In the CBR500R, Honda’s championship-winning sport bike DNA blends with its appreciation for practical, user-friendly performance. Aggressive CBR styling and a sporty steel-tube frame are paired to a sporty, parallel-twin-cylinder engine that offers enjoyable performance in a range of riding situations, from the daily commute to weekend rides through the canyons. Combine that sporty performance with sensible running costs and a high-quality finish, and you have a motorcycle that’s equally entertaining for returning sport-bike enthusiasts and riders moving up from smaller-displacement machines.
STYLING
The fully faired CBR500R gets its aggressive form from straight, wedge-like feature lines and extended lower fairings that emphasize a real sense of speed. The rider’s seat pad and seat unit—plus the upper and side fairings—are narrow to improve ergonomics and movement. Sharply chiseled dual LED headlights stare menacingly ahead, completing the all-LED look.
The view forward from the CBR500R’s cockpit is pure sport. The handlebars clip on beneath the top triple clamp, resulting in a sporty riding position; the fairing is also set low in keeping with the “Total Control” design philosophy, a fundamental concept for Honda’s CBR range.
LCD instruments feature a Gear Position and Shift Up indicator; this is set to a default 8,750 rpm but can be adjusted in 250 rpm increments between 5,000 and 8,750 rpm.
CHASSIS
The 35mm steel diamond-tube mainframe is light and strong, with a tuned degree of yield that gives plenty of feedback to the rider as road surfaces change. Vibration is minimized by the shape and position of the engine mounts, plus the frame’s rigidity balance.
Mass centralization, with the engine in close proximity to the swingarm pivot point, delivers turning agility, while optimum front/rear weight distribution ensures stability. Curb weight (measured with fluids) is 423 pounds. With a low seat height of 30.9 inches, the CBR500R is very easy to manage, and its riding position comfortably accommodates riders of any height.
The 41mm telescopic fork delivers a compliant yet controlled ride and gives great front-end feel. A single-tube rear shock (as found on larger-capacity sport bikes) with large-diameter piston ensures excellent suspension response and temperature management. It has nine-stage spring-preload adjustment and works through a rigid box-section steel swingarm, which features pressed-steel chain-adjustment end-pieces. The lightweight, 17-inch cast-aluminum wheels have hollow cross-section Y-shaped spokes.
ENGINE
The CBR500R’s eight-valve, liquid-cooled parallel-twin-cylinder engine offers a well-proportioned balance of physical size and enjoyable power output, with an energetic, high-revving character and capable top-end performance. Fast acceleration comes courtesy of an engine specially tuned with good low-to-midrange power and ideal torque through the 3,000 to 7,000 rpm range.
Feeding the programmed fuel injection is a relatively straight shot of airflow through the airbox and throttle bodies. The battery is positioned away from the rear of the airbox intake duct to allow greater airflow; the exhaust muffler features dual exit pipes, adding a sportier-sounding edge.
The primary couple-balancer sits behind the cylinders, close to the bike’s center of gravity for improved handling. The primary and balancer gears use scissor gears, reducing noise. The crank counterweight is specifically shaped for couple-balance and is light to allow the engine to spin freely, with reduced inertia.
Acting as a stressed member, the engine complements the frame’s rigidity, with four frame hangers on the cylinder head. Internally, the cylinder head uses roller-rocker arms for reduced friction; shim-type valve adjustment allows them to be light, for lower valve-spring load and reduced friction. A silent cam chain has the surface of its pins treated with Vanadium, reducing friction and providing increased protection against wear.
A six-speed gearbox mirrors that of the CBR600RR and uses the same gear-change arm structure and link mechanism. An assist/slipper clutch enables lighter upshifts and smoother downshifts.
One-year, transferable, unlimited-mileage limited warranty; extended coverage available with Honda Protection Plan.
- Meets current EPA and CARB standards
- California version differs slightly due to emissions equipment
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