Honda CBR500R ( 2017 )

Base Price : $6500

Honda's middleweight sportbike, The CBR500R, is one of those rare bikes with wide appeal. It's a great machine for first time riders as well as seasoned enthusiasts that appreciate the nimble size, low price, and solid handling.

The 471cc parallel twin is smooth and torquey and happy to rev, and the suspension is very comfortable and compliant, whether around town or in the canyons. The CBR500R benefitted from some substantial changes last year including a revised suspension, new styling, and both a new exhaust and intake. Translation? It looks and sounds even better than before. But what hasn't changed is its status has a gateway to sport bike culture.

This year’s updated CBR500R and its twin-cylinder siblings, the naked CB500F and adventure styled CB500X, replace models that have been among Honda’s best and most successful of recent years. Precisely targeted at the European A2 class for relatively young and inexperienced riders, the trio was launched in 2013 offering a combination of performance and price that has made all three bikes deservedly popular.

The fully-faired CBR500R, sportiest of the bunch, featured sleek styling inspired by that of Honda’s Fireblade superbike. The outgoing model’s racy image contributed to its appeal despite doubts about whether the CBR really deserved two extra Rs in its name, given that it shared its 471cc, parallel-twin engine and most chassis parts with the two CB500 models.

With this year’s CBR500R makeover, Honda has sensibly ensured that the baby is not thrown out with the bathwater. The CBR’s styling is revamped, with shaper bodywork incorporating LED lights at both ends. But despite the bike’s even more aggressive appearance its riding position is unchanged and accommodating, due to slightly raised handlebars, plus footrests that give fairly generous leg-room.

Despite Honda’s claim of “an extra rush of racing performance” there is very little change to the dohc, liquid-cooled engine, not least because its maximum output of 47bhp was already right on the A2 class limit. The six-speed gearbox is revised to improve shifting, and the exhaust system is redesigned to save 2kg and give a sharper note.

The result is that the new bike delivers much the same enjoyable, respectably lively and rider-friendly performance as its predecessor, perhaps with a subtly enhanced soundtrack. The CBR pulls crisply from low revs, harder from about 5,000rpm, and stays reasonably smooth near its 8,700rpm redline, heading for a top speed of about 110mph. The reshaped fairing and screen do a fair job of diverting the wind without excessive turbulence, helping to make the Honda as useable as it is fun to ride.

Similarly there is little change to the steel-framed chassis, whose main update is new front forks with the addition of adjustable spring preload. With an unchanged kerb weight of 194kg the Honda is respectably light, although it’s among the larger and more substantial A2 class bikes.

The CBR handles very well, staying reassuringly stable at speed, and gives respectable ride quality thanks to fairly compliant yet well-controlled suspension. It steers with ease and accuracy, if not with quite the agility of some lighter class rivals, or even the closely related naked CB500F with its wider, one-piece handlebar.

Braking performance remains good, thanks to single front and rear discs with efficient ABS; riders with small hands with appreciate the new adjustable lever. Other welcome updates include a hinged (rather than removable) cap for the fuel tank, whose capacity is increased slightly. With the Honda so economical that many riders average 75mpg or more, realistic range is well over 200 miles.

The reshaped seat is comfortable enough to encourage fairly long trips, and sufficiently low to help make the Honda manoeuvrable around town. Pillion accommodation is not generous but the seat does at least incorporate hand-holds. Practicality can be enhanced by accessories including heated grips, a 12V socket and soft luggage.

Ironically, perhaps Honda’s most important achievement with this updated CBR500R is managing to sharpen its image while retaining – in fact slightly enhancing – the versatility that has attracted a wide variety of riders. Despite the racy look and those Rs in its name the CBR has always been much more of an all-rounder than a sports bike.