2018 CBR500R: Five Things You Need to Know
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- čas přidán 7. 09. 2024
- Honda’s known for its iconic lineup of CBR sportbikes - the CBR600RR and CBR1000RR are two of the most legendary sporting motorcycles to ever grace a racetrack. Look deeper into Honda’s product lineup however, and you’ll find Team Red has a host of other models also wearing the CBR nameplate. Here, we’ll take a look at the CBR500R. A 471cc parallel-Twin, the 500R represents a stepping stone to the bigger, badder CBR models - or does it? After spending some time with it, here are five things you need to know about the 2018 Honda CBR500R.
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Some riders act like they live in the last corner of the last lap of a MotoGP race. Not everyone wants to race all the time. I live in a city with speed limits, i ride to work. And i ride my motorcycle come rain or shine. Comfort, reliability, style, fuel efficiency are all very important. This bike is fast enough to land me in jail and fast enough for weekend ride in the mountains. This is a very good bike.
I agree. Love my 500R
Exactly.
I couldnt say it better bro nice and agree!
Well said
I agree bro. Its definetly fast enough ... obv not as fast as 600's or 1000's but its 491cc engine remember... its defo comfy i agree with tht too
I have owned one for a few months, and as a commuter it's unbeatable. Super smooth engine, hates fuel, comfortable seat and lane splits/filters with surgical precision. It wouldn't make a bad lightweight touring bike either. Honda even managed to dial in the lowest engine resonance at 100kmh/62mph so that engine vibe is almost zero at cruising speed. Sold my 1000cc a while back and really enjoying the downsize on this little beauty.
How are you feeling the 200Kgs of weight thought? Any comments on that?
On downsizing from a 1000... isn't it just the best having to actually use the gears on the street and to wind out the motor to make it feel like your riding a motorcycle versus being in second everywhere you go? I'm not hesitating to sell my CB500F at all!
@@Serckep The specs say around 195 kg fully fuelled, which is surprising because it feels a lot less. I'm 5ft8 and can touch the ground flat foot, very easy to maneuver around.
I agree. I just gave up by CBR300R for this bike. The 300 was a blast to ride on the back roads and around town but just was not a bike that you could take out on the freeway because it was a little too light and did not feel at home at 70mph for long periods of time. The 500 really does seem like a small sport touring bike. Perfect for daily commutes and day trips. I miss the 300 but this is by far the most practical of the two for me.
@@tigercs1 The streets aren't for racing though.
One thing you've missed on the CBR500R is that it makes more torque at 3,000rpm than a ninja 3/400 or RC390 do at their peak way up in the rev range
Not only dose this make the cbr fast off the line it also makes it much easier to live with day to day as you're not forced to down shift as often as a smaller ninja/ktm
@RidingDutchman
I know it's two years late, but my ears perked at the first part of your first sentence. Torque, to climb the speedo in first gear, is exactly what I need. I'm riding a 500F right now and I definitely feel the frustration of not being able to surge at the light. Not so long ago, I was waiting between two cars at an intersection for the light to change (lane splitting is okay where I live) When it did, I stalled and had to do a quick restart. The asshole in the Mustang seemed to become perturbed by it and proceeded to burn rubber passed me and cut me off twice. I almost went down because of it. You can only do so much on a street bike in crap situations as such. But a sport machine would offer considerably more punch to give that needed edge. I was thinking about getting one in the not-so-distant past but changed my mind because of a comparative review on 500F's to 500R's. Well, now that I've read this I believe my hope has been renewed! Thanks for your input on this, it really helped!!
I'm glad that the CBR 500 is finally being thought about. Keep Hondas in mind because they have a competitor in just about every category.
One thing that gets forgotten too is fuel economy. The CBR500R gets 75 mpg; low 60s if you really flog it. None of the other bikes "in this class" (despite having smaller engines) can touch that.
Nevertheless, you made some good points. Keep the videos coming and try to get some of the ads under control on your site so that it is actually usable.
maybe in the city but I only get 51 riding highway. It forces it up in the rev range.
I doubt have never gotten above 60mpg mate (I'm assuming you're talking US gallon not UK)
8300+ miles since I bought it brand new I get around 53 or 54
I don't red line it before each shift but I ride a little harder
If i rode it like I did while I was breaking it in and learning to ride, I doubt I'd get above 65mpg and that's probably being generous
Don't get me wrong, I absolutely adore my bike, but just throwing some real world numbers out there
@@herambbarve agreed. I did a 1 day ride of total 457km few day ago. cruising speed around 130kmh to 150kmh. based on my calculation. got only 50mpg. but its a CB500X with tail box its heavier. 2 only 1 time refuel for 17l tank and 3 more bar spare. I know it can reach 60mpg if i maintain 65mph cruising speed.
