New Honda CBR500R is fast, frugal and fun
For riders looking to move up from a 125, the fully faired twin-cylinder CBR500R provides an excellent first big sports-bike experience, which will also appeal to experienced riders looking for a great value alternative to larger sports bikes.
Honda’s motorcycling history goes back 60 years, and in 1957 released the 247cc Dream C70, powered by its first parallel twin cylinder engine.
Through the 1960s the DOHC CB450 twin regularly outperformed larger capacity rivals and the new CBR500R proudly carries the CB suffix (with an extra dash of race-inspired R) and proves the point that sometimes less most certainly can be more.
The CBR500R has a distinct feel and character and features a riding position and design that is tailored, and will appeal to, a wide variety of riders, covering a range of uses from commuting and touring to sports riding. The CBR500R is easy to manage, and delivers all-round practicality matched to excellent efficiency. A true middleweight, blessed with lightweight agility and an engaging power delivery, above all, enjoyable to ride in every scenario.
Fast, frugal, affordable and fun, the CBR500R offers a great entry point to the world of sports motorcycles, with high a build quality plus pride of ownership that will last.
Its DOHC twin-cylinder fuel-injected engine produces 35kW and returns an impressive 27km/l (WMTC figure). Honda’s engineers see it very much as an “accessible CBR engine,” and worthy of the name.
The CBR500R’s 35mm diameter steel diamond-tube mainframe is light and strong, and has a tuned degree of yield that gives plenty of feedback to the rider as the road surface changes.
The kerb weight of 194kg with a seat height of 790mm, makes the CBR500R very easy to manage and its sporty riding position will comfortably accommodate riders of varying heights thanks to a relatively high handlebar position.
Engine
The CBR500R’s engine is a next- generation power unit, with a crank counterweight specifically shaped for couple-balance and its light weight allows the engine to spin freely, with reduced inertia. PGM-FI fuel injection provides superb throttle response and peak power of 35kW@8500r/min and 43.1Nm@7000r/min.
The six-speed gearbox also mirrors that of its RR cousins, allowing for a short engine and uses the same gear change arm structure and link mechanism.
The Honda CBR500R is sold standard with complimentary rider training through the Honda Academy, 12 months free roadside assistance and 24-month unlimited kilometre warranty.
