Brixton launched four new motorcycles in India and two of them are 500cc motorcycles, ready to take on a number of established brands in India. The Brixton Crossfire 500X and the 500XC are a good take on retro-styled motorcycles, one focused for the road and the XC more inclined towards off-roading.
We got an extremely short ride of the two motorcycles during their India launch and on first impressions, it left us with some comfort and a few questions. Here is our first ride impression of the Brixton Crossfire 500X and the Crossfire 500XC.
First impressions are all good — the two motorcycles seem well-finished and come with premium parts. The suspension is by KYB and is fully adjustable, while it gets tubeless spoke wheels wrapped in Pirelli tyres. The motorcycles get an LCD instrument console, while they also feature ABS by Bosch. So on first looks, all seem impressive.
Once you swing a leg over, the saddle height might be a concern, as it looks lower than it actually is. The 500X’s handlebar is wide, but the rider has a forward lean to reach them. However, the bigger worry is the short, flat seat that has no support for the pillion. The 500XC on the other hand, has a neutral position and suits the scrambler look it offers.
Both motorcycles have the same 47bhp twin-cylinder 500cc engine, however, they offer different experiences. Let’s start with the 500X — the throttle is quite choppy at low revs, but the motor is smooth when the revs are kept around 2500rpm. Vibrations are there post that, but the suspension is set too stiff, making the ride a bit hard. The motorcycle corners well, but is not the sharpest in the segment.
The 500XC was more of a delight. Although it has the same engine and gearing, it just feels better. The rider is sat more upright and the handlebar positioning and the pegs are set right even when standing up. The suspension on the XC is better, offering a far superior ride compared to its street-focused sibling. There are no ride modes on offer, but if choosing one of the two, we recommend the 500XC based on our short rides.
