Honda Cb500f Abs
HONDA CB500F ABS
CHEAP SEATS
THE STANDARD OF STANDARDS
SPAWNED FROM BIG RED’S FAMILY OF 500S THAT ALSO INCLUDES
the sportier CBR500R and crossover CB500X, the CB500F is the sleeper of the lot. In black, it’s almost so plain that you might miss it altogether if you walked past it parked on the street.
Although it might not tug at our heartstrings, the CB works quite well. During commutes, the good torque of the 471cc parallel twin provides easy low-rev getaways and decent roll-on performance. The F is no rocket ship, but its engine, which is ideal in the urban theater, has enough performance to keep you entertained on a twisty weekend ride. Clutch pull is light, but the shifts are a bit notchy. The transmission even jumped out of gear under hard acceleration a few times.
Chassis performance is good considering the $6,299 price of our ABS model. The steering is light, predictable, and stable, while the suspension feels well damped until you push the CB500F to sportbike speeds. Brake performance is good for this class, with decent feel and enough power to get the bike slowed and stopped quickly.
Contributing to this Honda’s commuter résumé are its upright and comfortable ergonomics, together with a neutral footpeg location and a mini bikini fairing that provides a decent amount of protection to keep wind off your chest.
An extrovert the CB500F is not. But for lots of buyers, that’s just fine. It’s tough to fault a do-anything motorcycle that’s a solid performer and reliable, even if it likes to fly under the radar and avoid the limelight. -Blake Conner
nmmimaa DOHC parallel twin
■ DISPLACEMENT 471 cc
30.9 in.
I FUEL CAPACITY 4.1 gal.
usMBinnsmsasñ 424 Ib.
casa $6299