The CBR name doesn't fit? You do know that they make a CBR with even less power. I wouldn't waste time riding circles around a racetrack.. not here in Germany. They don't even make the 600 anymore and you don't need a Fireblade to reach the speed limit in the US; you can do that with a 20 year old 125. I took my 500r last month from Germany to Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, Hungary and back with no issues. I had no back or wrist pain and my only complaint is that the speed limit in these other countries is a paltry 80mph.. WTF? I don't need 200hp to go from red light to red light trying to impress my friends, but that's just me.
Mal Reynolds Good for you. Hopefully you can legally ride faster than 65mph on public roads... Lol.
Mal Reynolds Riding legally may save someone else's life even if you don't care about your own.
What you don't understand is that unlike most western countries, India (and most of south-east Asia) is more rural, the roads aren't that great and traffic is a nightmare. On those roads, a bike that sits comfortably at 80 kph is often enough for long distance touring, plus - a lot of people living in those countries can't afford a bigger bike, or in many cases - a bike at all, so these 150-250cc bikes are your go-to means of transportation, with anything like an R3 or an RC390 being considered a high performance machine (in contrast, of course).
Reallllyyy sounds like you’re trying to defend small bikes. Look small displacement comfortable sport bikes have their place! But they are by no means a true sportbike. They are cosmetic sporty mopeds. And that is totally fine, however when I’m looking to buy a sportbike I have already decided I’m not going to ride like a pussy so why the fuck would I buy this glorified moped. I’m glad you enjoy riding in traffic and obeying the speed limits lol I guess someone has too. Must be nice letting all the cars pass you!
best comment xD
Just passed my motorcycle course and now have my permit to ride! I have been looking into getting this as my first motorcycle, seriously cannot wait.
Went from a 2018 ZX6R to this 13 CBR500. I love it, every bit of it. Such a comfortable motorcycle, good power where you need it, and 2 stroke just means the things going to outlive you. I highly recommend this bike.
Thank you for commenting I’m on the hunt for my second bike first one was a 93 nighthawk 750 . Looking for something more light fun I know 500 doesn’t mean “fast boys” but truth be told I daily a crx and it still pretty fast for me . I think speed is relative to everyone
It's clearly designed as a "sporty" looking commuter. It should be apparent from the handle bar position and the under-powered engine. This also leaves me at a loss as to why fuel economy wasn't covered in this review, as the previous model was well respected for this.
I'm hitting just over 3 liters per 100kms around 3.3 per 100kms to be exact if that helps...
And I don't go easy on it...
I just bougjt a 2015 CBR500r in a private sale like new and honestly its a really great sportier bike for short riders, most definitely more comfortable if you would be riding on the street like as a commuter or just to ride with friends for long distances it is great
Codemaster Bassett I'm 6foot and I love it!
I love mine CBR 500R from 2014. I make 350km with a full tank, and I could make more if I lift my right hand a bit hahahahaha. It's a really great bike, I don't regret choosing it over the CB600F or those stuff. I use the CBR 500R everyday, I love it! I go to work, come back home, work again, home again, university... and on weekends, there are really cool racing stuff with my friends who have the Yamaha R3. It was a great choice for me. In the future, I aim to have a CBR 1000RR FIREBLADE, then, I want people saying that the CBR is weak... just prove it mate! hahahaha Like my friends trying to beat my CBR 500R with the R3... no way. They can EVENTUALLY reach their top speed, but they need too much ground to do it! When they reach the top speed, they're also by the curve and have to reduce, they can never catch me after I am over 120km/h with the right gear engaged. Well, R3 and Ninjas have a higher RPM range, it's true. But I was thinking, when the CB 500 first came out, there wasn't a CB 600, then they killed the 500 and made the 600, and then they killed the 600 and made the 650 and made "the new" 500. I've seen CBR/F/X 500 unlocked, they can reach up to 230km/h (more than the 199km/h the Ninja and R3 can). It was a Honda's decision to "keep the 500 down", so the 500 won't have the top speed of the old 600 neither the new 650, or even get close to it. But who has the new 500's may have felt that: when the 500 limits it's RPM, there are still sooooooooooo much power to be delivered, that the you feel a punch from the bike. UNLOCK THE CBR 500R AND R3's OR NINJAS WILL NEVER BE AHEAD OF YOU ANYMORE! Also, I don't believe a 1 month or less time with this bike is enough to learn how to extract it's power, I wasted 3 months untill I learned exactly how this bike works, and finally, after 4 months with it, I could win a race agains R3. So... it has such a different piloting compared to the other bikes...
It's a terrible review.
If you have a hard time justifying the CBR name on the 500r, how could you ever justify putting the CBR name on a CBR125 or CBR 250, or 300 lol
JSLAK
Back in the day the CBR was a 250 four (Japan only) but awesome bike.
The MC22 mini blade used to rev to something insane like 18.5K!
Rick Bates that was a cbr250rr. RR is for race replica. That's why this only has one r.
because they rev high lol, thats all I really consider a sportbike to be. Have the frame and rev to the sky.
I agree ! Most of these reviews are just plain stupid.
