Nah dude... Enjoy your ride, the CBR500 is a wonderful ride. Teaches you road basics, not too much power and just simple. I've got a 200 horsepower bike and of course I love it.. But it's hard to enjoy because I use a tenth of the power on the road. Keep loving your ride bro😊
The 2014 CBR1000RR weighed 422lbs dry. How the hell did they lose 500ccs and stay the same weight? It's almost like the Engineers were like "Hey guys, what if we added a bunch of gold and lead in the frame?"
If they actually took the same bike and just changed the engine, yeah it would likely be lighter, but it has a steel frame and overall heavier components
Guys, you miss one big point. This bike is for the A2 category which is limited to 35 kW. In Europe the Honda’s 500 series is really loved because it has more torque than the most A2 bikes
In Thailand. This is the opposite to USA. CBR500R are cheaper than Ninja 400. To the point that Kawasaki can't sell and need to dumb the price down to make it cheaper than CBR recently.
At $7300 it's closer to a Ninja 650 than a ninja 500. With the 650 you actually get a lighter bike that makes almost 20 more hp. But the Honda does have winglets.... so there's that.
I still vouch for the Ninja 500 SE over the 650 unless you are a bit heavier and need that extra grunt. Both bikes are better than the Honda though.. I owned a 2015 Honda CB500F before my Ninja, and even THAT seat was better than the ones they put on their new Hondas. Penny pinchers.
I'm not knocking Yammy, but true giveaways do not require spending a dime. If you have to spend money for an entry, then it is a raffle, not a giveaway.
Lol. Excellent point!!! And People who live in glass houses,shouldn't throw stones either! Has anyone bothered to check out the PRICES Yammie CHARGES for things like t-shirts on his site!?!? OMG,talk about OVERPRICED!!! Nuff said.
@@sleekzofficial3377He’s simply one of the oldest biking RUclipsrs and puts out the most content. He actually had a lot of haters and people who call him out on other sections of the internet
I have a 1984 500 Interceptor. It sold for a similar price, (adjusted for inflation ) but was lighter, had four cylinders, and made 70 hp. Forty years ago!
Dude you miss the point that that bike has to be A2 license compliant which limits the power 35 kw or 47 HP to sell it for the rest of the world. I have a A2 license too.
I mean as far as why the kawi is cheaper than the CBR is obvious when you add it up. Kawi has cheap right side up forks and a single disc in the front that feels like mush. Also comes with cheaper gpr300 tires as opposed to the cbr that has top shelf michelin road 6 tires. The kawi also has way less standard features.
Well sure, but you mention things you can fix, the n400 is incredibly improved by simply changing to better tires and pads, which isn't expensive. You can use heavier oil on the forks to improve the feel. Among other things like changing to steel lines, or swapping the rear shock to a better one. The problem is that at 370pounds de kawi is 12% lighter and 27% cheaper, with the same hp. I honestly don't understand how the 500 is still on market. It has winglets though, yay
I think Yam has a dedicated idea of a sport bike being "sporty" when in reality what people want is the trappings of a sport-bike without the butt-clenching terror that goes a long with one.
My 2023KTM RC390 doesnt have winglets, but its almost 100 lbs lighter and has about the same HP. $4999. NEW! Thought i saw a Honda in my rear veiw mirror, guess not!
@@nonyabusiness4151 I've got a 390 duke also, totally different from an RC CUP GP bike, have a Yoshimura GSX-R 750 that weights 360 lbs. And have sold and ridden 100 VFRs since they 1st came out. Good bike! I never considered fuel economy. I care about low weight and power to weight ratio, sticky tires..stuff like dat!
yeah its cheaper until you have to maintain it so cheaper for 1-2 years, then the honda wins and continues to win for the nxt 100 years, whereas you will haev to buy a new bike in 5-10 years
@@paulbarclay4114 KTM IS FOR RACERS, not commuters and college scooter geeks. My bike represents $40 million a year investment in the RED BULL GP TEAM. Don't care dick about consumer reports and maintenance schedules. Never seen a CBR 500 being safety wired in the pits for safety inspection...never will! Talk to me when your bike weights 320 lbs!
Everything you said is correct, but the thing you didn't consider is that this model is more for the European market. 48hp is the maximum you can drive with A2 licence at 18 years old, so if you are stuck with A2 you cannot drive the Kawasaki or cf Moto. Talking in consideration the global market can really help you step up your analysis 👍🏻
You can drive the Ninja 500 and cfmoto with A2. What I think he's missing is that the cbr500r is much more towards the sport touring aspect then it is to a full mini sports bike. The ninja 500 is definitely more aggressive as is the cfmoto. The Honda just feels more comfortable for long drives but not better in the twisties.
You are right, and other bikes that he mentions are limited to that hp; so this kind of A2 bike is the best for that license, since you dont ride a heavier, same power limited model.
I don't have a problem with the bike itself, it's just the marketing gimmicks and phrases where they pretend to be a supersport bike for excitement. But what Yammie misses (intentionally for content probably, lol) is that they cannot improve this bike in order not to interfere with cbr650r and cbr600rr sales. That's always the case with large manufacturers who offer variety of models.
$7,399 ? Right. Closer to $8,500 after the dealer charges. Out the door is what matters. Please quote the U.S. dealer truth when talking about buying any bike. Out the door reality makes your point even more painful.
The 2nd gen 500R was my starter bike and to this day I still maintain that it was great platform. That said, I would never buy it new. It's way overpriced. I bought mine with only 3000km on it for half the price of new with a few mods already on it (tail tidy and LED flush turn signals). It was pretty great at the price. I actually sold it 3 years later for a few hundred bucks more than I bought it. =) Great bike used, wouldn't touch it new.
Those get recommended a lot, never sat on the Suzuki, but I found the MT-07 really uncomfortable. I actually don't like a lot of Yamahas for some reason, thought the Suzuki 8R gave me a similar feeling. The price might be there, but the use case and etc may not.
My old boss who’s been riding for 20+ years told me he’d take a SV-650 any day in the twisties. And honestly the power to weight ratio is pretty damn good for the price.
Maybe they are trying to appeal to beginner bikers from Europe that are not allowed to ride 48+HP bikes before you have 2 years of experience without having to downtune the engine of a bigger bike, like the rebel 500 for example
I sat on a CBR500R at a bike shop and yeah while it was a little too expensive, it did feel noticeably more premium than the cheaper bikes mentioned here
this is not hating, but this bike has extremly shitty price to value, there is no reason to buy this for +2k $, you can buy either a cheaper bike or a more powerfull advanced one
@@csabalegradi2199 I can't by a more powerful bike because I'm European (A2 licenses). And the cheaper ones are less comfortable/stable for longer rides.
@@mettjaeger doubt 30%more price is worth a few percent comfort especially in a “sport bike”. There is no big difference in comfort between a yamaha r3 a ninja 400 ninja 500 cbr500r but the price gap is huge. But do what you would love, you are who have to live with that choice
@@csabalegradi2199the 500 platform has a lot of value to it. They are reliable with a valve CHECK at 24k miles as the major maintenance. They are a very manageable and stable bike at highway speeds, including doing a two up roadtrip with a tailcase. Can’t say that much for most of its competitors. The ones that can do just the same are typically much cheaper feeling. It is a nicely built reliable bike. That’s all it is. The R is just a seating and appearance arrangement preference. I have a 500X, it performs the exact same minus aero.
