Honda CB500

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) ... Read review

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 ... Read review

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 ... Read review

Advantages: reliable, economical, sporty, light weight, tank range, simple.
Disadvantages: very minor corrosion, one front disc.

Having not been a motorcyclist for 18 years, I decided that I ought to go back to biking cautiously. Also, I wanted a machine that would provide reliable, economic commuting with the bonus of being able to enjoy some more sporty leisure riding. Having considered all the options in the 500cc to 750cc class, I chose the CB500 because of its reputation for reliability, 60mpg and its good sport retro looks. I am not a heavy person and the acceleration ...
...up to 100mph without any screen. I would like to fit a café style screen to make 80mph cruising more comfortable and enable me to taste the 125mph top end that is possible, without lengthening my long arms anymore! I could have bought the sport version with the half fairing, but prefer the naked looks. I’m 6 foot tall and find the bike comfortable. The tank range is a good 200 miles, which is important for commuting and touring. I soon got ... Read review

Advantages: Cost, flexibility, reliability
Disadvantages: None really!

If you're looking at a bike like this then chances are, you want something which is an all-rounder, cheap and reliable. Well - congratulations, you've found it! The CB500 is a cracking "little big" bike, which although down on power on most of its more modern bretheren is still quite able, in the right hands, of keeping up with most modern 600s - certainly on normal roads. It handles really well (it still has its own race series, the CB500 cup), ...
...economical commuter giving 65mpg and 200+ miles to the tank at lower revs, or become a great little throw-around scratcher if you buzz it up to its real powerband of 7-10k. Thin enough to filter through traffic with ease,and with a nicely slightly-canted riding position which is a comfy compromise between l sports and upright , it's also got a low seat height for the shorties but isn't too cramped if you're bigger (I'm 6'1" with a bad knee and I ... Read review

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... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

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 honda CB500 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... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: see text
Disadvantages: see text

...Returning from Thailand after pottering around on the ubiquituous Honda 125s, I resolved to learn to ride a bike (as opposed to mastering the art of hanging on while it moved). I signed up with Westfield Motorcycle Training in Redditch - top boys, though their jokes needed carbon-dating, who got me from a 125 to a Honda CB500 in no time. Paradoxically, the 500 is easier to ride (I'd insert a bit of physics here but I think you'd see through it, so just take it as read that it is) and aside from a hairy moment decking the bike ten minutes before my test (a u-turn - get it wrong, and that perfectly balanced machine becomes 200kg that wants to smooch up to the tarmac real bad) I passed first time. Buoyed with enthusiasm I scoured the bike press looking for a suitable machine to exercise my newfound prowess. Rather like those game... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful