angrygirafe

I don't appear to be able to edit the original post anymore, but the tire irons are gone. Best of luck to their new owner! 😬

I had a 2013 CB500X! It was a fantastic little bike. I commuted 100 miles a day on it, did a few week long trips, and enjoy every memory I have of it. After 9 months, I was looking at luggage and other upgrades, and after a disastrous 4 months with a Triumph Tiger, I have an FJ. 2 years and 40k miles later, I have no plans of ditching it. If you get the 500X, you’ll love it, but probably will want to upgrade within a year or two. The FJ is a lot more power to get used to, but it’ll be sufficient for a long time.

If what what other people are riding bothers you, you probably need to focus more on enjoying your own ride.

Glad they’re working out for you!

I always felt it was the engine response that makes this bike so fun. I’d get a Versys 650 if I wanted less punch and similar ergos.

Edited original post to add stock grips.

Don’t worry about it, everyone’s looking at their phones anyway.

I wouldn't get your hopes up too much about it being completely eliminated. I'm at 41k miles. Still got the whine, but if you imagine it's the bike squealing with joy, it's not so bad.

I’m probably going to do mine in a month, should be about 44k miles. They claimed mine were fine at 24k, so I’m interested to see what happens this time (at a different shop).

You don't need any of this stuff. Seriously. Waste of money. But if you want it, I'll sell it to you. All prices are shipped to lower 48, if you want to meet me in Temecula CA, I'll take $10 off each thing you buy. No combined shipping, sorry. Motion Pro BeadPro Forged Steel Tire Bead Breaker: $40 Used once, to devastating effect. These things are fantastic for getting your old tire off the wheel, no problem. They are also fantastic at turning your new tire into recycling material. Don't buy these. Spend 20 bucks and have a shop do it for you. But if you want them, you can have the rim protectors for free. They do protect your rims. But not your fingers. Rox 2" Pivot Risers: $50 SOLD I guess somebody might legitimately need these. But you will have to tweak your front brakeline. Maybe just removing the one clamp, maybe more, I don't know. Put them on once, didn't like them, and they've just been banging around in my toolbox. I'm 90% sure they're the 2" risers. I could be wrong. It happened once before. Stock Handguards, silver (2016): $60 SOLD If you took your handguards off and pitched them, or bought a bike without them, and after reading dozens of threads here saying you don't need them you STILL want them, fine. You've been warned. These do not protect from weather. These do not protect from wind. They limit which screen you can use. They make the bike 5 inches wider. Some of us think they make the bars wobble. And for some reason if you're still reading this and want them, I will happily take your money. Stock Grips: $15? I guess? Getting ready to move and found the stock grips. I think they were on the bike for about 5k miles before getting replaced with the heated ones. If you trashed yours and really like them, here they are for a limited time only. In a week they're probably in the trash.

Same. I definitely hear it in 3rd, but I’ve never heard it in 6th. I don’t go past 4th unless I’m on the freeway. The bike is just way too happy at higher rpms to need 5th or 6th in town or in the mountains.

6’3” here. I use a VStream sport (shorter than stock) screen in the low position normally. It leaves my head in the wind, but at least in relatively smooth air. The down side is it when it rains, it directs rain right into my collar. So until the rainy season is over, I use a VStream sport touring (medium height, taller than stock) in the high position. A bit of buffeting, but no rain down my collar. Seat is in the low position always.

😄I know, my ideas of fun are not the same as most peoples. It'll get your heart rate going though

I love riding in the rain. Not that it does that a lot in SoCal, but sometimes it does, and it's always a riot. A few weeks ago we had enough rain to cause some decent flooding of my normal roads, and my feet were dragging in the water I was riding through! Still kicking myself for not bringing the GoPro. Flooded streets means oncoming traffic throws a wall of water in my face, and I always stay mostly dry. I have the Klim Latitude jacket and pants, Forma Terra boots for heavy rain Aplinstar Sektor WP shoes for everyday/light rain, and Spidi Rainshield H2Out gloves. Everything works great but the gloves. Even with Barkbuster Storms they will soak through after an hour of heavy rain, but heated grips make it not too bad. One of the more annoying problems is my neck. I have yet to find a neck gator or other option to keep water from going down my jacket collar. A touring screen in the high position helps though. So, usually I'm completely dry when I finish my hour long commute, but if I'm not I'm only a little damp around the neck and sleeve cuffs. Everything else is perfect. This same setup has also served me well when I ride back home (Wyoming) and inevitably end up in snow storms. It's scary, but I'm mostly dry, and that makes me a happy camper.

Always in A mode, the instruments claim 44ish, but checking at the pump I’m usually around 38. So many stop lights to rapidly accelerate away from...