Honda CB500

[Boom King]

Originally Posted by bdavison

I doubt it will ever see the states.....no reason for honda to make competition for their own 600cc bike. That thing is probably only going to see the UK and India.

Unless they are dumping the 600RR....which is HIGHLY unlikely.

Rumour is that in Honda's internal system there are the codes AC and CM beside the model name. AC stands for America 50 state/California and CM is Canada. The person on the CBR forum who originally broke the story apparently has it from reliable source that this bike will indeed appear in North America.

Personally, I don't see how Honda will not introduce this bike over here. It will be the next logical step up for many of their CBR250R owners.

[choneofakind]

This will be an interesting turf war between Kawi and Honda. It's a good time to be riding a small displacement sport bike

Seeing how all the rumors about the 300 were actually true and we thought we were just getting trolled, my mind is open to anything at this point.

[Jono]

CBR500>Ninja 300



Just when Kawasaki thought they were gonna start dominating the small/middle-ish cc market again. Then here comes Honda's response. I hope this CBR500 comes to the states. Looks like a fun bike and the perfect amount of power for the streets!

[menikmati]

Looks good, almost too good...

[Boom King]

We should all know for certain in about 3 weeks time. Expected Honda announcement on these models November 13 at the EICMA show in Milan.

[dfox]

This one is catching my eye too. Kind of a more sporty nc700x

[choneofakind]

there goes Jono, jumping off the Kawasaki bus again...

[NJ Ninjette]

The more I see, the more I'm getting interested for sure. It's going to come down to the price point verses the next step up. My wife continues to think about getting her license and riding the ninjette, so I would get to have both.

[Jono]

Originally Posted by choneofakind

there goes Jono, jumping off the Kawasaki bus again...

Hey now! It looks like a very nice bike! And I own two Kawasaki's so I am still on the bus. But I can appreciate a nice bike when I see one. Plus I am a fan of Honda.

[choneofakind]

Yeah, but you've always liked the CBR250 better than your ninjette, sooooo that means you basically own a cibber and one dopey little Kawi sumo

You're a Honda fanboy!! GTFO!!!!

jk, that new bike looks pretty nice. It would be a nice addition, just on engine size. We'll give it more judging after we know what features/power/torque/handling that it delivers. The small-medium displacement sport bike competition is turning out nicely.

[Jono]

Originally Posted by choneofakind

Yeah, but you've always liked the CBR250 better than your ninjette, sooooo that means you basically own a cibber and one dopey little Kawi sumo


You're a Honda fanboy!! GTFO!!!!

How dare you call my little sumo dopey! It's more fun to ride than the ninja! (Actually they are about equally fun to ride but the KLX is just a little bit more fun! )


Hey, my thoughts on that cibber are changed now. I got to really analyze it in person last month. Haha. One of my best friends, friend bought a CBR250 without his parents knowing. Parents ended up making this guy return the bike to the dealership. Haha. Anywho, this guy was storing the cibber at my friends house and I got to sit on it and stare at it for hours. Also rev'ed it up. It didn't sound bad but I didn't get to ride it, but it did look weird after looking at it for a while. But here is the biggest turn off that nobody has mentioned. The gas cap comes completely off when you unlock it!!!! Then you have to find somewhere to put it as you fill the tank. Like WTF Honda. Haha

Originally Posted by choneofakind

jk, that new bike looks pretty nice. It would be a nice addition, just on engine size. We'll give it more judging after we know what features/power/torque/handling that it delivers. The small-medium displacement sport bike competition is turning out nicely.

Yes, it shall be judged in the future.

[choneofakind]

Originally Posted by Jono

How dare you call my little sumo dopey! It's more fun to ride than the ninja! (Actually they are about equally fun to ride but the KLX is just a little bit more fun! )

Easy there hotsauce! I'm jelly of your sumo. I wish I had one.

[Jono]

Haha. Good, good.

[Domagoj]

430 lbs seems a bit on the heavy side. More than a bit.

In any case, another street bike, which offers almost nothing new over the original ninjette except more power and torque.

I would like to see fully adjustable suspension, aluminium frame, clipons, and 350 lbs. Seems one can only get that with 100+ hp and a considerably higher price tag.

[00NissanNinja]

Hmm...Looks alright...I could see them bringing it to the US to steal some sales from the ninja 650r (although will have to wait and see for some actual power numbers to see if its competitive), the ergos look to be a little more sporty than the 650r.

[NinjetteNewfie]

Ahem, calling Yamaha...please make a small displacement bike that looks like the R6...thanks!!! Would have to think they are watching all this hoopla and want in on the L'il bike market.

[ChrisMKV]

I will also be watching this one closely! A reasonably powerful sporty (but not supersport) for commuting would be welcome in my garage.

[dfox]

Originally Posted by NinjetteNewfie

Ahem, calling Yamaha...please make a small displacement bike that looks like the R6...thanks!!! Would have to think they are watching all this hoopla and want in on the L'il bike market.

search up info on the r25.1, i think is what they're calling it. looks like a 250 with supersport ergonomics.

