Honda CB500X (2013-2018) Maintenance Schedule and Service Intervals

This is the maintenance schedule and associated service intervals for the Honda CB500X as made from 2013-2018. The CB500X has had some minor changes in its history, but that doesn’t fundamentally affect its maintenance schedule. So this is for all versions of the Honda CB500X from launch until today.

The CB500X is a versatile, do-anything bike that does particularly well on long rides as well as daily commuting. This adventure-styled tourer is powered by a 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 CB500F, so there are some similarities in the maintenance schedules.

While the Honda CB500X is not a high-power dedicated adventure bike, nor a nimble dirt bike, it’s comfortable on the highway, on light off-road trails, and anywhere you dare to take it — and people dare to take an entry-level machine to a lot of places!

In Honda revised the CB500X in 2016, mostly externally, in the form of a taller and adjustable windscreen, a larger fuel tank, re-styled lighting, and spring-load adjustable forks. Maintenance remained the same.

The 2019-2021 Honda CB500X was revised with larger front wheels and a new intake and exhaust, changing the maintenance schedule slightly.

This post was originally published on November 25, 2020, but has since been considerably updated with more detail.

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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 (2013-2018)

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).

PartHonda CB500X specs/codes
OilHonda 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 filterHonda’s standard part number for the oil filter is 15410-MFJ-D01 (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 (OEM)The OEM air filter part is up to 2018 17211-MJW-J00, and 2019+ 17211-MKP-J00. You can also use the K&N alternative air filter, whose part number is pre-2019: HA-5013, 2019+: HA-5019, which is often more available.
Spark plugsUse NGK spark plug part CPR8EA-9. Use a gapping tool to set the gap to 0.8-0.9mm.
Brake fluidYou 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.
CoolantUse Honda Long-life Coolant, which is based on ethylene glycol.
Honda CB500X (2013-2018) parts for maintenance

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.
General motorcycle maintenance consumables and tools

Honda CB500X Maintenance Schedule

Below is the maintenance schedule for the Honda CB500X. It’s in a simplified format compared to the manuals.

Notes:

  • At the end of the maintenance schedule, keep following it in the pattern shown.
  • Honda indicates “difficulty” levels of maintenance items. For the CB500X, they suggest you get a professional to service the spark plugs, valve clearance, wheels/tyres, and steering components. But a skilled person / home mechanic can do the rest.
  • The break-in service is omitted (the dealer usually does this in the warranty period, and it’s just an oil / filter change and general look-over for leaks.

Maintenance Legend

  • I: Inspect (clean, adjust, lubricate, or replace, if necessary)
  • R: Replace
  • L: Lubricate
  • C: Clean
mi x 10004812162024
km x 10006.412.819.225.63238.4Notes
Engine Oil (Pro Honda GN4 10W-30)RRR
Engine Oil Filter (HF204RC)RRR2017-2018 manual required fewer changes, most do it with oil.
Air Filter (HA-5013)RRService more often when riding in wet or dust
Cooling System (inspect for leaks, kinks etc.)III
Radiator Coolant (Honda Long-life Coolant)IIIEvery 3 Years: R
Crankcase BreatherCCCCCCService more often when riding in rain or at full throttle
Engine Idle SpeedIII
Throttle OperationIII
Fuel LineIII
Spark Plug (NGK CPR8EA-9)R
Valve ClearancesI
Brake Fluid (Use Honda DOT 4)IIIIIIEvery 2 years: R
Secondary Air Supply SystemI
Evaporative Emission Control SystemI
Brake Pads WearIIIIIIReplace as needed (FA196HH, FA140HH)
Brake SystemIII
Brake Light SwitchIII
Headlight AimIII
Clutch SystemIIIIII
Side StandIII
SuspensionIII
Nuts, Bolts, FastenersIII
Wheels/TiresIII
Steering Head BearingsIII
Honda CB500X (2013-2018) maintenance schedule

Maintaining Your Chain on the Honda CB500X

It’s important to maintain your chain on the CB500X, particularly if you use it for any light off-roading or adventure use, as dirt and dryness can increase strain on the chain.

Use a good-quality chain lubricant like Motul chain paste, or a Motul chain care kit which comes with a couple of handy tools to maintain the chain.

Honda recommends you follow the following chain maintenance schedule for the CB500X

Chain maintenance itemEvery
Check drive chain lubrication condition, lubricating if necessary600 mi / 1000 km
Check drive chain slack, adjusting if necessary600 mi / 1000 km
Chain maintenance — Honda CB500X

Notes:

  • Do these items (checking/adjusting slack, and checking/applying lubrication) more often if you ride your CB500X in dusty or rainy conditions.
  • Always lubricate the chain after washing the motorcycle.

Tyre size and tyre pressure for the Honda CB500X

The Honda CB500X has the following tyres and tyre sizes standard.

Note that Honda changed the tyre configuration on the 2019 Honda CB500X.

WheelTyre sizePressure
Front120/70 ZR17 M/C 58W36 psi / 250 kPa / 2.5 bar
Rear160/60 ZR17 M/C 69W29 psi / 200 kPa / 2.0 bar
Recommended tyre pressures, sizes, and models for the Honda CB500X (2013-2018)

About the Honda CB500X (2013-2018)

The Honda CB500X is an entry level adventure motorcycle… but for many people, it’s all the adventure motorcycle they’ll ever need.

The CB500X delivers plenty of performance for adventure sport touring riders, with its thoroughly modern, torque-rich 500cc parallel-twin DOHC engine. Its upright handlebar naturally accommodates a wide variety of riders, and the shape and height of the seat mean it’s comfortable for long stretches of time in the saddle.

The CB500X is a great choice for riders who are stepping up from an entry-level dirt bike, or even for people who appreciate a great middleweight motorcycle for practical in-town riding, or fun adventure-sport touring. It’s one of those bikes that people rarely complain about, unless they want to throw wheelies in the air and are secretly lusting after a KTM 1290 Super Adventure R!

Honda’s 473cc parallel twins are famous for their versatility, reliability, and practicality. It has the same bore size as the CBR600RR sportbike, but of course with fewer pistons, and a longer stroke for more bottom-end torque performance.

The result is an engine that has lots of torque from the get-go — but it won’t rev to the moon. Riding the CB500X is a balance between sedate and lively — just enough beans to mean it doesn’t feel slow, but not really enough where you think it’s always champing at the bit to go faster.

The CB500X is the kind of bike that entry level adventurers love… but it also finds favour with people who want an Africa Twin without all the fuss, or something different to the V-Strom 650s.

There are lots of kits to mod the CB500X into what you want — knobby tires, wire-spoked rims, brake upgrades, suspension travel increases… you name it.

The CB500X is also an extremely reliable motorcycle. Extremely! People who own fleets of motorcycles (as rentals) say that the CB500 engined-models are the ones that they have no problems with — ever.

Even if you do have to work on the CB500X, you’re blessed with having just one cylinder block, and two pistons. Easy valves to get to, and very few checks to do.

The general pace of maintenance on the 2013-2018 Honda CB500X is every 4000 mi or 6400 km, with oil changes every two intervals.

The valve clearance check is every 4 intervals — every 16000 miles or 25600 km. Once you get there, it’s easy.

Manual for the Honda CB500X (2013-2018)

The above maintenance schedule comes directly from the user’s manual for the 2018 Honda CB500X. It hasn’t changed fundamentally in other years. You can download a copy below.

You can download it from here.

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