Honda CB 500 F and Honda CBR 500 R in the driving report

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Honda CB 500 F and Honda CBR 500 R in the driving report

Wellness program

Driving fun and full throttle are great with the newly renovated, embellished Honda CB 500 F and Honda CBR 500 R. We did a first test drive with both of them.

Do you remember? There was a time when there were 500cc “heavy motorcycles” with a good reputation: Manx and Venom, SR and XT, CX and XL. But the world has continued to turn, the shine of half a liter seems to have faded. Today 48 hp is more than most of the “men’s machines” from back then – but apparently only appeal to beginners. Well, Honda has proven worldwide that 500 cc is still to be expected. Since 2013, over 90,000 copies of the Honda CB 500 F and Honda have left VS.BR 500 R the production lines in Thailand. 30,000 of them came to Europe. We are now in its southwest, north of Seville in Spain.

Honda CB 500 F and Honda CBR 500 R in the driving report

Wellness program

79 centimeters low seat

The nine-way adjustable shock absorber also works comfortably without being gummy. The simple chassis digests even bad asphalt. Everything is easy, intuitive and smooth: braking and turning, clutching and changing gears with a click – the shift drum and shift mechanism have been modified in the easy-to-use transmission. The 79 centimeter low seat gives you a lot of confidence. Small drivers can reach the ground with both feet, long guys get their knees under well. Sit on it and feel good. The seat is nice and narrow at the front, yet comfortable, and the handlebars are wide for easy handling. Everything is where it belongs, Honda can do good ergonomics. Driver and machine go together like a key and lock.

Picture-perfect asphalt crosses lovely olive groves and cork oak forests. Yes, friends, that is motorcycling: driving pleasure, soaking up everything, becoming one with the landscape. Even a manageable 48 HP is not called up on many sections of the route, curve after curve is so tightly lined up. Wringing out allowed: When turning the engine, specially developed for the 48-hp class, never seems to be strained, and not tired around the bottom. Even in sixth gear it can handle well under 3000 tours. Really cheerful. Elastic and a lot of torque for a moderate 471 cubic meters. The twin hangs fine and clean on the gas, is lively and economical despite the high proportion of full throttle. Honda mentions 3.4 liters of standard consumption for the Euro 3 homologated engine.

Sharper, sleeker, slimmer

Then the tank, increased by a volume of 16.7 liters, would be good for a range of almost 500 kilometers. In view of the smooth running of the lively eight-valve double cam, these could be torn off almost in one piece – only from 5000 tours do gentle vibrations reach the driver, from 6000 tours more clear. Until then, the balance shaft of the narrow counter-rotation will do a great job. Bore and stroke are almost identical, that fits perfectly. A beautiful, pleasantly dull and quiet twin sound bubbles out of the new silencer. The new styling should appear more aggressive, convey the "impression of speed", and appeal to 20 to 30 year olds in particular. But the usability and suitability for everyday use remains high.

The new Honda CB 500 F looks sharper, sleeker and slimmer. With its wiry lamp mask, it is visually reminiscent of the faded Honda Hornet 600. The new LED headlights appear bluish-bright, a noticeable safety more. The equipment of the compact Honda also appears well thought-out: the cockpit reports fuel consumption as average and current values ​​as well as the amount of fuel that has flowed through since the start. Immobilizer and hazard lights are on board, the stainless steel manifold. The handbrake lever can now be adjusted five times, but the clutch lever is still not. The workmanship is definitely valuable, hardly cheap. Okay, the simple steel box swingarm and the steel frame are a bit of a red pencil, a gear indicator is missing.

Driving license allowance for A2 drivers

It’s more like inner size: the Bonsai CB for just under 6000 euros is a compact, lively feel-good motorcycle. It is very agile, can be driven cheekily, but does not scare beginners. The low pitching moment when the simple ABS brake system is actuated contributes to this. The 500 also stays on course, pulls reliably and round its course on its Thai Dunlop D 222. Everything about this motorcycle is pretty simple, but effective and easy to use.

Honda believes in its good manufacturing quality and solid construction, and grants the 500 series long 12,000 service intervals. Honda gives real A2 drivers a driver license allowance of up to 600 euros. You can look forward to a better power-to-weight ratio than any sports car. And even old hands in the saddle will feel right at home with this wellness program.

Sportier sister Honda CBR 500 R

Thanks to the modular system, Honda also has a technically identical, four kilogram heavier athlete up its sleeve. Thanks to the dynamic-looking full cladding with double LED headlights, the "Baby-Blade" Honda CBR 500 R chic looks great. Your driving experience seems almost more coherent, slightly more confident. An athlete without stress, one who is low and forgiving a lot. Its handlebar stubs are four centimeters narrower and five centimeters lower than the tubular handlebars of the Honda CB 500 F. The CBR’s windshield, which is effectively backflow, offers good wind protection. You hardly need to duck down even at Vmax (175 km / h). The "R" is 560 euros more expensive than the bare F. In 2015, before the renovation, 470 CBR 500 R and 1200 CB 500 F were sold in Germany.

What’s new?

16 Pictures

Pictures: Honda CB 500 F and Honda CBR 500 R in the driving report

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Data Honda CB 500 F (CBR 500 R)

16 Pictures

Pictures: Honda CB 500 F and Honda CBR 500 R in the driving report

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