[NinjetteNewfie]

Originally Posted by dfox

search up info on the r25.1, i think is what they're calling it. looks like a 250 with supersport ergonomics.

Yeah I saw something about it on a thread here, but nothing like the "rumors" about the possibility of the 300 or now the Honda 500. Yamaha has the 2013 line up on their Candian site no sign of a l'il bike tho. Maybe next year...

[dfox]

the r25.1 just might not be making it to North America, maybe too much competition in a small market for Yamaha to take the leap. All info has pointed to this cbr500 coming here though.

[Jono]

Originally Posted by Domagoj

430 lbs seems a bit on the heavy side. More than a bit.

In any case, another street bike, which offers almost nothing new over the original ninjette except more power and torque.

I would like to see fully adjustable suspension, aluminium frame, clipons, and 350 lbs. Seems one can only get that with 100+ hp and a considerably higher price tag.

Yamaha makes something just like that. Minus the clipons and 48 pounds. Yamaha WR250X. You have these were you live? Cause if so, it's what you are looking for.

[tnr4]

The 500 seems too big to be direct competition with the 250/300 class. If the hp is really 47 (and that's not the EU restrictions), then I wouldn't want a bigger bike to gain such small numbers; but if (as seems more likely), the American version will be more powerful, then it seems like competition for the 600/650 class.

I'm hoping for the latter option. A (probably) expensive, bigger, heavier small bike isn't exciting; but a great-looking, light-weight middleweight sounds freaking awesome. I would consider that as a second bike in addition to my 300, as something with a bit more heft and oomph for multi-day trips.

[Jiggles]

Originally Posted by Jono

CBR500>Ninja 300



Just when Kawasaki thought they were gonna start dominating the small/middle-ish cc market again. Then here comes Honda's response. I hope this CBR500 comes to the states. Looks like a fun bike and the perfect amount of power for the streets!

Lol when did they stop dominating? Never?

[oblivion007]

I'm definitely interested in this bike, even more so that there should be a press release on the 13th of Nov. The weight though really turns me off

[LoD575]

News of a CBR500 caught and maintained my curiosity once hearing about it.

I am very interested in what the final release specs will be.

[Nemesis]

If the CBR500 is released in the US that's the bike I'd buy over the Ninja 300. And I know plenty of peeps/racers who would jump ship too. End of story!

[Jono]

Originally Posted by Jiggles

Lol when did they stop dominating? Never?

The past year and a half. You know since that CBR250 was released. I know you think that nobody bought that little cibber but folks actually did. Honda was responsible for the Ninja 300. Without real competition I doubt Kawasaki would have updated the little ninja so quickly. Kawasaki only dominated the small displacement sport bike category for like two decades because they had no real competition.

[bdavison]

Originally Posted by dfox

This is not competition for the 600rr. This is a sport, not super sport. Kawasaki has the ninja 650 and the zx-6R. Yamaha has an sv650 and the r6. This is supposed to be a cheaper alternative to the ninja 650r and SV650.

Bear in mind....horsepower is not the only factor in people purchasing a bike.

If Honda drops a twin 500 that has the same supersport looks, ergos, and decent suspension on the market that costs less than the 600/RR and garners cheaper insurance rates....sales on the 600/RR will suffer.

I honestly think thats why Kawasaki made the 650R so fugly. If they had stuffed that 650 engine in a ZX frame, sales on the ZX's would have suffered.

[Alex]

It's so hard to get real numbers on things like that. Manufacturers don't release things publicly, at least for free, and the industry groups that release things as aggregate don't provide enough brand by brand comparisons either. But then you see things like the Sport Rider review of the new 300 this month. Read the part with the red arrow, and then try and reconcile that with what we think we know about sportbike sales in the US by brand.

[Boom King]

Originally Posted by tnr4

The 500 seems too big to be direct competition with the 250/300 class. If the hp is really 47 (and that's not the EU restrictions), then I wouldn't want a bigger bike to gain such small numbers; but if (as seems more likely), the American version will be more powerful, then it seems like competition for the 600/650 class.

I'm hoping for the latter option. A (probably) expensive, bigger, heavier small bike isn't exciting; but a great-looking, light-weight middleweight sounds freaking awesome. I would consider that as a second bike in addition to my 300, as something with a bit more heft and oomph for multi-day trips.

I think the CBR250R will remain as Honda's most direct competitor to the Ninja 250/300 as the entry sport bike. If the CBR500 is available over here, it's possible that it could make more hp than the rumoured 47 hp. The 470 cc engine is apparently detuned to meet the new EU restrictions.

[KELPHYN]

Just to stir the pot some more. Single cylinder, 390cc, 45hp, 330lbs.

[Whiskey]

Originally Posted by 00NissanNinja

Hmm...Looks alright...I could see them bringing it to the US to steal some sales from the ninja 650r (although will have to wait and see for some actual power numbers to see if its competitive), the ergos look to be a little more sporty than the 650r.

