2022 Honda CBR500R review - the latest fully faired A2 sportsbike from the Japanese manufacturer

Highlights

  • Fireblade-inspired fairing design with winglets
  • Light changes of direction and novice-friendly power
  • Charming burbling exhaust note, if lost above 60mph

At a glance

Owners' reliability rating: 4.8 out of 5 (4.8/5)
Annual servicing cost: £280
Power: 47 bhp
Seat height: Medium (30.9 in / 785 mm)
Weight: Medium (423 lbs / 192 kg)

Prices

New £6,699
Used £3,500 - £5,900

Overall rating

Next up: Ride & brakes
4 out of 5 (4/5)

The Honda CBR500R A2 sportsbike arrived back in 2013 as part of a new wave of exciting low capacity funsters, ready to capitalise on the burgeoning A2 licence bracket.

Part of a trio of twin-pot 500s sharing the same basic engine and chassis parts, the fully faired CBR has proved popular with young sportsbike enthusiasts either stepping up from a 125 motorbike or jumping straight to A2. Honda say that 60% of all CBR500R buyers are aged under 34, and 37% of them are new to riding.

In an attempt to attract more would-be riders to the mid-capacity race rep, Honda have bolted on an aspirational set of Showa Separate Function Big Piston forks (like the ones you get on the Honda CBR650R), dual four-piston radial calipers, a new swingarm, revised the shock settings and added more LEDs to the front of the winglet-equipped bodywork.

Riding the 2022 Honda CBR500R on UK roads

The result is a welcoming little pocket rocket that combines exotic superbike styling with everyday usability to create the ideal introduction to sportsbikes for the learner rider.

A light clutch, low seat height and progressive new braking set-up make town work a cinch and there’s oodles of comfort from the cushioning seat and gently-placed bars to tackle big miles without fatigue – made better on our test bike by the optional black tall screen.

The gentle twin pot motor will happily burble its way across town without fuss, and requires a good thrashing to get the best out of it – all whilst returning claimed mpg figures of well into the mid-70s.

It’s charming, credible, and well made, but could be criticised for the lack of soundtrack on faster roads, and fairly basic standard trim – lacking the TFT dash of the rival KTM RC390. You’ll want to get off and stretch your legs after a few hours in the saddle, too.

Watch: Honda CBR500R takes on NC500

Ride quality & brakes

Next up: Engine
5 out of 5 (5/5)

Out go the old CBR’s bland-looking 41mm preload adjustable conventional forks in favour of some more attention-grabbing golden Showa Separate Function Big Piston alternatives, lifted directly from the four-cylinder Honda CB650R and Honda CBR650R.

They’re non-adjustable but the standard settings tackle bumps in the British tarmac without fuss – remaining composed with a big handful of front brake and working with the quality Michelin Road 5 tyres beneath to provide plenty of feedback in the wet or dry.

They also look fantastic – complimenting the already heavily Fireblade-influenced styling to create a true poster bike for aspiring sportsbike enthusiast teens. Honda have also given the 500R its own unique headstock and the fork tops bear the Showa logo for an added premium touch.

The 2022 Honda CBR500R gets Showa Separate Function Big Piston forks

The same fork set up can also be found in the naked Honda CB500F too, however that gets 64mm taller, 1018mm flat bars for a more relaxed roadster appeal.

Protruding from these shiny new legs are dual four-piston radial brake calipers, which bite onto 296mm discs. They replace the old R’s single twin-piston caliper and 320mm rotor to provide a predictably progressive performance during regular applications and plenty of confidence inspiring feel when making progress out of town.

There’s never any intrusion from the ABS – working with the composed new front forks to give minimal unwanted dive during harsh grabs of the six-stage span adjustable lever.

Moving away from the fancy stoppers, further attempts to improve the 2022 CBR’s handling package include a new swingarm, which is now more than a kilo lighter, at 5.9kg.

The 2022 Honda CBR500R gets revised shock settings

What’s more, it’s said to provide 18% more lateral flex and torsional stiffness and whilst that’s hard to quantify, the rear does feel composed at speed – never wallowing when pushed or squatting with a handful of throttle. Further to this, the five-stage preload-adjustable shock settings have also been tweaked to work with the new fork design.

Completing the changes are a set of lighter five spoke aluminium rims. A strut fewer than before, they shave a claimed 49g off the front and a further 455g at the back – helping to offset the new additional brake.

Although not compared like for like with the old one, the 192kg CBR feels very light on its feet, slicing up traffic like scissors through wrapping paper and dancing from one corner to the next with joyful precision. It’s no hard-edged superbike, but it’s ample handling performance for spirited runs along your favourite backroad.

Engine

Next up: Reliability
4 out of 5 (4/5)

The 471cc parallel-twin engine remains largely unchanged for 2022 – and why shouldn’t it? Afterall, it was already Euro5 compliant and produced the A2 class power cap of 47bhp.

What Honda have done though is fiddle with the fuel injection settings for a claimed boost in low down torque and install a slightly smaller radiator, which shaves a further 92g off the total weight.

Despite the internal revisions, the CBR responds best to plenty of revs and feels much the same as before. Sure, you can be lazy with the gears around town, or on a slow day, but quick overtakes and brisk acceleration off corners are only possible when you work the gearbox hard.

The 471cc parallel-twin engine was made Euro5 in 2020

Producing a gravelly burble and spitting back at you with each blip of the throttle, the über smooth unit is nicely fuelled, and snicking through the cogs is a pleasure, thanks to the light lever action and slipper clutch.

It won’t pull your arms off as a new rider and there’s enough shove to eclipse the magic tonne on a private road, if you get nicely tucked in. Even the most ham-fisted riding fails to get the onboard MPG reader to dip below 65, too.