#1: Looks - it's a matter of taste, not something we need MO to tell us. We can tell it just by looking at pix and vids.
#2: Comfort - agreed.
#3: A lot of people associate 'CBR' with uncompromising performance, and Honda is certainly not discouraging that impression. BUT... they are careful to differentiate it from the "supersport" bikes by calling it a "sportbike". Remember the days when Honda tried to make the CBRs race-winners AND good street bikes? In order to compete in both arenas, they had to split them up. Hardcore race bikes with street-going versions and "sportbikes" which look the part and are comfortable, but aren't as fast and make some concessions for real world street use.
#4: It's a bit porky, yeah. HOWEVER, you're comparing it to a 390 single (which is very race-oriented) and a 400. (which Kawasaki really went all-out on) They're not REALLY the same class of bike. It's kind of like comparing a VFR800 to a GSX-R750, then saying the VFR is too heavy. or a Goldwing to an FJR. I guess until others start making 500s, "390 to 500 class" will have to do.
#5: Yeah, it's spendy. I picked up a new old stock one for $1800 off, and lightly used ones are around, from the kids who just HAVE to move up to the 600/636/650 fours, hehehe. Also, you can't fault Honda quality. (not something you can say about KTM, and to a lesser extent, Kawasaki)
Bottom Line: Consider it a lightweight sport-tourer, and you'll be happy. ;)
The kids you mention are the kids that makes these videos. All their little brains can compute is "faster? That means better".
MO??
Jeremy - fairly level headed comment. I like it.
That's why I recently bought one. To be an econo-sport-tourer. Just big enough to feel comfortable; still small enough to feel flickable and light. Ergo's upright and stretched out enough for the long haul, but still sporty enough to hustle around corners. Cheap-ish to buy used, very cheap to run -- you still get Honda quality. I've gone up 1 tooth in the front, and will probably also go down 2 or 3 in the rear; wanna really get those revs lower on the freeway, try to max out the fuel economy.
So far I get ~60-62mpg on the freeway and ~70-75mpg fooling around on the backroads. It's getting about 10% better fuel economy than the n300 I owned and makes 20% more power. With it's square bore to stroke ratio and sub 9k RPM redline, this little twin reportedly has hammer like reliability. Amazing motorcycle for anyone who doesn't require big power and wants a strong all-rounder street bike on a budget.
@@Serckep right seems like everyone wants to go fast but honestly being able to handle a lower hp bike better seems more appealing to myself
Thankyou sir.
As mentioned strengths already:
1. comfortable daily rider,
2. economical (80mpg?)
3. bullet proof reliability with a
4. badge and looks a young fellow can be proud to be seen on.
You might have commented on:
1. Did you enjoy riding it?
2. the expected touring range it is capable of?
3. what highway speed it is happiest at cruising at?
4. Its relative stability on the highway rating?
5. IMO it's always worth mentioning the vibration levels coming up on the handle bar grips, foot pegs and through the seat.
6. Braking performance?
I agree the smooth aquiline nose looks great but you rather rushed a loving view of it.
agreed....how does it do......on the highway.....at 75-80.....my 390 DUKE....seems to like 72-75 MPH....and it gets 70 MPG....it will run 80+....but being a "thumper", AKA single-cylinder....it's a bit shaky at this speed (around 80....goes away at about 90 or so.....)....the ninja 400 is a bit more comfy....but I didn't get to ride it long...a few miles.....Honda's have their rep of being reliable.....but I've yet to have any issues with my DUKE, and it's approaching 4000 miles.....one oil change, and one rear tire ( and no....I don't do burnouts, or drift w/it...the soft track tires they come with, just don't last long)...replaced it at 2600 miles.....front tire is still okay....I have a 1999 Honda Shadow 1100 Sabre Cruiser....and my little 390 DUKE...each has their place.....but I think I might put enduro tires on the duke....and get another mid-size bike......arguing between the new Benelli 302S (2020)....and a low mileage 2015 CBR500R....the Honda is $1K higher......no ABS....and it's only 7-10 MPH faster than the RC390, or the 390 Duke....and no warranty....the Benelli has dual-disc brakes up front, and ABS.....2-cyliner (as is the Honda)...warranty....and it's usual cruise speed is 130-140kMph (about 75-80, or so, Mph)...a lot of the Asian riders of these bikes.....say it like to run 130 or so kMph....and if you are not interested in all out speed, or runnin' over 140 kMph all the time.....it's no problem....I was out of bike ridin' (except for a couple of dirt bikes, and mini-bike, quick rides) for almost 20 years....had a souped-up GS1100ES back in the late 80's/early 90's....I don't need to go that fast anymore....just would like to cruise at 75-80 MPH, on a good summer day, without crunching my testicles into a seat/gas tank.....some folks are claiming about 60 or so, MPG, on the Benelli.....on the fence here.....I really don't need another bike....but a middle of the road bike....with decent looks/reliability/MPG/ridin' comfort.....might take priority for me.....
