Nationwide Cycle Excessive Journey Gear | Gear Evaluate

Journey bike homeowners love so as to add “farkles” from firms equivalent to Nationwide Cycle to their bikes. A farkle, as a lot of , is an adjunct, usually a flowery one, {that a} motorbike proprietor is prone to brag about. Some say the phrase is a mashup of “perform” and “sparkle,” however we’ve additionally heard it’s an acronym for Fancy Accent, Actually Kool, Probably Costly. (After I Googled “farkle,” the highest consequence was from Dictionary.com: a mixture of fart and chuckle, an involuntary fart attributable to laughter. Gotta love the web.)

Finest recognized for its windscreens and windshields, Nationwide Cycle additionally makes equipment for choose motorbike fashions. As a part of its Excessive Journey Gear (XAG) line, it makes equipment for the ADV-styled Honda CB500X, and we put in some XAG equipment on our 2022 check bike.

Associated: 2019 Honda CB500X | First Journey Evaluate

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One of the crucial widespread upgrades for journey bikes is supplemental safety towards rocks, highway particles, and tip-overs. We began off with Nationwide Cycle’s XAG Polycarbonate Headlight Guard (P/N N5400, $84.95), which is product of powerful 3.0mm polycarbonate strengthened with the corporate’s proprietary Quantum hardcoat – mentioned to offer 10 occasions the power and 30 occasions the scratch resistance as acrylic, a declare Nationwide Cycle backs up with a three-year guarantee towards breakage.

The guard is thermoformed for a precise match over the 2019-2022 CB500X headlight, and its crystal-clear optics don’t distort or cut back illumination. Set up is easy: Simply clear the headlight, take away the adhesive backing on the marine-grade Velcro tabs, and press the guard onto the headlight lens.

Subsequent, so as to add crash safety in addition to a spot to mount auxiliary lighting, we put in the XAG Journey Facet Guards (P/N P4200, $429.95), that are additionally out there for the Yamaha Ténéré 700. Fabricated from black powdercoated metal, they complement the CB500X’s styling, particularly the Pearl Natural Inexperienced/Black shade scheme on our 2022 mannequin. The guards are additionally handled inside and outside with an electrophoretic coating to eradicate rust and corrosion.

The set up directions present a listing of primary instruments wanted in addition to a QR code that hyperlinks to a useful video. Set up is simple and took about half-hour, with the one problem being just a little additional effort wanted to line the guards up with the engine mount holes.

The left and proper guards connect to the engine in two locations, and so they bolt collectively within the center slightly below the headlight. As soon as put in, they supply stable, sturdy safety. A flat steel tab with an open bolt gap that’s welded to the decrease a part of every guard offers an excellent attachment level for auxiliary lights.

As Reg Kittrelle says in his Triumph Tiger 900 GT Low evaluation within the upcoming February concern, an ADV is a “motorbike that may comfortably take me to distant locations carrying a number of stuff.” The Honda CB500X is comfy, however in inventory kind, it doesn’t present many choices for carrying gear, so we put in the XAG Baggage Rack (P/N P9304, $184.95). Just like the facet guards, the bags rack is product of black powdercoated metal.

Additionally just like the guards, set up of the rack requires solely primary hand instruments, takes about half-hour, and is clearly demonstrated within the directions and video. On a inventory CB500X, set up requires elimination/reinstallation of the passenger seize handles for the reason that mounting brackets share the identical bolt holes. On our check bike, the seize handles had already been eliminated when Honda’s accent saddlebag mounts have been put in. And be suggested: Nationwide Cycle’s baggage rack just isn’t suitable with Honda’s accent saddlebags.

The rack is a stable, trendy, sensible add-on. It measures 8.625 inches entrance to again and has a tapered width that narrows from 6.75 inches on the entrance to five inches on the rear. The rack’s slotted floor and two holes on both facet present anchor factors for straps or bungee cords. It sits a bit larger than the passenger portion of the seat, however collectively they supply a platform as much as 23 inches in size for carrying a drybag, duffel, or tailbag.

Associated: Motorbike Tenting on a Honda CB500X and Husqvarna Norden 901

Though we didn’t request one for our check bike, Nationwide Cycle additionally makes the XAG Reducing Package and Kickstand (P/N P4900, $119.95) for the CB500X. It features a shorter sidestand and two aluminum suspension hyperlink arms that decrease the seat top by about 1.5 inches (from 32.8 to 31.3 inches). Solely primary instruments are required, set up takes 30-45 minutes, and also you’ll want a wheel chock and a hydraulic jack or carry. As with the opposite equipment, along with the step-by-step directions with photographs, there’s a useful video.

We put as many miles as doable on our check bikes, so we’re at all times all for equipment that enhance consolation. We’ve examined Nationwide Cycle’s VStream windscreens on many alternative bikes over time, and we’ve constantly been impressed with their capability to enhance wind safety whereas additionally lowering turbulence and buffeting. With their patented “V” form, VStream windscreens are made of three.0mm Quantum-hardcoated polycarbonate – the identical sturdy materials used for the headlight guard (and with the identical guarantee towards breakage).

The VStream windscreen is available in three sizes for the CB500X, as seen under.

The Low windscreen is 16.75 inches tall, simply barely taller than inventory, and it’s out there in darkish or mild tint for $121.95. We opted for the Mid windscreen ($133.95), which is nineteen.25 inches tall (greater than 2.5 inches taller than inventory), a lot wider than inventory close to the highest, and out there solely in mild tint. The Tall windscreen ($139.95) is 21.75 inches tall (greater than 5 inches taller than inventory), even wider close to the highest, and out there solely in clear.

In comparison with inventory, the Mid-size VStream pushes air larger up and across the rider. Airflow hits at helmet top, however there’s no buffeting. There’s additionally wonderful visibility excessive of the windscreen, offering an unobstructed view of the highway forward.  

In contrast to most farkles, Nationwide Cycle’s XAG equipment are sensible and fairly priced. If you happen to’ve bought a Honda CB500X, test ’em out by clicking on the linked product names above.