@@scubarubanzaii those feelings still not worth 30%more price but you do what you would love, that is your hard work money so you should spend on what you feel like, but my point still stand, that is not a good value. And Im writing thise while I love japanese bikes especially honda and Iove its styling and I love red but still I dont understand and not agreeing on its pricing.
In southeast Asia this bike is also considered a "big bike" sport bike.. and is also considered premium. Anything here in the Philippines over 250cc is considered a "big bike"..
In America I agree the Honda makes no sense, but here in the uk the cbr 500 is £6699, the ninja 500 se (colour tft model) is £6499 and the hondas always been competitively priced here 🤷♂️
It seems like many people buy bikes just because of the looks. That's definetly a strong factor because no one would ride something they find hideous. Among A2 beginner bikes this might be the best looking bike in my humble opinion.
@@clonecommandermike332it's a good bike tho. If you can get it used same price vs ninja I'd prefer it over the ninja. More low end torque, more planted on the highway, feels more planted in turns etc
2023 Honda CBR500R owner.she is perfect balance zero vibration she is good looking quiet brakes are top quality all around comfortable for a 5-8 250 Lb men on the streets or highway 100mph is enough for commuters and short 300 mile trips.she is perfect yammie and since you are my neighbor did purchase at Kent motorsports $7400 but $9300 out the door.Austin traffic for a new rider is hell.
2019 CBR500 owner here. I don’t take these reviews personally. They’re funny and true. But it was my 1st big bike, got it at a 2K discount, and I didn’t know any better so I’ve enjoyed the hell out of it. (Anybody want to buy it?)
Best beginner bike for 6ft riders, A2 compliant, 70 miles per galon on gas, cheap insurance, Honda reliability, will work forever on just basic maintenance, weight makes it stable on the highway which is great for beginners. Bike does literally everything you will need it to
Keep pumping them out Honda! The more of these that are wrecked out the cheaper the parts get. Bringing the suspension, wheels and brakes on my 650 Hawk, CB1 and vtr250 into the modern era has never been easier!
Tammie what you don’t realize is around the world where motorcycles are everywhere compared to the USA the CBR 500 is a “Big Bike and it’s a good price point for Asian consumers
The Honda is a worse price point for Asia. CFMoto 450sr is cheaper here in the USA. The 450sr is cheaper in Asia than the USA price point. Also the Kove 450rr blows both those two on power 70hp/52kw 73hp above 93mph ram air system and weight 363lbs/165kg. Price tops out at $5600.USD No word if the Kove 450rr will ever make it to USA
@@CharlesR.SteinruckIIIcomparing Honda to CF Moto or Kove…they’re not even in the same universe mate, try owning one of each and you’ll know. Hondas are built like tanks, even the Thai made cheaper models.
Hard to own what I said was not for sale in the USA. So, I have no firsthand opinion about the Kove 450RR. Have you tried owning either bike that you say I have not tried owning. The opinion I do have is from people in Asia that make content about both bikes. The content was so positive about both bikes I was willing to take them at their word. I have enjoyed owning my 450ss for 18 months and counting and it is not my noob starter bike. This is my 19th new bike purchase. Everything the Asia content said about it is true. It is the best bike in its class at that time. I have not had any CFMoto problems. Sure, there are aftermarket problems. That is not a CFMoto problem or lack of quality. The problem is the younger crowd wants everything right now. This is their first experience of new brands coming to market for the first time. There is a huge aftermarket for this bike. You just have to wait two weeks for it to come from Asia. I was born in 1956. The new brands entering the market back in the 1960s was every brand that was not a Harley. You want to talk about no aftermarket support. Everything had to come from the dealers that were far and few. Now people say going to the CFMoto dealer is a pain cause it might be too far. Well dumb ass it was just as far to the dealer to buy it. So, this is a CFMoto problem or a bad decision on your part problem.
I did watch it to the end. The way you compare things is they both have to be available. So, say you're a guy in India thrilled about your Honda CBR 500 and someone pops the question in the comments, "How does you Big Bike compare to a CFMoto 450SR??? Cue the # Lack of awareness question?? Guy in India says, " The word is the official launch of the 450SR will be sometime in August 2024. Till that happens my CBR500 will be the popular and only Big Bike option. Also Yammie made no reference to the Kove 450RR
As a cbr500r owner I almost got a ninja but the insurance company quoted me 1000 dollars a year more then the cbr since I only ride around town and it capable on the high way I will keep it for a while
I get why it doesn't seem too attractive, especially from American standpoint (I'm Japanese). But the thing is, i think this bike is meant for Japanese (and maybe Europe?) roads and riders. In Japan the bike is 400cc, in order to make it available to regular motorcycle license holders(regular license only lets you ride up to 400cc), and the power delivery and the weight make sense for beginners/intermediate riders who want sporty looking motorcycle without getting the advanced driving license. It's a Honda's answer to Ninja 400, at least in Japan.
I have the same engine in my Rebel 500 and it`s pretty cool one. The initial pull is there, the gas mileage is ridiculous and the insurance costs are a joke...and it weighs 420 lbs. Regarding Honda`s CBR line up, i`d save a few bucks more and get a CBR650R for that smooth inline 4 cylinder, far better performance than the CBR500 and those looks no brand can match.
This bike is worth every penny. Your expectations and comparisons miss the mark. If you take it for what it is you will learn to love it. Its a commuter bike. Comfortable, great mileage, great reliability. It just looks to good for its own good so you think its something it never was. A sport bike.
It is I got my 40th ann edition a month ago and now that it is finally broken in I am in love. It will be paid off in 2 yrs then I will love it way more lol.
a bike is a bike y give a crap what cc/hp is just buy what you like and go ride less hate'n i can tell you i have owned a lot of bike s and Honda make;s the best to me my 2004 cb 600f runs perfect every time i start her my other bikes always need something fixed just saying can't kill a Honda you can dog them just keep new oil /fluids/gas/tries and they just last like my 1978cb400a is still like new just saying go ride stop wasting your time hate'n lol
"Perfect is the enemy of good" is an aphorism which means insistence on perfection often prevents implementation of good improvements. Achieving absolute perfection may be impossible - one should not let the struggle for perfection stand in the way of appreciating or executing on something that is imperfect but still of value. If you don't like this bike - fortunately you have other manufacturers like Yamaha, Kawasaki etc, so please just go buy bike from them and leave this bike for guys who can appreciate reliability of this proven-over-years solution.
I totally get that Honda 500s are boring. But I’m really happy with my 22 CB500F. Sure I would’ve loved a nicer color or a little more power. But it’s been such a pleasant experience to learn on it and not worry about anything mechanical failing. I don’t need to go faster than 100mph, still feels fun to ride. Next bike if it comes to that will be a Yamaha though 🤞
I own the CBR300R and I say it's a way better bike than the 500. It's cheaper, lighter, better handling and more efficient with a great aftermarket support while still having the same performance as the 500. The only thing I'll give to the 500 is that it's a better fit ergonomically for me since I'm 6'2".