The power will be just under 35kW so 46bhp +/- 1 The bike is primarily aimed at the A2 licence class in Europe (and is currently the only bike suitable for the A2 test in stock form)

The 08 model Ninja 250 was aimed at the soon to be obselete A* class licence in Europe, that's why it's 33bhp & not any higher. It was the only modern bike in the A* category for a year or 2 (until Hyodung & Honda brought out lesser 250s)

Originally Posted by KELPHYN

Just to stir the pot some more. Single cylinder, 390cc, 45hp, 330lbs.

What class of idiots are KTM employing? 395cc is the minimum capacity for the A2 class test, they've made a bike that cant be used for the test but is above the power for the lower class licence

And from a European manufacturer too

Originally Posted by Jono

The past year and a half. You know since that CBR250 was released. I know you think that nobody bought that little cibber but folks actually did. Honda was responsible for the Ninja 300. Without real competition I doubt Kawasaki would have updated the little ninja so quickly. Kawasaki only dominated the small displacement sport bike category for like two decades because they had no real competition.

Partly the honda 250, but mostly the change in the european licence category meaning the 33bhp limit is going up to 47.

[Boom King]

Originally Posted by bdavison

Bear in mind....horsepower is not the only factor in people purchasing a bike.

If Honda drops a twin 500 that has the same supersport looks, ergos, and decent suspension on the market that costs less than the 600/RR and garners cheaper insurance rates....sales on the 600/RR will suffer.

I honestly think thats why Kawasaki made the 650R so fugly. If they had stuffed that 650 engine in a ZX frame, sales on the ZX's would have suffered.

It's possible but I think Honda is betting that any decrease in sales on the 600/RR will be more than made up in sales from the 500. It's not like 600 cc supersports are the bread and butter of sales as they once were. Sales on 600 cc supersports have dropped considerably ever since the global recession. Not just for Honda but for pretty much all the manufacturers. I have seen the word "plummeted" more than once in describing this decrease. The market changes over time and the manufacturers produce models to meet new consumer trends.

But really, the type of consumer that would be considering something like the CBR500 would most likely not make the jump into a 600 cc supersport if Honda didn't produce a middle displacement sport bike. More likely, the rider will jump ship and look at something like the Ninja 650 or Yamaha FZ6R. The CBR500 will give loyal CBR250R riders a reason to stay with Big Red when they want to upgrade and don't need the track/race oriented design of a SS.

[dfox]

Originally Posted by bdavison

Bear in mind....horsepower is not the only factor in people purchasing a bike.

If Honda drops a twin 500 that has the same supersport looks, ergos, and decent suspension on the market that costs less than the 600/RR and garners cheaper insurance rates....sales on the 600/RR will suffer.

I honestly think thats why Kawasaki made the 650R so fugly. If they had stuffed that 650 engine in a ZX frame, sales on the ZX's would have suffered.

I do not agree.

Most people don't only go for one brand when looking for a bike. They walk into a dealership that has Hondas, Kawis, and yamis. If they're looking at the 600ss, there's three options. If they're looking at 600 sports, there's only two. Honda used to have options there, not currently. I bet they realized loss of sales, and decided to build a bike that would undercut the other 600 sport options, as its a rapidly growing class. This will not be a 500cc super sport. Look at the brakes, single front means no super sport, likely no adjustable suspension. Look at the grips, theyre up like a sport, not down like a super sport.

[dfox]

Originally Posted by KELPHYN

Just to stir the pot some more. Single cylinder, 390cc, 45hp, 330lbs.

They dropped the duke from the USA a few years back. I doubt theyll offer it here. If they do though, my mind might change, the duke is beautiful.

[KELPHYN]

What class of idiots are KTM employing? 395cc is the minimum capacity for the A2 class test, they've made a bike that cant be used for the test but is above the power for the lower class licence

And from a European manufacturer too

Hmmmm....maybe it's not for Europe/ UK.

[Whiskey]

Originally Posted by dfox

I do not agree.

Most people don't only go for one brand when looking for a bike. They walk into a dealership that has Hondas, Kawis, and yamis. If they're looking at the 600ss, there's three options. If they're looking at 600 sports, there's only two. Honda used to have options there, not currently. I bet they realized loss of sales, and decided to build a bike that would undercut the other 600 sport options, as its a rapidly growing class. This will not be a 500cc super sport. Look at the brakes, single front means no super sport, likely no adjustable suspension. Look at the grips, theyre up like a sport, not down like a super sport.

They have, the CBR600f was reintroduced in 2011

Originally Posted by KELPHYN

Hmmmm....maybe it's not for Europe/ UK.

Europe is their main market, it fits the capacity & power requirements for the licence itself, but the test requires >395cc.

They already have 3 sizes of Duke in Europe, 0 in the US. they have 32 models of bike in the US, 46 in Europe/UK. Where do you think is getting it?

[choneofakind]

Yamaha has the R6, and the FZ6/FZ6R.

[dfox]

Originally Posted by Whiskey

They have, the CBR600f was reintroduced in 2011

Not state side they don't. They've got nothing.

[Whiskey]

Originally Posted by choneofakind

Yamaha has the R6, and the FZ6/FZ6R.

And the XJ-6 diversion, which is a half or full faired bike with the old R6 motor (same as the FZ6 & FZ6R)