I just test drove it over the weekend and it's very tame and manageable for a new rider. It has just enough pull to it to build up your confidence without being out of control. I would recommend it.
I bought a white CB500F at the end of May this year, anyone who goes to the dealer to get maintenance done on this thing is a fool. Buy the service manual, I checked my valves at 600 miles and they were perfectly in spec and needed no touching. Bike has 5,000 miles on it now and I change oil ever 2,000, this bike is a jewel. It's a blast to ride and I get like 60mpg all day long. Kawsaki=Cumandsuckme.
i like it when one of my subbed video producers comments on any video but its even better when he commented on a video i looked at without looking at your channel and is winning
125R - 1946 x 704 x 1089 with a 793 seat height. 500R - 2075 x 740 x 1145 with a 790 seat height. 600RR - 2029 x 684 x 1115 with a 823 seat height. This information is from the official Honda website, you can see the 500R is not only bigger than the 125R but the 600RR as well.
I live n North America and I'm surprised they decided to bring these bikes here. In the past they haven't but I think it is a good move to try and capture an "experienced beginner" (i.e. dirtbike experience)
THANKS for this quick review! Can't wait to throw a leg over this model. Currently riding a 2010 Shadow RS750. Most of my riding is commuting. Thinking of the F or the X. i'm sure they'll satisfy!
I really hate how he says that they aren't very powerful since he seems to have forgotten that most people who are getting this bike are coming from a 125cc (like myself). A comparison between the CBR125R and the CBR500R would be very very useful
sat on the CBR500R and the CB500F yesterday the 10TH at the MCN show at the highland centre in Scotland today and they felt great though i prefer CBR500R with the full fairing and the bike looks more fantastic in person going to book a demo ride in a few weeks in Perth and putting down a deposit afterwards :)
I think these will be really good starter bikes. I have a Suzuki GS500F which is also a 500cc, parallel twin, which learners here in Australia can ride thanks to the LAMS scheme (up to 660cc / power to weight of no more than 150kw per tonne) and when I wrote my first one off it was hard to go past another, as alternatives such as the CBR250R and Ninja 300 seemed a bit physically small for my liking. The other good thing about this capacity is you have enough torque to ride around your mistakes.
I commute on a motorcycle rain or shine and the CB500F looks tempting. Alas I'll be upgrading to S/S 600's soon instead. Still, the 250R was a great bike.
Everybody who reviewed it said that it's a one of the best beginner bike right now. You can get a CBR250R but if you doing a lot of highway speed then 250 is not recommended. Even me seriously considering for CBR500R or CB500X right now!
What's the braking distance? How does it handle compared to other bikes in its price range? 0-60mph? How does it handle on the freeway? What did you guys get for fuel economy? Were the lights adequate? Was the dash easy to read?
Never work a about the Thai build quality. I had a Honda PCX125 built in Thailand and the build quality was excellent. Definitely as good as Japanese or Spanish built Hondas. A nice little bike.
Basic rider classes may teach riders to use four fingers to pull the front brake lever. But experienced riders learn to ride with two or three fingers ready on the lever at all times. This can save nearly a whole second in reaction time, and that could mean much shorter stopping distances. To calculate just how much sooner you could stop if you saved a second, use the conversion factor of 1 mph = 1.46 feet per second. .
Just bought one of these cause I'm sick of loosing my lic on bigger more powerful bikes . I was thinking a cruiser but I couldn't do it. I just love corner's to much also a cruiser yes you can sit back and enjoy the ride but you've got nothing else to learn so to speak atleast with a sports bike or Sports tourer bike you can sit back and enjoy but once you are approaching the corners then you've got something to learn on it's leisure and a sport all in one , Cheers
A review on the Yamaha xj6 (diversion F) would be awesome... maybe even in comparison to these... they're also built to meet the new requirements of the a2 license... Whilst your at it take the kawasakai 300 as well :)
The step change will be like night and day mate, when I got off my 125, I got on a Bros 400, which was only 30bhp but not much heavier than a 125, and it was significantly quicker, this has 50% advantage on that, so its gonna feel very quick compared to what you are used to
I really like where they're going with this. I'm a bit concerned about the power (live in the US, no A* licensing system here), but other than that, they really seem like well setup bikes for somebody who's not looking to dump in, but wants to have a good time on a newer bike. Question is....will they be offered state-side, as they seem pretty set-up for Euro. My guess is no, unfortunately :(.
