Honda Quietly Slashes $500 off the Rider-Friendly NX500, Its Most Affordable Adventure Bike

Dropping the price below $7,000 neatly boosts the appeal of this versatile, capable small-displacement ride.

Close-up of a black motorcycle engine with silver exhaust pipes and footrest against a blue background.

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Amid the hype around Honda’s Africa Twin and Transalp, it’s easy to forget they aren’t the only adventure bikes the brand makes.

Let’s not forget the DCT-equipped NC750X, whose compelling color updates we just covered last week.

White and black Honda NX 500 motorcycle with red accents parked on a concrete surface by the water. — Honda’s NX500 was already great-looking and approachable; now it’s even more affordable, too.

Then there’s the small wonder, the NX500, whose low weight and price make it arguably the most approachable of the bunch.

That case gets even stronger with the news that Honda has dropped the price for the 2026 edition of the bike by a cool 500 bucks.

Entry-level excellence

Off the bat, shout out to RideApart’s Janaki Jitchotvisut for spotting this change, which sees the 2026 bike hit $6,899, versus the 2025 model year’s $7,399.

The new price makes it more competitive with rivals such as the Kawasaki KLE 500, which starts at $6,599 and the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450, which now starts at $5,999.

Person riding a white and black adventure motorcycle with a tinted windshield on a paved road. — The comfortable upright seating position lends itself to long days on (and off) the road.

While it’s still the priciest of the three, it also boasts the biggest engine, a 471cc liquid-cooled parallel-twin four-stroke with a six-speed manual transmission, versus the Kawi’s 451cc parallel-twin and the Himmy’s 452cc single.

Another point in its favor is the obstacle-clearing promise of a 41mm inverted fork with 5.9 inches of travel, a rear single shock with 5.3 inches, plus 7.1 inches of ground clearance.

Front view of a white and black adventure motorcycle with a tall windshield and dual round auxiliary lights. — The tall windscreen and LED lighting make riding easier and safer when conditions get gusty or dark.

Meanwhile, the 32.8-inch seat is relatively reasonable for an ADV, and the 432-pound curb weight makes it easily the lightest of Honda’s offerings.

Adding to its approachability are a slipper/assist clutch that decreases clutch-lever effort and rear-wheel hop during hard braking and standard ABS, which helps you maintain control on wet roads and gravel.

Motorcyclist in black gear riding a white adventure motorcycle on a rocky dirt trail with mountains in the background. — Generous suspension and ground clearance enable the bike to reliably jump off the beaten path when adventure calls.

Tech standout features include a tall windscreen, a full-color 5-inch TFT screen displaying key ride info and a modern LED headlight to illuminate the road ahead.

Bottom line, if you are looking to get into more adventurous riding, this bike is one heck of a gateway drug.

Availability and pricing

The 2026 Honda NX500 is available now, starting at $6,899.

White and black Honda adventure motorcycle with red accents and a tall windshield.

2026 Honda NX500

Starts at $6,899

About the Author:

Now managing editor, Steve has served in a variety of roles with GP since 2019. Having previously written and edited for such publications as Men’s Health, Men’s Journal, Esquire and ESPN, he enjoys covering a range of topics — but mostly those pertaining to cycling, snow sports, pocket knives and motos — and dreams of a utopian world in which everyone’s bike seat is at the proper height.

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