Honda CBR500R Review
Bike Tested: Honda CBR500R; Road Test No. 1049; Test Location: Malaysia
Price OTR Mumbai: Rs. 5.5 – 6 lakhs (est.)
The 2017 Honda CBR500R inspires confidence to ride hard and fast, that’s the beauty of this machine
One of the most revered three letters in the world of motorcycles is CBR. While other parts of the world get a host of bikes from the CBR line-up, we’ve been fortunate to get only 3 (CBR250R, CBR650F, and the CBR1000RR) of them. Nonetheless, the bike we’re talking about is the Honda CBR500R and MotorBeam went all the way to Malaysia to sample the bike. Questions running in our mind are one, is this a true-blue entry-level big bike, two, does it live up to the CBR nameplate and three, is it headed anytime to India? Let’s find out.
Motor Quest: The Honda CBR500R has been on sale since 2013 along with the CB500F and the CB500X. All the motorcycles were given a minor update in 2016 and in 2017, the Japanese bike maker made them EURO 4 compliant.
The CBR500R looks both like the CBR300R and the CBR1000R
Styling – In terms of the design and looks, the Honda CBR500R looks radical and very attractive. Borrowing its design cues from its elder sibling, the CBR1000RR, the fully-faired sports tourer gets racy graphics as well. The dual headlights with LEDs look imposing and lend some aggression to the vehicle while the bulbous exhaust, the fat 160-section rear rubber and the minimalistic-looking rear profile give it a sporty and beefy appeal. We particularly like the 12-spoke alloy wheels and the gold-finished crankcase but we also had a tough time to digest the fact that there were no LED indicators on offer. Overall, the CBR500R is a handsome-looking motorcycle with no room for complaints in terms of the fit and finish.
Though fully digital, the instrument console ends up looking modest
Instrument Cluster and Switchgear – There’s some good news and bad news here. Good news is that the switchgear on offer is of good quality. On the RHS, there is an engine kill switch, headlight on switch and an electric starter button. While on the LHS, you get a horn switch and a button for the high/low beam. The bad news is the instrument cluster, it feels straight out from a CB Hornet 160R. Though it does show all the necessary information, this unit feels a tad too modest, especially considering the price of the motorcycle.
Honda has nailed the ergonomics is this bike
Ergonomics – The Honda CBR500R is made for long-distance touring and its ergonomics are spot-on. The riding position is slightly sporty yet very comfortable. Adding to the sportier ride experience are the rear-set footpegs. The 780 mm seat height does make it accessible for both shorter and taller riders. While the rider’s seat feels cushy, the pillion seat isn’t roomy and adding to the pillion’s woes is the lack of grab handles. The handlebar is wide enough and the mirrors offer a clear view of what’s behind, even with a jacket on.
The 471cc parallel-twin motor is high on performance and at the same time is fuel-efficient as well
Performance – In terms of performance, the 2017 CBR500R comes powered by a 471cc, 4-stroke, parallel-twin, DOHC motor that produces 47 HP of power and 43 Nm of torque. Right from the word go, this engine offers punchy performance and feels extremely refined. There is a good amount of low-end punch and it’s really in the mid-range where this powertrain shines because post 5000 RPM it really gets moving very fast but simultaneously you do feel some vibrations creeping on the handlebar and footpegs (but this is not a deal breaker by any means). The triangle proportion of the crankshaft, main shaft and the counter shaft of the CBR500R are almost identical to the 4-cylinder engines from the RR models. Wring open the throttle, you will definitely appreciate how cleanly the engine pulls and the light clutch action does make the ride that much more fun. The 6-speed gearbox offers precise shifts and overall, one can expect a mileage of around 25 km/l.
The Honda CBR500R boasts of an excellent ride and handling balance
Riding Dynamics – The CBR500R uses a standard 41 mm telescopic forks up front and a preload adjustable monoshock at the rear. Not the supreme hardware but still the ride quality is. For most parts, the vehicle feels very compliant unless and until you’re doing highway speeds and encounter not so good roads. Then, it tends to get slightly bouncy. The handling is just about adequate, brakes with dual-channel ABS offer good stopping power and overall, the 2017 Honda CBR500R is a dynamically sound bike.
Verdict – The 2017 Honda CBR500R isn’t as sporty as it means it is but what it is is a brilliant package. Yes, it is a true blue entry-level big bike and yes, it does live up to the CBR nameplate. Of course, there are some gripes but there’s no denying the fact that it looks the part, is rider-friendly and forgiving and most importantly has the reliability that we have come to associate with the Honda badge. That brings us to the third and the last question, will Honda bring this to India? We’ve all incessantly waited for the CBR300R but the company gave us a refreshed version of the CBR250R only. If launched in India, expect the prices to start at around Rs. 4.5-5 lakhs (ex-showroom) which is in a way quite too much but it could be a worthy rival and an alternative to the already expensive Kawasaki Ninja 400.
What’s Cool
* Design looks cool
* Offers you the quintessential big bike experience
* Low seat height
* Refined parallel twin engine
What’s Not So Cool
* No USD forks and LED blinkers
* Instrument cluster feels basic
* Pillion seat too small hence less comfortable
Do you also miss USD forks up front or is it just us?
Honda CBR500R Specifications
* Engine: 471cc, Liquid-Cooled, Parallel-Twin
* Power: 47 HP @ 8500 RPM
* Torque: 43 Nm @ 7000 RPM
* Transmission: 6-speed gearbox
* 0-100 km/hr: 5.7 seconds
* Top Speed: 180 km/hr
* Fuel Type: Petrol
* Fuel Consumption: 25 km/l
* Suspension: 41 mm telescopic forks (Front), Pro-Link monoshock with preload adjustability (Rear)
* Tyre Size: 120/70/17 (Front), 160/60/17 (Rear)
* Brakes: 320 mm Disc (Front), 240 mm Disc (Rear), ABS
Honda CBR500R Dimensions
* Overall length x width x height: 2081 mm X 756 mm X 1150 mm
* Fuel Tank Capacity: 16.7-litres
* Ground Clearance: 140 mm
* Wheelbase: 1409 mm
* Kerb weight: 195 kgs
Further Reading –
Honda CB1100RS Test Ride Review
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