@@cooker4409 very comprehensive reply...😉😄
i have a 2015 cbr500r and i fucking love the thing, perfect for commutes and just fucking around
Well said. I opted for Ninja 400 with no regret. I also sold my CBR 650F with leass than 1,000km. on the speedometer and bought the 765 RS. Again, no regret. I do have a second hand CBR 300R race kitted with ceramic cylinder, for track use. Very bullet proof and economical.
ninja 400 is ugly no offence
@ JinKazama92: To be honest, I really don't care about how my Ninja 400 looks. I'm usually looking over the wind screen at track. But I do know that my stock Ninja runs away from CBR 500R on track with ease. I'm however, weighing seriously between Ducati V4 S and the 2017-8 CBR 1000RR SP. The CBR 1000 RR SP has superb suspensions, and very good brakes. I've track tested the CBR 1000RR SP. It's very light. I also already have a SuperSport S 939. This is the only bike I own that I'm pleased with how it looks.
Im thinking of getting a CBR650F for my first big bike - why did you sell?
@Novatur Design: The CBR 650F has some very good points. It's four cylinders engine is smooth and powerful in its class. It has good brakes with ABS. But I have several gripes with it. First of all, it's very heavy. Some very good riders will be OK with it, but I'm not in their class, and heavy weight makes it difficult to ride on track. The weight I'm comfortabe to ride on track is 430lbs or less. Its suspensions are both very poor, and it has poor throttle response. My Ninja 400 has much better throttle response, almost like throttle by wire on my 765 RS. I've been told that Ninja 650 alo has excellent throttle response. The ninja 650 is not as powerful as CBR 650F for sure, and if you ride mostly on highway, the CBR 650F may be what you'll be happy with. BUt I live for track days, where hard braking, precise handling into turns, and hitting the apex is my joy. My 765 RS is supreme for that task. I believe that Ninja 650 would be a better bike than CBR650F for this. But hey! I'm very impressed with the CBR 1000cc RR SP, and am seriously pondering buying one.
I’ve owned the 2016 500r for two years. One thing I would add, is that on the highway, it’s very stable and not buzzy. you can easily get up to 80-90 mph, and feel confident. I added a wind screen, and makes a big difference. I will keep the bike for another few years.
I sat on one today and fell in love with it. Low seat and low center of gravity makes it feel very light spite what the spec sheet says. It's definitly not a race bike but feels like a comfortable touring motorcycle for someone who is on the smaller side.
You're getting a Honda. So you know it is reliable. Plus, it is a forgiving bike which makes it an awesome choice for a starter bike and that's why I bought a 2019. Also, it has enough power to pass most cars on the highway easily without going extra fast. 🤷🏽♂️
"If you didn't like it, click the unlike button". At least that's what I'm gonna do. First of all, why are you comparing it to other CBR models? Would you also compare an R3 to the R6 and R1, just because they share the "YZF-R" model name? Any halfwit with interest in this bike would look up the stats and see; Parallel twin, 48hp, heavy weight - and immediately know that this is not in any way, shape or form related to the 600RR. You could, at best, consider it a little brother to the CBR650F, which strikes me that you didn't even mention that bike but kept rambling about the 600rr and the 1000rr..
Secondly, why are you making this "review" of the 2018 bike? Literally nothing major has changed since its release in 2014, except the new looks. Mechanically, most is the same as it used to be, so 90% of your video is not exclusive to the 2018 model, and what IS actually exclusive to this model year are looks which are subjective anyways. So what exactly did you accomplish?
"2018 CBR500R: 5 Things You Need to Know" - except only 1 of them is relevant to this particular model year. Stupid clickbait.
Deserves way more thumbs downs than what you have. That's a fail guys.
To be fair with how americans can get on a 1000cc from day one of getting a bike licence alot of them wouldn't see the point in it where as in the eu until you turn 25 and get your full licence you aren't aloud any more than 50hp which is where the cbr500 comes in with it being just on the legal limit for what a learner/young rider can legally ride
ive had this bike for 3 months now and it may not be the fastest but ive had the most comfortable ride for a sports bike ive ever had
I never understand why reviews always act like the extra weight is some horrific thing. As someone who owns both a 500r and a 300r, the 500’s extra weight is a positive thing to me. I’m 6’0 190lbs and the 500 feels stable at all speeds and I don’t feel too large for it. The 300 is lighter but feels more like a toy and I don’t feel anywhere near as stable on it when traveling at freeway speeds. If you don’t ever do track days, which many of us don’t, the 500r is an excellent bike.
I own this 2018 cbr500r, really a good daily commuter and fuel saving. Nice beginner bike.
Ive been on long tours with this bike. Its not a rocket, but is very comfortable, feels like a bigger bike and is great with vibrations. Its enough for most riding situations!
