HONDA CBR500R (2012-2013) Specs, Performance & Photos

The Honda CBR500R was a sports motorcycle part of a 500 twin series in Honda's range, first manufactured in 2013 along with the CB500F standard or naked bike and the CB500X adventure touring machine.

The series was also sold in Japan with a smaller-capacity 399cc engine in form of the CB400F, Cb400X, and CBR400R, and their introduction coincided with the European licensing regulations that established a mid-range class of motorcycles with limited power.

The CBR500R offered plenty of performance for the riders who were already familiar with the entry-level CBR250R, as well as more experienced ones who appreciated the bike’s nimble handling. Also, the bike offered great aerodynamic efficiency, with a low drag coefficient and effective engine cooling.

In the performance department, the 2013 Honda CBR500R had its heartbeat set by a 471cc four-stroke parallel-twin liquid-cooled engine fed by a PGM-FI system that helped deliver an output power of 47 hp with maximum strength at 8,500 rpm and 43 Nm (32 lb-ft) of torque available at 7,000 rpm.

For suspension, the bike packed a 41 mm telescopic fork on the front and a Pro-Link single shock absorber on the rear with nine-position spring preload adjustability, while the braking performance was handled by a 320 mm wave disc with a dual-piston caliper on the front and a 240 mm wave disc with a single-piston caliper on the rear wheel.