Reviews
Excellent Allrounder
I have owned my 2020 CBR500R for just over 12 months. It has been a great economical bike and easily does long rides or quick jaunts through the twisties. Comfortable seating position and with adjustable front and rear suspension, you can really dial in your preference for how you want the bike to feel.
I’ve owned bigger displacement motorcylces and I find I don’t miss the extra power at all. I’ve owned smaller displacement bikes and this bike really outperforms them so don’t listen to too much of the hype about it being like a 300. It isn’t.
... Read more The bike feels full size and gets plenty of comments on how it looks. People can’t believe it was a $10k on the road bike. That’s Honda detail and quality. I’ve got 450km to the tank which is good going from the 17.1lt tank. Whether you be a learner or experiences looking to downsize, this bike is it.Great for the price around the town/city. Short Highway trips
2015 Honda CBR500R. Dont waste time with a CBR250RR.
Stock Standard, this now has 18,000kms on it.
Its been super reliable.
Cheap on fuel - better on fuel then my CBR250RR.
It has way more power then my CBR250RR at no extra cost.
Will sit on 120 k/ph with no problems. Has top speed of just over 160 k/ph.
Will accelerate alright to 135-140k/ph if needed.
Will beat most traffic at lights. Accelerates way better then the CB250rr.
It is not a wide bike so lane splitting is dead easy.
Great bike for going to work or doing some odd Weekend riding. Very nimble to throw around corners.
Great everyday bike
The CBR500R was my first ever motorcycle.
It has great power for a LAMS bike, handles well and is easy to ride. I’ve been riding it every day to work and is a very reliable piece of machinery. It looks good and accelerates well compared to a 300cc or below. I’d say as an every day commuter you can’t go wrong with this bike and it’s big enough to take on some weekend trips. The downsides are it’s turning circle, handlebars/Mirrors make it a little tight for tight filtering and once you’ve ridden it for a while you desire more power. Other than that I’d highly recommend it as a beginner bike.
doesn't do much wrong.
cheap bike that doesn't make mistakes but isn't brilliant at anything. your jaw wont drop with excitement and the adjustable forks on the 16+ models are a bit of a joke. over all very meh. I feel as if i'm on a scooter at times (however one that can do well on the highway.) you absolutely need an exhaust for this bike.
... Read moreFind out how Honda CBR500R compares to other Super Sport Bikes
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Fantastic Learners Bike
This is a fantastic bike for both beginners and intermediate level riders.
It has limited power that provides decent torque but not so much that will kick off a beginner. I have had mine about 9 months and love it.
I have not had any issues with it mechanically and it is cheap on fuel.
Solid learner bike
This bike was un upgrade to my CB125 that I had just after I got my L's, Better for longer rides compared to the CB125 and with that extra power the last one lacked, The handling was quite nice and the weight were perfect to feel balanced. Over all would recommend.
... Read moreThe best learner bike
Hello I owned one of these for around 3 years , was happy to even ride it on a full licence as I wasn't ready to upgrade yet, was a little bit uprights so great for long rides, cheap on fuel, came in the tri colours, great for short people, had enough power, highly recommended.
... Read moreAmazeballs
Purchased myself one of these as an upgrade from my hyosung gtr250
Would have to be the best purchase ive ever made!
Bike was incredible had enough power to be fun not enough you were afraid to ride it to its limits.
Handles like a dream, never had any mechanical issues all visits to mechanics were just services
10/10
... Read moreBest LAMS bike on the market.
Simply the best LAMS approved bike I have been on.
Honda has made the CBR500R an absolute powerhouse for a LAMS bike (250RRs and F4Is excluded) they are incredibly comfortable, the suspension travels great and in contrast to my Ninja it feels like you're riding on a cloud of comfort.
The electronic dash is also another big plus, the tacho is easy to read and provides plenty of information, less than some other manufacturers like KTM etc but still a very nice display.
Acceleration is either buttery smooth or visceral depending on how
... Read moreyou feel on your ride, the bike doesn't have any struggle keeping up with any card or other bikes and is comfortable on any highway or hill. The bike isn't too loud either, even after putting on an aftermarket exhaust which is a benefit for the neighbours as well.Find out how Honda CBR500R compares to other Super Sport Bikes
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So good
Walked into Ongmac Lismore one day just browsing and before I could stop myself, I bought a new bike just like that. Couldnt help myself, it fitted beautifully, rides almost effortlessly. Bit touchy on the throttle but I getting used to that. Tyres dont like wet grass but I wont do that again. What can I say, when I wake up, look outside and think "this is a good day for a ride"...thats what I do, what more do I want? 500cc twin cyclinder is perfect!
