Honda scl500 review

The SCL is a mid-sized scrambler-style bike that is light, approachable with plenty of get up and go on the highways or in the canyons. Ideal for a new or casual rider who is looking to honda scl500 review from a smaller bike, or for an experienced rider to return to the sport after some time away. The SCL is an addition to the established cc lineup from Honda, honda scl500 review. This bike borrows a few noticeable elements from the Honda Rebel, the most obvious being the shape of the fuel tank.

We first saw the Honda SCL chassis in patent drawings years ago, a modification of the Rebel frame. Over the past year we saw various rumors and leaks about the bike, and then in June of , the SCL was confirmed for the US and Canada. As we told you then:. The engine itself is a cc liquid-cooled parallel twin, as seen also in the CBR, Rebel and so on. Of course, it is somewhat retuned for the scrambler application; expect similar power delivery to the Rebel, with an emphasis on low-to-mid-range torque. Max output is a claimed 45 hp and 32 lb-ft of torque.

Honda scl500 review

Last year, Honda announced the revival of the Scrambler in the United States and foreign markets at the same time. The bikes debuted as model years and foreign markets received the CL, using nomenclature that harkens back to the iconic CL72s and CL77s of the s, as well as CLs and CLs of the s. But here in the US, the new Scrambler will be known as the SCL—and in fact, Honda can only call it a "Scrambler-style" motorcycle , presumably because Ducati owns the official Scrambler name. Regardless of alphanumerical designation, however, the foreign and domestic Scramblers all use many parts shared with the rest of Honda's lineup. A cc parallel twin motor carries over from the Rebel, CBRR, and CBX , while higher exhaust routing increases ground clearance in classic fashion, along with a larger front wheel, retro rear dampers, and front fork bellows. The move seems to bank on the fact that most modern Scramblers, regardless of brand, look relatively similar from more than 15 feet away, so a cheaper alternative that still delivers all the familiar Honda quality should, therefore, attract more entry-level motorcycle buyers interested in that Scrambler style. Honda arguably inaugurated the Scrambler era in with the CL72 that shared just about everything with the CB72, including a four-stroke cc twin that revved to 9, RPM—nothing less than sky-high for the period. The higher exhaust routing, larger wheels, higher handlebars, and fenders all served a purpose back then, too, as Honda sent Dave Ekins and Bill Robertson Jr to ride down through Baja California in a PR stunt. That effort effectively paved the way for the Baja as we know it, even if today's Scramblers have transformed into more of an exercise in retro-urban commuters to go with technical pants and tactical leather jackets. Honda's SCL delivers that aesthetic aplenty, with a leather bench seat, brushed aluminum for the exhaust cover, and almost knobby tires. The gas tank, borrowed from the Rebel but mounted flatter than on that dedicated cruiser, comes in either orange or green—of course, Honda gave out the iridescent orange for this press loaner to pop in photos. Where I found the Fireblade almost impossible to ride comfortably at 6'1" tall with long limbs, the Scrambler's upright geometry helped my wrists and knees relax noticeably. Pulling away for the first time, I figured that Honda either retuned the engine or played with gear ratios for the Scrambler, because each twist of throttle brought on peppier acceleration than in the similarly equipped CBX I rode earlier this year. On the ride back up to West LA, I walked away from traffic at stoplights with ease and found that mid-level speed arrived quite quickly.

We are committed honda scl500 review finding, researching, and recommending the best products. And that market research likely shows that in almost every regard, from the pricing to the style and performance, the SCL's entry into the modern Scrambler market treads a perfect middle ground for new and experienced riders alike. The SCL in the hands of a new rider, honda scl500 review, or even one that has some experience off-road or on smaller dual-sports, is an excellent starter street bike.

The first-gen Triumph Scrambler, with its New riders have new rider insecurities, of course—but the bigger challenge, in my case, was and evermore shall be my inch inseam. At any rate, the idea of a modern scrambler-style bike can be immensely appealing, depending on your personal aesthetic. How about heated grips as an available accessory option? Wider saddles make that more of a challenge, bordering on an impossibility. With a As with all bikes, your mileage may vary on any number of points, from how the bike fits you to how the styling hits you.

