2013 Honda CBR500/CB500R/CB500X

[KZ25]

The new 500cc Honda models will be parallel twins; Honda will offer a faired CBR500, a naked CB500R and a "crossover" CB500X which is a small version of the "new concept" NC700X.

Personally I'm not much interested in the sporty versions, but the CB500X might just be my next bike! I expect a higher seating position, storage space and a decent suspension; not for off-road but good for bad surfaces, bumps and potholes.
500cc and 45 horses is just enough for me here in Thailand! Hopefully it's not too heavy. And the looks - well, guess I can get used to them.
Looks like the bikes don't feature anything fancy so the prices should be low.
Here's a short article:
http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/bikes/spotted-honda-cbr500-honda-cb500r-honda-cb500x/

 

[Ian Bungy]

Given Honda's recent Form no doubt they will be coming at a Fantastic price as well so I am sure they will sell Loads of them! From the Photos even the Sports version looks great but I agree with the others the X-Version should tick all the Boxes for Riding and Touring this part of Asia! Could be Your Next Bike Slash? You could Load it up and Cover some real distance with the "X" in Comfort! And no doubt being Honda it will be Super Reliable and Fuel Efficient!

 

[KZ25]

Honda seems to attack Kawasaki head-on with quite similar models. A naked CB500 vs the ER6n; a faired CBR500 vs the Ninja 650 and the CB500X vs the Versys.
Of course the Hondas are smaller (and hopefully lighter) and seem to offer ABS (as an option?) but are basic bikes, like the CBR250, and should be priced very competitively.
So what's your guess for the non-ABS versions? The cheapest should be the naked CB500; 180,000 THB? The CBR500 (why wasn't it named CBR500R?) 210,000? The X 230,000?
You'd get a 650 Kawasaki for that. It'll be interesting to see next month at the official release.
All in all I think Honda is on the right track with simple, economical small displacement bikes which hopefully entices the other makers to come up with new models in the 250, 400, 500 and 650cc range. I'm tired of those expensive top-of-the-line bikes I can't afford!
Even if I had the big bucks I wouldn't go overboard here in Thailand; 50 horses should do just fine.

 

[TonyBKK]

^ You really think a Kawa 650 with only ~65-70 hp is "overboard"?

These new Hondas will beat Kawasaki on PRICE and FUEL EFFICIENCY and not much else imo...

ps. all Kawa 650's come with ABS in Thailand.

:happy1:

 

[KZ25]

I mentioned Kawa's 650 when I compared the new models and their prices. With expensive over-the-top motorcycles I meant BMW, KTM, Ducati and the big liter bikes available from the Japanese. Bikes that cost 400,000+ with 100+ hp and top speeds of 200+. I used to read up on these new and fascinating bikes but in recent years have lost interest in them.
When I lived in the US I had a ZX9R a year before the R1 came out; a 1400 Intruder, several used BMW K75 and 100 and assorted others from 650 to 1000cc. A 650 is a "beginner's bike" over there. I rode big bikes for years and paid lots of speeding tickets, that was a phase I enjoyed but now I'm in my fifties and don't feel the need for speed anymore. Also I simply can't afford a bike that costs half a million baht.
Of all those bikes I wish I had one of my XS650s over here.
In Thailand you pass 80% of the traffic when you ride 100 km/h - as I realized again on my recent 1,900km vacation trip from Songkhla to Krabi to Phuket and back. And I rode a Nouvo 135! With all the lame diesel pick-ups, old busses and trucks on the road a 250 feels like a rocket. Heck, even my CBR150R leaves the rest of this traffic way behind at any red light!
I had a VTR250 for a couple of years, I loved that little bike. A VTR500 with a bit more "mass" to it, 45 horses and a top speed of 160 so I could cruise relaxed at 120 would be all I need around here. If it had softer, Versys-like suspension and storage under the seat like the Nouvo it would be even better. That's why I'm quite excited about the CB500X. Besides the styling and the parallel twin it's what I've been wishing for, if it's priced around 200,000 THB.
I know I'd be happy with a 500cc bike for many years!

