Honda CBR500R

Great for commuting – I appreciate that the engine of my Honda CBR500R responds better to commuting than to extreme sports riding, as this is more applicable to me and that the suspension that feels good in the corners is also compliant on the bumpiest of freeways

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.  Show details

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.  Show details

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.  Show details

The 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.  Show details

Amazeballs – 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  Show details

Best 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… Read more

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 you 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.

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… Read more

"this is a good day for a ride"...thats what I do, what more do I want? 500cc twin cyclinder is perfect!

awesome 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.  Show details

Best 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  Show details

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  Show details

Love 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.  Show details

Fantastic 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… Read more

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

Butifull an excellent for learners – Very happy with the bike I bought a 2016 and its so cumfy and respsive in all the gears an quite and smooth out on the highway an overtaking no problem a learner would be very happy an very shepe to run better than a ninja for cumfert an haderling  Show details

Just bought it!! Wooohooo – Got my bike 1 month ago and loving it! Great bike smooth ride!! Looks great in black! You will be happy with it! First time on the road and I can't fault it except the horn lol but other than that great first bike and really recommend to any learner rider  Show details

Solid motorcycle – Purchased a 2016 model as my first bike after doing lots of research. This bike is awesome. It has looks, smooth power delivery and plenty of grunt for the street. It is easy to ride and forgiving for a newbie. Rides well in the suburbs, on the highway, around the mountains and longer distance. Servicing costs are low and it holds its value well.  Show details

Listen to me – IM only focusing on the Honda CBR500R 2016 model and let me tell you it is perfect!!! only problem is no gear indicator but it makes you listen to the ride and focus on the bike so plus and minus. alot of people say beginners bike youll grow out of it but come on who needs the 300kph of the 600s and 1000s? this bike is comfortable smooth and… Read more

turns heads...

alot of you people got to stop overthinking stats and comparisons so you get the best bike... this is a smooth, stylish light 190kmph max bike that can easily break the law when it comes to speed just like %90 of other bikes

if speed is your desire get the yamah mt 07 lams it is the fastest lams bike on the market

people say bikes like these are borning.... cause it lacks torque.... thats a plus i own a mt 07 and this one is my pick everytime so i bought it too and are selling the 07

CONCLUSION.... BUY THE BIKE YOU THINK YOULL LOOK GOOD ON CAUSE THATS ALL YOULL BE THINKING ABOUT LETS BE HONEST

FORGET PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT BEGINERS BIKES AND STUFF CAUSE THEY CLASS IT AS A BEGINNER BIKE CANT GO 200KMPH AND THATS JUST SOOOO BAD, DO WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY ALL BIKES WORK

AND WILL DO THE JOB SOME BETTER THEN OTHERS BUT MOST OF THAT COMES DOWN TO THE RIDERS SKILL

AND HEY IF YOU WANT A KTM 1350 BUT DONT WANT TO RIDE FAST THEN DO IT

P.s #1 cause of motorbike crashes is the rider taking a corner at a speed theyre not comfortable with not other drivers.... so when riding with others dont try to keep up if they have years of experience let them do them and you do you and ask for tips and stuff all the time and get them to follow you

Great Mid Sized Bike – I have had my 2015 CBR 500RA for 1 year now and have done 7000km ,I did my second service at 5000km as my preference , I've had about 18 bikes between 250cc to 1200cc ,not ridden regularly for 20 years and aged 50 I wanted a bike under 200kg , this bike has ample power , great balance for the twistie ranges and out performed many others I tried… Read more

,,it is beyond good on fuel economy ,,I put a Mussari slip on exhaust for $250 from Screaming Demon Exhaust ,WA ,,Cheapest and sounds the better than 2 brothers a Ixil ,,A louder exhaust is a MUST have for safety as cars just cannot hear the bike and pull in front of you ,, need to be heard as well as seen ,,updated the front suspension with fork pretension adjuster and put a Givi Double Bubble windscreen on ,,makes 100% difference on the Hi Way ,, the bike is wonderful , never had an issue ,looks like a litre bike and always gets nice comments from onlookers ,,the only 2 problems were the soft shocks and too short screen which can be rectified , at $7.500 its money well spent

Fantastic learners bike – I have owned a 2014 CBR500r for 3 months now and ridden 1200km. Ride position is quite upright and feels very comfortable. In that time I have not experienced one problem. It has just enough power to get you excited but not enough to get you in trouble. easy to flick from side to side and uses around 3.5ltr / 100km. you will not find a better… Read more

learners bike for the price. Just put a slip on exhaust and it will sound awesome.

