Babysitting a little CB

[postoak_imp]

I just went and checked to make sure my memory was correct. The old CB550 Four had an inline four with 544 cc., weighed 437 pounds dry, and produced 38 HP whereas this new CB500 is a parallel twin with 471 cc., weighs 393 pounds dry, and produces 47 HP.

The CB500 twin produced from 1993-2003 (which I wasn't even aware of or had forgotten about) had 499 cc, weighed only 381 pounds dry, and produced 57 HP, so it would appear to be the hottest of these three. And I like the looks of it too.

[the Ferret]

Poastoak.. I had to go look them up and honestly I don't remember those 93-03 500's either.

[postoak_imp]

Yeah, I just read they were only for the U.K. Too bad, it sounds like it was quite a bike.

That CB500 made from 1993-2003 was followed by the CBF500 made from 2004-2011, also not available in the U.S.

So, when the CB500 was reintroduced here in 2013 it was actually a less powerful bike than the 500 had been for almost 20 years, but still more powerful than the old CB550 and CB500T of the '70s.

[Cormanus]

The there was the CB500 Four produced 1971-73 which was 420 lb (tank half full), 498cc and claimed 50hp. (See https://www.motorcycleclassics.com/class...cb500-four )

[Bheezy27403_imp]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWEnbYTWWV8

Ah man! I want one! Never knew this bike existed. The Euro/Asia market gets all the cool stuff.

We're cool too Honda! I swear we are! (grumbling and kicking rocks in the dirt)

[postoak_imp]

Cormanus, it is weird that the link to the CB500 Four has a photo of a Benelli bike.

Anyway, to quote someone else:

Both the 500 and the 550 each came with two different models:

500T: twin cylinder, basically a bored out 450 with less power (42hp)
500F: four cylinder, 48hp

550K: four cylinder, four exhaust pipes/mufflers, two per side (50hp)
550F: four cylinder, slightly different paint scheme from the 550k. Main difference is the 4 into one exhaust. All four exhaust pipes sweep to the right side of the bike and collect into one muffler. There are a few other subtle differences between the 550F and the 550K, but the exhaust is the main difference (50hp).

Here's a brief video of the CB500 Four:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2S3Q5FAQnpc

[LongRanger_imp]

The designation of K (four pipes) and F (4 into 1) was fairly consistent across the 750, 550, and 350/400cc lineup in the '70's. Same with the CB (street), CL (street scrambler), and SL (then XL) (motosport) designations on most 100, 125, 175, 250 and 350cc models back then.

[Cormanus]

Cormanus, it is weird that the link to the CB500 Four has a photo of a Benelli bike.

Anyway, to quote someone else:

Both the 500 and the 550 each came with two different models:

500T: twin cylinder, basically a bored out 450 with less power (42hp)
500F: four cylinder, 48hp

550K: four cylinder, four exhaust pipes/mufflers, two per side (50hp)
550F: four cylinder, slightly different paint scheme from the 550k. Main difference is the 4 into one exhaust. All four exhaust pipes sweep to the right side of the bike and collect into one muffler. There are a few other subtle differences between the 550F and the 550K, but the exhaust is the main difference (50hp).

Here's a brief video of the CB500 Four:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2S3Q5FAQnpc

I found that strange too. It also has a picture of a 1977 Suzuki GS550 before you get to the picture of the CB500.

[bigsheep_imp]

I babysat a CB450T when I still had the CTX700. A part of why I ended up with the CB1100, even though it was already on my radar. Great little bike. I kind of want a small bike for scooting around in town but the CB feels so light and flickable to me I wonder how much I would reach for the small displacement.

[Nortoon_imp]

Yeah, I just read they were only for the U.K. Too bad, it sounds like it was quite a bike.

That CB500 made from 1993-2003 was followed by the CBF500 made from 2004-2011, also not available in the U.S.

So, when the CB500 was reintroduced here in 2013 it was actually a less powerful bike than the 500 had been for almost 20 years, but still more powerful than the old CB550 and CB500T of the '70s.

The new CB500 was deliberately limited in horsepower to meet European limits for new riders. However like our CB1100s it was designed for usable torque rather than top speed and horsepower.

It is also considered a budget bike. Honda realized the market needed more affordable motorcycles to rejuvenate the slumping market and draw new people into the sport. The CB500 now has 4 different models, and all sell well.

When I returned to motorcycling after a 25 year hiatus, I was taken aback by the cost of larger motorcycles. Fortunately my new CB500XA was only CAN$6800 (US$5090) out the door. However three years later I had no problem purchasing my 2017 CB1100 EX for CAN$16,000 (US$12,000). Something I would not have done if I had not enjoyed 3 years of riding my CB500XA and got a very good trade-in value and sales tax credit on it.