I was planning on a Honda CB500F as my next bike but ended up on a Ninja 300 instead and I could not be happier with my decision. Personal preference will determine which bike is better with "better" being completely subjective in this conversation. In my view a 300 is a completely different animal compared to both Honda offerings and is therefore going to appeal to a very different kind of rider.
I'd still say the Suzuki sv650s would be a better 1st bike. Comes with clip ons but a not so aggressive seating position. Perfect transition to a gsxr.
doing my a2 lesson on the 500f , comfort to ride great power to control moving from a 125 , I'm 5.8 and the just touch the flour with both feet, great around town and nimble. thinking of going for the 500x.
I did, fail on forgot to do life saver check exiting dual carriageway. Other than that it was a clean test sheet..I rebook the test doing it this Monday coming up. Also just found out you can get the new 650f or the r on A2 restric to 47bhp, i think the 650 is better because you would have more garage life out of it.
haha okay, i am only 16 at the moment so iv got some time to make a choice. I may go down the 125 route as i like them for their fuel to mileage ratio.
How tall are you? I have a 250R and although I feel I look big on it I feel comfortable when sat on it which is the most important detail, so given the size of the 500R I imagine I will feel okay on it too.
I live in Thailand. CB500F will have a very good price here ! I am switching from my passenger car to a bike. Plan to drive 500+ kms. cities to cities during weekends. Will this 500F suit the job? I don't ride fast and prefer more upright riding. Old. Tks for advice and this vid is very helpful.
They never wanted to compete with Ninja 650R after all this CB500 series is more of a friendlier and more economical,beginner inspired bike than 650R and it's a much needed middleweight 500 kudos to Honda for that! We already got too much 650 and 600 nowadays,500 as always have something for everyone somehow it wasn't very popular back in the days...
the only thing i personally hate about the new laws is that there is no longer a automatic upgrade to a full licence after 2 years but going from 33 to 47 i like that.i didnt own an 33bhp bike and see then dying off in 1-3 years again. i also feel as if the new laws will turn people away from wanting a motorcycle as you now cant own bigger than a 125cc until you turn 19 as opposed to the old laws at 17. but those who really want to get into motorcycling i dont believe they will be turned by it
It is a 471cc square engine (bore = stroke). Expect low revs and low end torque, broad smooth powerband. It stills makes 100 hp/ liter.. That is not that bad. The older 2006 kawasaki ninja 500r was a true 500cc (498cc), oversquare engine (74"x 58") and a redline at 11.000 rpm. The honda is smoother and I bet has a better fuel economy..
But great fuel economy, you have to look at the positives, plus this bike will go in excess of 100mph, that is well above the speed limit. Ultimately this bike is aimed at a specific market, hence it's specs.
Yes I think you are right... The 54 hp was a rumour. The engine is a 471cc and square (Bore= stroke) with a moderate compression ratio 10.7:1. It makes 43.7-44.5 hp on the dyno (backwheel) and a ~ 48 hp on the crank. I like the F version more than the R which sportsbike looks are a bit deceiving.
Some riders be able to get it up to 5.5-6 seconds I think DaveGPZ said that in his review. Pretty fast for a beginner friendly motorcycle there is really no competition in 500 class right now I heard that in my country we selling both CBR500R and CB500F like hotcakes here! BUY IT! But I might wait for the CB500X,that thing makes NC700X a serious run for its money!
Robbie, When you can produce the maximum power required for the new A2 licence below 8500rpm, why then would you then design a bike engine to rev to 10500 and lose low end torque and engine flexibility?