Only one criticism, the front and rear suspension is basic and quite soft. can be upgraded if required.

A beautiful bike – I'm not the expert some of the gentlemen here are, but my two cents worth is I LOVE this bike. I have the ABS version (CBR500RA) and it was worth every sent for the added safety factor. I have the Yoshimura exhaust and wow what a difference. Love it. Has heaps of torque and is light enough to handle well. Holds up famously in highway winds. The 2014 model has more red than the '13 and looks a lot more classy (sorry '13 owners!).  Show reply

Great bikes to learn on! – My wife and I have bought one of these each. I haven't ridden for over 30 years, she not at all. We've had them a month now and ridden mostly country roads. The power is smooth, adequate and easy fir new riders to manage. I find that it easily maintains 100 or 110 kph without issue at all. Copes well in windy conditions. Comfortable all round.… Read more

I would thoroughly recommend this bike to any new rider. Don't be put off by the 500 cc engine. It's not intimidating at all.

Very easy to ride – Bought new July 2014- 2014 CBR500RA Black (ABS model) just done 2000km. A really nice bike to commute on the freeway. Plenty of merging and passing power, moves from 100-125kph in quick time to pass. Sits steady and comfortable on 100kph @ 5000. OTD- $7500 all up with 6months rego. Great all round bike, looks good, very smooth… Read more

clutch/gears, Honda quality,all through. Only one thing to suggest- recommend upgrading OEM exhaust- (fitted R77 Yoshimura) no power gain, but the 500 will sound much deeper with a good slip on or full system.

Loads of Fun!! – I've had my bike just over a month now and have put approximately 1400kms on it. The seating position is extremely comfortable and the engine is smooth and sweet with more than enough power to get your blood pumping. If you choose not to squeeze the throttle, the bike is an extremely smooth cruiser. I have found the suspension to be fine even… Read more

though it is a basic setup. Everything on the bike is of typically high Honda quality with a solid feel. I can't say enough good things about this bike. I can fly through twisties and it pulls strongly from almost any speed. I have enough trouble staying under the speed limit on this so can't imagine how difficult it would be on a 600cc or 1000cc bike. The best thing about this bike is that you really get to use what it has, moving through the gears and opening the throttle wide when you want to go hard without ever worrying that it is going to flip you off mid corner. It's also super stable in high winds and the farings give good protection. The gearbox and clutch are super-nice also. Get one, you'll love it too!! The looks, the torque, comfortable seating, smooth power delivery, heaps of fun... Don't love the single headlight and high beam, it looks like a globe is out but common on many bikes nowadays.

Excellent Lams Approved bike with a fantasic price to match – This bike is an amazing bike for a learner or novice rider to step onto. The power is very easy to be in control of but it still has enough power to scare you if you twist the throttle hard enough. Coming from a WR450 dirtbike I'm not one bit dissapointed in this bike. It is fantasic on fuel, has stunning looks a real head turner, the option of… Read more

abs, twin cylinder fuel injection, comfortable ergonomics, long service intervals. And the price was very hard to turn up, I would recommend this bike to anyone whom is interested in a cheap reliable bike that can do everything.

Poor positioning of the indicator switch.

Great fun – Not sure what '[name removed]' is talking about, as the CBR is easily the fastest and more torquey than either the 400 or the Ninja 300, producing 11 more horsepower at the rear wheel than the Ninja. It looks great, is a great fit and is economical. Of course, at this price it's got some limitations and that is the lack of suspension adjustment,… Read more

so it might not be as flickable in some cases.

Overall its a great choice for a beginner, or a rider who has been off the bike for a while, wanting to have a bit of fun without breaking the bank, and as a commuter it is a better choice than a scooter as you can take it out for a run in the twistys on the weekend. Great look, comfortable Lack of suspension adjustment

All Show - No Go – This bike was a bitter disappointment. It certainly looks great and comes with modern equipment, but that's all folks. The setup is rather basic overall and the power is lacking. It produces a half decent amount of torque but no power, which takes away any sense of drama. Almost felt like I'm on a moped, with power delivery liner but totally… Read more

boring.

