Head vs Heart

The two Brixton Crossfire 500s are unique and desirable offerings which will draw you to them but there's still a big question mark. Is it a good idea to spend your money on them?

- Devashish Puranik

I HAD THE KEYS TO THE Brixton Crossfire 500X in my hand and, as I was walking towards it in our parking lot, I realised that it doesn't really stand out until you get close to it. It isn't obnoxious or loud in any way and, among eight other bikes, at first glance, you could easily mistake it for a modded Royal Enfield or a Husqvarna. At second glance, however, the 500X will hold your line of sight. This is when you really start to appreciate the attention that's gone into creating this design. The long and narrow tank with an “X” sculpted into both sides, the flat seat that rises where it meets the tank, the spoked wheels with dualpurpose tyres, the upswept stainless-steel silencer, the headlight with a compass motif inside, and the transparent front master cylinder are some of the visual details that are executed very well and contribute to the Crossfire 500X being a proportionate, easy-on-the-eyes, attractive motorcycle.

The seat height is 795 millimetres, so saddling-up with your feet flat on the ground is easy and the handlebar is positioned slightly away from you, which results in a riding position where you have to lean forwards just a little. As soon as you start the engine, you will notice two things, the first being that the switchgear doesn't feel so great—quality has a lot of improvement potential here. The second thing you'll notice is the exhaust note—it's a superbly bassy soundtrack and I love the rumble it produces.

The 486-cc, twin-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine produces 47.6 hp and 43 Nm. It is a characterful and torquey engine which makes the Crossfire 500X fun to ride. It has a very strong low-to-mid range and things get a little buzzy past 5,500 rpm. It feels happiest in the middle of its usable rpm band.