So after bagging it for 5 minutes your conclusion is its a good street bike lol
I've been waiting 2 years to buy my CBR 500r and after seeing the ninja 400 I simply didn't give a fuck. The CBR might be more expensive but keep in mind your getting Honda's reliable engineering and also its reputation for making well renowned bikes so then even a biased opinion could understand how the CBR is better in that category. But when I bought my CBR 500r I was not looking to get myself in trouble on a 600 or a 1000 and surely was not looking for the typical sport bike seating position. But at the same time I was sick of being on a 300 and 400 or 390 just wasn't a big enough difference to get me to cash up over 5K. It is a wonderful looking motorcycle and it has checked every box in my book. But if your looking for power on a racetrack then I'm tempted to say that the CBR 500r is just enough to not kill you. And more then enough to truly enjoy the curves and straights while Maxing out the performance of the bike. A smaller bike on the racetrack and even on the street is not only easier but also more enjoyable because you get to see the motorcycle at its peak performance which you wouldn't do on a 600 or 1000 because it would kill you. But that dosen't mean the CBR 500r dosent have power because it does and if handled foolishly it will not forgive you like any other 300.
This was my first bike, I still miss it, very comfy, reliable, affordable, typical honda smooth, fuel efficient.
I have one in the UK and as an A2 license holder I have no regrets. Sounds pretty good with a full akra system too
Mine is a 2016 CB500X. Same engine/transmission. Love it! And if I want to go fast, my other bike is a Zero SR. I can't think of a better pair of bikes I'd want in my stable.
I live in France and I have my motorcycle driving licence since 4 months so I have to ride something that doesn't exceed 48 hp for 2 years. I have a 2014 CBR 500 R and it's just awesome. Even the 2014 has a great look compared to other bikes of the same year. It's just super comfortable. The performances are good for me because I can't ride a more powerful bike... even if I agree, it feels a bit weak... It doesn't feel that heavy, it's low and 190kg isn't heavy in my opinion. I weigh 50kg and I don't have any trouble pushing it. It's sure more expensive than a CB 500 F or a Bandit 600 or 650 but it has a ABS and a really good look so I prefere to pay a bit more for a safe and good looking bike. If Honda makes a CBR just like this CBR 500 R but with 80 to 110 hp, I would buy it right now. The VFR 800 has the confort and the power but the look isn't as good as a CBR. The CBR 600 RR has the power and the look but it's not confortable... To conclude, I don't even know if I'll sell my CBR in two years. Even if it's not the most powerful bike, I love it
Yes but the 650 is a four cylinder and you have to restrain it to 35 or 48hp so it's even less fun to ride than a 500 bicylinder in full ^^ moreover, that's just my point of view but I prefere the look of sports bike so I don't really like the CB 500 F (I just love how the 4 exhaust pipes are close to each other, that's so cool *o*) and the CBR 650 F is ugly XD. I'll do test rides on the VFR 800 or the CBF 1000 FA to see if I can handle a 245kg bike. If I can't I'll keep my CBR 500 R. ^^
Welp, I keep praying for a nice looking 100hp CBR that is confortable ._. (sounds impossible though :c)
Else I'll have to find a way to put the 800cc engine of the VFR in my CBR 500 R XD (dumb idea but looks nice on the paper XD)
You know, most of the bikes have arround 100hp (even yours) ._. My goal isn't to die at the 1st corner, I just want a bike that has an acceptable power between 90 and 110hp, nothing more.
I don't want to put a gopro on my helmet and drive like crazy, overtaking by the right at 200km/h, I drive at the speed limit and I always respect the highway code, I just want to feel the acceleration when I open the throttle because my bike feels a bit weak, that's all xD
I think my dream bike is just a CBR 650 F that is good looking... Honda, if you see this, stop making CBR 650 F, just put a Fireblade headlight on it and name it CBR 650 R. Sale it 500€ more than the 650F and boom, you are rich ._. (If you do so, I would appreciate a part of the profit xD)
How about the gearing? The '16 was woeful and didn't have any legs! It's an "honest bike" but you soon get over a 500. Had mine for about 8 months new and then had to upgrade. I think the CB500F is the best of the breed!
What about #6?
85 mpg!!!
That's why people will buy this bike 👍
Oh it's 85mpg now? Do you guys fred Flintstone your cbr500 s?
I don't torture my bike but don't ride like a grandma either but I've never gotten more than 65 mpg (U.S. gallons fyi)
@@herambbarve i agree, I'd say that's not realistic for practical riding. i get 70-75 on my 2016. I'm sure it depends on how much highway vs around town riding you're doing. It is possible to ride for hyper-mileage and get above 80 but you'd have to really be trying hard for it.
Love the " 5 things " premise. Felt more real and less like a commercial
Have owed 7 motorcycles, some much larger, but have enjoyed my 2018 CBR500R as much or more than the others; in fact it is among my favorites. The one improvement Honda made on the 2019 and newer versions not on the 2018 model I would like to have is the gear indicator. Thanks Moto for the solid review. I sure miss those California mountain rides; East coast is not the same!
