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‘The Honda’s 200-mile range puts it in tourer territory’
race and start eying the Honda CBR jealously.
It takes me 20 miles or more to warm to the Honda. It doesn’t have the high-revving engine speed of the Kawasaki or the cheeky punch of the KTM, but as the day wears on the 40-something dad in me increasingly grows to appreciate Honda’s subtler qualities.
This is the first time Honda have produced a multi-cylinder bike outside of Japan (it’s assembled in Thailand) but there’s no need to panic; you’d never know it hasn’t come from the same factory as the Fireblade.
At close to £6000 it’s pricey for this entry-level class but owners are unlikely to feel shortchanged for paying extra. Yes, the suspension has only preload adjustment at both ends, the clocks are basic compared to the KTM and it’s way behind the Kawasaki in the looks department, but nonetheless the 500cc Honda rides like the real deal.
On the M40 the CBR sits comfortably at motorway speeds and is comparatively smooth and unflustered. The fairing is more protective than it looks, while an average 70mpg leaves me amazed. I assume I must have made a mathematical error when the fuel light comes on at 214 miles, but I haven’t, meaning its genuine 200-mile tank range puts it into serious tourer territory. Or, more to the point, it makes it a consummate commuter machine.
The Honda doesn’t have the ‘look at me’ paintwork of the Kawasaki and KTM. It doesn’t pretend to be a fullon sportsbike, nor does it feel aggressive; it just gets on with the job in hand without making a performance of it. It’s the easiest of the three to just jump on and ride, despite being the heaviest and largest on test. OK so it’s not particularly exciting, but the handling is smooth and rewarding while remaining stable and predictable. The best compliment I can bestow on the Honda is that it doesn’t feel like an A2 machine; it simply feels like a bike. It’s not just an excellent A2 bike, it’s an excellent one, full stop.