Design filings by Honda give an indication of what the upcoming Honda NX500 mid-size adventure may look like. Honda had recently trademarked the NX500 name, hinting at a return of the NX series with a new adventure bike which will be based on the Honda CB500X. The Honda NX500 will likely get the same 471 cc liquid-cooled parallel-twin engine of the Honda CB500X, which puts out around 47 bhp at 8,500 rpm and 43.2 Nm of peak torque at 6,500 rpm. Honda filed the designs with the European Union Intellectual Property Office late last year, on December 17, 2021, but these may be for a smaller machine.
Also Read: Honda NX500 Name Trademarked In Europe
The design filings reveal a smaller model with a single-cylinder air-cooled engine, which seems to be more likely the Honda NX200, a more off-road capable model based on the made-in-India Honda CB200X
The design filings reveal a motorcycle with a much smaller engine than what is being planned for the NX500. In fact, the engine seems to be a smaller air-cooled, single-cylinder engine, and similar to the 184.4 cc, single-cylinder engine offered with the made-in-India Honda CB200X and the Honda Hornet 2.0. In fact, Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI) had trademarked the NX200 name in India last year, but chose to introduce the Honda CB200X, a bike with the same underpinnings and suspension as the street-oriented Honda Hornet 2.0.
Also Read: Everything You Need To Know About The Honda CB200X
The Honda CRF190L will have more suspension travel, wire spoked wheels and dual-sport tyres for off-road use.
Also Read: Honda CRF190L Unveiled For the Chinese Market
In fact, last year, Honda also unveiled an off-road capable model with a similar engine for the Chinese market. That model, called the Honda CRF190L, is also based on the Honda CB200X, but has similar design and styling, as well as long travel suspension, wire spoke wheels as the latest design filings. What is not clear is whether Honda will offer the same model with two different names for different markets, calling it the CRF190L in some, and the NX200 in others. Whatever be the plans, it's logical to assume that Honda extend the current 184 cc platform, which already underpins two models in India, and extends it with a more off-road capable dual-sport, something which will be targeted primarily at the Hero XPulse 200 4V's customer base.
Also Read: Honda NX200 Name Trademarked In India
The upcoming Honda NX500, based on the Honda CB500X, could also have a similar design language.
We were impressed by the handling and performance of the Honda CB200X when we reviewed it, but it lacked the suspension to have any real off-road capability. The Honda CB200X has been raking in decent sales numbers in India, but the popularity of entry-level adventure bikes in the Indian market, like the Hero XPulse 200 4V is what could be a gold mine of opportunity for Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India. A crossover, a street bike with adventure design, that is the Honda CB200X already has new competition, from the recently launched Suzuki V-Strom 250 SX, but even that is more of a street bike with adventure styling, and limited suspension travel.
Also Read: What To Expect From Honda NX200
Lack of suspension travel on the CB200X is a let-down. The suspension is somewhat stiff and crashes over large potholes and speedbreakers at speed. These shortcomings may be addressed in the Honda NX200 or the CRF190L, whichever is the new model, based on the same platform as the CB200X.
The Honda CB200X was launched in India in August 2021, and considering the designs were filed in Europe in December 2021, there could be one of two possibilities. The Africa Twin-styled design could make its way to the upcoming Honda NX500, which is expected to be unveiled later this year, and possibly make its way to join the CB500X in India as well. But the more interesting possibility is a proper, off-road capable Honda CB200X. The Honda NX200, if it's launched, will come equipped with wire-spoked wheels with a bigger front wheel, as well as standard bash plate and handguards, all of which point to an off-road capable bike that could attract a significant number of off-road enthusiasts, both in India and around the world. If launched in India, it will be likely launched at around Rs. 1.75 lakh (Ex-showroom).