Yes this 471cc is all you need to commute. 48 horses at the crank and ~ 44 hp on the dyno (backwheel), built in Thailand, fair price. 0-60 mph in 5.6 seconds. great fuel economy. If you are not going on highways and do not need the power, , get the honda cbr250r.
the reason why its only 471cc and not 498 is because Honda made the CB400F and CBR400R for the Japan market first and then they crammed the 471cc engine into the same frame.
It is a square engine.. Bore is similar to stroke. More like a car-engine. A small european compact car could come with a square 4 cylinder engine of 1200cc displacement. Would you expect a 8500 rpm redline on that ?? The honda is a torque engine with a broad powerband. Perfect for fuel economy and day to day riding..
Its not designed for you, he says it's designed for the new European wide license system. Given its power and weight I would expect it to do the 1/4 mile about a second slower than the old Kawasaki GPZ500 which had 60bhp and did it in 13.5, these have 47bhp (in europe)
I'm slightly taller than you, to me he doesn't look cramped, going on your height I think you'd fit well on this bike, I base that on the fact I have a 250R which is smaller than this one. To put your mind at rest I had a friend who is 6ft as pillion and we both felt fine, I have also ridden from London to Brighton non stop with a friend on the back - again no complaints, try sitting on one at a dealer, it'll really help, but if size is an issue you'll need an adventure bike as those are big.
top speed isnt really a big factor for me on a bike as long as it will cruise at 70-85 MPH without it redlining or feels like its been pushed to hard i have ridden an suzuki gs500 and the suzuki has the same power as the cbr500R and the suzuki feels great with good pull on it at 70+ mph though it has no windshield stock
i said around 5 seconds. And the 5+ second video owner admits he messed up a shift or two in the video so i'd say 0-60mph in 5 flat is possible with quick flawless shifting. Head over to the 500R forums for more info from existing owners. The 54 hp motor is a myth i think. Honda is shipping the 47hp motor atm
A good, well presented review. More vids like this please MCN
Have to say best MCN video that I've seen in a while, keep heading in this direction please!
Awesome review and excellent video editing!
Huge Nick Sanders fan here !
Great thorough run through of the bikes.. thanks guys.
Can I just say the improvement of the mcn videos over the last 6 months is impressive keep it.
I just test drove it over the weekend and it's very tame and manageable for a new rider. It has just enough pull to it to build up your confidence without being out of control. I would recommend it.
I bought a white CB500F at the end of May this year, anyone who goes to the dealer to get maintenance done on this thing is a fool. Buy the service manual, I checked my valves at 600 miles and they were perfectly in spec and needed no touching. Bike has 5,000 miles on it now and I change oil ever 2,000, this bike is a jewel. It's a blast to ride and I get like 60mpg all day long. Kawsaki=Cumandsuckme.
I'm half Thai. Their craftsmanship and work ethic is absolutely outstandingly exceptional
I have a 2017 F. I agree 100%.
Thank you for this review! After watching this, I've decided to buy one in a few months.
Great review
Alrighty. Thanks!
waiting for them to arrive
i like it when one of my subbed video producers comments on any video but its even better when he commented on a video i looked at without looking at your channel and is winning
125R - 1946 x 704 x 1089 with a 793 seat height.
500R - 2075 x 740 x 1145 with a 790 seat height.
600RR - 2029 x 684 x 1115 with a 823 seat height.
This information is from the official Honda website, you can see the 500R is not only bigger than the 125R but the 600RR as well.
I like the 500F too, it is a little street fighter! Can't wait to do a test run!
your username speaks worlds about you. good luck with everything, you're gonna need it.
Im planning on getting a honda as my first. im excited.
Ooo, I'm excited to test ride one O.O
I really enjoy the other reviewers. I love the bikes as well...
I live n North America and I'm surprised they decided to bring these bikes here. In the past they haven't but I think it is a good move to try and capture an "experienced beginner" (i.e. dirtbike experience)
this is a very good video it is worth waching... nice bike
Me Gusta indeed
Really goood and constructive review. I'm sure these bikes are going to fullfill the role as novice/beginner bikes for many around Europe
there is plenty videos on TH-cam with the sound of the bikes stock and non stock exhausts
THANKS for this quick review! Can't wait to throw a leg over this model. Currently riding a 2010 Shadow RS750. Most of my riding is commuting. Thinking of the F or the X. i'm sure they'll satisfy!