As much as I approve Yammie Noob, this video feels almost intentionally obtuse. It's a bit reductive to look at just a very few factors when they aren't what Honda is trying to sell the bike by. Now to be fair I haven't tried the Ninja 500 so I'll just compare to the 400. Which is a great bike and I enjoyed it but they are very different bikes, good for different things. The Ninja is a lot more of a dedicated sports bike, it's lighter and more nimble but also less stable in windy conditions or higher speed. The Honda is a lot more comfortable on longer rides and has a bigger tank, so it feels more like a sports tourer, or at least a sports bike that can do touring okay too. Sure maybe Honda could market it better but that's a pretty nitpicky detail I'd say. Also I don't know about the price difference in America but here in South East Asia they're practically the same price (again, Ninja 400, for some reason Ninja 500 isn't available) so that's not a factor either. Again, don't know about the states but here Honda has a lot better reputation for reliability and accessibility, and their second-hand value is a lot higher too. I realize that Yammie's audience is probably by far mostly American but still.
I bought the 2024 500r in april, and have driven 10k kilometers with it. I just love the bike, easy to drive, cheap insurances, enough torque for communal driving and fast enough until 150km/h, then it starts slowing down. I havent tested the max speed but my guess is around 180. In my opinion theres nothing wrong with it, its a very capable A2 bike
Love my 2015 FZ07 non abs, 48k miles and still running like a tank! They are budget friendly for the tasteful mods and hold fair value in used markets but never has it been a "boring" bike for me 💪
I had one. Nothing to complain about it, other than I think it should be lighter. Also, Honda mods for it are more expensive than they are for CBR650R. I've got an RS660 now and I'm not getting rid of it.
I started on a CBR500R and an grom in 2018. I was not a fan of Naked in 2018, i wanted farrings. So that was it. Had it for 3 years, bought a CB650R. Im happy with the choices i made. I have the CB and the CRF300L Rally in the garage. I dont need more.
Yammie a few years back when I got a chance to sit on a ninja 400 beside a CBr 500 (I ended up going with a 2018 ninja 400) the cbr 500 was much more comfortable. I am a 5'11 & 3 quarters tall male weighing 200 lbs.
Motorcycle driving schools around here have fleets of this bike. I think my school alone has 8 of them and it's a small place. It feels ridiculously heavy too, and as a complete beginner used to a 200lbs scooter, this was a lot. Nobody in the class has said they love the bike so much they'll go and buy it, which happened with the non-CBR500R bikes.
The CBR500R is the same size as a Ninja 650, the Ninja 500 is a smaller bike, it makes a difference for taller riders. The CB500F, CBR500R are the same size, same suspension, have virtually the same brakes and build quality as the 650 class bikes, that's why they´re pricey.
what i think ruins most of the fun is the 8500 rpm redline. like u cant make a superbike rev lower than a gs 1200. Aprilia made thair 660 p twin rev to 11,5k
I have not ridden the Honda CBR500 but I have ridden the naked CB500F. The build quality, fit and finish were superior to that of my Yamaha MT-07 or my daughters Yamaha YZF-R3, but otherwise it did not impress me. If I recall correctly, it weighed more than my MT-07 and had the same top-speed is my daughters R3 (but somehow felt less lively, despite the increased midrange and power). I have been riding for more than 40 years and have owned many motorcycles, the majority of which were Yamahas. Hondas are the most reliable but Yamaha speak to me.
i got a 2016 cbr500r as my first bike, its been great for what i payed (under 3k) but an R7 wouldve been a better choice if i had the cash. for the money i wont complain but an R7 or a ZX6R is what im looking to upgrade to after only 4 months of owning the cbr500r.
Honda's definitely in a funk with everything at the moment. The bikes largely don't make much sense and the sports division is lacking. Once they get their proverbial together again they'll be unstoppable - just needs someone in their design/engineering team who can do something like the SP2 and say to the ecxecs "THIS is what you need to give people, you three-piece suit bastids" for then to de-funkify themselves again.
Just so you know you can buy the CFmoto 800 NK which is an amazing bike compared to this for only 500 more bucks. Pretty much anything else in the price range blows this thing out of the water. Thank you for being unapologetically honest about this bike. Hondas are great for reliability, but anymore that's about all you get from them.
The cbr500r is just a sporty looking commuter bike which apart from its weight seems OK, the ninja 500 or even the outgoing 400 does seem better but in the UK they're priced very similar and the ninja only makes 45bhp probably due to the UK A2 licence restrictions and EU emissions, and anyway it could have been worse, they could have made the cbr as a 750 using the NC750 as the base.
Are you planning to do a test ride review of the Aprilia RS 457? Seems like a good comparison to show Honda how to make a motorcycle in that class and see how it stacks up against the Ninja 500.
Ninja 400/500 is 500 usd cheaper than CBR500R here in Poland. However, it's not uncommon to see discounts on the Honda, even as high as 1000 USD, and that's before. They both make 47 BHP due to A2 license restrictions. Would you consider the CBR if it were 500 USD cheaper than the Ninja?
I own a 2017 CBR500R, I like it. I looked at the new one and the plastics look even worse. I know my bike is slow, but as a 6'2" man in was a great first bike as it is built on a full size chassis.
The bikes you mentioned are much more rewarding machines that won't get stuffed in a corner of the garage after a year. Honda is playing safe like Honda does. Yeah it's reliable but so is CFMOTO and Kawasaki which are taking their lunch money.
I love watching Yammie. Brutally honest, and personally as a long time rider he is usually most always correct. But what do I know, im just a sv650 simp.
I always think of Honda bikes as reliable, and reliable is the antonym for exciting. The Monkey, the Super Cub, the Rebel… Hell, the Rukus and Metro. These are great bikes with a low entry price. I just don’t see Honda willing to sacrifice their reliability reputation to take the engineering risks necessary to push the envelope on sport bikes.
Back in 2016 I went to the local Honda dealer to buy a CBR500 as a commuter bike. Ended up buying a leftover 2014 CBR650F for less money and never looked back. (Currently own a 2012 CBR600RR and a 2015 VFR800F). I expected Honda to build a 400-500cc bike to actually compete in a great starter bike market, like the new Kawasaki Ninja 400. That is the new benchmark for that class in my opinion. The CBR500R misses that by a mile.
Test rode one, couldn't justify the price over the others, went with a kawasaki 500, took the rest of the money(had 12k saved) and got a used busa for later on down the road
The only realistic explanation I can think of why the Honda is more expensive is their metallurgy recipe. That 2k bucks has got to go somewhere, but the problem is that Honda isn't doing anything worthwhile with it. They're riding on that wave they reminisce over for the last 17 years, but they had radical bikes before, so why not do it now? Give us a supermoto or another cruiser perhaps
It's kinda amazing that the "500" sportbike range hasn't really gained any horsepower or lost any weight for 30+ years now. Kawi ex500 made 49hp, and weighed ~390lbs dry. Why bother? All the 400 p-twins make nearly the same power, and weigh significantly lighter. The Duke 390 weighs over 100lbs lighter, and only makes a few HP less. Seems like its better to just get a 400cc p-twin, or a 650cc p-twin, or make the jump to a 600cc i4 sportbike. It's a weird category of bike.
