Honda CBR500R Review: A Very Capable Middleweight Supersport

After jumping off the Honda Forza 350 (I will link to the Forza review here) and straight on to the CBR500R for another two-week period, I put the Japanese brand’s supersport middleweight through its paces, and it stood up to the challenge.

While the rideability of the CBR500R was pleasing, so was the efficiency of the supersport bike as you will get roughly 60-70 mpg thanks to its 17.1-litre fuel tank. With that you would be looking at around 250 miles when the bike is full of liquid.

Honda CBR500R Price, Availability and Colours

There are two colourways to choose from when it comes to Honda’s newest CBR500R. The first of those, which is the paint scheme I had at my disposal, is the Grand Prix Red while there is also a Matt Gunpowder Black Metallic. Both options feature the same RRP of £6,699 and both variants are available on this 2024 model in the UK.

Engine, Chassis and Technology

Specification-wise, the bike’s liquid-cooled parallel-twin engine produces a maximum power output of 47bhp at 8600rpm and creates just under 32Ib ft of torque at 6500rpm, thus making it eligible for A2-licence holders.

The CBR500R’s brakes consist of a 320mm disc with Nissin two-piston callipers at the front, while the rear includes a 240mm disc and single-piston calliper. The feel they provided, whether it was sharp braking initially or more gentle braking on corner entry, allowed the bike to ride smoothly which is why I believe they formed one of the bike's most impressive components.

The brakes are similar to one of its fellow middleweight siblings as Nissin callipers are also found on the more powerful CBR650R from Honda. The two differences, though, include an additional 10mm in size for the front brake disc on the CBR500R (CBR650R comprises a 310mm and not 320mm set-up), while the former also features a four-piston calliper and not the two-piston alignment that’s on the bike I tested.

The suspension features Showa 41mm SFF-BP USD forks on the front, while the rear consists of a Prolink monoshock with five stage pre-load adjuster and a steel square pipe swingarm.

In terms of ground clearance, even as a shorter rider you’re unlikely to struggle with the 130mm set-up. What you will notice is once you’re moving the pegs are quite far back which was slightly uncomfortable for me due to my longer limbs. I was able to adjust by shifting more of my weight forward, but over the course of a full day of riding, you might come away feeling a little bit stiff in the knees and wrists. The seat height comes in at 785mm.

The bike’s dual headlights are full LED as is the taillight. What you get in terms of instrument to play with is a five-inch TFT dashboard with a customisable layout, and it includes the speedometer, tachometer, clock, gear position, and shift up indicator. You can also pair your mobile phone to the TFT dash by using the Honda RoadSync app.

What’s it like to ride?

While the footpegs were slightly too far back for my liking, you are able to make subtle changes with your riding position to make the bike a bit more accessible, especially if you’re on the taller side of average. I was a little bit cramped for room, initially, but if that’s the biggest flaw, which in my mind it was, it shows that Honda’s CBR500R is not going to disappoint.

Within reason as it’s nothing compared to its much bigger sibling, the CBR1000RR, you're still able to feel the power instantaneously when applying the throttle, but furthermore, the bike never wanted to rip your arms off when accelerating quickly.

A bike that’s plenty good enough to have fun at the track, the CBR500R is just as capable on the road, and although long distance rides were more comfortable than I was expecting, I'd maybe put a limit on how long you would want to ride for, especially in rural or urban areas. The bike is very easy to ride, which was clear as soon as I rolled it out of the garage.

But what was most pleasing about the CBR500R was the bike’s agility. Leaning the bike into sweeping bends took little effort and that’s not just because it's a very lightweight motorcycle, but also because it comes into its own in such conditions. If you want a confidence-inspiring bike, and one that is enough to challenge yourself around a track, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better contender in the 400-to-600cc range.

Aesthetically pleasing, the CBR500R features a lot of the sportbike DNA you would expect and see on other motorcycles in the segment from the Japanese brand, while it also holds some very small similarities with the CBR650R, including the (brakes as mentioned) and same front suspension layout which is an improvement compared to the previous model. 

Should you buy the Honda CBR500R?

For young or inexperienced riders it’s well worth consideration and will provide the perfect bike for those of you looking to cut your teeth into track day riding. It was very flickable and took next to no effort moving it from side-to-side. It gives you confidence very quickly and that was especially the case when testing the bikes braking ability.

The five-inch TFT dash features everything you need and includes a modern look, but it’s not going to blow your socks off. The bike doesn’t do anything that will wow you, but that said, it doesn’t need to, instead, one of its biggest selling points is that it does everything well and is a very user-friendly bike.

The CBR500R is nearly £2k cheaper than the CBR650R and is £3.9k cheaper than the CBR600RR which means it offers tremendous value. If you’re looking to ride on both the road and track, then I would say this motorcycle is a strong contender as a supersport middleweight.

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