Honda Launches CBR500R: Fast, frugal, affordable and fun

• Sports middleweight twin
• Low ownership and running costs
• CBR1000RR design queues
• 35 kW engine

Introduction

For riders looking to move up from a 125, the fully faired twin-cylinder CBR500R provides an excellent first big sports bike experience, which will also appeal to experienced riders looking for a great value alternative to larger sports bikes.

Honda has a motorcycling history that goes back over 60 years, and in 1957 released the 247cc Dream C70, powered by its first parallel twin cylinder engine. Through the 1960s the DOHC CB450 twin regularly outperformed larger capacity rivals and the new CBR500R proudly carries the CB suffix (with an extra dash of race-inspired R) and proves the point that sometimes less most certainly can be more.

The CBR500R has a distinct feel and character and features a riding position and design that is tailored, and will appeal to, a wide variety of riders, covering a range of uses from commuting and touring to sports riding.  The CBR500R is easy to manage, and delivers all-round practicality matched to excellent efficiency. A true middleweight, blessed with lightweight agility and an engaging power delivery, above all, enjoyable to ride in every scenario.

Fast, frugal, affordable and fun, the CBR500R offers a great entry point to the world of sports motorcycles, with high a build quality plus pride of ownership that will last.

Model Overview

The CBR500R’s performance will give anyone looking for their first sports bike an exhilarating ride on twisty, winding road or even the race track. It works equally well in urban environments and is a motorcycle designed to be ridden, and thoroughly enjoyed, by people of all shapes and sizes.

Its DOHC twin-cylinder fuel-injected engine produces 35 kW and returns an impressive 27 km/L (WMTC figure).  Honda’s engineers see it very much as an “accessible CBR engine,” and worthy of the name.

The steel diamond frame and high quality suspension – 41mm telescopic front forks matched to Pro-Link rear monoshock provide confident, precise handling as do 17-inch cast aluminium wheels with wide 120 section front, 160 section rear radial tyres.

While it may feature the styling of the four-cylinder CBR1000RR, the CBR500R’s similarities to its big brother are more than skin deep, and it will be found on racetracks in 2013 as the motorcycle used in the European Junior Cup.

Designed to identify and develop young racing talent from around the world, the EJC will take place at selected European rounds of the 2013 FIM World Superbike championship. Young riders from 14-19 years, based in countries from Europe to Asia as well as the USA and Australia, will be racing for a fantastic prize: a ride throughout 2014 for a Honda team in the UEM Superstock 600 European Championship.

Key Features

Chassis

The CBR500R’s 35 mm diameter steel diamond-tube mainframe is light and strong, and has a tuned degree of yield that gives plenty of feedback to the rider as the road surface changes. The shape and position of the engine mounts as well as the frame’s rigidity have been carefully balanced to reduce vibration.

A Wheelbase of 1410 mm and a rake and trail of 25.5°/102 mm respectively give nimble, yet reassuring steering. Mass centralisation, with the engine in very close proximity to the swingarm pivot point, delivers turning agility and an optimum front/rear weight distribution ensures stability.

The Kerb weight of 194 kg with a seat height of 790 mm, makes the CBR500R very easy to manage and its sporty riding position will comfortably accommodate riders of varying heights thanks to a relatively high handlebar position.

Overall dimensions are 2075 mm x 740 mm x 1145 mm, with 140 mm ground clearance. The fuel tank holds 15.7 litres, including reserve, and combined with the engine’s excellent fuel economy gives great range of 420 km.

The 41 mm telescopic front fork, with 120 mm stroke, delivers a compliant yet controlled ride and gives a great connection to the front tyre. Pro-Link monoshock rear suspension features optimised leverage ratios and 9-stage preload adjustment for the rear shock. It works with a rigid swingarm, constructed from 70 mm x 30 mm box-section steel.

Lightweight, 17-inch cast aluminium wheels employ hollow cross-section Y-shaped spokes. Front wheel width is 3.5 inches with a 120/70 ZR17 tyre, the rear 4.5 inches and 160/60 ZR17 tyre. A single front 320 mm wavy disc and two-piston brake caliper is matched to a 240 mm rear disc with a single-piston caliper.

The comprehensive display features a digital speedometer, digital bar graph tachometer, odometer, dual trip meters, clock, plus digital fuel level gauge and fuel consumption. HISS (Honda Intelligent Security System) is built in to the ignition, and the headlights feature two 55 W H7 Halogen bulbs and multi-reflectors. There is space under the seat to store a U-lock.

Engine

The CBR500R’s engine is a next generation power unit, looking to the future in both performance and environmental terms. The DOHC, 8-valve liquid-cooled parallel twin layout was chosen because of its light weight, all-round ability and flexible usability.

Bore and stroke is set at 67 mm x 66.8 mm. The crankshaft pins are phased at 180° and a primary couple-balancer sits behind the cylinders, close to the bike’s centre of gravity. The crank counterweight is specifically shaped for couple-balance and its light weight allows the engine to spin freely, with reduced inertia. PGM-FI fuel injection provides superb throttle response and peak power of 35 kW arrives at 8,500 rpm, with 43.1 Nm torque delivered at 7,000 rpm.

The ‘triangle’ proportion of crankshaft, main shaft and countershaft is very similar to that of Honda’s four-cylinder RR engines, making for a very compact unit. The six-speed gearbox also mirrors that of its RR cousins, allowing for a short engine and uses the same gear change arm structure and link mechanism. The oil capacity is 3.2 litres, a deep sump reduces oil movement under hard cornering and braking Flow analysis of the cooling system through CAE (Computer Aided Engineering) maximised efficiency and allowed use of a physically smaller, and lighter, water pump.

The DOHC cylinder head has 26.0 mm diameter Inlet valves and 21.5 mm diameter, exhaust valves, being opened by company roller rocker arms using shim-type valve adjustment which means lower valve-spring load and reduced friction. A silent (SV Chain) cam chain has the surface of its pins treated with Vanadium, reducing friction with increased wear and tear protection. CFD (Computational Flow Dynamic) was used to maximise gas flow efficiency. The route from airbox to exhaust pipe was made as straight as possible, and a plate in the airbox separates the air flow to each cylinder.

Bore size of 67 mm is identical to that of the CBR600RR. CAE was used to ensure the pistons had the optimum balance between weight, strength and rigidity. The shape of the piston itself was based upon those used in the CBR1000RR. Friction is reduced by the addition of striations on the piston skirt (a finish that increases surface area, introducing gaps in which oil can flow for better lubrication).

The crankcase uses centrifugally-cast thin-walled sleeves, and the same bore interval as the CBR600RR helps them be as compact and light as possible. Careful attention has been paid to their internal design to reduce the pumping losses that can occur with a 180° phased firing order. Using the same internal relief structure as that of the CBR1000RR, the oil pump features improved aeration performance, with reduced friction and allows use of a simple oil pan.

The engine itself acts as a stressed member, reinforcing the frame’s rigidity with four frame hangers on the cylinder head and the Matt Axis Grey Metallic finish on the crankcase and cylinders adds depth, complementing its taut overall styling.

A secondary air injection system is built into the cylinder heads, while a 02 sensor and catalyser inside the 2-1 exhaust ensures the CBR500R’s emissions are extremely low.

The Honda CBR500R is sold Standard with:

•     Complimentary Rider Training through the Honda Academy
•     12 Months Free Roadside Assistance
•     24 Month unlimited KM warranty

Dealer Recommended Sales Price, including VAT:  R69,990

[ source : Honda ]

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