All Tests – Honda CBR 500R test: a more polished CB – A CB in an evening dress

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Honda CBR 500R test: a more polished CB

All Tests - Honda CBR 500R test: a more polished CB - A CB in an evening dress

After testing the small Honda CB 500F roadster, Site invites you to take the handlebars of the sports car of the range: the CBR 500R. Is she really more radical, as her surname suggests? A (very) few things, yes ! Test.

A CB in an evening dress

As you may have read during our, our Spanish journey was cut short by a capricious weather … Result, while we had to do battle on the circuit with this new Honda CBR 500R, access to the track was refused to us in due to snowfall at altitude.

Suddenly no relief, nor large curves, just a little winding to highlight a natural and very quick grip. In total, therefore, only 60 km on the handlebars of a CBR in the format completely identical to that of the, with the only difference 2 kg more on the scale. But before launching hostilities, let’s detail our motorcycle of the day.

If the CB 500F is clearly inspired by the CB 1000R, the CBR 500R takes the broad lines of the CBR 1000 RR. It is therefore adorned with a fork crown with two optics with a side fairing which partially covers the engine and the water radiator, on the left and on the right.

Like the rest of the bike, the plastics are of a good quality both to the eye and to the touch. To nitpick, the use of more discreet screws would have increased the score for aesthetics, but frankly, there is no theft for a motorcycle at 5,990 euros equipped with ABS! Displayed 500 € more than the, the CBR500R is positioned just below a Suzuki Gladius 650 (5 999 € without ABS), a Kawasaki ER-6n (6 499 € without ABS) or even a Suzuki Bandit 650 (6 199 euros without ABS).

The CBR is also distinguished from the roadster by more sporty controls … on paper! Because in reality its 560 mm wide handlebars are positioned above the triple tree and their opening offers almost a handlebar as relaxed as that of the right handlebars of the .

As on the "F", access to the dashboard could have been facilitated via controls on the handlebars. Nevertheless, a good point for the two motorcycles which integrate the HISS, the Honda immobilizer by coded key.

At the seat, there are two separate saddles for the pilot and the passenger. If we ran out of kilometers during this first test to judge the comfort of the driver’s seat, its thickness suggests a promising performance..

Under the passenger seat, there is a small storage space which locks on the left rear side. Inside, we do not find the space offered by the first CB 500 of 1993. Due to angular lines chosen to stick to current fashions, the rear shell therefore only accommodates the tool kit and the U-lock. Honda specific.

But now is not the time to park, even if we appreciate its turning radius, which makes maneuvering in town easier. And while waiting for a more in-depth urban test and in the absence of a circuit, let’s first test the motorway.

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