Good vid. Do we have MPG figures yet?
I really hate how he says that they aren't very powerful since he seems to have forgotten that most people who are getting this bike are coming from a 125cc (like myself). A comparison between the CBR125R and the CBR500R would be very very useful
Anyone else notice how every single bike that anyone at MCN toss's a leg over is the most anticipated & well built machine in the world?
Toss's? You're kidding, right - toss's?!
Does this mean I can get the A2 bike license in UK and get the 2016 CBR500r and ride it without a problem? Wow I love Honda.
sat on the CBR500R and the CB500F yesterday the 10TH at the MCN show at the highland centre in Scotland today and they felt great though i prefer CBR500R with the full fairing and the bike looks more fantastic in person going to book a demo ride in a few weeks in Perth and putting down a deposit afterwards :)
wow. original and creative come back. you really got me there. making fun of my user name, damn.
Nice Bikes
I think these will be really good starter bikes. I have a Suzuki GS500F which is also a 500cc, parallel twin, which learners here in Australia can ride thanks to the LAMS scheme (up to 660cc / power to weight of no more than 150kw per tonne) and when I wrote my first one off it was hard to go past another, as alternatives such as the CBR250R and Ninja 300 seemed a bit physically small for my liking. The other good thing about this capacity is you have enough torque to ride around your mistakes.
the coolest thing about the F is that it reminds me of the ducati streetfighter, which is a kick ass bike, i think the styling is awesome on the F
I commute on a motorcycle rain or shine and the CB500F looks tempting. Alas I'll be upgrading to S/S 600's soon instead. Still, the 250R was a great bike.
It is coming to the U.S on April starting at $5,499 for the CB500f.
Nice bike, I wish if the rear tier was wider, this tier is so thin for a 500cc engine
I was looking for a motorcycle review....
Everybody who reviewed it said that it's a one of the best beginner bike right now.
You can get a CBR250R but if you doing a lot of highway speed then 250 is not recommended.
Even me seriously considering for CBR500R or CB500X right now!
Thanks for the review! Will these be much more powerful than the old cbr250rr??
Conclusion of this R and F review @4:18 ...."lets wait till the X comes out"
what a perfect review this is
What's the braking distance? How does it handle compared to other bikes in its price range? 0-60mph? How does it handle on the freeway? What did you guys get for fuel economy? Were the lights adequate? Was the dash easy to read?
Never work a about the Thai build quality. I had a Honda PCX125 built in Thailand and the build quality was excellent. Definitely as good as Japanese or Spanish built Hondas. A nice little bike.
Basic rider classes may teach riders to use four fingers to pull the front brake lever. But experienced riders learn to ride with two or three fingers ready on the lever at all times. This can save nearly a whole second in reaction time, and that could mean much shorter stopping distances.
To calculate just how much sooner you could stop if you saved a second, use the conversion factor of 1 mph = 1.46 feet per second.
.
Is it released for the app on iPad only? Or is it going to YT too...? I don't have an iPad, lol.
Just bought one of these cause I'm sick of loosing my lic on bigger more powerful bikes . I was thinking a cruiser but I couldn't do it. I just love corner's to much also a cruiser yes you can sit back and enjoy the ride but you've got nothing else to learn so to speak atleast with a sports bike or Sports tourer bike you can sit back and enjoy but once you are approaching the corners then you've got something to learn on it's leisure and a sport all in one ,
Cheers
Oh I forgot about the license requirements in the uk. I'm in the usa.
A review on the Yamaha xj6 (diversion F) would be awesome... maybe even in comparison to these... they're also built to meet the new requirements of the a2 license... Whilst your at it take the kawasakai 300 as well :)
The step change will be like night and day mate, when I got off my 125, I got on a Bros 400, which was only 30bhp but not much heavier than a 125, and it was significantly quicker, this has 50% advantage on that, so its gonna feel very quick compared to what you are used to
Ditto the below comments. An interesting and informative video. Well done MCN!