The SCL is a mid-sized scrambler-style bike that is light, approachable with plenty of get up and go on the highways or in the canyons. Ideal for a new or casual rider who is looking to upgrade from a smaller bike, or for an experienced rider to return to the sport after some time away. The SCL is an addition to the established cc lineup from Honda. This bike borrows a few noticeable elements from the Honda Rebel, the most obvious being the shape of the fuel tank. The same cc engine from the Rebel is the star of the show, providing proven reliability for the newest model.

Honda scl500 review

They embody a carefree attitude and the freedom to go wherever, as well as a simplicity not offered by many modern, hyper-focused bikes. A lightweight, no-frills motorcycle is great for bopping around city streets, cruising up the coast, exploring backroads, and even getting a little frisky in the dirt, though the only time we left the pavement during our test ride was to turn around in dirt pull-outs during photo stops. Like the SCL, these early scramblers were based on streetbikes, and all three models share common styling elements: fork gaiters, knee pads on the gas tank, bench seats, high-routed exhausts, and twin rear shocks. Another thing the SCL has in common with those early CLs is a parallel-Twin engine, though the older versions were air-cooled while the modern one has a radiator. The last time we put any of these bikes on the dyno was The CBF made 46 hp and 31 lb-ft of torque at the rear wheel, and the Rebel made 41 hp and 30 lb-ft.

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Honda needed to make room for the water-cooling system, to be fair, but banging the exhaust off rocks makes anything more than graded dirt roads something of a problem for the new bike. This has to be one of the worst suspension setups on the market today, right? The paired down scrambler style is itching for customization, an upgrade to meatier tires, and a map of your nearest mountain roads. Honda arguably inaugurated the Scrambler era in with the CL72 that shared just about everything with the CB72, including a four-stroke cc twin that revved to 9, RPM—nothing less than sky-high for the period. On the way up to that top speed, though, the Scrambler delivers everything to love about Honda's expanding motorbike lineup. Email: tips rideapart. That effort effectively paved the way for the Baja as we know it, even if today's Scramblers have transformed into more of an exercise in retro-urban commuters to go with technical pants and tactical leather jackets. How about heated grips as an available accessory option? View Gallery. Soft enough for comfortable cruising and able to absorb speed bumps without completely wallowing up or down, the SCL's factory setup seems just right in comparison to those older CBs—somewhat lighter and taller than the more compact older bikes, but the spirit shining through regardless. Photo: Drew Ruiz That straight seat is right out of the scrambler playbook. While slow as Christmas, they were almost indestructible, if memory serves.. With a host of aftermarket accessories available, customizing the SCL should be a breeze. The have to put the exhaust low, because you need a big cat to meet the EURO regs, for much of the market of this bike, economically. We are committed to finding, researching, and recommending the best products.

Last year, Honda announced the revival of the Scrambler in the United States and foreign markets at the same time. The bikes debuted as model years and foreign markets received the CL, using nomenclature that harkens back to the iconic CL72s and CL77s of the s, as well as CLs and CLs of the s.

We are committed to finding, researching, and recommending the best products. If you want to entice us old guys, a retro needs both cylinders pipes high mounted on the left side, chromed with dual outlets, chromed shin guards. You may be in the market for a cc parallel twin-powered machine, or you may not. Subscribe to Our Newsletter Your email Thank you for subscribing! Highs Lightweight and nimble So many customization options Perfect tour-to-camp bike for anyone. This has to be one of the worst suspension setups on the market today, right? I did notice the display is hard to see with a tinted visor in misty or rainy conditions. The SCL is nimbler than you might think at first. As we told you then:. The suspension, with the retro bellows on the front forks and dual rear coilovers, definitely approaches a similar level of stable compliance. But Cait only got to ride it on the street during the launch anyway.