Took a CBR500R for a test ride.
- Thread starter jigger
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Possibly, but even if the bike had 60-70 HP it's still not a light sports bike.
I nearly bought a zxr1200 when I sold my zx12r nice bikes not so much the zxr1100 now I own just the zzr1200 lots of zzzzzz :
and my winter bat batmobile vfr750.Find an NC23 or NC29!!
I loved mine!
Thats kind of along lines of what the CBR500R should be IMO.
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Soldato
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Those are 4 cylinder bikes - I have a later, naked version of them, the CB400 super four VTEC, which is a very different beast to the under 10k rpm limit 500cc twin of the 500R. 14k rpm redline, absolutely no power at all under 7k rpm when the VTEC kicks in, then it's off like a scalded cat in 1st/2nd/3rd.
They still make the superfour in Japan, but they (like the CBR400RR and CBR250RR) were never sold over here. Too expensive, too highly specced, they'd end up being £6k or so. Just look at the front brakes, the A2 bikes now have single disc, standard 2 or 4 pot calipers - mine has twin discs with 4 pot calipers from the VTR1000/CBR600RR/Fireblade of the day.
At the end of the day, it's a 500cc twin. It's never going to have power throughout the rev range. You're going to need to thrash it make any progress. They'll still do 0-60 in 5 or so seconds, like my bike (mine has probably lost a few of the 52bhp over the years).
If you expected the 500r to be 'sports bike' you might want to adjust your expectations a little
It's a 'sporty' commuter/first bike that looks a bit like a fireblade to the less observant. Probably in the eu. There's probably still interesting stuff you can import from japan though.
Soldato
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400cc sportbikes never sold well here, after all you'd just get a 600 sportbike for the same money. That's why they're all A2 targeted budget commuters with the odd 'mini sports bike' thrown in, like the RC390.
The 400cc JDM bikes came about because of the licensing laws over there, so high quality, well made 400cc race replica bikes were in demand.
The 400cc JDM bikes came about because of the licensing laws over there, so high quality, well made 400cc race replica bikes were in demand.
I think a big problem is for anyone who has ridden a larger or more powerful bike for any length of time, is that the step down to these neutered learner bikes is, surprising to say the least.
Flat, emotionless, undramatic power delivery of their modest BHP, takes a bit of getting used to, and on first impressions for experienced riders is that they are incredibly boring and a bit rubbish.
The fact they are built for middle aged women, spotty oiks who have only just passed their test and people who are scared of their own shadows doesn't seem to register.
It's probably a very capable method of transport that's exiting as it needs to be for its target audience.
Flat, emotionless, undramatic power delivery of their modest BHP, takes a bit of getting used to, and on first impressions for experienced riders is that they are incredibly boring and a bit rubbish.
The fact they are built for middle aged women, spotty oiks who have only just passed their test and people who are scared of their own shadows doesn't seem to register.
It's probably a very capable method of transport that's exiting as it needs to be for its target audience.
It's a middleweight commuter bike with a sporty looking fairing. No different to the GSX650F which replaced the 600 Bandit.
Well just because you have been riding a big bike I don't think you then lose the ability to appreciate a smaller bike. The problem is why call this a CBR500R, use a 500cc twin that outputs 300cc power and make it rev like a single. Then we have have the 5500 price tag, thats way to much for whats on offer. The CBR500R is just a very odd bike.
I'm not sure thats a very good comparison.
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Honda right now, IMHO are in trouble in the sportsbike category... quite frankly quality is down the pan, now they've canned the 600F series, no one really gives a stuff... once they started using Hornets as the base then slapping CBR600 badges on them.. and the blade as great as it is, and easy to ride (I'd have a 2010 model in tiger like a shot as a second bike), they're now behind the times... everything is looking rather old!