I have the first gen that came out in 2013. I got it new for a great deal ~$3k. With full bolt on and a tune it's decent enough but the bike is screaming for about 70 HP. The CRB500R is an unfortunate victim of the A2/LAMS BS overseas. It was decent a decade ago but now there are soooo many better options.
Honda needs to adopt a 270 degree crank parallel twin and put to use their e-clutch system at this pricepoint. The smoothness isn't' there right now between 4500-7000 RPM. The e-clutch where you still shift with your foot is so much better than the buttons on the autos.
I have to agree with Yammie & the CBR500R. In fact pretty much ALL of Hondas bikes are boring except for the lunatic sport bikes like the CBR-RRRR-R1000R-RRRRRRR or whatever. The CBR500R & its kind is the reason I don't ride Hondas anymore.
The bronzed forks and engine casings from the previous model looked better . The made it just more boring . Mabey give it a more classic racer look . Make it more standing out than copying a look from another bike. They where a company with passion for motorcycles but the good for nothing managers took over
They make absolutely incredible engines, that you can put in a barn for 50 years and they'll still run like a top. And at least in the last 5-10 years they put those engines in the most bland vehicles
@@switcherlp780 according to what? JD power or similar that will say a Hyundai beats Toyota? None of those reliability statistics are... Reliable. Who gets the highest bid to the advertiser wins. Just talk to technicians. In addition to bikes I had an Acura RSX with 380k miles no problems, a prelude with 230k and can survive track days. Honda engine metallurgy is top notch. I used to sub contract induction heat treating for various auto manufacturers and their parts. I performed the QC and micro hardness test myself, so yeah I am of the opinion that Honda is dope. The made in Japan stuff is superior tho to India and US, but that's true for Suzuki and others
I love my 2017 cbr500 got it for dirt cheap (3000$)in mint condition with under 10,000 km I do agree that the price to buy one new is outrageous but if u can get a deal on a used one with low miles I say it’s a great buy
In India, its the superb duo of KTM Duke 390 and RC 390 which rule the sales chart in this category. The newly launched Aprillia RS 457 is also beginning to make its presence felt and if Aprillia is able to keep its after sales game sorted, they would have a super-hit on their hand. Its sad to say but nobody really cares about the Japanese offerings in this segment anymore.
my fz1, a bike with twice the displacement and much more comfort oriented, weighs a whopping 18lbs more than the new cbr. you know, a litrebike from 17 years ago.....
As an owner of a Honda ATV, I can say Honda stays pretty bland and consistent on all their platforms. Nothing exciting but everything works as expected.
I have the same opinion about the 500 range from Honda. After years in product, sales and marketing, all I can say is that we are not the target market for this bike. The target audience does not give a shit about power, weight or cylinder config.
As an owner of a 21 CBR500R, it's a bad day for me every time yammie roasts the CBR500 lol.
Chin up, bud! It's not too late to upgrade to a good bike!! 😃
@@MK384 Just get a better bike
@@irishtrash5 thanks. I might get a Ninja 400RR down the road and turn my CBR500 into a track bike
@@onegod5633 probably
Nah dude... Enjoy your ride, the CBR500 is a wonderful ride. Teaches you road basics, not too much power and just simple. I've got a 200 horsepower bike and of course I love it.. But it's hard to enjoy because I use a tenth of the power on the road.
Keep loving your ride bro😊
The 2014 CBR1000RR weighed 422lbs dry.
How the hell did they lose 500ccs and stay the same weight? It's almost like the Engineers were like "Hey guys, what if we added a bunch of gold and lead in the frame?"
500ccs AND two entire cylinders.
If they actually took the same bike and just changed the engine, yeah it would likely be lighter, but it has a steel frame and overall heavier components
Dry weight is a terrible comparison sorry
where did he took thoses price.....here in canada theyre the same price or close
My R1 weighs less
Guys, you miss one big point. This bike is for the A2 category which is limited to 35 kW. In Europe the Honda’s 500 series is really loved because it has more torque than the most A2 bikes
You just forget America is the only country that exists
i have no choice of riding anything more powerful , cbr 500r is only bike i can ride and to buy in my country (i dont have kawasaki dealership)
For A2 the ninja 400 or ninja 500 is better
@@Rares_Ry1 here in netherlands the honda is way more popular becuise its bigger than the kawaski/ yamaha
more torque than the Aprilia RS 457?
it's got fckin WINGLETS my guys
Helps keep that 50 hp PLANTED!
Gonna prevent those FURIOUS POWER WHEELIES from happening all the time in 3rd gear !
I have 79000 miles on my 2014 cbr500r and its still going. I definitely don't regret buying it.
79k!!???
@@ethanaronson5201yes. give or take a few hundred miles. I bought in 2015 with 1500 miles on it.
Got mine about 6 months ago and I'm close to 7k . That's good to hear its treating you well
Now that's the point. A reliable, comfortable good looking bike that runs forever without a lot of maintenance. Go Honda.
In Thailand. This is the opposite to USA. CBR500R are cheaper than Ninja 400. To the point that Kawasaki can't sell and need to dumb the price down to make it cheaper than CBR recently.
Yeah makes sense since they are built in Thailand 😛
I’d still buy the ninja
I live in Thailand… i still bought the Ninja
Just checked the price of the CBR500R in Thailand 222,800 baht.
Ninja 400 in Thailand 215,000 baht.
The Ninja is a far superior bike too.
Just checked the price of the CBR500R in Thailand 222,800 baht.
Ninja 400 in Thailand 215,000 baht.
The Ninja is a far superior bike too.
At $7300 it's closer to a Ninja 650 than a ninja 500. With the 650 you actually get a lighter bike that makes almost 20 more hp. But the Honda does have winglets.... so there's that.
Gotta have them winglets 🙂
bro u can even buy an used zx4r lol
I still vouch for the Ninja 500 SE over the 650 unless you are a bit heavier and need that extra grunt. Both bikes are better than the Honda though.. I owned a 2015 Honda CB500F before my Ninja, and even THAT seat was better than the ones they put on their new Hondas. Penny pinchers.
@@anxietydisorders5917 used is kinda bad argument if that's the case i can find old used litre bikes
I'm not knocking Yammy, but true giveaways do not require spending a dime. If you have to spend money for an entry, then it is a raffle, not a giveaway.
Lol. Excellent point!!! And People who live in glass houses,shouldn't throw stones either! Has anyone bothered to check out the PRICES Yammie CHARGES for things like t-shirts on his site!?!? OMG,talk about OVERPRICED!!! Nuff said.