Do yourself a favor and spend the extra $2k for a CB400, cause it will absolutely run rings around you. Or spend $2k less and buy a 300 Ninja, which will still wipe out any 500CBR. Looks Awesome Too Expensive, Slow, Slower, Slowest

Great bike for the money, best of the LAMS – I bought this bike after studying and test riding every LAMS (Learner Approved Motorcycle Scheme) bike available in mid-2013. This included contenders like the Kawasaki Ninja 300, the KTM 390, and Hyosung GTR650 (among others - this set stood out from the rest). Each of these other bikes has their strengths and weaknesses, you should also test… Read more ·  2

them to see if the characteristics of one suits you more than another.

So what I like about the Honda 500. Firstly, it looks like a bigger capacity bike, with tyre sizes as wide as you find on 650cc bike. The other best looker out of my test set is the Kawasaki 300, but while it seems to look alright from the side, the rear tyre is narrower and when sitting on it the bike appears narrow looking at the dash. While we're looking at the dash, the Honda's is clear in all lighting conditions, whereas I had trouble with the bitsy lights on the Kawasaki in strong daylight.

I think I'll dispense with too much talk concerning suspension. LAMS bikes are built to a price and savings have to be found somewhere. Almost universally the suspension on LAMS bike is thus basic. Read that as non-adjustable forks and a rear only adjustable for preload as being the norm here. I found little difference in the suspension for all them in my testing. The Honda's performs well and predictably. I've pushed it around pretty hard without anything unsettling happening - about as good as you get in this category. The rear swingarm looks very plain on the Honda, which isn't bad as I think the one on the KTM 390 looks ugly - and better plain than ugly! The styling of the rest of the bike covers for the swingarm, which remains inconspicuous.

Apart from the looks, what sold me was how the engine felt riding around out on the street. In this scenario, street riding - where you would most likely spend 95 percent plus of your time on the bike - riders typically use the middle of the rev range. Sure, on a fast take-off you might let it scream, but fact is it is in this middle zone where you will be for the vast majority of the time. The Honda builds some serious torque from this region up. That translates to a bike that feels grunty and pulls strongly just going around regular corners - which means you can have fun, everywhere. Merging onto a highway, and opening up to approach peak revs (8500rpm), there is a delightful snarl and it is not lacking on power. It does 0-100km/h in around 6 seconds, which if you come from driving a car, will blow you away. The nearest contender, the Kawasaki 300, by contrast feels like a small capacity bike at middle revs (it's power delivery happens later, from 9,000rpm to 13,000rpm). I couldn't realistically see myself riding around the streets doing 9,000+ revs all of the time in order to have any fun. Sure, when you wring the Kawasaki's neck it gets up and goes .. but every Kawasaki 300 I've seen out on the road isn't being ridden anywhere near peak revs, so I rest my case.

The gearbox and clutch work well, shifting positively and easily every time. The six gear ratios follow a natural incremental progression, so you can make full use of all six. My car has a six-speed gearbox, but fifth and sixth on it are really just overdrive cruising gears, that I hate as they are good only for saving petrol. The KTM 390 has a very tall top gear, that they use as a selling point, but which I use as a reason to avoid.

The single disk brake front and rear provide good feel and have no trouble slowing the bike. As a complete package everything works capably. Yes you can get better running gear, but that bike will cost you more than double what this one does.

No problems with the seat or riding position, which is leaning angled forward for average height riders. The very minor ergonomic quibble I might have is the position of the indicator switch. It should be just to the right of my left thumb. Instead, a large grey horn button is there, with the indicator switch tucked down underneath it. It takes some getting used to, having to search down below with your thumb, but after a while it becomes second nature. Better off around the other way, but yes only a minor thing.

Mirrors are well placed and big enough. On others, they are odd shapes and set on a narrow support and can be difficult to see around your own body. No problem here.

Tyres seem up to standard, Dunlop SportMax D222's. My bike's only just run in (500km) and I've taken it to reasonable lean angles (just off knee down) and the tyres offer good grip.

The service interval is every 24,000km. I'm going to be changing oil more frequently than that, but what it shows is Honda's confidence in the quality of their product. Compare this with Hyosung's service interval for example, and you'll get the picture.

On the road, the dealer gave me a price three hundred dollars less than what you see advertised. The quality of ride, the look and the feel of riding it, this is supremely great value bang for you buck. Supreme bang for your buck, Big bike looks, High quality, Long service interval, Damn fun to ride Indicator switch could have been positioned better