I really like where they're going with this. I'm a bit concerned about the power (live in the US, no A* licensing system here), but other than that, they really seem like well setup bikes for somebody who's not looking to dump in, but wants to have a good time on a newer bike.
Question is....will they be offered state-side, as they seem pretty set-up for Euro. My guess is no, unfortunately :(.
Good.
I was planning on a Honda CB500F as my next bike but ended up on a Ninja 300 instead and I could not be happier with my decision. Personal preference will determine which bike is better with "better" being completely subjective in this conversation. In my view a 300 is a completely different animal compared to both Honda offerings and is therefore going to appeal to a very different kind of rider.
I'd still say the Suzuki sv650s would be a better 1st bike.
Comes with clip ons but a not so aggressive seating position. Perfect transition to a gsxr.
doing my a2 lesson on the 500f , comfort to ride great power to control moving from a 125 , I'm 5.8 and the just touch the flour with both feet, great around town and nimble. thinking of going for the 500x.
you touch the flour with your feet!! no offence but i don't want to have any bread you make ;)
Crap auto correct haha 😂 just knowest that now lmao.
CDLEGO uki haha :), Have you done your test yet?
I did, fail on forgot to do life saver check exiting dual carriageway. Other than that it was a clean test sheet..I rebook the test doing it this Monday coming up. Also just found out you can get the new 650f or the r on A2 restric to 47bhp, i think the 650 is better because you would have more garage life out of it.
haha okay, i am only 16 at the moment so iv got some time to make a choice. I may go down the 125 route as i like them for their fuel to mileage ratio.
How does it compare to a NC 23 or the like?
what is its topspeed?
0-100
braking distance?
just watch it if you love bikes of course!
How tall are you? I have a 250R and although I feel I look big on it I feel comfortable when sat on it which is the most important detail, so given the size of the 500R I imagine I will feel okay on it too.
what happend to starting on 250's and 125's ?
I found this review really helpful; but it would've been even nicer to hear the sound of the bike for a bit
I am going to buy the CB500F in August wen I past my test. Have in in red and make it look like a ducati streetfighter haha
I live in Thailand. CB500F will have a very good price here ! I am switching from my passenger car to a bike. Plan to drive 500+ kms. cities to cities during weekends. Will this 500F suit the job? I don't ride fast and prefer more upright riding. Old. Tks for advice and this vid is very helpful.
They never wanted to compete with Ninja 650R after all this CB500 series is more of a friendlier and more economical,beginner inspired bike than 650R and it's a much needed middleweight 500 kudos to Honda for that!
We already got too much 650 and 600 nowadays,500 as always have something for everyone somehow it wasn't very popular back in the days...
It could be any camera, but it is filmed from their filming car because it always stays vertical =]
How is the 0-60 on this bike? I'm looking to getting this for my first bike but a goodish 0-60 is important lol
the only thing i personally hate about the new laws is that there is no longer a automatic upgrade to a full licence after 2 years but going from 33 to 47 i like that.i didnt own an 33bhp bike and see then dying off in 1-3 years again. i also feel as if the new laws will turn people away from wanting a motorcycle as you now cant own bigger than a 125cc until you turn 19 as opposed to the old laws at 17. but those who really want to get into motorcycling i dont believe they will be turned by it
I'm about to get my license and I'm wondering if it his is a good starter bike? I will be driving 60 miles a day
Does the cbr 500r only come with one head light haha! First ride would be straight back to the dealership if that was me!
Habit? he does show him going far over in the video aswell. thats my guess as hes on a track.
i love cbr500
In other words: Honda is now building the old Kawi Ninja 500...
50 HP 2cyl, Semi-adjustable suspension, and built in Thailand.
Will the CB500X have a DCT?
It is a 471cc square engine (bore = stroke). Expect low revs and low end torque, broad smooth powerband. It stills makes 100 hp/ liter.. That is not that bad.