Both you and the guy above made the best points ever, how does this guy get away with shit like this I’ll never understand
@@sleekzofficial3377He’s simply one of the oldest biking RUclipsrs and puts out the most content. He actually had a lot of haters and people who call him out on other sections of the internet
I have a 1984 500 Interceptor. It sold for a similar price, (adjusted for inflation ) but was lighter, had four cylinders, and made 70 hp. Forty years ago!
And was a sweet V4.
Is that like the VF500f
@@chrishart8548 Yes, also known as the VF500F.
I bought one not so long ago. Great bikes. Mine is -86 model.
Dude you miss the point that that bike has to be A2 license compliant which limits the power 35 kw or 47 HP to sell it for the rest of the world. I have a A2 license too.
Honda: Does anyone care?
Everyone: No.
I do. If the price is right
I mean as far as why the kawi is cheaper than the CBR is obvious when you add it up. Kawi has cheap right side up forks and a single disc in the front that feels like mush. Also comes with cheaper gpr300 tires as opposed to the cbr that has top shelf michelin road 6 tires. The kawi also has way less standard features.
Well sure, but you mention things you can fix, the n400 is incredibly improved by simply changing to better tires and pads, which isn't expensive. You can use heavier oil on the forks to improve the feel. Among other things like changing to steel lines, or swapping the rear shock to a better one. The problem is that at 370pounds de kawi is 12% lighter and 27% cheaper, with the same hp. I honestly don't understand how the 500 is still on market. It has winglets though, yay
@@photorichcr What type of beginner is gonna be doing all that though dude? These are aimed towards the beginners. Just sayin
I think Yam has a dedicated idea of a sport bike being "sporty" when in reality what people want is the trappings of a sport-bike without the butt-clenching terror that goes a long with one.
My 2023KTM RC390 doesnt have winglets, but its almost 100 lbs lighter and has about the same HP. $4999. NEW! Thought i saw a Honda in my rear veiw mirror, guess not!
Owning a 2021 Duke 390 and a 1999 VFR.
The Honda is better in every category except fuel economy.
@@nonyabusiness4151 I've got a 390 duke also, totally different from an RC CUP GP bike, have a Yoshimura GSX-R 750 that weights 360 lbs. And have sold and ridden 100 VFRs since they 1st came out. Good bike! I never considered fuel economy. I care about low weight and power to weight ratio, sticky tires..stuff like dat!
@@hatchetjack1031 The coating on my engine has begun to peel off.. 😬
yeah its cheaper until you have to maintain it
so cheaper for 1-2 years, then the honda wins and continues to win for the nxt 100 years, whereas you will haev to buy a new bike in 5-10 years
@@paulbarclay4114 KTM IS FOR RACERS, not commuters and college scooter geeks. My bike represents $40 million a year investment in the RED BULL GP TEAM. Don't care dick about consumer reports and maintenance schedules. Never seen a CBR 500 being safety wired in the pits for safety inspection...never will! Talk to me when your bike weights 320 lbs!
Everything you said is correct, but the thing you didn't consider is that this model is more for the European market. 48hp is the maximum you can drive with A2 licence at 18 years old, so if you are stuck with A2 you cannot drive the Kawasaki or cf Moto. Talking in consideration the global market can really help you step up your analysis 👍🏻
You can drive the Ninja 500 and cfmoto with A2. What I think he's missing is that the cbr500r is much more towards the sport touring aspect then it is to a full mini sports bike.
The ninja 500 is definitely more aggressive as is the cfmoto. The Honda just feels more comfortable for long drives but not better in the twisties.
In Europe the Kawasaki and C.F Moto are both 47 HP
@@fabiomoreira7928 Limited you mean?
Right
You are right, and other bikes that he mentions are limited to that hp; so this kind of A2 bike is the best for that license, since you dont ride a heavier, same power limited model.
Id still buy this. All those who own one strongly encourage getting one if you are doing a lot of highway driving. But would get used.
I don't have a problem with the bike itself, it's just the marketing gimmicks and phrases where they pretend to be a supersport bike for excitement.
But what Yammie misses (intentionally for content probably, lol) is that they cannot improve this bike in order not to interfere with cbr650r and cbr600rr sales. That's always the case with large manufacturers who offer variety of models.
$7,399 ? Right. Closer to $8,500 after the dealer charges. Out the door is what matters. Please quote the U.S. dealer truth when talking about buying any bike. Out the door reality makes your point even more painful.
The 2nd gen 500R was my starter bike and to this day I still maintain that it was great platform. That said, I would never buy it new. It's way overpriced. I bought mine with only 3000km on it for half the price of new with a few mods already on it (tail tidy and LED flush turn signals). It was pretty great at the price. I actually sold it 3 years later for a few hundred bucks more than I bought it. =)
Great bike used, wouldn't touch it new.
I agree! The Cbr650r is another one i would only buy used
it is overpriced is the consensus.
Much rather have a sv650 or MT 07 for around the same price
shiver 750 much better but not a beginner bike
My mt-07 used with 1900 miles was less
Those get recommended a lot, never sat on the Suzuki, but I found the MT-07 really uncomfortable. I actually don't like a lot of Yamahas for some reason, thought the Suzuki 8R gave me a similar feeling. The price might be there, but the use case and etc may not.
My old boss who’s been riding for 20+ years told me he’d take a SV-650 any day in the twisties. And honestly the power to weight ratio is pretty damn good for the price.
You mean $3000 more
Maybe they are trying to appeal to beginner bikers from Europe that are not allowed to ride 48+HP bikes before you have 2 years of experience without having to downtune the engine of a bigger bike, like the rebel 500 for example
I sat on a CBR500R at a bike shop and yeah while it was a little too expensive, it did feel noticeably more premium than the cheaper bikes mentioned here
The 2013 CB500R was my first bike and I loved it. It kept me alive until I replaced it with a Street Triple two years later.
Today I drove 5h on my 500r, currently I'm in my Airbnb, and tomorrow I will drive 4 hours. And right now I enjoy yammie hating my bike. Life is good
this is not hating, but this bike has extremly shitty price to value, there is no reason to buy this for +2k $, you can buy either a cheaper bike or a more powerfull advanced one
@@csabalegradi2199 I can't by a more powerful bike because I'm European (A2 licenses). And the cheaper ones are less comfortable/stable for longer rides.
@@mettjaeger doubt 30%more price is worth a few percent comfort especially in a “sport bike”. There is no big difference in comfort between a yamaha r3 a ninja 400 ninja 500 cbr500r but the price gap is huge. But do what you would love, you are who have to live with that choice
@@csabalegradi2199the 500 platform has a lot of value to it. They are reliable with a valve CHECK at 24k miles as the major maintenance. They are a very manageable and stable bike at highway speeds, including doing a two up roadtrip with a tailcase. Can’t say that much for most of its competitors. The ones that can do just the same are typically much cheaper feeling.
It is a nicely built reliable bike. That’s all it is. The R is just a seating and appearance arrangement preference. I have a 500X, it performs the exact same minus aero.
@@scubarubanzaii those feelings still not worth 30%more price but you do what you would love, that is your hard work money so you should spend on what you feel like, but my point still stand, that is not a good value.
