Honda CB500 a great little machine.
I got my CB500 after a 'dry' spell because I had my license taken away and wanted something to get me back into riding. From the moment I first sat on it we just connected somehow and so the relationship began.
The bike was a unfaired 2000 W plate and ... Read review
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A review by killcar5nbike2 on Honda CB500 November 26th, 2007
Author's product rating:
Comfort
Good
Handling
Excellent
Looks
Satisfactory
Features
Satisfactory
Fuel consumption
Good
Advantages:
Cheap, Reliable, Forgiving
Disadvantages:
Not the best looker and lacking on power compared to other bikes .
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
Honda CB500 a great little machine.
I got my CB500 after a 'dry' spell because I had my license taken away and wanted something to get me back into riding. From the moment I first sat on it we just connected somehow and so the relationship began.
The bike was a unfaired 2000 W plate and had been used as a race bike and had then been put back onto the road only to be involved in a front end crash which resulted in the following damage. Twisted yokes, bent forks, broken clocks, dented tank, scuffed plastics, broken mirors, broken indicators and a smashed headlight.
Now being such a popular and reliable bike cheap parts were in abundance, the only hard part to come by was the instrument cluster. Honda sell them for over £600 new but you can get a second hand one for around £100. Scuffed plastics can be rubbed with wet/dry paper and a splash of paint added to restore colour. Headlight mirrors, indicators and yokes come to about £150 for the lot. The forks were straightend out with a hydroulic press and she was ready to go.
So how did it ride? Well the first thing noticed was the crisp sound of the left side exiting Micron exhaust system that someone had fitted that gave the bike such great personality. The low riding height and small low engine means that even short small framed riders can ride round town with little effort. Round town riding is also helped by the low down torgue deliverd by the 499cc parallel twin engine that only needs a small twist of the throttle and little revs to pull away (unlike small revy inline 4 engines fitted to many small bikes).
The single disc front brake is not overly grabby but more than capable of stopping the bike at high speed without over heating and fading. The riding position is an '80 mph' position (80 mph is not overly windy and is easy to maintain) but not so sporty that weight is put on your wrists and shoulders until you get up speed. As for speed if you let the revs get up in each gear 100mph is quickly reached with about 120mph top speed if you fancy trying it. Another good point is the high 6th gear allowing 60mph to be achieved at a little over a low 5000rpm, it will actually go as fast in 5th as 6th it just revs higher in 5th (ie just hitting the red line).
I took mine from Skegness in Lincolnshire across to the east coast then up to Scotland, first day we (friend riding on YZF-R6) made fort william, second day John-O-Groats, third day Berick upon Tweed and fourth day home. I am 6'3 and weighing 15 stone, the bike had a set of saddle bags containing a two man tent, clothing and a pair of shoes making it just wider than the handle bars. The bike was happy with the extra load and never missed a beat (rained solid for about 6 hours one day). Fuel consupmtion worked out to about 10p per mile with a range of 180-200 miles per tank (I liked to fill it after 160 miles). My only complaint was the seat was a bit hard and by the time fuel stop was getting near my ass was really hurting and had gone numb to the touch. Apart from that I can't fault it.
The CB500 then became my work commuter for the rest of the summer doing the 28 mile round trip each day (commuted on her from may-october) then got put in the shed and cleaned ready for sale as my re-introduction into biking was completed. When she goes I know I will mis her as It is honestly the best bike I have ever owned (iv'e owned alot). A fact sheet I was reading said Honda tested the engine for 200,000 miles and after dissmantling decided that there was still life left in it. It also holds a record as being the only model of bike to compete in 24 hour endurance races at Le-Mans and never suffer a breakdown.
An easy to ride, forgiving, cheap reliable bike that can still be made to get a shift on that is just damn brilliant at doing everything (apart from off road). Sounds like a Honda to me. I now have an XRV750 Africa twin and a 27 year old Suzuki GS250t for winter (refuse to own a car now) but miss using the little CB500 on that trip to work in the morning.
...with a small pair from Honda that make it look a little more modern (£20). Replaced mirrors for an OEM pair at around £20. Added a black plastic shield designed for the US Night Hawk model (looks real good on it and was easy to fit) £50. I removed the box carrier and swapped it at the garage for a rear handle (which the bike had been missing). I removed and repainted the crash bars, then sprayed the entire engine block with HT Al paint and hand painted ... ...including a wasted trip to Honda in Chiswick who, it seems, cant fix their own bikes). I have commuted daily on it, in all weather, since (6 years), doing a total of around 15000 miles. And have had to replace the chain and sprockets on it twice (possibly due to a faulty rear wheel bearing causing the first chain to only last 3000 miles) at a cost of around £100 each time including fitting, the front brake pads 3 times (around £30 each time with ...
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Advantages: economical, comuter, cheap insurance Disadvantages: slow-er than some other pocket rockets
...it needs adjusting.
It?s 499cc Honda say it does 140 mph, other owners ive talked to say 120 is closer.
It?s a parallel twin, (two cylinders, side by side), with the cylinder heads hidden under the petrol tank, changing spark plugs is fiddly, but ok when you know how.
It takes standard 10w30 engine oil, semi synthetic, change it when a) it gets white, b) when it gets runny, c) during its service
d) when you feel like it, The oil change is as ... ...most large towns have a honda dealer, and scrap yards always have stuff knocking around. http://www.hondapart.co.uk/ are supposed to be good also ebay has stuff even cheaper.
