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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