Honda CBR500R
Think the new licence restrictions rule out a 'proper' fast bike? Honda's got the answer...
What’s an A2 bike?
With a maximum of 35Kw/47.6hp these bikes are aimed at riders of between 19 and around 26 years of age – the old target audience of supersport bikes. Cheap to insure and also run, A2 bikes are now developing into far more than just dull commuter hacks and this class is genuinely exciting to watch as it grows. And leading the charge is Honda with its new range of parallel twins.
PH2 got a very brief road ride on the CBR500R and if you were restricted to an A2 licence you would be pretty chuffed to have one in your garage. With a £4,950 (including ABS) price tag the Honda is great value, but far more important that that it looks amazing and rides brilliantly. The bike we tested had the same white/blue/red colour scheme as its CBR brothers the Fireblade and CBR600RR and at a quick glance you wouldn’t have picked the 500 out as a low-powered budget machine in the line up. It really does look superb and although there are obviously cost-saving areas, they don’t scream out. The dash is digital, a fuel gauge is included, ABS is standard, the right way up forks have a smart back finish and the quality of paint seems pretty high. All in all it’s a damn fine looking machine, and one that is surprisingly accomplished to ride.
Here to stay or a flash in the pan?
Often bikes aimed at newer riders can feel a bit like oversized toys. The old style CBR125R was just so small and low it felt horrific to ride, however while the CBR500R is very narrow, a feature that gives it the feeling of a low seat height as your legs are less spread and therefore you can reach the ground easier, it has a genuine big bike feel. Blatting around on the CBR I didn’t feel like I was riding a ‘new rider’ bike, it felt like I was instead enjoying a sensibly powered motorcycle with good handling and a lovely character.
The parallel twin engine is packed full of charm. It has a surprisingly pleasant exhaust note that while certainly slightly wet-farty as standard isn’t as awful as some – stick a race can and on and I reckon it would be absolutely mega. The power delivery is what you would expect from such a machine, slightly muted so as not to scare but get it wound up and the CBR can motor. On some open back roads I managed to get a bit enthusiastic on the Honda and while the suspension wasn’t overly happy, the engine and handling was certainly good enough to put a huge grin on my face. It may be a ‘new rider’ bike but that parallel twin has some potential for silliness– well it had better, this year one will be attempting to haul John McGuinness around the TT course…
What’s next?
While it’s upsetting to see supersport sales slipping it’s genuinely exciting to see what will appear next in the A2 category. I have nothing against well priced, good fun machines that tempt new riders onto two wheels. Sure I wish supersport bikes were still £6K, but they aren’t and if these A2-friendly machines are the future then it’s not all bad news.
HONDA CBR500R
Engine: 471cc parallel twin
Power: 46hp@8,500rpm
Torque: 31lb ft@7,000rpm
Top speed: 110mph (est)
Weight: 194kg (dry)
MPG: 76mpg (claimed)
Price: £4,950
Commuters in posh frocks. Nothing more and nothing less.
Personally I'd rather get my experience with the new licensing laws on an honest naked budget bike that fits the criteria knowing it won't be expensive if I drop it. Performance will be the same.
Commuters in posh frocks. Nothing more and nothing less.
Personally I'd rather get my experience with the new licensing laws on an honest naked budget bike that fits the criteria knowing it won't be expensive if I drop it. Performance will be the same.
Id still rather have the bike thou.
Commuters in posh frocks. Nothing more and nothing less.
Personally I'd rather get my experience with the new licensing laws on an honest naked budget bike that fits the criteria knowing it won't be expensive if I drop it. Performance will be the same.
What was stopping them from making bikes like the CBR400RR ,VFR400s & ZX400Rs in the 90s? With the exception of ABS and FI, this isn't much further ahead from a 20 year old GPZ500.
I'm pretty sure the bikes I lusted after when I was younder were:
The 400s listed above, KR1-S, RGV250, RS250, NSRs etc... All pretty much race reps. If you wanted a GPZ500 or GS500 over those or a Crosser you were a bender, plain and simple!
That hideous thing above will only appeal to beardies trying to save cash on a commute!
This has 2 repercussions. 1) Manufacturers have no incentive to build tiny little multi's like the 400's (which would end up being too powerful for the A2 but too small for the A) or.... 2)my CBR250R (no not that one, the 1988 one with the 18,000rpm redline) which now falls neatly between the cracks, just powerful enough but too small and the power to weight is slightly too large for the A2. Now no learner in their right mind would buy it , oh well time to figure out how to resto-mod it or track it.
Not that theres anything wrong with thumpers and twins like the CBR500 but they are generally pretty dull, though the KTM 390 looks like a right giggle.