Dimensions and weights
Wheelbase: 1430mm (naked models) 1435mm (half-faired 'sport' models)
Seat height: 775mm
Max height: 1050mm (naked models) 1160mm (half-faired 'sport' models)
Max width: 720mm (but you can squeeze through a standard two-foot doorway! - push dont ride)
...
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Advantages: Cheap, forgiveable, good learner Disadvantages: Apart from the 'S', no screen
...look no further than the Honda CB500. It does everything that you want it to do, mega cheap to run on both fuel and insurance, handles well, forgives mistake(and you make a few in your first year) and it gives you a thrill.
I purchased mine from a friend for 800 after being advised that it was an excellent bike to start off on and gain the all important years no claims. I was easy to ride after doing my DAS on a heap of a Yamaha Diversion and I've ... ...I've commuted almost every day throughout the winter and the only drawback is the lack of screen as you do get quite a buffeting. I could have added a screen but I feel that the after market detract from the looks so I didn't bother.
By far it best attribute is the power band above 6000rpm. Between 6000 and 9000rpm it flies and overtaking is no problem at all. Being a paralell twin it sounds quite meaty too and Honda's rep for building bulletproof ...
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Advantages: everything Disadvantages: nothing- brakes could be better
...125cc with 13bhp to my honda cb500 with 58bhp, the bike masters all conditions-city,open roads and motorways.
UPDATE 1
iv owned my cb500 for just over 2 months now, and im happy to report that she's fine and reliability is second to none, i did have a few moments when i thought she had broken down on me the first was when she ran out of fuel and i thought it was dodge carb's but i put the reserve tap on and she fired up instantly, the second was ... ...a massive electrical fault, noe of these were the bike's fault and completely mine (i should know better i'm a motorbike mechanic student).
anyway here's what i think now- the powers still nice and crisp and enough to give me a rush,but not crap my pant's like some bike's, she stays warm for age's and rarely needs the choke to be used after the moring start,( some bikes go cold quickly and need choke every time you leave them for more than 10min's), ...
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Advantages: Reliable, economic, exciting over 7000rpm Disadvantages: Tyres slightly odd size, no fairing
My CB has now done almost 53,000 miles, with very little problem. Others I know of have done even higher mileage. It handles well on twisty roads, blasts down the motorway at illegal speeds and has a powerband above 7000 that has made some people describe it as a modern RD350LC. It is well built (especially the older ones that were made in Japan - more recent ones were built in Italy and tend to rot more). Earlier versions have rear drum brakes, ... ...I must confess, it makes very little difference to me as I almost always use the front brake. The few times I have used both brakes together, the back end has been skipping around the road like a rabbit in springtime. The bike is small enough to get through lanes of traffic on the motorway, but powerful enough to beat most things away from a standing start (especially when the revs get over 7000). It has built up a loyal following of die-hard bikers ...
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Advantages: Cheap, cheerful, simple Disadvantages: Common, used by couriers
...Being another of the born-again biker breed I got my CB500S a few months ago after reading rave reviews on MCN's website. I've not been disappointed.
OK it's not a superbike but it doesn't hurt your wallet like one either. Running costs are low with 50mpg and reasonable insurance; mine hasn't needed new rubber so far. With 59bhp for the half-faired S version and a top wack of 120+ it won't worry the Ninjas or Blades of the world but the twin cylinder lump - after an initial flat spot below 3,000 revs- is as sweet as a nut and sounds the business too when you get near the redline of 10,500 revs. Most of the wind blast is kept at bay by the fairing (which incidentally has an annoying little plastic tray thing inset for earplugs, the top of which always blows open at 40mph and above), the seating is generous and an upright position saves...
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Advantages: Looks fantastic Disadvantages: Not a great first bike and very heavy maintenance
...and sixth.
The flipside is this bike will put a smile on your face everytime you ride it. It can be used everyday as a commuter bike (i did it for 9 months) but it doesn't like it much, buy a hondaCB500 for that. It likes smooth roads with lots of bends and with practice it is possible to slide the back wheel into and out of corners but thats not easy or recommended. If you use it on a track day it is possible to get your elbow down let alone your knee. The handling is superb and the sound is gorgeous, especially when compared to Honda's NSR125.
If this is your first bike after passing you CBT or bike test i can't recommend it, but with about 6 months riding experience it is the perfect start. All the young boys in their Nova's will be breathing your blue exhaust smoke while you are preparing to carry as much speed as possible into...
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Advantages: Looks good. Integrated panniers Disadvantages: No fuel guage.
...I am a born again biker having not ridden for 25 years. The laws have changed in that time and so I bought a Honda 125 cg to relearn on and to do my test. By law you can not ride larger. Having passed my test (at 52) I changed to a HondaCB500. I enjoyed this for a few months but I wanted something larger engine wise and suitable for a little weekend touring. I found the Deauville!
I am not disappointed. OK a few little things - no fuel guage which I would have expected on a "mini tourer". The panniers are on the small side but serve me well. They hold sufficient for myself and my wife for a weekend and I imagine they would do for a few more days.
I find the handling very good. I feel as though I am riding on rails. Remember this is not a high performance bike where one lies over and uses the knee! It is a mature looking...
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06.07.2000