I have a 2015 CBR500R and I love it. Cost is low fuel is great power is more than needed if you follow the rules of the road. Here the speed limit is 100 kph I do 120 - 130 kph when the highway is clear and the revs are below 6000 so plenty left and exceeds the speed limit and in comfort.
I had a 2014 CB500F. They're pretty good engines if you ride for the feeling of freedom and exploration of your back roads. If you like aggressive overtakes and power in general look elsewhere.
Agree. I purchased a new MT09
@@steventhomson9869 I ended up with a GSX650F which has a nice 4 cylinder engine that has a good amount of power and is fun to spool up.
I mean it's still faster than 90 % of the cars. Also I want to buy a gsx1250fa as well. Amazing sport touring bike. And I want to keep the 500r for town, twisties
I'm 6'0 and 220 lbs. Salesman tried to get me to buy this. I chose 300R instead and love it.
The salesman had a good reason behind it: this bike has more hp and is bigger, the 300 must struggle with your overweight body.
It doesn't. It's designed to hold over 300 lbs.
You should've listened to the salesman. This bike has a frame big enough for you to ride comfortably for a longer time period.
I test rode a CBR250 before getting this one. (Similar to the 300) The seating position was less comfortable; too much weight on the wrists. It felt smaller, which is not a bad thing on its own, but work less legroom and more weight on the wrists? No thanks.
Yeah the 300 is a little lacking in legroom and my wrists do get tired, but the better agility, 70+ lbs less weight, and fact that it's a single keeps me satisfied with my decision. I can always fiddle with rearsets and there are heli-bars to raise the bars a few inches for comfort if I ever really need them.
I would ride it any day on the street! I like Honda's!
Honda's what?
For street the weight, price and performance is better on the 17' and newer Ninja 650 which is targeted at the exact same market niche. I like the overall concept of sport touring using a sport design and I hope we see more offerings like these.
Best beginner bike
I'm really starting to hardcore pull for this bike to be my first and for a while. It's a Sports Touring application that clearly a lot of people forgot about that style. Keep hearing great numbers when it comes to mpg.
I Like this bike. For what it is especially the latest version! This review been long coming!
I bought mine from new 18 months ago. The machine is perfect as commuting machine, I can overtake almost any car, with minimum time on the wrong side of the road and costs next to nothing to run. Bought with 3-4 years in mind for changing and think this was the right choice
BTW on the subject of cost, I didn't pay anywhere near list price so not a true measure of competitors
I have that same bike ,colour as well, just a GREAT looking bike and I just LOOOOVE it. I love your honest reports and truthful critisisms. It is what it is and this bike suits me down to the ground . Im not a big guy and its just right.Thanks guys, great report.
Heavy and no rev-range RC390 or Ninja 400 is the way to go.
LMAO I feel like this video was just meant to take a dump on the 500r
The rev range is different. It makes power from 3k to 8k instead of from 6k to 11k, like the Ninja. Granted, the Ninja makes more power for its size, but the CBR makes power RIGHT NOW; one rarely really gets caught in the wrong gear.
Also, the seating position on the Ninja 400 sucks. It slants down into the tank to be able to advertise a lower seat height, and it squashes your nuts unless you're constantly holding your whole upper body weight on your wrists.
This guy doesn't know what he's talking about. I used to put faith in these types of videos but know I realize that you can't know anything about a bike someone loaned you for a day :p
Gregory A. Parker Sr. He knows what he's talking about, but he has a very narrow viewpoint: he's thinking about canyons and race tracks in Southern California, not about touring or any other type of riding. The CBR is much more of an all-arounder, but those other categories weren't really considered much.
Gregory A. Parker Sr. Or, put another way: he didn't consider which bike is more fun to ride at less than 90% of its capability.
Just got mine yesterday I had a ninja 636 and I don’t regret it it’s a very comfortable bike and it came with the abs and LED head lights unlike my ninja and the maintenance is way cheaper in my opinion.
I could see a lot of people going for the Honda. It looks sporty but offers a more comfortable ride. I think that’s pretty compelling. Just a shame about the weight but I don’t think that will bother the type of audience for it.
The weight is a good thing imo. I've had a lot of time on the CBR500r and various 300cc bikes. The CBR500r feels solid and better at highway speeds. It's a good bike as long as you don't do track days. if track is something you do, look elsewhere.
Chris Till some riders, like me, don't own a "sport" bike yet. So if I bought this, I'd be going from a 550 pound 1975 cb750f to this. Waaay more sporty and nimble.
bludmakesgrassgrow Indeed.
When Kawasaki saw the 2014 500r released they went back to the drawing board to have a ninja compete with it. Four years later the ninja 400 was designed and it under cuts the 500r in every way. That's why the 400 in a better buy. ....but it's hard to compare an old bike with a new bike..
Honda will go back to the drawing board and improve the 500r.
