New CBR500R?

[VAslim16_imp]

Has anybody ridden one of these? Wondering how they compare to the old and of course to the CB. I am considering both bikes but do you think the CBR5 is worth it at 2000 less?

[redbirds_imp]

For me the CB500X would be a better choice to compare with the CB1100. CBX has a more upright riding position and wider bars. Although Honda's 500's are good examples for their displacement class a 500 has a hard time competing with an 1100 as an overall road bike in my opinion. A lot depends on the type of riding you do.

[ClassicVW_imp]

Agree with redbirds that a 500 class and the smooth, more powerful 1100 are very different. Unless you're a brand new rider who's never ridden a street bike, the 1100 is the choice even if it was a much larger price difference.

[4 Paws_imp]

I have both the CB1100 and a CB500x and think both are excellent bikes. The 500 feels much lighter of course and you can certainly tell the power is not the same either. The 500 is my mountains bike for the tight twisty backroads and occasional unpaved roads, also excellent for around town use but on the highways - two lane or four - you can truly tell it is a twin cylinder modest displacement bike. Quite a devoted following for the two cylinder marvel and I certainly understand why. Nimble is my one word description of the 500. I have upgraded the suspension and it is really a demon on tight roads now.
The 4 cylinder 1100 is also a lighter weight, compact machine when you compare it to other bikes out on the road. It's upright seating position and naked bike appearance make it stand out in the parking lot. I find it to be a fine bike for everything I've attempted to use it for - commuting, pleasure rides, and the occasional multi day tour.
I would have a tough time choosing between the two and in the end it would boil down to deciding what type of riding am I going to do for the next 5 or so years and the honest assessment of the power requirements for that riding.

[jimgl353_imp]

I want one bad. In addition to my CB of course. I want one to get back on the track.

[Nortoon_imp]

I originally went in to buy a CBR500. But I am 6'2" tall and it was not a good fit for me. Sat on the CB500F and it was better, but the CB500XA was the perfect fit for me because of the upright riding position and longer suspension.

Although my riding season is only 6 months long, I rode over 33,000 happy kilometers (20,500 miles) on it over the last 3 summers. It is pegged as a beginner's bike, but you will find many mature and experienced riders on the CB500X Forum. They bought them after returning to motorcycling (like me) or to downsize for something lighter. A very reliable, nimble and fun motorcycle to ride.

I traded mine in on a 2017 CB1100 EX only because I liked the looks. One short ride however, made me appreciate how smooth the 4-cylinder motor really is and how much quieter it sounds on the highways.

[rickcb]

Besides my 2013 CB1100, I own a 2013 Yamaha FZ6R and a 2013 CBR500R (which my wife rides). My wife has put nearly 15,000 miles on the CBR500R and loves it. She has also averaged 81 mpg compared to my 54 mpg on the FZ6R and 52 mpg on the CB1100. Note that we always ride together so that 81 mpg does reflect occasional spirited riding--she doesn't get to ride like a girl. The CBR500R is noticeably lighter, has a lower seat height, and less top heavy than the FZ6R. She does have an issue with the transmission, which she has to remember to work around, which is she can't use engine braking in 6th gear or it doesn't want to downshift without letting the clutch out part way. I've owned several street bikes (ST1300, Shadow 1100, Seca 750) and never had a shifting problem like that. At first I assumed it was a maintenance issue (shift linkage not lubed) or user error (she wasn't shifting crisply), but we finally realized it is engine braking that triggers it. A coworker who also had a CBR500R also reported some downshifting issues and we lubed his shift linkage, but did not see an improvement. But again, my wife *loves* her bike. She had a 2012 CBR250R for a month and can't believe how much easier the 500 is to ride on the country roads we usually ride.