Not what I expected: CB500F

[MichaelInVenice]

Last weekend, I was finally set to pick up my 6R. Found one of the last places in SoCal with a couple of white 2012s at decent prices. Was on my way down there, and stopped for a donut at Randy's, because in addition to be the most recognizable donut place on the planet, they're also really, really good and I almost never do that for myself.

Just a block south of there is the local Triumph/Honda/Suzuki dealer. I really like this guy and talked to him a lot over the past year or so. Thought I'd just stop in to be fair with the guy and tell him that as much as I loved the Triumphs, I just couldn't justify the cost right now, but give me a couple of years, you will eventually sell me one.

He challenged me to sit on the new Honda 500s. They've been going as fast as he can get them, but he happened to have both a 500F and a 500R sitting there. Then he offered to let me ride around the block.

Long story short, I took the 500F home the next day.

Doesn't have the power and speed of a 6R by any means, and is certainly less shielded. But I actually like the naked styling and found it to be far, far more nimble for the kind of riding I normally do. If I want to take it longer distances I'd probably have to get a handlebar mount flyscreen of some sort and I'll never be able to use it for high-speed freeway tours.

But I've already got 200 miles on it and for the price, and for what I'm likely to use it for, I'm convinced I got the right bike.

Like the 6R it probably could use some suspension work, and the stock Honda muffler is kind of ugly and might get swapped out just for that reason. But otherwise I have absolutely zero complaints. It's probably the smoothest twin I've every ridden, especially if you keep it above 4K RPM and it pulls all the way from about 2500 to redline.

Can't say it'll last me forever, but I'm less performance-oriented rider than most of you, so it just might.

I'll stick around here though from time to time...

 

[JT]

Last weekend, I was finally set to pick up my 6R. Found one of the last places in SoCal with a couple of white 2012s at decent prices. Was on my way down there, and stopped for a donut at Randy's, because in addition to be the most recognizable donut place on the planet, they're also really, really good and I almost never do that for myself.

Just a block south of there is the local Triumph/Honda/Suzuki dealer. I really like this guy and talked to him a lot over the past year or so. Thought I'd just stop in to be fair with the guy and tell him that as much as I loved the Triumphs, I just couldn't justify the cost right now, but give me a couple of years, you will eventually sell me one.

He challenged me to sit on the new Honda 500s. They've been going as fast as he can get them, but he happened to have both a 500F and a 500R sitting there. Then he offered to let me ride around the block.

Long story short, I took the 500F home the next day.

Doesn't have the power and speed of a 6R by any means, and is certainly less shielded. But I actually like the naked styling and found it to be far, far more nimble for the kind of riding I normally do. If I want to take it longer distances I'd probably have to get a handlebar mount flyscreen of some sort and I'll never be able to use it for high-speed freeway tours.

But I've already got 200 miles on it and for the price, and for what I'm likely to use it for, I'm convinced I got the right bike.

Like the 6R it probably could use some suspension work, and the stock Honda muffler is kind of ugly and might get swapped out just for that reason. But otherwise I have absolutely zero complaints. It's probably the smoothest twin I've every ridden, especially if you keep it above 4K RPM and it pulls all the way from about 2500 to redline.

Can't say it'll last me forever, but I'm less performance-oriented rider than most of you, so it just might.

I'll stick around here though from time to time...

pics or it did not happen :needpics::needpics::needpics:

 

[MichaelInVenice]

And yes, the license plate is on order:

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[Riccochet]

That's a nice bike! I like those wheels!

 

[MichaelInVenice]

That's a nice bike! I like those wheels!

Yeah. The got the look on these right, except for the muffler which is a generic Honda round can. It seems that they're using pretty much the same one on all the new 500 and 700 series bikes. They vary end caps and such, but they're all basically the same. Understandable given the focus on keeping the price down, but kind of a throwback to 1990s styling.

