Frame of CB500X snapped due to installation of crash guard
Honda takes pride in itself as the producer of quality and reliable motorcycles since the 50s. Not only that, Honda is also an innovator when it comes to the practical use of technology to make riding motorcycles more convenient and safer than ever.
Producing solid adventure bikes is also Honda’s forte. Their latest linup include the CRF1100L Africa Twin, Transalp 750, and the CB500X.
Recently, however, a customer complaint about a Honda motorcycle went viral on social media. According to the customer, the bike’s chassis (frame) snapped, rendering the bike unsafe for use. That motorcycle is a CB500X (renamed NX500 from 2024 onwards).
He said the incident occurred on NLEX last April 27, 2024. When they brought the bike back to Cebu, their local Honda dealer denied warranty, saying that since the customer installed a crash guard – a standard practice on adventure bikes – the bolt holding the lower part of the engine and the lower part of crash guard snapped, putting all the stresses on the upper frame until it too, snapped.
“After all the trouble that we experienced in Manila, we managed to make it back to Cebu. First thing in the morning when we got back my friend went to Honda Big Bike Cebu in Lahug where he bought the motorcycle last June 2022 (1yr. and 5 months ago). We showed them the bike and explained what happened. But Honda management came to a decision to void the warranty saying the bolt of the crash guard was substandard and as a result, broke the frame,” said Robin Right in his social media post.
He admitted that though they installed a crash guard, the same bolts that held the engine on the lower part of the chassis were used.
“But the problem is, we used the same bolt they use. We never replaced the bolt holding the engine which is the one that broke. Honda did not warranty our claim because we installed a crash guard and they said it was our fault that it came to all this trouble,” he added.
We tried reaching out to our friends at Honda Philippines to get an insight on what went wrong with this customer’s CB500X and if any rectifications are being done to prevent a similar case from happening again. We were told that the issue was already forwarded to the person in charge at Honda. We will keep you posted once Honda Philippines issues an official statement.