And Im writing thise while I love japanese bikes especially honda and Iove its styling and I love red but still I dont understand and not agreeing on its pricing.
In southeast Asia this bike is also considered a "big bike" sport bike.. and is also considered premium. Anything here in the Philippines over 250cc is considered a "big bike"..
In America I agree the Honda makes no sense, but here in the uk the cbr 500 is £6699, the ninja 500 se (colour tft model) is £6499 and the hondas always been competitively priced here 🤷♂️
Yeah, and the Honda will outlast the Kawi too.
10k out the door, with the Ben Dover discount.
$9300 here in texas
@@wellnesscoach73 jesus
$6000
I purchased this bike 2Weeks ago as my first bike. I hate this video wasn’t out yet but I will say I enjoy my bike.
It seems like many people buy bikes just because of the looks. That's definetly a strong factor because no one would ride something they find hideous. Among A2 beginner bikes this might be the best looking bike in my humble opinion.
Yammie Noob has been warning about the 500 for a while
@@clonecommandermike332it's a good bike tho. If you can get it used same price vs ninja I'd prefer it over the ninja. More low end torque, more planted on the highway, feels more planted in turns etc
You will enjoy it because it’s a good bike for many reasons.
You’ll enjoy it because it’s not gonna break, and when you sell it to upgrade it will hold value better bc Honda tax
2023 Honda CBR500R owner.she is perfect balance zero vibration she is good looking quiet brakes are top quality all around comfortable for a 5-8 250 Lb men on the streets or highway 100mph is enough for commuters and short 300 mile trips.she is perfect yammie and since you are my neighbor did purchase at Kent motorsports $7400 but $9300 out the door.Austin traffic for a new rider is hell.
No vibrations is a bit of a stretch
I have a 2023 500X and it buzzes plenty.
2019 CBR500 owner here. I don’t take these reviews personally. They’re funny and true. But it was my 1st big bike, got it at a 2K discount, and I didn’t know any better so I’ve enjoyed the hell out of it. (Anybody want to buy it?)
Same story here, how much?
Where u located
word on the street is Yammasuki rocks a regularly hand waxed pontiac aztec as his sunday cruiser
Azteks own so I'm not sure where you're trying to go with that
Best beginner bike for 6ft riders, A2 compliant, 70 miles per galon on gas, cheap insurance, Honda reliability, will work forever on just basic maintenance, weight makes it stable on the highway which is great for beginners. Bike does literally everything you will need it to
Keep pumping them out Honda!
The more of these that are wrecked out the cheaper the parts get. Bringing the suspension, wheels and brakes on my 650 Hawk, CB1 and vtr250 into the modern era has never been easier!
Tammie what you don’t realize is around the world where motorcycles are everywhere compared to the USA the CBR 500 is a “Big Bike and it’s a good price point for Asian consumers
The Honda is a worse price point for Asia. CFMoto 450sr is cheaper here in the USA. The 450sr is cheaper in Asia than the USA price point. Also the Kove 450rr blows both those two on power 70hp/52kw 73hp above 93mph ram air system and weight 363lbs/165kg. Price tops out at $5600.USD No word if the Kove 450rr will ever make it to USA
@@CharlesR.SteinruckIIIcomparing Honda to CF Moto or Kove…they’re not even in the same universe mate, try owning one of each and you’ll know. Hondas are built like tanks, even the Thai made cheaper models.
he literally mentions word for word what you say in the last minute of the video but I guess we just dont watch things before commenting anymore lol
Hard to own what I said was not for sale in the USA. So, I have no firsthand opinion about the Kove 450RR. Have you tried owning either bike that you say I have not tried owning. The opinion I do have is from people in Asia that make content about both bikes. The content was so positive about both bikes I was willing to take them at their word. I have enjoyed owning my 450ss for 18 months and counting and it is not my noob starter bike. This is my 19th new bike purchase. Everything the Asia content said about it is true. It is the best bike in its class at that time. I have not had any CFMoto problems. Sure, there are aftermarket problems. That is not a CFMoto problem or lack of quality. The problem is the younger crowd wants everything right now. This is their first experience of new brands coming to market for the first time. There is a huge aftermarket for this bike. You just have to wait two weeks for it to come from Asia. I was born in 1956. The new brands entering the market back in the 1960s was every brand that was not a Harley. You want to talk about no aftermarket support. Everything had to come from the dealers that were far and few. Now people say going to the CFMoto dealer is a pain cause it might be too far. Well dumb ass it was just as far to the dealer to buy it. So, this is a CFMoto problem or a bad decision on your part problem.
I did watch it to the end. The way you compare things is they both have to be available. So, say you're a guy in India thrilled about your Honda CBR 500 and someone pops the question in the comments, "How does you Big Bike compare to a CFMoto 450SR??? Cue the # Lack of awareness question?? Guy in India says, " The word is the official launch of the 450SR will be sometime in August 2024. Till that happens my CBR500 will be the popular and only Big Bike option. Also Yammie made no reference to the Kove 450RR
As a cbr500r owner I almost got a ninja but the insurance company quoted me 1000 dollars a year more then the cbr since I only ride around town and it capable on the high way I will keep it for a while
I get why it doesn't seem too attractive, especially from American standpoint (I'm Japanese). But the thing is, i think this bike is meant for Japanese (and maybe Europe?) roads and riders.
In Japan the bike is 400cc, in order to make it available to regular motorcycle license holders(regular license only lets you ride up to 400cc), and the power delivery and the weight make sense for beginners/intermediate riders who want sporty looking motorcycle without getting the advanced driving license. It's a Honda's answer to Ninja 400, at least in Japan.
I had a 1976 cb550ss that made 48hp. Wish I had kept it because it is worth as much as the 500r. It was a fantastic bike for the seventies.
Good lord man I would have loved to have that !
the honda cbr500 deserves the gixxer 250 treatment from yammie noob
I Have gixxer 250 considered it to change for CBR500R 😅
i am waiting for the e-clutch! specially on a 650r
E-clutch looks to be a win, based on reviews from people who have actually ridden one.
Not in N.A.
I have the same engine in my Rebel 500 and it`s pretty cool one.
The initial pull is there, the gas mileage is ridiculous and the insurance costs are a joke...and it weighs 420 lbs.
Regarding Honda`s CBR line up, i`d save a few bucks more and get a CBR650R for that smooth inline 4 cylinder, far better performance than the CBR500 and those looks no brand can match.
This bike is worth every penny. Your expectations and comparisons miss the mark. If you take it for what it is you will learn to love it. Its a commuter bike. Comfortable, great mileage, great reliability. It just looks to good for its own good so you think its something it never was. A sport bike.
Ninja 500 looks like a no brainer in comparison
It is I got my 40th ann edition a month ago and now that it is finally broken in I am in love. It will be paid off in 2 yrs then I will love it way more lol.