Commuters in posh frocks. Nothing more and nothing less.
Personally I'd rather get my experience with the new licensing laws on an honest naked budget bike that fits the criteria knowing it won't be expensive if I drop it. Performance will be the same.
What was stopping them from making bikes like the CBR400RR ,VFR400s & ZX400Rs in the 90s? With the exception of ABS and FI, this isn't much further ahead from a 20 year old GPZ500.
Take a look at the prices of 400's in the classifieds you will get a shock. 3-4k for a decent 15 year old one! I was hoping to get one as fling away fun but fk me you just cant do it for under £1500.
Would seem to me the market is screaming for some.
What was stopping them from making bikes like the CBR400RR ,VFR400s & ZX400Rs in the 90s? With the exception of ABS and FI, this isn't much further ahead from a 20 year old GPZ500.
47.6bhp is less than my 1977 Triumph is rated at, why go exotic with the engine when a under developed lump badly built by grumpy brummies could produce more than the limit 36 years ago & was based on a design from the 30s? Besides, some of us prefer the exhaust note & character of a parallel twin to a IL4.
I expect that bike would be a good laugh on twisty roads if your not trying to keep up with proper sports bikes. All you need is brakes & suspension as poor as an old Triumph & it's got the power to feel properly ragged when you wind it up. No point in speccing it like a 600 super sports, it'd be as dull as ditch water because you'd never be able to use the chassis to anything near it's extent.
What was stopping them from making bikes like the CBR400RR ,VFR400s & ZX400Rs in the 90s? With the exception of ABS and FI, this isn't much further ahead from a 20 year old GPZ500.
47.6bhp is less than my 1977 Triumph is rated at, why go exotic with the engine when a under developed lump badly built by grumpy brummies could produce more than the limit 36 years ago & was based on a design from the 30s? Besides, some of us prefer the exhaust note & character of a parallel twin to a IL4.
I expect that bike would be a good laugh on twisty roads if your not trying to keep up with proper sports bikes. All you need is brakes & suspension as poor as an old Triumph & it's got the power to feel properly ragged when you wind it up. No point in speccing it like a 600 super sports, it'd be as dull as ditch water because you'd never be able to use the chassis to anything near it's extent.
What was stopping them from making bikes like the CBR400RR ,VFR400s & ZX400Rs in the 90s? With the exception of ABS and FI, this isn't much further ahead from a 20 year old GPZ500.
47.6bhp is less than my 1977 Triumph is rated at, why go exotic with the engine when a under developed lump badly built by grumpy brummies could produce more than the limit 36 years ago & was based on a design from the 30s? Besides, some of us prefer the exhaust note & character of a parallel twin to a IL4.
I expect that bike would be a good laugh on twisty roads if your not trying to keep up with proper sports bikes. All you need is brakes & suspension as poor as an old Triumph & it's got the power to feel properly ragged when you wind it up. No point in speccing it like a 600 super sports, it'd be as dull as ditch water because you'd never be able to use the chassis to anything near it's extent.
And the Duke 390 actually has a 375cc so it's technically too small to do the test on
What was stopping them from making bikes like the CBR400RR ,VFR400s & ZX400Rs in the 90s? With the exception of ABS and FI, this isn't much further ahead from a 20 year old GPZ500.
47.6bhp is less than my 1977 Triumph is rated at, why go exotic with the engine when a under developed lump badly built by grumpy brummies could produce more than the limit 36 years ago & was based on a design from the 30s? Besides, some of us prefer the exhaust note & character of a parallel twin to a IL4.
I expect that bike would be a good laugh on twisty roads if your not trying to keep up with proper sports bikes. All you need is brakes & suspension as poor as an old Triumph & it's got the power to feel properly ragged when you wind it up. No point in speccing it like a 600 super sports, it'd be as dull as ditch water because you'd never be able to use the chassis to anything near it's extent.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but that means a 160kg bike could have 32kw of power? So they could loose circa 20kgs off that thing above?
I struggle to see how they've made it so heavy?? It's under 10kg lighter than 90s 750s and they are brutes. Extra weight is the last thing inexperienced new riders need.
http://www.ktm.com/at/news-events/news/racing/deta...
My 1991 ZXR400 produces 160bhp/litre and weighs apparently 160kg dry.
Wish the big four would make some awesome little bikes again.
Then again, that said, wasn't built with any licence requirements in mind so I suppose I've missed the point!
I struggle to see how they've made it so heavy?? It's under 10kg lighter than 90s 750s and they are brutes. Extra weight is the last thing inexperienced new riders need.
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