 

[nikster]

Price-wise these new bikes will probably compete more with a Ninja 300 (one it gets here) than a 650cc Kawa.

These bikes look to be just an extension to the CBR250R - good little bikes for little money. Focus on torque, day to day on the street usable power and fuel economy rather than HP and race track top speed.

Specs (HFL magazine):

- 470cc liquid-cooled, parallel-twin
- Six-speed manual
- 46.9bhp
- 30lb/ft of torque
- 401lbs (dry)/430lbs (wet)
- 105mph top speed
- 31-inch seat height
- 120/70-17 (front)/160-60-17 (rear)

 

[KZ25]

Honda is well known for its reliable, simple and affordable 500cc twins. From 1993 to 2003 Honda offered the CB500 which was a favorite of riding schools and messengers, a cheap and frugal commuter bike. 170kg (dry) and a top speed of a bit over 160 km/h are no superbike figures but the engines lasted 100,000km and more. It was replaced by the CBF500 which was built from 2004 to 2007, had 56hp that could propel the 183kg (dry) bike up to 200km/h.
If the new 470cc CB500 keeps up that tradition - simplicity, reliability and longevity for a low price, I'm all for it!

 

[KZ25]

Finally the cat is out of the bag! All online mags feature the new Honda CB500 trio, and I must say they are a good-looking bunch! And I prefer a low price over lots of hi-tech components.
Good job, well done Honda! Unfortunately we have to wait until spring/summer 2013.

 

[KZ25]

Here a few more. The red CBR500R looks as good as a Ducati! Well, almost.

Pics courtesy of Cycle World.

 

[yankee99]

KZ25;284373 wrote: Here a few more. The red CBR500R looks as good as a Ducati! Well, almost.

Pics courtesy of Cycle World.

As good as a ducati? Sorry i dont think so. Nothing on that bike will be in the same league.

 

[KZ25]

I wrote that the red CBR500R looks almost as good as a Ducati. I think all three versions look quite good; the CBR500R looks better than the CBR250R, the CB500X looks better than the NC700X and the "F" version also looks nice.
Of course you can't expect anything being in the same league - not for that low price!

 

[TonyBKK]

Of course, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but I think this new CBR500 looks cheap and dated compared to the new 2013 CBR600RR-

 

[NickyBKK]

KZ25;284373 wrote: Here a few more. The red CBR500R looks as good as a Ducati! Well, almost.

Pics courtesy of Cycle World.

I really like these bike. Atleast they don't have over the top modern styling. Nice and simple. Let's hope that the best japanese brand (by far) will sell these models in Thailand.

 

[KZ25]

Tony, the new CBR600R has to look great because people expect it to look great. And pay dear money for it.
But the 500 is a simple twin, a cheap runaround, so the good looks are a welcome surprise.
My taste is stuck in the nineties somewhere, and like Nikky I am glad they don't have over-the-top modern styling.

 

[mbox999]

from all the new honda bikes i like the cb500x most. the cb500r does not appeal to me even though i normally like naked bikes

 

[KZ25]

The naked CB500"R" turned out to be the CB500"F" which I think is confusing - F usually stood for Four. I made my license on a CB400F in 1978. Honda produced a CB500T in the seventies.
I also like the X the most, it looks better than any of Honda's "crossovers".
Seems like it has the best seating position for me, more upright but still forward. But I was a bit disappointed to find out that the suspension is not much different from the sport bikes.
Maybe it's too early to complain; hopefully we'll get these bikes and a test ride will show.
These bikes will be high-volume and cheap, so there's money left over to buy quality aftermarket suspension parts.

 

[daewoo]

https://www.gt-rider.com/thailand-motorcycle-forum/showthread.php/37355-New-Yamaha-250-Street-bike-in-2014

On a side note - the same mag showed that Honda are doing promo photos of a 3 bike CB500 based line-up, one of which is a CB500X - dual sport(ish) styling... tho it is all the same chassis and suspension, so the X version would have no better offroad capability than the fully fared CBR...

From an article in Australian Motor Cycle news that had the same photos as the first post...

