HONDA CB500F (2019 - 2021) Review

Year: 2020

I bought this to replace mu much-loved and well-worn 2005 Bandit 600 which I'd owned for over 10 years and done 52,000 miles on,it had done 65,000 in total. I've been riding bikes since I was 18 ,in 1974,as my only transport. These days I mostly only commute so I wanted something economical and cheap to run. My Bandit was very unpleasant, verging on borderline dangerous to ride on E10 fuel in winter so with the good stuff hard to find locally something fuel-injected was required. First impression was how light the bike is after my Bandit, felt like raiding a traily,in fact the riding experience,and even the sound despite being a twin, reminds me very much of my old XT600 trail bike. Second impression was how useless the mirrors were,I'm around 15 stone and quite a big lad but far from massive and basically they were useless to the point of being dangerous,I very soon fitted Oxford mirror extenders which look a bit odd but do the job. The bike sounds quite neat,despite the weedy power output it rumbles along with a nice but inoffensive growl. Finish isn't great whatever Honda's reputation might be,the thing seems to scratch if anyone looks at it too hard,I've had over 30 bikes and compared to all of them it feels very flimsy and the switched in particular look and feel very cheap. Another niggle is that both the ignition and petrol cap locks are sticky,something of a problem on newer Hondas it seems,I have ridden throughout the awful ongoing deluge at the time of writing this but something my old Bandit only suffered from after a decade of British winters.It can be sorted (graphite powder,NOT WD40 guys) but better if Honda made the thing properly in the first place. It's great to ride around the city and the local moorland roads, pretty much an inside lane only job on dual carriageways unless you're a fan of stress,tap-dancing on the gear lever and hoping you can complete your overtake before the clown in the Audi behind doing 90 steamrollers you. Not a big deal for me as I knew its capabilities and what I wanted before buying it,less than 5% of my riding is on fast roads. If everyone stuck to the speed limits it would be fine,in reality don't expect too much on dual carriageways,I wouldn't go anywhere near a motorway on this bike. I like it but unlike most of the bikes I've had it doesn't inspire me to travel far and pretty much takes me to work and around the city for errands. I've had several Hondas before,if this was built to the same standard as they used to be it would be great,as it is the few irritants,the sticky locks,finding yet another small scratch on the tank have me missing my old Bandit and cursing the Government for E10. Like most bikes of that era it was solid and still looked good at over 20 years old.

Buying experience: Bought from Torbay Motorcycles in Newton Abbott,good guys and the bike was prepped perfectly. I wasn't happy that there was only one key given the cost of spares that I only discovered when asking where it was on picking the bike up. I paid £3995,a bit below others I was looking at. I'd buy from them again.

Version: Naked

Year: 2019

I was riding bikes and past my test back in the late 1950s and after a long break I decided I wanted to get back riding. I knew a local dealer, Chris Ball in Norwich who I asked which bike he would recommend for me to get back on two wheels with. I had a couple of bikes back in the 50/60s but nothing like the machines on the market today. I wanted something reliable not too heavy with a reasonable performance that handled well. After a short discussion he recommended the Honda cb500f and indicated that the ABS was probably going to be a great help. Shortly after chatting with Chris I happened on a really nice used bike, a 2019 CBf 500 in red, it was as new with 2k on the clock and still in warranty. At first I was very cautious the bike seemed quite lively and a very different animal to my old 250 AJS and 650 BSA. The fuel injected engine responded very much more to shutting down the throttle but I soon adjusted and found the CBf500 an easy bike to ride. I started riding out each week with some other old boys and soon realised that they occasionally left their indicators on so I wired in a couple of bright warning lights along with an audible beep so as to avoid leaving the indicators on . The bike came with a small fly screen but I later fitted a larger one as I envisaged riding this bike in the winter. I did show this bike to an old pal of mine and he bought an identical model. I do sometimes think a little more power would be nice and have considered getting the Honda 750 Hornet. However I am pushing 82 years of age and wonder if it might just be a waste of money. I have put 12000 miles in three years and have almost no complaints apart from the little green warning lights for the indicators. I have changed the exhaust as that did sound a bit tame and weighed quite a bit. The bike is good value and does well on fuel economy. so I am well pleased.

