24 on this thing?
03:25 No, not necessarily, but there's enough range
03:28 in this motorcycle that you're not gonna be constantly
03:30 stopping at a gas station.
03:32 You're not stopping all the time if you're using this bike
03:34 to commute back and forth to work every day.
03:36 Now, we already know that that engine is really good.
03:39 It's a proven package,
03:40 but what is new in this case is the chassis.
03:43 Well, I should say new because the frame itself,
03:46 the main frame is directly off the Rebel 500.
03:50 The only difference is in the subframe.
03:53 It's going to open the door to this taller and longer seat.
03:57 We really like this over, for instance, the Rebel 500
04:00 because you've just got more room to move around.
04:03 Now, that was a big thing that Honda wanted to focus on
04:06 with this bike, is just having a really user-friendly
04:10 rider triangle and natural riding position.
04:13 That's gonna both add to the comfort on this bike,
04:16 but also add to that kind of scrambler feel.
04:18 Now, that is aided by this tall handlebar.
04:22 It's a really neutral position.
04:24 Really enjoyed the feel of this thing.
04:27 You sit really upright,
04:28 and it's just a comfortable machine to ride around.
04:31 Again, about 110 miles today, plenty comfortable.
04:35 The only thing I will say from an ergonomics perspective
04:39 is that this seat is a little bit thin
04:41 and does buzz just a bit.
04:44 Now, we did try one of Honda's accessory seats.
04:47 It adds a little bit of height,
04:50 and there is that more padding.
04:52 So it's gonna give you a little bit more cushion.
04:55 That cushion does also dampen
04:57 some of those vibrations a little bit.
04:59 So something to consider both for taller riders
05:01 and people looking to give this thing
05:03 a little bit different look or feel.
05:06 I do wanna add that while this high mount exhaust
05:09 adds to that scrambler styling,
05:11 it does interfere a little bit when you're riding the bike.
05:15 For me, about a size 12 foot,
05:17 my boot was rubbing on the heat shield a little bit.
05:21 And also, I did try standing up on this bike.
05:23 Say, maybe you did wanna go off-road riding
05:25 and you're thinking about getting up on the bike.
05:27 Your leg actually ends up interfering with the exhaust there.
05:30 So again, Honda says this is not a bike
05:33 that they developed for off-road riding,
05:34 so you're probably not gonna be out doing that.
05:37 If you still were thinking about going off-road
05:40 with this thing, definitely something to keep in mind.
05:42 I will say that Vance and Heinz was here today.
05:45 They've already got an aftermarket exhaust for this thing.
05:48 It's a lot more compact, it sounds good,
05:51 and that might be something that people
05:53 are gonna look at for this bike.
05:55 Now, from a handling perspective,
05:57 what we really like about this bike
05:59 is how lightweight and nimble it is.
06:01 It's very agile.
06:02 Honda says that was definitely something
06:04 they were going for with this thing.
06:06 That's gonna help the newer rider
06:08 because it just makes it an easier bike to ride,
06:10 but it also makes it a little bit more lively
06:12 and fun around town.
06:13 You're not fighting this thing, steering into corners,
06:16 especially if you're out in the canyons.
06:18 It's really fun in a tighter section.
06:21 The one thing that holds this bike back is the suspension.
06:24 It is really soft.
06:25 It's non-adjustable in the front.
06:27 You do have preload adjustability in the rear,
06:29 but it moves around a lot
06:31 when you're in the middle of the corner
06:33 and putting input into the bike,
06:35 especially if you're on a bumpy road.
06:37 It really dictates how fast you can go.
06:39 Again, this is not gonna be a bike
06:42 for attacking a canyon road or riding really aggressive.
06:45 It's gonna be more for the guy
06:47 who just wants to cruise around, around town,
06:50 get off in the back roads, enjoy the scenery,
06:53 kind of cruise at a mellow pace.
06:55 Moving on to the electronics,
06:57 this is gonna be super easy because, well,
06:59 there really aren't any electronics.
07:01 There is ABS.
07:02 It functions as you'd expect.
07:05 I really think ABS is important to have
07:07 on motorcycles these days
07:09 because really it just gives you that extra safety net.
07:13 The weather turns on you, you're on wet roads,
07:15 gravel in the middle of a corner, things like that.
07:17 So functions normally,
07:19 there's nothing else to really focus on there.
07:22 No ride modes, definitely no DC or anything like that.
07:25 So the dash on this thing,
07:28 it leaves a little bit to be desired.
07:30 I think Honda could have done something with this thing,
07:33 make it a little bit more exciting for you.
07:35 There's no color.
07:36 It's really dim, dark.
07:38 So yes, it gets the job done.
07:40 It gives you the information you need.
07:42 But when you're spending money
07:43 on a new motorcycle like this, it's 2023,
07:46 let's pump a little bit of style
07:48 and niceness into that thing.
07:50 So what does all that mean?
07:51 Well, it means that if you were looking
07:53 for an off-road scrambler,
07:55 a bike that you're gonna go out
07:56 and really explore the desert or the mountains on,
08:00 this probably isn't that bike.
08:02 And again, that's probably okay
08:04 because that's really not what Honda was trying to build.
08:07 They're just trying to give riders more options
08:10 and something that really speaks to them
08:12 from a styling standpoint.
08:14 And in that sense, this bike is a success.
08:17 That is really well-designed.
08:19 It's got Honda fit and finish.
08:22 It's fuel efficient.
08:23 It's fun.
08:24 It's lightweight.
08:25 And the best part about it is that there's gonna be
08:28 a really strong aftermarket for this.
08:31 And you're gonna be able to build this bike
08:33 into what you want it to be.
08:36 And I think in that sense,
08:37 you have a bike that you're gonna be able to live with
08:40 for a long time because it's gonna be your bike.
08:42 It's gonna be what you make it.
08:44 And now ultimately that's what makes this bike cool.
08:46 And what I think is gonna keep this bike
08:49 in people's garage for a long time.
08:51 Now the SCL 500 is already on dealer floors.
08:55 Retail is $6,800.
08:57 Go check it out if that scrambler styling speaks to you.
09:01 And that's it from our first ride on the Honda SCL 500.
09:04 If you like what we're doing,
09:06 be sure to hit that like button, subscribe.
09:08 Hey, and if you got questions, drop us a comment.
09:11 We'll try to get you an answer.
09:12 We'll see you on the next one.
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