HONDA CB500S (2000-2001) Specs, Performance & Photos

In 2001, the Japanese motorcycle maker released the Honda CB500S, a reliable sport-touring motorcycle with an upright seating position and a wide handlebar that offered a comfortable riding experience topped by excellent performance.

The 2001 bike came without any significant changes and packed the same appearance and specifications as the CB500E model manufactured from 1993 to 2003, except for the additional front cowl with a small windscreen and rectangular headlight.

The CB500S was a well-balanced motorcycle that handled both urban commuting and long-distance touring, with an upright seating position, comfortable seat, and windscreen, which provided a comfortable and enjoyable riding experience. In addition, the bike featured a low maintenance cost and great fuel efficiency, which made it a popular choice for riders of all levels of experience.

Also, the bike was fitted with standard features, such as gold-finished six-spoke cast aluminum wheels, a wide handlebar, a nose-fairing with a small windscreen, a rectangular headlight, a one-piece dual seat with a passenger grab handle, a blacked-out exhaust system, and a black-finished steel frame.

For suspension, the bike featured a 37 mm telescopic fork with 115 mm of wheel travel on the front and twin adjustable shock absorbers with 117 mm of wheel travel on the rear, while the stopping power was achieved by a 296 mm disc squeezed by a two-piston caliper on the front wheel and a 240 mm disc with a single-piston caliper on the rear wheel.

As for the power figures, the 2001 Honda CB500S took its muscles from a 499cc four-stroke twin-cylinder liquid-cooled engine fed by two Keihin carburetors and delivered an output power of 58 hp with maximum strength at 9,500 rpm and 47 Nm (32 lb-ft) of torque available at 8,000 rpm.