Buying experience: A dealer recommended this model for me. Bought privately for £3500 asking price £3650 but immaculate one year old.

Year: 2020

Great bike nice ride very good value

Buying experience: Bought from Hunts of Manchester

Version: HONDA CB500F 2019

Year: 2019

Annual servicing cost: £350

This is my first bike and it runs. I went to the far end of Europe and back and had no issues (I do service it frequently). Definitely not a learner bike, it has a good low-end grunt and great road manners (Michelin road 5). Would not take a pillion on this bike as the bike feels a bit small. It revs high on motorways and 60-65 would be its cruising mph. Perfect for UK roads but this was lacking power in Germany to overtake others. The sound is muffled by the original exhaust although it has a nice ring to at 5-8k revs I recommend a modded exhaust as it sounds beautiful. It can wheelie but only in first gear (you might need to change sprockets). I've ridden 13,000 miles in the first year and it runs like a peach.Ideally, this bike fits people that are 5'2 - 5'9 any bigger and the bike will start to feel more and more like a grom. I fully endorse this bike as your first big bike but you will upgrade within 3 years. But I will keep mine as it is a lot of fun. Looks great too!

Buying experience: I paid 4k at the dealer but it was worth 3500 really as it had 10k miles.

Year: 2019

Annual servicing cost: £150

Reliable with low running costs, easy to ride. LCD dash hard to read in bright sunlight.

Buying experience: Bought from a dealer 2 years ago, bike was 18 months old with 150 miles on the clock. £4,449.

Version: 2022

Year: 2021

Annual servicing cost: £250

Confidence inspiring handling in all weather. Looks cool (in my opinion), and great sound even with stock exhaust pipes.

Year: 2019

good biker, enough power to enjoy the max speed, low cost for maintenance

Buying experience: bought it from a dealer, in my country, I paid 172,000,000VN in my country, it is ~ $7,500

Year: 2021

Annual servicing cost: £145

The engine and gears are very good, construction and finish to a high standard. I would recommend to a friend but there are the 3 other models that share the same engine but more specialised eg adventure and sport that may appeal more

Year: 2019

I am eighty two years old and have been riding since I was sixteen YO This is one of the best bikes I have ever owned and I have had plenty from my first machine my fathers 125cc. Royal Enfield two stroke than ran backwards if kicked the wrong way to a GSX1400 the best bike I ever rode.

Buying experience: Bought from a Honda dealer in Port Macquarie the easiest ever, quick good quote for my trade and at least $1500 off the recommended price.

Year: 2021

Annual servicing cost: £100

I "traded down" as I am growing older (and weaker) and thought that a lighter bike would be ideal. If I was honest, I guess I would have to admit that the sound of the twin is dreadful and wish I had bought the 650 four. However, the 500 is a cracking bike that puts a smile on my face every time I ride it. Still early days but so far the bike has met all my expectations. I love it around town, very easy to negotiate traffic (big smiles) and when I am out with my mates (all on bigger bikes) have never felt lacking. Handing is spot on

Buying experience: I bought my bike from Honda dealer Miles Kingsport based in Hull. Happy with the deal and their covid safe guards

Year: 2019

I have had this bike for 1year and it’s a really nice to ride and love it but have had issues with corrosion after explaining to the dealership I purchased it from that I need something to use all year round. It wasn’t explained that Honda don’t cover corrosion issues even tho the bike is garaged when not used and is cleaned with proper bike cleaners and been serviced twice in the first year and cleaned regularly to honda’s recommendations on their website.

Buying experience: Dealership was great when it can to buying the buy but have had bad after sales with them and Honda haven’t been much help

Year: 2019

Annual servicing cost: £100

Would defiantly recommend, passed my test on the ‘16 and purchased the ‘19 the difference in weight is night and day! And the way it sounds when it hits the power band is phenomenal even with a stock exhaust.

Buying experience: Purchased from a Honda dealer, premium service