HONDA CB500E (1997-1998) Specs, Performance & Photos

In 1998, the Japanese motorcycle manufacturer launched the Honda CB500E, a standard middle-weight machine that offered a classic appearance combined with modern technology, which resulted in a low-cost, reliable, and good-handling bike and a popular choice for commuters and motorcycle couriers at the time.

The CB500E was in its sixth year of production and came in the same package as the previous model but with minor changes in graphics and color options. It also featured a subtle cowl and a wide and comfortable seat with an aluminum grab rail, while the handlebar, brake, and clutch levers were finished in matte black paint.

The bike rolled out from the manufacturing plant fitted with standard features, such as cast aluminum wheels, a one-piece dual seat with a passenger grab handle, a black-finished steel frame, a round headlight with a chromed housing, an analog instrument panel, and a completely blacked-out exhaust system.

The suspension was handled by a 37 mm telescopic fork on the front and twin adjustable shock absorbers on the rear, while the stopping power was achieved by a single 296 mm disc with a dual-piston caliper on the front wheel and a single disc with a hydraulic caliper on the rear.

As for the power figures, the 1998 Honda CB500E took its muscles from a 499cc four-stroke parallel-twin liquid-cooled engine that delivered an output power of 58 hp at 9,500 rpm and 47 Nm ( 32 lb-ft) of torque at 8,000 rpm.