Adventure bike owners love adding “farkles” from companies like National Cycle to their bikes. Farkle, as many of you know, is an accessory, often a luxury accessory, that motorcycle owners will probably brag about. Some people think the word is a combination of “functional” and “sparkling,” but we’ve also heard it’s an acronym for Fancy Accessory, Really Kool, Likely Expensive. (When I search for the word “farkle” on Google, the top result is from Dictionary.com: a combination of farting and giggling, an involuntary fart caused by laughter. Must love the internet.)
Best known for windshields and windscreens, national cycle Also makes accessories for some motorcycle models. As part of the Extreme Adventure Gear (XAG) line, the maker of accessories for the ADV-style Honda CB500X, and we installed several XAG accessories on our 2022 test bike.
Related: Honda CB500X 2019 | Review the first trip
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One of the most popular upgrades for adventure bikes is additional protection against rocks, road debris, and toppling. We start with National Cycle’s XAG Polycarbonate headlight protection (P/N N5400, $84.95), made of sturdy 3.0mm polycarbonate reinforced with the company’s proprietary Quantum hard coating – claimed to offer 10x the durability and twice the scratch resistance 30 times stronger than acrylic, a National Cycle claim backs a three-year warranty against breakage.
The guard is heat-formed to fit the CB500X 2019-2022 headlights and its crystal clear optics do not distort or reduce illumination. Installation is simple: Just clean the headlights, remove the adhesive on the marine-grade Velcro tabs, and press the protective sheet into the headlight lens.
Next, to add crash resistance as well as where to mount the auxiliary lights, we installed the XAG Adventure side bodyguard (P/N P4200, $429.95), also available for Yamaha Ténéré 700. Made of black powder coated steel, they complement the look of the CB500X, especially the Organic Pearl Blue/Black color scheme on our 2022 model. The shields are also treated inside and out with an electrophoretic coating to eliminate rust and corrosion.
The installation guide provides a list of the basic tools needed as well as a QR code that links to a helpful video. Installation is straightforward and takes about 30 minutes, with the only challenge being a little extra effort to align the protective shields with the motor mounting holes.
The left and right shields attach to the engine in two places, and they bolt together in the middle just below the headlights. Once installed, they provide solid, robust protection. A flat metal tab with an open bolt hole welded to the bottom of each shield provides a good mounting point for auxiliary lights.
As Reg Kittrelle puts it in his Triumph Tiger 900 GT Low review for the upcoming February issue, the ADV is “a motorcycle that can take me far away comfortably and carry a lot of stuff”. The Honda CB500X runs comfortably, but the available form doesn’t offer a lot of cargo options, so we added an XAG Luggage rack (P/N P9304, $184.95). Like the side panels, the luggage rack is made of black powder coated steel.
As with the shields, mounting the bracket requires only basic hand tools, takes about 30 minutes and is clearly demonstrated in the instructions and videos. On the original CB500X, installation required the removal/reassembly of the passenger handle as the brackets share the same bolt holes. On our test bike, the grip was removed when the Honda accessory saddlebag holder was installed. And please note: National Cycle luggage racks are not compatible with Honda accessory saddlebags.
The stand is a sturdy, stylish and practical add-on. It measures 8.625 inches from front to back and has a tapered width that narrows from 6.75 inches at the front to 5 inches at the back. The rack’s grooved surface and two holes on the sides provide an anchor point for straps or bungee cords. It sits a little higher than the passenger seat section, but together they provide a pedestal up to 23 inches in length for carrying a dry bag, duffle bag or tail bag.
Related: Camping by motorbike on Honda CB500X and Husqvarna Norden 901
While we didn’t ask for one for our test bike, National Cycle also makes XAG Lower unit and stand (P/N P4900, $119.95) for CB500X. It includes a shorter crossbar and two aluminum suspension link arms that lower the seat height by about 1.5 inches (from 32.8 to 31.3 inches). Just basic tools, installation takes 30-45 minutes and you will need a wheel stopper and hydraulic jack or lift. As with the other accessories, in addition to step-by-step photo instructions, there is also a helpful video.
We’ve tested our bikes for as many miles as possible, so we’re always interested in accessories that improve comfort. We tested the Country Cycle Windshield VStream on various motorcycles over the years, and we’ve always been impressed with their ability to improve wind resistance while reducing turbulence and vibration. Featuring a patented “V” shape, the VStream windscreen is made of 3.0 mm thick quantum hard-coated polycarbonate – the same durable material used for the headlight shields (and with the same warranty shatterproof).
VStream windshields come in three sizes for the CB500X, as shown below.
The Low Windshield is 16.75 inches tall, just slightly taller than stock, and is available in dark or light for $121.95. We opted for the Mid windshield ($133.95), which is 19.25 inches tall (2.5 inches taller than stock), is much wider than stock near the top, and is available only in light colors. The Tall Windshield ($139.95) is 21.75 inches (5 inches taller than stock), is even wider near the top, and is available only in transparent.
Compared to the original, the mid-sized VStream pushes the air higher and around the driver. The airflow hits the helmet’s height, but there’s no buffering. There is also excellent visibility on the top of the windshield, providing an unobstructed view of the road ahead.
Unlike most farkles, National Cycle XAG accessories are practical and reasonably priced. If you have a Honda CB500X, check them out by clicking on the product name linked above.