... Read moreawesome bike
I bought this bike after a couple of years with no bike as my previous Honda CBR250 was stolen. This bike is fabulous....great reliability, starts first time every time, economical and plenty powerful for me. Took a bit to get used to the different handling as it doesn't like to go slow round the corners but now I'm used to it. Smoother ride than the CBR250 and better for longer rides.
... Read moreBest LAMS bike out there
So much power for a LAMS bike. I would highly recommend. I purchased the white colour, it really stands out with its shimmery pearl paint and metallic blue and black stripes. It is a super comfortable ride with the handlebars not too low, thick padded seat and comfortable leg position
... Read moreFind out how Honda CBR500R compares to other Super Sport Bikes
Know better, choose better.
Not as good as the classic
Honda will always be a good company but the current bikes are no where near as good as the classics from the 90's. When you're sitting on a bike it doesn't matter what the dials look like, and the old 250 is beautiful at delivering a strong burst of power and a redline of 19.5k
... Read moreLove my new bike!
Great bike! Good on fuel and plenty of power for a beginner. Only negative I can think of is that I do not like the exhaust and it sounds like a scooter haha. Also seemed to be hard to track down after-market parts for the year model I purchased (2016). Would highly recommend to anyone getting their learners as this bike is much better valued than the restricted 650s.
... Read moreFantastic learner bike
I have the cbr500ra 2016. I am a learner rider with nill experience. The bike has a lot of torque in lower gears but not so much that I think I'm going to lift the front wheel
The bike is agile, comfortable and a lot of fun to ride. The ride position is upright and comfortable
But I have experienced sore wrists, I would argue that's more me than the bike
The bike has abs which is good
It's Matt black and gets a lot of looks and comments
Definitely recommend having a good look if your looking for a starter bike
It handles highway riding with ease
Great bike
Questions & Answers
What’s the difference between cbr500r my15 and my16? It came up while getting quote for insurance thanks?
Hey guys I have a cbr 500 r 2015. When it'd colder it seems to run fine. But when it get warm and I'm in 5-7 rpm it's surging really bad. I have tried cleaning the filter but not alone off deference. Any thought????
Yep not normal. I am not a mechanic but it needs checking out by one. I imagine Honda would be familiar with this problem on this model .
Yea I kinda want to try and get it sorted my self with some help. It just doesn't make sense it runs fine than will start surging and won't go past 100 -140
Checked the forums and there was 4 x things it could be. It worked out for most guys that the chain and sprockets needed replacing. Under $350 job.
Not sure if a chain or sprocket would make the engine surge ?
I've been riding for 35 years, have had some serious sports bikes, I'm thinking of dialling it back a bit, would I be happy with a cbr500r or would it get boring.
If you want excitement stay with what you have, if you want a bike with exceptional fuel consumption, very little servicing maintenance required and will beat every cars still at the light as you creep to the head of the line, then cbr500r might be for you.
I think you still need to work out what you are really looking for in a bike at this season in your life.cheers
Thanks for that, my favourite bike got taken out while riding years ago, if that hadn't happened I'd probably still be riding it, nothing has come close since. O well
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Details
Points of praise
- Reviewers described this bike as highly reliable, particularly for a combination of weekday commutes and the occasional weekend trip.
- This bike offers a good balance between having an engine that’s powerful enough to enjoy riding, but not so powerful that it’s difficult for a learner to handle.
- Many reviewers appreciated that the CBR500R was comfortable to ride, both on hills and highways.
- The attractive appearance, particularly when purchased in Matte Gray Metallic, was a definite plus point for some reviewers.
Points to consider
- It may take a little while to become familiar with how to handle the CBR500R, particularly with navigating corners. But once you do, it will provide you with many easy and enjoyable rides.
- Spare parts may be harder to source if you have an older CBR500R, e.g. a 2016 model, however this didn’t stop reviewers from rating this bike highly.
Category | Super Sport Bikes and Learner Approved Bikes |
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Engine Capacity | 471cc |
Release date | |
Manual | Download manual |
Extra Information
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