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A RIDE THROUGH TIME

BBC TopGear India

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May 2025

From the Gates of History to the Timeless Ellora Caves, We Took on Every Road with the Marvel of Modern Engineering

- AKAASH BHADRA

A RIDE THROUGH TIME

Some motorcycles are made for the road. Some are built for the trails. And then there’s the rare breed that can take on everything—without breaking a sweat. That’s exactly what I was looking for when I swung my leg over the Honda NX 500. It wasn’t just about testing a motorcycle; it was about understanding what makes an adventure truly special. And what better way to do that than by taking a machine built for the future on a journey through the past?

With a destination in mind but no strict plan, I set off. Where would the road take us? Through bustling city streets, winding ghats, and forgotten ruins—places where history lingers in every stone and every turn. But before we got lost in time, I had to first get acquainted with the machine that would take me there.

imageEvery once in a while, a motorcycle comes along that feels just right. Not just for the highways, or the city, or the mountains—but for everything. The Honda NX 500 is one of those rare machines. It’s lightweight, agile, and packed with a 471cc parallel-twin engine that’s happy to cruise at low revs or scream up to the redline when the road demands it. With a ride-by-wire throttle, Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC), and dual front disc brakes paired with Dunlop tyres, the NX 500 isn’t just another adventure-tourer—it’s a machine that’s built to conquer whatever you throw at it. But the best way to truly understand a motorcycle is to take it out into the world. So, to put the NX 500 to the ultimate test, we took it on a ride through history itself.

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