Price: £6,699 | Power: 46.9bhp | Weight: 191kg | Overall BikeSocial Rating: tba
While the updated-for-2024 Fireblade might grab the headlines, this CBR500R, its smaller capacity comrade has also received some striking updates for the new model year.
Matching the angles, design and style of the 200+ bhp rocket, this A2-licence compatible sportsbike looks every bit the part with its make-over but pair that with an ECU tweak and tech updates, and the fast-yet-frugal parallel twin Honda becomes a very attractive proposition.
Pros & Cons
- Easily mistaken for a Fireblade
- 46bhp never looked so fast standing still
- Classy tech updates
- Cables block the new screen
Review – In Detail
Price & PCP
For and against
Engine & Performance
Handling & Suspension (inc. weight & brakes)
Comfort & Economy
Equipment
Rivals
Verdict
Specification
What’s the price for the 2024 Honda CBR500R? £6,699. Yes, that’s just £100 more than the new price on the previous model.
Available in just two colour options: Matt Gunpowder Black Metallic or the outstanding Grand Prix Red (Tricolour), the mini-Fireblade should be in shops in the very early part of 2024, and although the PCP finance deals have yet to be officially announced, the previous generation was available for £109 a month over three years after a 10.5% deposit.
The state of tune and performance of an engine that complies with A2 licence regulations means that it’s peak performance is capped at 35kW (46.2bhp), and that is exactly what the 471cc liquid-cooled parallel twin of this, the friendliest of sportsbikes, makes. The mechanical components are unchanged from the 2022 model though new fuel injection settings through optimising the ignition timing has led to a claimed improvement “in low-rpm acceleration and power delivery across the rev range.” Though I expect that’d be difficult to experience unless ridden back-to-back. Still, an improvement is still an improvement. The power peaks at 8,600rpm while a peak torque figure of 31.7lb-ft is unsurprisingly identical to the other models using the same engine, and is attained at 6,500rpm.
Traction control, albeit Honda refer to it as Torque Control, has been added for 2024, though the system can still be switched off. As with other TC systems, it compares front and read wheel speed to detect any slipping and controls the fuel injection accordingly.
Despite the addition of a traction control system and updated TFT screen and switchgear, the 2024 Honda CBR500R is a whole 1kg lighter than its predecessor, weighing in at 191kg. Lighter weight wheels hold the key to the diet because there’s been no change in the chassis so the frame, suspension, brakes, and streamlined engine with its rear stacked gearbox all remain the same as before.
And because they’re the same, we know the bike will be a gem in the handling stakes. What the light-middleweight sportsbike lacks in outright power more than makes up for in its agility. It’s 41mm Showa Separate Function Fork Big Piston (SFF-BP) Upside Down forks come straight from the CBR650R where they’re asked to control twice the power, though they remain non-adjustable. The single tube Show rear shock absorber features a 5-stage preload adjustment though the identical system came in for some critique from our tester on the 2022 model, mentioning “a mismatch between them [the front forks] and the softly-sprung rear shock that, even at moderate speeds makes the new CBR feel loose and imprecise, with not quite enough damping at the rear.”
Four piston Nissin calipers are radially mounted on the twin 296mm front discs as before, while the single 240mm disc and single piston version stops the rear.
This gorgeous looking 46bhp sportsbike has its Fireblade DNA to thank for this sweeping lines and striking silhouette, and while the 500 version is 75% down on power to the 1000, the side-by-side appearance allows for aspiration for riders on their way up through the range. And for a sportsbike, the raised handlebars allow for a more natural riding position with less weight on the wrists, and more space between hip and ankle. Even its 785mm seat height is an attractive proposition for the less tall rider, especially with that narrow waist.
An identical 17.1 litre fuel tank to the CB500 Hornet plus an frugal figure of 80mpg will get you within a whisker of 300-miles, while the average Bennetts premium for the 2022 CBR500R is £298.30.