I hope they come with a race ready 500cc to compete ( cbr500rr)
agree. if they could go for an inline4 and perhaps as a premium touch of ohlins, they would be ready to badge 500RR on it since it already has everything else. the cb400 had done vtecs before and the current ones revs up to 12k rpm , this 500r defintely has more potential when it's loaded with an inline4
Cbr500r was designed primarily for the A2 license in Europe then beginner market in USA. Max hp for beginners in this euro lic class is like around 44hp back in 2014. Honda was smart and ahead of everyone else to cover this class and give the max hp beginners wanted vs them buying 300cc bikes.
They need to make a 500rr with 650f hp & torque spec (78hp 44tq) but have the Race Ready body positioning like the 600rr/1000rr.
Restrictor kit plus mode electronics to meet 44hp max limit ...but when the beginner gets their A1 lic (unrestricted lic). They can remove the restrictor kit and change modes to get the full 77hp & 44tq
wow.. can i just clarify what u meant is that the 500r now actually is under restrictor kit?
steven teh no there is no restrictor kit on the 500r model. The max hp is 42 as it was designed by honda.
steven teh It was designed to be a "world bike", one that meets certain license class restrictions, and a common one is too have less than 48 hp. So, they used the displacement to make torque everywhere, instead of making top hp, like everyone else is doing. The bike itself isn't restricted.
Yeahh, this bike was released to fit into the UK A2 licence market out of the box, the A2 restricted licence means you cant ride anything over 47bhp or anything with over 0.2kW/kg which is why this bike is under 47 bhp, and heavy enough to fit within the 0.2kw/kg category. It means people can buy a bike and ride it out of the box without spending another £200 at least of a restriction kit and fitting it, it wasnt meant for you guys who can pass your test nd ride whatever size bike you want
I feel they have tried to re-create the CBR600F with comfort (or known as the F4i in other countries except UK I think)
I think this bike is a great idea. Anyone who has ridden sport bikes for any length of time knows they're great for about 10% of the street riding (if that). CBR500 has just enough sport to have some fun, but far more livable with day to day commuting.
500r has only single r like 250r the ones with double rr like 600rr or 1000rr are sports bike but single r are like vfr..
Asia has got 250rr.
250rr is a beauty, wish we could have it here in Europe
Daniel B Nope. It's a parallel twin.
Also it's not a Vfr because it's not a v4. VFr= V Four, VTr= V Twin.
Scotty Scragg Well, it's a parallel twin. Should it be PTR?
Thanks for the honest review I think this video will make a lot of people think very seriously as far as what 1st bike to get Keep it up and have a good one
Like this video. Short, simple abd straight to the point. 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
Ive been riding my cbr500r for a few months now, great city comuter. You do feel that weight difference, my ninja 500 slightly easier to handle in comparison. If you dont plan on highway driving just upgrade the sprocket and the cbr500 feels great
I just bought one.
You guys are doing a great job.... Useful points about a specific bike really helps.
Planning to have this bike
I owned a CBR500R from 2013. It looks almost the same as the 2018. I LOVED IT, for a couple weeks. If you ever get this inline 2 cylinder, do NOT RIDE YOUR FRIENDS 600'S! You will wanna sell it immediately
Can you do the cb500f and/or 650f and how they stack up to the other middleweight naked competition? Great video, keep it comin, peace
RichDrip Farrer The 650F is nice in that it has a 4 cylinder engine whereas a lot of 650's and middle weight non-super sport bikes are twins. It feels a bit more like a screaming super sport but without the same insurance rates. Twins are nice and grunty but don't rev as high so they have a different character. One isn't necessarily better I think it boils down to which type of character appeals to you the most.
They had the 650 in a different class comparison. It makes double the power of these guys, so it's hard to compare directly.
A cbr can be comfortable case and point cbr600F and cbr650f still cbr and comfortable
Not all of us are about to race it’s about style and durability
Not everyone lives in the US where right after you get your license you can ride everything. Here in Europe you need to ride for 2 years a beginner bike with max 50HP (unless you are older than 24). So I guess this is the main reason why is not a proper 120+HP like the 600rr or the 1000rr
What is the most comfortable beginner bike with a sporty look to it?
Basically a street bike (not Crichton’s rocket) but with a Crichton’s rocket look. Got it!!! 👍
Couldn't agree more on the power. I ride the CB500X ("Adventure" version, same internals). I absolutely love everything about the bike but the power leaves me wanting. If there was a way to add 20 HP or so without changing the rest of the bike, it would be great.
You can't compare the performance.of the 500 to the 600 and 1000cc CBR models........the 500 is meant as a learner or beginner motorcycle and is meant to compete with bikes like the Ninja 400 and R3.
The 500 is only a twin whereas the 600 and 1000cc models are inline 4's that are built for HP and high revs.
As an intro to the CBR line the 500 does an amazing job and in my opinion the 2019 CBR500R, edges out it's closest rival in the ninja 400 because now it has an assist and slipper clutch, which was a big selling point for beginner riders.
not meant to have the performance of a 600 and it's an 'r' not 'rr'
I own a 2017 and 2018 cbr500r. I love these bikes. Plenty power for the street or interstate. And comparing a 2 cylinder to inline 4 super sports is complete nonsense. This bike wasn't built for the track. I got this to replace my 650 nighthawk and sure it's not quite as powerful. But fun to flick. Plus it's honda. These bikes will never go out of style and they will run forever.
