First L.A. Times ride: Honda’s new CBR500s

Honda continues its aggressive roll-out of new models -- six new machines launched since February, and 19 over the last two years -- with the impressive CBR500 trio of R, F and X units.

They’re long on style, performance and value, and short on price, part of Honda’s commitment to put new riders on Honda motorcycles.

Built in Honda’s new Thailand factories -- like the company’s new CBR250 and dual purpose CRF250L -- the CBR500s feature a parallel twin, fuel-injected, 500cc engine. It’s a lightweight, low-vibration power plant, built on the same engine platform as the CBR250 and designed to run maximum miles with minimum maintenance.

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The three models are priced competitively -- aggressively, even. The CBR500R, the road race model, lists at $5999, with a $500 kicker for the ABS braking package. The CBR500F, the “naked� style urban model, lists at $5499, plus $500 for the ABS. The CBR500X, the “adventure� version, doesn’t yet have an MSRP but will be in the same ballpark.

The three units feature many of the same elements -- same motor, gearbox, wheels, suspension, brakes, and more. The R sits a little forward, with clip-on bars, behind a small fairing. The F sits a little more upright, with taller, wider bars, and no fairing. (Both have seat heights of about 31 inches.) The X has a higher ground clearance. All can be personalized with “carbon style� aftermarket parts, including fenders for some models and luggage for others.

And each promises 70 miles per gallon or better.

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Honda is positioning them as, in the words of the company’s Bill Savino, “not beginner bikes but entry-level bikes.� They might be a step up, for a rider used to a smaller machine who wants something a little faster, or a step down for a rider who wants something more nimble or economical. Importantly, though, Savino says, they must appeal to younger riders. “We need this market to grow,� he says. “The boomers are going out. We need new riders coming in.�

The company expects the F to appeal to 20-30-year-olds, the R to 20-40-year-olds.

I expect them to appeal to almost anyone who rides them. I liked both bikes. Riding them at a Honda-sponsored day on the streets and hillsides of Palos Verdes, I kept forgetting two things:

One, this is only a 500cc motorcycle, and two, this is only a $5,000 motorcycle.

Lightweight but solid on their feet, sprightly in and out of the corners, quick on point-to-point acceleration, the bikes were also quiet, comfortable and very easy to ride. They show their size a little at speed, beginning to vibrate above 60 mph, but they also show their size in a positive way: A dash panel readout says the bike, even at that speed, is still getting 61 mpg.

I liked the R better than the F, but not by much. The R, with its forward position, seemed to roll into the corners more easily, and I always like a little fairing when I’m on the freeway. But I can see how a rider more accustomed to sitting straight up would like the F better.

Both are easy on the eyes, easy on the wallet and easy to ride. Honda should have a good run with the CBR500 line.

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