The CB500X, CBR500 and CB500 are all identical save for the fairings... (or lack thereof in the case of the CB500)... so the CB500X will have exactly the same off-raod capability as a fully faired CBR500...

Might still be a good bike, but a dual purpose bike it is not...

Cheers,
Darryl

 

[KZ25]

Actually the X is a bit different, is has half an inch more suspension travel in the front and some minor changes in the frame set up (rake/trail/wheelbase) which should make it handle a bit differently and a one inch taller seat height.
Of course Honda's "crossover" models and bikes like the Versys are not dual purpose bikes.

 

[daewoo]

KZ25;284479 wrote: Actually the X is a bit different, is has half an inch more suspension travel in the front and some minor changes in the frame set up (rake/trail/wheelbase) which should make it handle a bit differently and a one inch taller seat height.
Of course Honda's "crossover" models and bikes like the Versys are not dual purpose bikes.

You seem to have better info than the mag...

AMCN wrote: "The X's dual-sport-style appearance disguises the fact all three bikes share identical frames and suspension"

 

[KZ25]

I sure do. Tell those guys to do their homework!
Try motorcycle.com ( http://www.motorcycle.com/manufacturer/honda/six-new-2013-honda-models-announced-for-us-91463.html )
who wrote: "Besides its adventurous styling, the CB500X’s front fork features 0.6 more inches of travel than the other two 500s and one degree less rake, 26° vs 25°."
Or check out the specs on Motorcyclist Magazine ( http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/firstrides/122_1302_2013_honda_cb500_series_first_look/2013_specifications.html ).

 

[daewoo]

KZ25;284485 wrote: I sure do. Tell those guys to do their homework!

that I will do...

KZ25;284485 wrote: features 0.6 more inches of travel

and what's not to like about 0.6 more inches of travel ooh errr..

 

[KZ25]

Every millimeter counts!

 

[nikster]

TonyBKK;284401 wrote: Of course, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but I think this new CBR500 looks cheap and dated compared to the new 2013 CBR600RR-

yeah well car manufacturers do that too, and it kinda makes sense that the vehicle that costs 2x as much looks better... hopefully! Or something is seriously wrong.

I've actually wondered how they do this. Do they come up with 10 designs, take the best one and stick it on the most expensive model? Or are they just getting better designers for the more expensive cars? Are they intentionally designing the cheaper ones to look cheaper? Do the cheaper models get the design cues from last year? I think it must be something along those lines.

digging the orange wheels.... yum

 

[NickyBKK]

nikster;284604 wrote: yeah well car manufacturers do that too, and it kinda makes sense that the vehicle that costs 2x as much looks better... hopefully! Or something is seriously wrong.

I've actually wondered how they do this. Do they come up with 10 designs, take the best one and stick it on the most expensive model? Or are they just getting better designers for the more expensive cars? Are they intentionally designing the cheaper ones to look cheaper? Do the cheaper models get the design cues from last year? I think it must be something along those lines.

digging the orange wheels.... yum

Something like that. Also, if you put higher spec parts on a bike, you automatically have a better looking bike. Suspension, swingarm, brake, lights, exhaust etc

 

[KZ25]

I think Honda is on the right track building simple, affordable bikes for practically anybody. The CBR250 is great for beginners, the 500 is for riders who want to move up or older ex-riders who want to get back into the game. It would discourage them if there were only top-of-the-line models for big bucks out there. Especially these days when most people don't have too much money to spend anyways.
Also I'm a relaxed (and safe) rider; I haven't been in an accident in the almost 30 years I've been riding. I don't need the newest, latest, fastest and most-tricked-out bike. A digital speedo is nice, but not necessary; the same goes for upside down forks, a fancy paint-job or aluminum and titanium bits.
I rather buy a simple bike for a low price, and if I want to upgrade it I can always spend some money on aftermarket suspension, tires a.s.o. later.
That this budget bike is not a lightweight, super-sharp looking rocket is just logical. I think for their low price the new 500s don't look cheap.
For those who want to spend big money on bikes that push the envelope there are lots of bikes to choose from.