[kj7687]

500cc inline two cylinder sport bike, brand new for 2013 from Honda. Looks good. Don't know anything about it - gonna read up later today. I love Honda man! They're on top of their game right now with their motorcycles! Good stuff! And I'm certain at this point that we will soon see a mid size dual sport from Honda. Keep an eye out for that one 'cause it's gonna be good!



Check it out here:





http://powersports.honda.com/2013/cbr500r.aspx

 

[Point37]

it's funny that yamaha hasn't come out with any smaller displacement bikes to compete yet...suzuki has the gw250 and drz400sm (not really a sport bike) (not sure if either of these are offered here in the US?)...but i'm def excited about this under 600cc class of bikes!



http://www.suzukicycles.com/Product Lines/Cycles/Products/GW250/2013/GW250.aspx



http://www.suzukicycles.com/Product Lines/Cycles/Products/DR-Z400/2013/DRZ400SM.aspx

 

[Bullspit]

If only it looked like a motorcycle and something you could sit on instead of having to mold yourself around.



I'm old and grouchy. I want a motorcycle that doesn't hide the engine behind a bunch of plastic and that lets you sit upright instead of all hunched over.

 

[Dark Sol]

So they finally updated their website and the 500 is indeed coming to the US. Awesome!



I'm loving that red one...I might just have to break down and get it! Gotta love the parallel twin engines...the reliability is just incredible. Even the little 250's go at minimum 100k miles even being wound all the time on the highway. For the 500, they should last even longer if they are as well designed as the ones produced in the 70's 80's and 90's.



It really does sound like the perfect bike though. With a B/S of 67 x 66.8mm (Much longer than the ninja 500) it should make some nice low-end power and I bet the red line is quno more than 8-9k which is great for reliability.



The most fun class of bikes is finally making a comeback... I love it!!

 

[Dark Sol]

So they finally updated their website and the 500 is indeed coming to the US. Awesome!



I'm loving that red one...I might just have to break down and get it! Gotta love the parallel twin engines...the reliability is just incredible. Even the little 250's go at minimum 100k miles even being wound all the time on the highway. For the 500, they should last even longer if they are as well designed as the ones produced in the 70's 80's and 90's.



It really does sound like the perfect bike though. With a B/S of 67 x 66.8mm (Much longer than the ninja 500) it should make some nice low-end power and I bet the red line is quno more than 8-9k which is great for reliability.



The most fun class of bikes is finally making a comeback... I love it!!

 

[kj7687]

If only it looked like a motorcycle and something you could sit on instead of having to mold yourself around.



I'm old and grouchy. I want a motorcycle that doesn't hide the engine behind a bunch of plastic and that lets you sit upright instead of all hunched over.

Lol well if you sit upright your body will act as a massive sail. The plastic also directs the wind out and to the sides of the motorcycle. These of course mean improved aerodynamics which contributes to greater acceleration and speed. These motorcycles are meant to have fun with and go fast, not put around like a grouchy old man ;D Was that too harsh? I'm only kidding man, no real disrespect intended; to each his own

 

[kj7687]

So they finally updated their website and the 500 is indeed coming to the US. Awesome!



I'm loving that red one...I might just have to break down and get it! Gotta love the parallel twin engines...the reliability is just incredible. Even the little 250's go at minimum 100k miles even being wound all the time on the highway. For the 500, they should last even longer if they are as well designed as the ones produced in the 70's 80's and 90's.



It really does sound like the perfect bike though. With a B/S of 67 x 66.8mm (Much longer than the ninja 500) it should make some nice low-end power and I bet the red line is quno more than 8-9k which is great for reliability.



The most fun class of bikes is finally making a comeback... I love it!!

I know man, that entry level and especially true middle weight (not 600cc) class has been virtually stagnant in recent years. It's fantastic how they are making lots of new models in those classes again. With regards to your comment about the B/S of the CBR vs. the Ninja, I'm curious to see how much top end power this CBR 500 will put out. I'm gonna go out on a limb and say it'll be right around 55 horsepower (and, if it really does have a better bottom end than the Ninja, this will result in acceleration times just as good as the Ninja's). It's nice how it's fuel injected. Making a new model carbureted in this day and age would be production-run-suicide lol...but still, it's nice. That would be awesome if you bought one!

 

[Bullspit]

Lol well if you sit upright your body will act as a massive sail. The plastic also directs the wind out and to the sides of the motorcycle. These of course mean improved aerodynamics which contributes to greater acceleration and speed. These motorcycles are meant to have fun with and go fast, not put around like a grouchy old man ;D Was that too harsh? I'm only kidding man, no real disrespect intended; to each his own

To heck with aerodynamics! If I rode for an hour in an aerodynamic position I would walk stooped over for an hour after getting off the bike!



I say bring back a retro CB350 or something like it. Two cylinders max, no plastic panels, and an upright seating position so I can feel the air on my sail-like body as I putt around in the fast lane, with my turn signal on and my gray hair in a ponytail flapping out behind my helmet annoying all you whippersnappers on your snazzy new plastic machines trying to go the speed limit!

 

[mack]

To heck with aerodynamics! If I rode for an hour in an aerodynamic position I would walk stooped over for an hour after getting off the bike!