I would absolutely buy one.... For sub 4k USD. 7k+ hahahaha
I got mine at the end of May! Fucking in love
How much Aprilia 457 costs for you guys. It's way better than the kawi 400.
a bike is a bike y give a crap what cc/hp is just buy what you like and go ride less hate'n i can tell you i have owned a lot of bike s and Honda make;s the best to me my 2004 cb 600f runs perfect every time i start her my other bikes always need something fixed just saying can't kill a Honda you can dog them just keep new oil /fluids/gas/tries and they just last like my 1978cb400a is still like new just saying go ride stop wasting your time hate'n lol
"Perfect is the enemy of good" is an aphorism which means insistence on perfection often prevents implementation of good improvements. Achieving absolute perfection may be impossible - one should not let the struggle for perfection stand in the way of appreciating or executing on something that is imperfect but still of value.
If you don't like this bike - fortunately you have other manufacturers like Yamaha, Kawasaki etc, so please just go buy bike from them and leave this bike for guys who can appreciate reliability of this proven-over-years solution.
Ngl new rider got this exact bike criticism is always appreciated to me regardless of everything still love yammys vids👍🏻
I totally get that Honda 500s are boring. But I’m really happy with my 22 CB500F. Sure I would’ve loved a nicer color or a little more power. But it’s been such a pleasant experience to learn on it and not worry about anything mechanical failing. I don’t need to go faster than 100mph, still feels fun to ride. Next bike if it comes to that will be a Yamaha though 🤞
I own the CBR300R and I say it's a way better bike than the 500. It's cheaper, lighter, better handling and more efficient with a great aftermarket support while still having the same performance as the 500. The only thing I'll give to the 500 is that it's a better fit ergonomically for me since I'm 6'2".
cbr 300 dont accelerate and dont havesuch topspeed / performance as cbr 500 👌🏻
I think it's attractive. I think it's too heavy and costs too much. But it looks good.
It does look good, but the weight and price are LOL
As much as I approve Yammie Noob, this video feels almost intentionally obtuse. It's a bit reductive to look at just a very few factors when they aren't what Honda is trying to sell the bike by. Now to be fair I haven't tried the Ninja 500 so I'll just compare to the 400. Which is a great bike and I enjoyed it but they are very different bikes, good for different things. The Ninja is a lot more of a dedicated sports bike, it's lighter and more nimble but also less stable in windy conditions or higher speed. The Honda is a lot more comfortable on longer rides and has a bigger tank, so it feels more like a sports tourer, or at least a sports bike that can do touring okay too. Sure maybe Honda could market it better but that's a pretty nitpicky detail I'd say. Also I don't know about the price difference in America but here in South East Asia they're practically the same price (again, Ninja 400, for some reason Ninja 500 isn't available) so that's not a factor either. Again, don't know about the states but here Honda has a lot better reputation for reliability and accessibility, and their second-hand value is a lot higher too. I realize that Yammie's audience is probably by far mostly American but still.
I bought the 2024 500r in april, and have driven 10k kilometers with it. I just love the bike, easy to drive, cheap insurances, enough torque for communal driving and fast enough until 150km/h, then it starts slowing down. I havent tested the max speed but my guess is around 180. In my opinion theres nothing wrong with it, its a very capable A2 bike
Love my 2015 FZ07 non abs, 48k miles and still running like a tank! They are budget friendly for the tasteful mods and hold fair value in used markets but never has it been a "boring" bike for me 💪
when will you review RS457, curious and excited
looking for the same thing, that bike is awesome
My '24 BMW S1K weighs 410lbs wet after replacing the cat exhaust with full Akra Ti exhaust. 🤣
I had one. Nothing to complain about it, other than I think it should be lighter. Also, Honda mods for it are more expensive than they are for CBR650R.
I've got an RS660 now and I'm not getting rid of it.
I started on a CBR500R and an grom in 2018. I was not a fan of Naked in 2018, i wanted farrings. So that was it. Had it for 3 years, bought a CB650R. Im happy with the choices i made.
I have the CB and the CRF300L Rally in the garage. I dont need more.
as a owner of a cb650r, i have told people many times unless you just absolutely dead set on getting the 500, the 650 is just a better bike.
Yammie a few years back when I got a chance to sit on a ninja 400 beside a CBr 500 (I ended up going with a 2018 ninja 400) the cbr 500 was much more comfortable. I am a 5'11 & 3 quarters tall male weighing 200 lbs.
Motorcycle driving schools around here have fleets of this bike. I think my school alone has 8 of them and it's a small place. It feels ridiculously heavy too, and as a complete beginner used to a 200lbs scooter, this was a lot. Nobody in the class has said they love the bike so much they'll go and buy it, which happened with the non-CBR500R bikes.
The CBR500R is the same size as a Ninja 650, the Ninja 500 is a smaller bike, it makes a difference for taller riders. The CB500F, CBR500R are the same size, same suspension, have virtually the same brakes and build quality as the 650 class bikes, that's why they´re pricey.
what i think ruins most of the fun is the 8500 rpm redline. like u cant make a superbike rev lower than a gs 1200. Aprilia made thair 660 p twin rev to 11,5k
Wait, did you just call the CBR500R a SUPERBIKE???
@@switcherlp780 certanly tries to look like one. I meant sportbikes ( tryhard bikes) in general.
I have not ridden the Honda CBR500 but I have ridden the naked CB500F. The build quality, fit and finish were superior to that of my Yamaha MT-07 or my daughters Yamaha YZF-R3, but otherwise it did not impress me. If I recall correctly, it weighed more than my MT-07 and had the same top-speed is my daughters R3 (but somehow felt less lively, despite the increased midrange and power). I have been riding for more than 40 years and have owned many motorcycles, the majority of which were Yamahas. Hondas are the most reliable but Yamaha speak to me.
Oh Yammie - listen to Michael Neeves, Chief Tester from MCN: in the bulk of the 48 horse-class he likes the cbr 500 most....
I bought a slightly used GSX8R for about the same price... weighs the same since I put an aftermarket exhaust with about 35 more HP
They need to look at what they did with the CRF300L in that category of bike and then apply that to a new CBR500 replacement imo
CBR500 is better than the N400 and the R3, because, an adult male can actually fit on the thing.
i got a 2016 cbr500r as my first bike, its been great for what i payed (under 3k) but an R7 wouldve been a better choice if i had the cash. for the money i wont complain but an R7 or a ZX6R is what im looking to upgrade to after only 4 months of owning the cbr500r.
Honda's definitely in a funk with everything at the moment. The bikes largely don't make much sense and the sports division is lacking. Once they get their proverbial together again they'll be unstoppable - just needs someone in their design/engineering team who can do something like the SP2 and say to the ecxecs "THIS is what you need to give people, you three-piece suit bastids" for then to de-funkify themselves again.
Just so you know you can buy the CFmoto 800 NK which is an amazing bike compared to this for only 500 more bucks. Pretty much anything else in the price range blows this thing out of the water. Thank you for being unapologetically honest about this bike. Hondas are great for reliability, but anymore that's about all you get from them.
The cbr500r is just a sporty looking commuter bike which apart from its weight seems OK, the ninja 500 or even the outgoing 400 does seem better but in the UK they're priced very similar and the ninja only makes 45bhp probably due to the UK A2 licence restrictions and EU emissions, and anyway it could have been worse, they could have made the cbr as a 750 using the NC750 as the base.