I think the difference that should be pointed out is that the 500 is labeled with just one R, and is a V-twin, as opposed to the 4 cylinder 600 and 1000 RR bikes.
Vertical Twin ( parallel ), as opposed to a V Twin ( Harley type motor ) .
I haven't looked at the new Kawasaki Ninja 400 but when I bought my Honda CBR 500F (as my 2nd bike) I looked at the Kawi & Yami 300's and the build quality of the Honda 500 was far superior to the 300s. You're getting a real quality built bike that will last a long time with the Honda 500 where as with the 300s they really used a lot of cheap parts, especially kawi with the bearings. The 500 is a fanatically designed bike but its almost boring at times because it is soooo friendly. There is no power hit anywhere in the rev range, when you flog it the power delivery is sooo smooth and liner. It's a really great bike at what it does but it really depends on the person. I think if you want to keep a bike for many years then its definitely the choice over the 300s (and probably the kawi 400), it also has the full size feel of a real bike but if you just want to rag something out and probably crash it once or twice as a new rider for 1 to 1 1/2 years then get the cheapest thing with a bit of attitude which is the kawi.
I owned an 1986 Interceptor 500. V4 engine, 68hp, 443 lbs ready to ride. Loved that bike on a track day or twisty back roads (TOTD twice). How does this new 500 compare? Does it surpass a 30+ year old machine?
VFR500 fits it perfectly! 👍
Awesome, great job guys
Great video. Thank you for making a video that was easy to understand for regular folks like me.... I love your videos and the camaraderie between you and your fellow reviewers. 👌👌👌👍👍👍👍
great comparative review - thanks!
*Honda: probably hates this video
*Me: loved the honest review. Owning a CBR300R I'd skip the CBR 500R and upgrade to the CBR650 for bang for buck. I just hope they upgrade the ugly dash on the 650 though. I still love my CBR300R so hoping to keep it for at least 5 years reving the guts out of every gear giving it all its got. It's still so fun to ride 😊
What do you recommend for a beginner, like riding their first motorcycle today at a safety course, in this class?
You never said if it is a steeping stone towards the 600 and 1000.
I like it since that's the one I learned how to ride on. In the city or as a commuter this is perfect but once you get on the highway, you feel that it could use a bit more of an oomph.
David Y it will go 110 mph and easily cruise at 85. What's the problem on the highway? Passes aren't as quick?
How much
Wonderful video guys could you please do the Honda cbr 650f!!!!!!
this category of bikes is for beginners now. In Europe, it fits the limitations for beginners in term of power and such
once upon a time, 400cc bikes were REALLY sports bike with 4 cylinder engines with 60 to 70 hp and rev liked nothing else
They made that exact hp because it is the maximum you can have for a A2 licence. I dont know if it is the cs in your country but in many you can have a licence when you are young that allows you to ride bikes under 47.5 HP
any tips on how this bike handles in the mountains and twisties? i had a ninja 300 that did me great in the mountains. anyone know how it would compare?
Its not a rocket ship, but it does things well! And it did not kill my butt like me previous versys 650 did! I took it for a 3000 km trip and I am really happy with it!! Could of course have 10 hp more, but it can cruise along in 140 150 or a bit more if necessary, and vibrations are not a problem. gas consumption is great!
Hi! Nice review! Would you recommend it to 190 cm tall beginner?
fast enough for me and i don't do tracks, they are the same price more or less in thailand where i will be buying mine, think i'll go for the cbr
I ride Honda but the Ninja 400 looks really tempting in that class. Cheaper too.
This is the bike for me!
The Vfr handlebars aren't that high up like you're referring this bike to, not unless you throw on heli bars
I wonder what the name of the song is that starts off in the beginning. pretty catchy
I threw on an olins shock with Dunlap q3 tires and I can keep up with my buddies in the twisters who ride cbr600 and a zx6r
I would appreciate it if you can show how it rides while eating a big-mac
Drink every time he says “cbr 500r”
Nice to see the videos improving! More details in the experience is what I’m looking for when watching these videos on CZcams.
How about your thoughts on the new 2019 cb650r ?
Or cbr650r
its because the 500 is made for the a2 market, you cant expect alot of power if the a2-licencing only allows one to ride 48hp.
You seem to gloss right over the fact that Honda build quality and reliability is worth paying for. The Honda CBR $500 is gonna outlast that KTM 390 and the Kawasaki 400 ninja easily and is made with better parts and the fit and finish is so much better than those two bikes
coming from a 2012 vulcan 900 custom and hearing "its heavy" made me laugh xD bought the bike a couple weeks ago, idk why im watching just wanted other peoples opinions
Great review
Love ur.vids man great review
U gont a new Sub