I say bring back a retro CB350 or something like it. Two cylinders max, no plastic panels, and an upright seating position so I can feel the air on my sail-like body as I putt around in the fast lane, with my turn signal on and my gray hair in a ponytail flapping out behind my helmet annoying all you whippersnappers on your snazzy new plastic machines trying to go the speed limit!

My main bike is a Kawasaki versys. 650 parallel twin. Same motor as a ninja 650. Very upright in a very comfortable riding position. I have 38000k on my 09 and it runs like the day I bought it even though I always ride it like I stole it. Great in the twisties and lots of low end. Even does very well on gravel and dirt roads.

 

[kj7687]

For those of you who aren't race enthusiasts, Honda is also offering the CB500X (and CB500F), which uses the same motor but is supposed to be set up for adventure riding/commuting. I'd never get the F over the R, but I could definitely see myself getting the X. Then again I think the NC700X would definitely be better than the 500X. The question is, would the 700X be ~$1,500 better than the 500X? Tough question.

 

[Bullspit]

For those of you who aren't race enthusiasts, Honda is also offering the CB500X (and CB500F), which uses the same motor but is supposed to be set up for adventure riding/commuting. I'd never get the F over the R, but I could definitely see myself getting the X. Then again I think the NC700X would definitely be better than the 500X. The question is, would the 700X be ~$1,500 better than the 500X? Tough question.

Much more interesting. Thanks!

 

[kj7687]

Much more interesting. Thanks!

Lol no problem, I'm a fan of the X too.

 

[kenfyoozed]

I lke the idea of tthe 500x but at only 1500$ less than the nc700x . the 700 =51hp while the 500= 47hp. So if the actual bike size is close to the same, thats going to be a good deal. I really like the nc700x, seemed to fit me just fine......

 

[DonBenito]

I lke the idea of tthe 500x but at only 1500$ less than the nc700x . the 700 =51hp while the 500= 47hp. So if the actual bike size is close to the same, thats going to be a good deal. I really like the nc700x, seemed to fit me just fine......

Did you get to ride one or just sit on one?



I have yet to read a positive rider review of the NC700X. Everyone who's ridden one and written up something (at least that I've read) characterizes the engine as gutless for the displacement.



It'd be interesting to hear a positive rider review, as it's not a bad looking bike.



Maybe the 500 is tuned peppier and lighter enough to make it more fun?

 

[kenfyoozed]

No i didnt get a chace to ride one, just sat on it for a while in the show room.......

 

[kj7687]

The engine is definitely low power for a 700. The thing is, that should theoretically be good for reliability. So that motor should theoretically have no problem going 100k+ miles. Unfortunately with the "gutless" reviews, and Honda's lackluster effort to portray it in such a light, it probably won't be recognized in that way, and therefore probably will not sell well, and will eventually be discontinued...

 

[Peterb]

I rode the NC750X (2014) and it was an alright bike except for the engine... vibration which I hate and as soon as it started to rev I hit the rev limiter.. then I rode the CB500X.. extremely smooth engine that can rev and makes power at any rpm.. In my opinion it was the sweetest bike I have ever ridden but had one small problem.. in a curve the front forks shudder when you hit a bump.. and its not a nice thing... if Honda addresses this problem i think this will be my next bike

 

[Leisure Time Larry]

Wow, I don't know how I missed this thread since I picked up the CB500F earlier this year, and I have been loving it! Here are my passionate ramblings from another thread regarding the bike:

I just know that I love my bike. It's kinda like the TW of street bikes. Fun, economical, good looking, and others are always impressed with what you can do on it because it's not expected. There are those that will call it underpowered, but it's always done what I've asked it to. I'm not as young, dumb and full of ___ as I used to be, so my riding style may be a little slower, and I want to be more comfortable and upright these days. I still want to have some fun when I crank the throttle or go through the twisties, that's what riding is all about, but most of the time I am just enjoying the ride/journey.

Needless to say, a 600rr or other super sport is not for me. I don't like being cramped or leaning over so far when I ride. I have no interest in track days. Those bikes are twice the cost upfront, and get like half of the mpgs. You have to run premium fuel in them. Another similarity to the TW, the 500 is a low-ish compression engine designed to run 87 octane. Plus, I just don't know when I would use all of that power. I'm friggin' stuck in traffic half of the time anyway. When I would get the chance to unleash her, I would be breaking the speed limits all of the time. Not a knock on other riders or their choices, I'm just saying it's not for me.

I have a lot of fun participating on this and that forum. They are both great and similar in their own respects. Both bikes have a different, yet broad following...some n00bs for sure, some silver grays, commuters, economically minded folks, and worldwide representation. Fyi, there are a couple of people over there that have 15,000 miles + on their 500s without issue. So, I have high hopes that this new little parallel twin will go for a long time hassle free.

Anyway, sorry for the novel. I just love my bikes and how they have been working out so well for me. Like they say, this is not a hobby...it's an obsession. I feel the same with my 500 as I do with my TW, where I feel like shouting, "Hey world, this is such a freakin' awesome bike! Why don't you have one? Why haven't you caught on? Get one now, you won't regret it!"