Easily fixed though. Plenty of slip ons available and more every day. There seems to be a huge amount of aftermarket interest in these bikes.

 

[MichaelInVenice]

And the other side, in the garage last night:

 

[Scott_Thomas]

And the other side, in the garage last night:

Congrats, she's a nice looking girl. I see Honda did the same thing that Yamaha did with the grab bar. WTF are they thinking making a split grab bar?

 

[MNGreg]

Congrats on the ride, even if it isnt a 6R!

I saw information on that bike in one of my magazines recently. Aparently the mags are unable to get them to demo, and they are flying off the sales floors. On the Mag, the editors wife baught one and that is how it was demo'd. Sounds like they are pretty nice bikes.. A nice ride and the engine sounded like it wasnt high strung - comfy engine for street riding like the 6R is.

 

[MichaelInVenice]

Congrats, she's a nice looking girl. I see Honda did the same thing that Yamaha did with the grab bar. WTF are they thinking making a split grab bar?

Don't have a clue. It does look better on the Honda than the Yamaha, but just barely.

 

[Anthony]

Mike that really is a nice looking bike. Congrats man....

 

[Marthy]

Congrats! Honda nailed it on those 3 bikes. Same bikes different options. Hope Yamaha learn from that.

That would be the perfect bike for the wife...

By the way... Official review is expected! LOL

 

[MichaelInVenice]

Congrats! Honda nailed it on those 3 bikes. Same bikes different options. Hope Yamaha learn from that.

That would be the perfect bike for the wife...

By the way... Official review is expected! LOL

Yup, sharing as many components as possible and making everything standard around the world means that the aftermarket is just popping up everywhere. And they got the power/torque curve right for normal street riding. It won't match a 6R, but as we've often said here, there are few people who will ever use even a 6R to its capability in normal street riding.

I just noticed the other day, the exhaust is the same as an old 919, just reversed, with a different endcap. (And of course, the 919 had twin exhausts.) Got to compare them side-by-side on Sunday and they're pretty much the same, right down to the conical intake heat shroud. That's the kind of reuse that will keep prices down. Yeah, it does mean some things have a sort of generic look, but I think Honda realize that those of us who want something else would rather get the cheap cylinder and save the dollars for a slip-on of our choice. Levers and many other controls are apparently common with the 250r and the new 700s. Even headlights, if you look at them tend to be fairly common across the lower end of the Honda lineup. That kind of parts commonality is what motorcycle makers are going to have to do if they want to keep prices down.

 

[Invader Jim]

I just read a review. It estimates 70+ MPG. That is awesome. I think I would pick the F over the R also.

 

[nismos14]

Awesome!! I love them. If it was out when I was about to buy the 6R, I may have went that route. The only things that would have been bad is that I do a lot of two up riding now and I already feel the 6R isn't the greatest for it when we have the bags and everything on...

 

[JT]

Congrats good looking bike

 

[Pinarello Rider]

I cross-shopped the two. I found the cockpit on the honda's to be a little smaller than I was looking for, and I really wanted that extra 100cc's. I can't really say why. But when it came down do it, my perceived sense of more heft to the FZ6r, and power increase was worth the extra $500 to me (I bought a '12 FZ6r for $6300). I also preferred the more upright riding position of the 6r.

All those things said, those Honda's look like fantastic bikes and anyone shopping the 500/600cc range owes it to themselves to go check them out. 70+mpg is a whole lot of miles for a bike - that's impressive. Hope you have many miles and smiles OP!

 

[aki]

Thanks! I've been waiting for a review like this! Definitely would like to hear a more in depth review in the near future!
If I had read this review 3 weeks ago, most likely would be riding a White CB500F right now. I was going back and forth between the CB and FZ6R for months... They just never had a CB in stock to test ride... I'm definitely happy with my recent Yamaha purchase, and glad you really enjoy the new Honda! Now I have to convince my buddy to get the CBR500R/CB500F so I can try it out.