The range of Brixton’s indestructible inline two-cylinder engine is significantly extended with the Crossfire 500 XC. Longer suspension travel, a 19-inch front wheel, higher handlebars, and Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR give the latest Crossfire 500 the reserves it needs to hold its own off-road. And there’s much more: skid plate, crash bars and radiator grille are just as naturally already fitted as standard on the XC as the new cross-spoke rims, flat seat, black tank pads and raised mudguard.
The surprising side effect of the new geometry: probably the best Crossfire handling also on asphalt. The new Brixton Crossfire 500 XC brings the middle class in top form.
The Crossfire 500 XC also features the indestructible two-cylinder in-line engine with 486 cc displacement, 35 kW (47.6 hp) of power and 43 Nm of torque. In the A2 segment, it pushes the limit of the legally permitted power spectrum and yet it sticks softly and confidently on the throttle in the lower rpm range – ideal for off-road use.
The adjustable suspension elements come from Kayaba/KYB and, with 150 mm of travel at the front and 130 mm at the rear, have sufficient reserves for back roads and lighter terrain. The upside-down fork is adjustable in compression, the central shock in spring preload and rebound. However, the combination of suspension and wheel dimensions takes the XC to a new handling level on asphalt as well. No 500cc Crossfire moves more fluently through bends, and none feels swifter.
With the crash bar fitted as standard, the 500 XC is prepared for what you don’t want to admit but will happen off-road: the first rollover, the first fall. The skid plate also protects the engine from hard impacts, and with the radiator grille and headlight guard, the XC is also factory-equipped for stone impacts.
The J.Juan hydraulically actuated brake is particularly well suited to the geometry of the higher Crossfire 500 XC, and its strengths are particularly noticeable when braking and turning[1] into corners. With a pleasantly soft initial pressure point and linear deceleration, a radial 4-piston caliper works on a 320 mm brake disc at the front and a 2-piston caliper on a 240 mm disc at the rear.
With the large 19 inch front wheel and 17 inch rear, the Crossfire 500 XC has dirt track dimensions. In conjunction with the longer suspension travel, this gives it considerable ground clearance – important on off-road rides but also noticeable on asphalt thanks to greater lean angle clearance. In addition, tank pads provide better knee closure/contact and more control.
A deep, rich roar that no other engine in this cubic capacity class can match. The Crossfire’s exhaust system is made entirely of stainless steel. With the flat front silencer and the brushed conical-oval shaped rear silencer, it is a real feast for the eyes, even in the EU5 version.
The inverted LC display brings you all the vital information clearly and good visible in a classic round shaped display: Speedometer, RPM and gear indicator, odometer, fuel, high beam and turn signal indicators, clock, battery charge control, ABS light, oil pressure and coolant temperature light.
Daytime running lights, high beams and discreet direction indicators – the XC comes with a full LED lighting system for good visibility and optimum road illumination even in poor light conditions.
Weighing in at just 640 grams, the dual-channel ABS from Bosch in version 9.1 ensures safe deceleration in dangerous situations. Center of mass, rolling circumference and several other parameters were taken into account by Bosch in collaboration with Brixton Motorcycles in the calibration for the Crossfire 500 XC.
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