The older 2006 kawasaki ninja 500r was a true 500cc (498cc), oversquare engine (74"x 58") and a redline at 11.000 rpm.
The honda is smoother and I bet has a better fuel economy..
But great fuel economy, you have to look at the positives, plus this bike will go in excess of 100mph, that is well above the speed limit. Ultimately this bike is aimed at a specific market, hence it's specs.
Yes I think you are right... The 54 hp was a rumour. The engine is a 471cc and square (Bore= stroke) with a moderate compression ratio 10.7:1. It makes 43.7-44.5 hp on the dyno (backwheel) and a ~ 48 hp on the crank.
I like the F version more than the R which sportsbike looks are a bit deceiving.
He said he was 6'3" at the beginning of video.
FFS stop saying driven.. is a bloody BIKE you RIDE a bike.. you DRIVE a car. :)
Some riders be able to get it up to 5.5-6 seconds I think DaveGPZ said that in his review.
Pretty fast for a beginner friendly motorcycle there is really no competition in 500 class right now I heard that in my country we selling both CBR500R and CB500F like hotcakes here!
BUY IT!
But I might wait for the CB500X,that thing makes NC700X a serious run for its money!
how many mpg?
These vs Suzuki SV650s??
cool
On just about every sportbike with two headlights, one is the low beam and the other is high beam.
Robbie, When you can produce the maximum power required for the new A2 licence below 8500rpm, why then would you then design a bike engine to rev to 10500 and lose low end torque and engine flexibility?
Yes this 471cc is all you need to commute. 48 horses at the crank and ~ 44 hp on the dyno (backwheel), built in Thailand, fair price. 0-60 mph in 5.6 seconds. great fuel economy.
If you are not going on highways and do not need the power, , get the honda cbr250r.
US rating as listed on Manufacturers Statement of Origin MSO is 49.6 hp for my 2017 F.
wow, you talk fast. good review.
Yeah yeah.... Talk it up. Yaaaaawn...
the reason why its only 471cc and not 498 is because Honda made the CB400F and CBR400R for the Japan market first and then they crammed the 471cc engine into the same frame.
It is a square engine.. Bore is similar to stroke. More like a car-engine. A small european compact car could come with a square 4 cylinder engine of 1200cc displacement. Would you expect a 8500 rpm redline on that ?? The honda is a torque engine with a broad powerband. Perfect for fuel economy and day to day riding..
Its not designed for you, he says it's designed for the new European wide license system. Given its power and weight I would expect it to do the 1/4 mile about a second slower than the old Kawasaki GPZ500 which had 60bhp and did it in 13.5, these have 47bhp (in europe)
Presenter (Phil West) always reminds me of Liam Neeson
In the USA, we just buy liter bikes on day one and call it a day.
80hitultracombo yeah we already Americans are foolish haha
We aren’t pussies is all. Lol
please test the ninja 300 vs this please
i just bought a cbr500r :)
I'm slightly taller than you, to me he doesn't look cramped, going on your height I think you'd fit well on this bike, I base that on the fact I have a 250R which is smaller than this one. To put your mind at rest I had a friend who is 6ft as pillion and we both felt fine, I have also ridden from London to Brighton non stop with a friend on the back - again no complaints, try sitting on one at a dealer, it'll really help, but if size is an issue you'll need an adventure bike as those are big.
top speed isnt really a big factor for me on a bike as long as it will cruise at 70-85 MPH without it redlining or feels like its been pushed to hard i have ridden an suzuki gs500 and the suzuki has the same power as the cbr500R and the suzuki feels great with good pull on it at 70+ mph though it has no windshield stock
i said around 5 seconds. And the 5+ second video owner admits he messed up a shift or two in the video so i'd say 0-60mph in 5 flat is possible with quick flawless shifting. Head over to the 500R forums for more info from existing owners. The 54 hp motor is a myth i think. Honda is shipping the 47hp motor atm
I love my GS500F! It's got nothing on these two lol
In some cases restrictor kits have caused problems to the engines in the past plus also restrictor are not very popular these days.
In NZ the F is more expensive than the R version by $500