Just like Honda’s other two new 2024 500cc machines, the official accessory is sizable with a taller screen, heated grips, ACC socket, tank bag, and even a top box on offer. Though somewhat thoughtfully, Honda also offers a couple of packaged options with a Racing Pack or a Comfort Pack offering a discount as a bundle instead of adding the individual elements.
Like the NX500 and the CB500 Hornet, part of the 2024 model’s appeal is the introduction of the swanky new 5-inch TFT screen which is operated via the equally new switchgear, backlit for your nighttime rides too. The Honda RoadSync app offers turn-by-turn navigation once bike is connected to smartphone, and it’ll even enable phone calls and listening to music, though only via a Bluetooth-enabled headset.
The light-middleweight sports sector isn’t flooded with options despite the traditional leap from 125cc to 600cc being quite the chasm. That said, Kawasaki, KTM and Yamaha offer direct alternatives for similar money and offering similar performance at similar weight:
KTM RC390 | Price: £5,649
Power/Torque: 43bhp/27.3lb-ft | Weight: 155kg (dry)
Kawasaki Ninja 400 | Price: £6099
Power/Torque: 44.8bhp/27.3lb-ft | Weight: 168kg
Yamaha R3 | Price: £6,405
Power/Torque: 41.4bhp/21.8lb-ft | Weight: 169kg
We’ll let you know once we’ve ridden it in early 2024, probably alongside the other two upgraded 500s, the 2024 CB500 Hornet and the new Honda NX500.
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New price
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£6,699
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Capacity
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471cc
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Bore x Stroke
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67mm x 66.8mm
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Engine layout
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Parallel twin
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Engine details
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Liquid-cooled, 4-stroke DOHC
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Power
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46.9bhp (35KW) @ 8600rpm
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Torque
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31.7lb-ft (43Nm) @ 6500rpm
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Transmission
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6 speed, chain final drive
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Average fuel consumption
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80.7mpg claimed
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Tank size
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17.1 litres
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Max range to empty
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303miles
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Rider aids
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None
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Frame
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Steel diamond
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Front suspension
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Showa 41mm SFF-BP USD forks
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Front suspension adjustment
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n/a
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Rear suspension
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Prolink monoshock with steel hollow cross swingarm
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Rear suspension adjustment
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5 stage preload adjuster
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Front brake
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Dual 296mm x 4mm disc with Nissin radial mounted four piston calipers
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Rear brake
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Single 240mm x 5mm disc with single piston caliper
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Front wheel / tyre
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5-spoke cast aluminium, 17 X MT3.5 / 120/70ZR 17M/C 58W
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Rear wheel / tyre
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5-spoke cast aluminium, 17 X MT4.5 / 160/60ZR17M/C 69W
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Dimensions (LxWxH)
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2080mm x 760mm 1145mm
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Wheelbase
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1410mm
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Ground clearance
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130mm
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Seat height
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785mm
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Weight
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191kg (wet)
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Warranty
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Tba
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Servicing
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Tba
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MCIA Secured Rating
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Not yet rated
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Website
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www.honda.co.uk/motorcycles
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What is MCIA Secured?
MCIA Secured gives bike buyers the chance to see just how much work a manufacturer has put into making their new investment as resistant to theft as possible.
As we all know, the more security you use, the less chance there is of your bike being stolen. In fact, based on research by Bennetts, using a disc lock makes your machine three times less likely to be stolen, while heavy duty kit can make it less likely to be stolen than a car. For reviews of the best security products, click here.
MCIA Secured gives motorcycles a rating out of five stars (three stars for bikes of 125cc or less), based on the following being fitted to a new bike as standard:
- A steering lock that meets the UNECE 62 standard
- An ignition immobiliser system
- A vehicle marking system
- An alarm system
- A vehicle tracking system with subscription
The higher the star rating, the better the security, so always ask your dealer what rating your bike has and compare it to other machines on your shortlist.
