New and improved Honda CB500F is a lot of bike for £85 a month
Honda’s new CB500F just got even better, but no more expensive
Think Honda CB500 and many conjure up visions of an old naked Honda; cheap cheerful, but not exactly thrilling (bonkers CB500 Cup racers excepted).
But that all changed in 2013 when Honda brought out a new family of racy, naked and adventure-styled A2 licence-friendly CB500s with proper styling, exciting engines and easy handling. Honda polished them further in 2016 for even more appeal and they’ve sold over 70,000 since then. For this year the CB500 has come of age with a more flexible 47bhp engine and another step up in refinement and quality. We tested the new CBR500R and CB500X in last week’s MCN and now it’s the turn of the new CB500F.
It costs £5559? Really?
With its aggressive creases and sharp edges the CB500F’s new bodywork, drenched in deep paint, has more than a sophisticated air of Italian design about it. The general finish, including the engine and shiny exhaust headers, are more like what you’d get on a ten grand super-naked, let alone a machine costing under £6k.
Midrange boost
Peak power remains at 47bhp, but beneath that is a bubbling cauldron of grunt (relatively speaking). A 4% gain in power and torque comes from new inlet cam timing, a bigger airbox and straighter inlet tracts. The extra midrange comes from new mapping that’s slightly less ‘top-endy’ than the new CBR500R’s and a 2kg weight loss, gained from lighter gears and subframe, a smaller battery, ABS pump and thinner plastics.
A wider, friendlier spread of power gives the parallel twin cylinder motor the feel of a bigger bike, but its delivery and soft throttle pick-up would make a Blade green with envy. Newer riders will feel immediately at home, but it’ll impress those who just want a light, fun, sub-six grand naked, too.
Easy does it
Arms, legs, wrists, neck and bum (knees and toes) all get an easy time on the long haul, and with a seat height of just 785mm and squishy suspension, it’ll be easy for most to get their feet on the floor.
A new slip-and-assist clutch is 45% lighter at the lever. Gears now feature nine smaller ‘dogs’ instead of six for slicker changes, but it sometimes hits a false neutral if you hammer the revs between first and second.
The Showa forks have new progressive springs (soft at the top and bottom, hard in the middle) and there’s a new single-tube rear shock.
Ride quality and overall balance is spot-on and the CB500F keeps its composure even when pushed hard. Michelin Pilot Road 5 tyres are grippy and the single disc front brake set-up is friendly.