The Honda 500 twins are a group of
straight-twin motorcycle
A motorcycle (motorbike, bike; uni (if one-wheeled); trike (if three-wheeled); quad (if four-wheeled)) is a lightweight private 1-to-2 passenger personal motor vehicle Steering, steered by a Motorcycle handlebar, handlebar from a saddle-style ...
s made by
Honda
commonly known as just Honda, is a Japanese multinational corporation, multinational Conglomerate (company), conglomerate automotive manufacturer headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan.
Founded in October 1946 by Soichiro Honda, Honda has bee ...
since 2013 which use the same , 180°
crank
Crank may refer to:
Mechanisms
* Crank (mechanism), in mechanical engineering, a bent portion of an axle or shaft, or an arm keyed at right angles to the end of a shaft, by which motion is imparted to or received from it
* Crankset, the componen ...
,
straight-twin engine, such as the:
* CB500F
naked
Nudity is the state of being in which a human is without clothing. While estimates vary, for the first 90,000 years of pre-history, anatomically modern humans were naked, having lost their body hair, living in hospitable climates, and not ...
bike (2013–2024)
* CB500X
adventure touring
A touring motorcycle is a type of motorcycle designed for touring. Although almost any motorcycle can be used for this purpose, manufacturers have developed specific models designed to address the particular needs of these riders. Touring motorc ...
bike (2013–2024)
* CBR500R
sport bike
A sports motorcycle, sports bike, or sport bike is a motorcycle designed and optimized for speed, acceleration, braking, and cornering on asphalt concrete race tracks and roads. They are mainly designed for performance at the expense of comfort, ...
(2013–present)
*
CMX500 Rebel bobber (2017–present)
*
SCL500/CL500 standard Standard may refer to:
Symbols
* Colours, standards and guidons, kinds of military signs
* Standard (emblem), a type of a large symbol or emblem used for identification
Norms, conventions or requirements
* Standard (metrology), an object ...
, "
Scrambler
In telecommunications, a scrambler is a device that transposes or inverts signals or otherwise encodes a message at the sender's side to make the message unintelligible at a receiver not equipped with an appropriately set descrambling device. Wher ...
-style" bike (2023–present)
* NX500
adventure touring
A touring motorcycle is a type of motorcycle designed for touring. Although almost any motorcycle can be used for this purpose, manufacturers have developed specific models designed to address the particular needs of these riders. Touring motorc ...
bike (2024–present)
* CB500 Hornet
naked
Nudity is the state of being in which a human is without clothing. While estimates vary, for the first 90,000 years of pre-history, anatomically modern humans were naked, having lost their body hair, living in hospitable climates, and not ...
bike (2024–present)
These models are sold in Japan with smaller capacity 399 cc engines: CB400F (2013–2016), CB400X, and CBR400R. Their introduction coincided with new European licensing regulations establishing a mid-range class of motorcycles of limited power. The new 500 twins are similar to the earlier
CB500 parallel-twins discontinued in 2003, but all-new from the ground up. They are made in Thailand, where Honda had previously made only smaller
displacement
Displacement may refer to:
Physical sciences
Mathematics and physics
*Displacement (geometry), is the difference between the final and initial position of a point trajectory (for instance, the center of mass of a moving object). The actual path ...
motorcycles.
All models use the same 180° crank straight-twin engine with capacity and power below the A2
European driving licence limit. They share the same six-speed gearbox and the majority of cycle parts. The CB500X has a larger fuel tank and longer front suspension travel making it taller, and with more ground clearance.
On its release, the CBR500R was the
one-design
One-design racing is a racing method which may be adopted in sports using complex equipment, whereby all vehicles have identical or very similar designs or models, avoiding the need for a Handicapping, handicap system.
Motorsport
One-make racing ...
model the
European Junior Cup
The European Junior Cup was a motorcycling series held as a support series for the European rounds of the Superbike World Championship, hence the title. It was open to riders aged between 14–19; for 2015 the upper limit was increased to 21 for ma ...
in
2013
2013 was the first year since 1987 to contain four unique digits (a span of 26 years).
2013 was designated as:
*International Year of Water Cooperation
*International Year of Quinoa
Events
January
* January 5 – 2013 Craig, Alask ...
and
2014
The year 2014 was marked by the surge of the Western African Ebola epidemic, West African Ebola epidemic, which began in 2013, becoming the List of Ebola outbreaks, most widespread outbreak of the Ebola, Ebola virus in human history, resul ...
. Since 2014, Honda has partnered with local organisers to promote national CBR500R Cup events in Brazil and France; raced over various circuits, the competitions are open to amateurs from 13-years upwards.
Model history

The three models were announced on the eve of the November 2012
EICMA
EICMA (''Esposizione Internazionale Ciclo Motociclo e Accessori''), or the Milan Motorcycle Shows is an annual trade show in Milan, Italy featuring motorcycles. The 2018 show drew over half a million visitors and more than 1,200 exhibiting brands ...
show in Milan.
2013
April: CB500F, CBR500R released; July: CB500X released
2016
EURO 4
The European emission standards are vehicle emission standards that regulate pollution from the use of new land surface vehicles sold in the European Union and European Economic Area member states and the United Kingdom, and ships in European ...
compliance with smaller exhaust, LED headlamp, preload adjustable front suspension, smaller side covers, larger fuel tank on CB500F and CBR500R, Fireblade style fairing on the CBR500R
2019
Revised exhaust system, anti-rebound clutch, full LED lighting, revised rear shocks, new LCD instrumentation with additional features, 19" front wheel on the ''ruggedized'' CB500X, dual-channel
ABS standard on all models in most markets, although for 2017 USA models, it remained an option.
2022
Inverted Showa Separate Function Fork - Big Piston (SFF-BP) forks, dual 296mm disk with radial calipers up front, updated triple tree clamps, new fuel injection settings that further increase torque feel and overall character, other changes include a lighter swingarm, lighter radiator, revised shock settings, redesigned and lighter front wheel, more powerful LEDs. The US Market only received the Pearl Organic Green colorway for 2022.
The CB500X was released at a price of in Thailand. In Germany, the CB500X was released at .
Reactions
Since its launch, the range received many favorable reviews; some preferring the taller X model while the sporty R model was one of Honda's top selling bikes in Canada during 2015 and best selling sports bike in Australia. Many commentators, especially in off-road and long-distance touring, argued the need for such middleweight bikes.
Perhaps as a consequence, in 2015,
RallyRaid, a British after-market specialist, created upgrade kits for the R & F machines and a full adventure conversion kit for the X model.
Multiple small improvements in the 2019 range impressed commentators with
MCN describing the CB500X as an ''exceptional machine''.
Specifications
All specifications are manufacturer claimed unless otherwise specified. The motorcycle model designation is printed on a sticker under the seat.
References
{{Honda
CB500 (2013)
Standard motorcycles
Motorcycles introduced in 1993
Motorcycles powered by straight-twin engines