It’s a bike for the European market. Requires certain power to weight ratios for the European licenses. That’s why it’s low power and high weight
Just got approved for my first bike, and it’s blacked-out MT-07!!! 🤷🏻♂️🤣 I’m stoked af!
if these were lighter, 4 cylinder and had a 13-15k redline with like 75ish horsepower, these would be great. but thats not the case.
Are you planning to do a test ride review of the Aprilia RS 457? Seems like a good comparison to show Honda how to make a motorcycle in that class and see how it stacks up against the Ninja 500.
Ninja 400/500 is 500 usd cheaper than CBR500R here in Poland. However, it's not uncommon to see discounts on the Honda, even as high as 1000 USD, and that's before. They both make 47 BHP due to A2 license restrictions. Would you consider the CBR if it were 500 USD cheaper than the Ninja?
I own a 2017 CBR500R, I like it. I looked at the new one and the plastics look even worse. I know my bike is slow, but as a 6'2" man in was a great first bike as it is built on a full size chassis.
The bikes you mentioned are much more rewarding machines that won't get stuffed in a corner of the garage after a year. Honda is playing safe like Honda does. Yeah it's reliable but so is CFMOTO and Kawasaki which are taking their lunch money.
Honda is not only learns nothing, they also unlearn everything.
I love watching Yammie. Brutally honest, and personally as a long time rider he is usually most always correct. But what do I know, im just a sv650 simp.
It doesn't suprise me. This is the same issue with the cbr600rr from 2009 and up. Honda powersport just doesn't try in the US market
I always think of Honda bikes as reliable, and reliable is the antonym for exciting. The Monkey, the Super Cub, the Rebel… Hell, the Rukus and Metro. These are great bikes with a low entry price. I just don’t see Honda willing to sacrifice their reliability reputation to take the engineering risks necessary to push the envelope on sport bikes.
Back in 2016 I went to the local Honda dealer to buy a CBR500 as a commuter bike. Ended up buying a leftover 2014 CBR650F for less money and never looked back. (Currently own a 2012 CBR600RR and a 2015 VFR800F). I expected Honda to build a 400-500cc bike to actually compete in a great starter bike market, like the new Kawasaki Ninja 400. That is the new benchmark for that class in my opinion. The CBR500R misses that by a mile.
420lbs?!!! Even my Scrambler1200XE is shocked😂
The CBR 500 looks great but adding winglets doesnt make it brand new if they haven't changed anything else
Test rode one, couldn't justify the price over the others, went with a kawasaki 500, took the rest of the money(had 12k saved) and got a used busa for later on down the road
agree., i was supposed to buy it but realized i can pay cheaper and get the same ride experience and performance. Ended up buying KTM RC390.
The only realistic explanation I can think of why the Honda is more expensive is their metallurgy recipe. That 2k bucks has got to go somewhere, but the problem is that Honda isn't doing anything worthwhile with it. They're riding on that wave they reminisce over for the last 17 years, but they had radical bikes before, so why not do it now? Give us a supermoto or another cruiser perhaps
It's kinda amazing that the "500" sportbike range hasn't really gained any horsepower or lost any weight for 30+ years now. Kawi ex500 made 49hp, and weighed ~390lbs dry.
Why bother? All the 400 p-twins make nearly the same power, and weigh significantly lighter. The Duke 390 weighs over 100lbs lighter, and only makes a few HP less.
Seems like its better to just get a 400cc p-twin, or a 650cc p-twin, or make the jump to a 600cc i4 sportbike.
It's a weird category of bike.
I have the first gen that came out in 2013. I got it new for a great deal ~$3k. With full bolt on and a tune it's decent enough but the bike is screaming for about 70 HP. The CRB500R is an unfortunate victim of the A2/LAMS BS overseas. It was decent a decade ago but now there are soooo many better options.
Honda needs to adopt a 270 degree crank parallel twin and put to use their e-clutch system at this pricepoint. The smoothness isn't' there right now between 4500-7000 RPM. The e-clutch where you still shift with your foot is so much better than the buttons on the autos.
I have to agree with Yammie & the CBR500R. In fact pretty much ALL of Hondas bikes are boring except for the lunatic sport bikes like the CBR-RRRR-R1000R-RRRRRRR or whatever. The CBR500R & its kind is the reason I don't ride Hondas anymore.
The bronzed forks and engine casings from the previous model looked better .
The made it just more boring .
Mabey give it a more classic racer look .
Make it more standing out than copying a look from another bike.
They where a company with passion for motorcycles but the good for nothing managers took over
I mean the RC390 is cheaper and has even more crazy body work. Or for 1k more you can get a RC8R on marketplace
its a bad day to be a honda fanboy 🥲
They make absolutely incredible engines, that you can put in a barn for 50 years and they'll still run like a top. And at least in the last 5-10 years they put those engines in the most bland vehicles
@@capella95 agreed! Ive got a ‘19 CB650R with 25,000 miles. Literally has never let me down once. Love that bike
@@capella95 Hate to break it to you, but Honda is #3 on the reliability list behind both Yamaha and Suzuki.
@@switcherlp780 according to what? JD power or similar that will say a Hyundai beats Toyota? None of those reliability statistics are... Reliable. Who gets the highest bid to the advertiser wins. Just talk to technicians.
In addition to bikes I had an Acura RSX with 380k miles no problems, a prelude with 230k and can survive track days. Honda engine metallurgy is top notch. I used to sub contract induction heat treating for various auto manufacturers and their parts. I performed the QC and micro hardness test myself, so yeah I am of the opinion that Honda is dope. The made in Japan stuff is superior tho to India and US, but that's true for Suzuki and others
Looks at my VFR..
Nah.. Honda is king.
Granted a free market 2025 VFR-800 would be nice...
There is little wrong with the cycle itself. It's fine.
It is the price. You put a number on it like that, you are insulting the riding public.
I love my 2017 cbr500 got it for dirt cheap (3000$)in mint condition with under 10,000 km I do agree that the price to buy one new is outrageous but if u can get a deal on a used one with low miles I say it’s a great buy
I'd really like to hear your opinion on cbr650r e-clutch 2024
In India, its the superb duo of KTM Duke 390 and RC 390 which rule the sales chart in this category. The newly launched Aprillia RS 457 is also beginning to make its presence felt and if Aprillia is able to keep its after sales game sorted, they would have a super-hit on their hand. Its sad to say but nobody really cares about the Japanese offerings in this segment anymore.
my fz1, a bike with twice the displacement and much more comfort oriented, weighs a whopping 18lbs more than the new cbr.
you know, a litrebike from 17 years ago.....
Lol, if you want to hear me cursing, go ahead and pay me. Love you Yam, but I prefer the beep over cursing.
As an owner of a Honda ATV, I can say Honda stays pretty bland and consistent on all their platforms. Nothing exciting but everything works as expected.
I have the same opinion about the 500 range from Honda. After years in product, sales and marketing, all I can say is that we are not the target market for this bike.
The target audience does not give a shit about power, weight or cylinder config.