For all its thrashable fun though, the CBR is slightly lacking in the thrills department. The 471cc unit is wonderfully refined and sounds brill at low speed, but above 65mph there’s no noise at all and only a slight vibration through the pegs tells you it’s still running.  This is nothing a boisterous end can couldn’t sort out though.

Reliability & build quality

Next up: Value
5 out of 5 (5/5)

This latest model feels well-made and showed no reason to suggest it would suffer any problems during our initial test. Our Honda CBR500R owners' review shows no prevailing reliability problems either - the pertinent quote being "it's a Honda" - and nor do owner reviews of the previous model.

Honda's build quality and reliability are world-renowned, and there's a strong dealer network on hand should the worst happen, too. In general buying a Honda is a decent, reliable experience.

Riding the Honda CBR500R on UK roads

Value vs rivals

Next up: Equipment
3 out of 5 (3/5)

For an A2 licenced rider looking to climb onto their first big bike, the Honda CBR500R ticks a lot of boxes. Prices are still to be confirmed at the time of launch, but Honda tell us it should be a slight increase from the current £6299 ticket.

Not only does it look like a mini Honda Fireblade SP for just over a quarter of the price, Honda claim over 300 miles between fill-ups, a two-year warranty and one of the strongest UK dealer networks available.

Whilst that factory fuel claim is unlikely in normal riding conditions, we did see 75mpg on multiple occasions on our test, which is enough for a theoretical 282 miles range. That’s seriously good.

Riding the 2022 Honda CBR500R

But what about the competition? Arriving just two weeks earlier than the CBR was the long-overdue 2022 KTM RC390. With a huge range of adjustability at the front and rear, cornering sensitive electronics, a TFT dash, Supermoto mode, and MotoGP-mimicking winglets, the striking KTM should have the Honda beaten on the track.

However, outside of world and national racing paddocks, the chances of either machine being used as a regular trackday mule in the UK are slim to none, so we can gloss over that... This is where the Honda fights back.

With its roomy ergonomics, smooth, tractable twin cylinder motor and frugal nature, it’s likely to be the better road bike of the two for daily duties, but the thrapping KTM could come up trumps for weekend thrills. We’ll need a group test to find out for sure.

The dash could be more advanced for the money

At the bargain-basement end of the market we find the CFMoto 450SR, which costs £6199 and impressed our testers enough to earn a four-star rating thanks to its lithe handling, punchy parallel twin engine and excellent stopping power.

The Kawasaki ZX-4RR is a recent entry to the market, having been released in 2023, but it's a far more focused machine than the CBR500R, and also considerably more expensive at £8699.

The the only other player to consider in the market is the high-tech and great-looking Yamaha R3. With USD forks, an LCD dash and R1 lookalike plastics, it’s a very similar proposition to the CBR, however needs to be worked harder to get the most out of it and it’s physically smaller, which could deter bigger riders.

Equipment

3 out of 5 (3/5)

For greater visibility on the go, Honda have added claimed brighter LED headlights from the CBR650R sportster. Although untested at night, they give the bike more of a presence on the road – always visible in the rider’s mirrors on our launch test.

Oddly, unlike the naked CB500F and adventure CB500X, also updated for 2022, the sporty R doesn’t get new LED side lights - with the other two machines now emitting a constant Jaffa orange beam from the front indicators for added visibility to other motorists. If you’re already doing it for the other two, why not go the whole hog and treat the CBR as well? It doesn’t really make sense...

What’s more, outside of the new upside down forks, new LEDs, and sportier twin radial front calipers, you get a fairly basic level of standard equipment for your money.

New LEDs are welcome, but position lights would be good too

There are no optional riding modes or traction control (not that it needs either) and the slim LCD dash is fairly underwhelming when compared to the mobile-connectable TFTs now emerging on KTM’s A2-compliant 390 range.

The switchgear is also basic, but that’s okay because the chunky buttons feel like they’ll stand the test of time and plenty of year-round usage. A span-adjustable brake lever is a nice touch, though.

That said, there is a distractingly far reach to the mirrors to adjust them on the fly and much of the view is filled by your own knuckles, arms, and shoulders.

A side view of the Honda CBR500R fairing

To make the CBR your own, optional extras include heated grips, a tall screen, magnetic tank bag, a top box and more. Our test bike was fitted with the heated grips and taller screen, and both are worthy of your cash – the grips standing out as especially good.

We also had the tank bag installed, but it’s too small for anything more than the essentials and requires an external wrap-around rain coat to keep the contents dry.

Specs

Engine size 471cc
Engine type Liquid-cooled, 8v, parallel-twin
Frame type Steel diamond
Fuel capacity 17.1 litres
Seat height 785mm
Bike weight 192kg
Front suspension 41mm Showa USD forks, non-adjustable
Rear suspension Mono shock, pre-load adjustable
Front brake 2 x 296mm discs with radial four-piston calipers. ABS
Rear brake Single 240mm disc with single piston caliper. ABS
Front tyre size 120/70 x 17
Rear tyre size 160/60 x 17

Mpg, costs & insurance

Average fuel consumption 80.8 mpg
Annual road tax £84
Annual service cost £280
New price £6,699
Used price £3,500 - £5,900
Insurance group -
How much to insure?
Warranty term Two years

Top speed & performance

Max power 47 bhp
Max torque 31.7 ft-lb
Top speed -
1/4 mile acceleration -
Tank range 301 miles

Model history & versions

Model history

  • 2013: Honda launch the original parallel twin-cylinder CBR500R to meet the newly introduced 47bhp A2 licence regulations.
  • 2016: Styling, suspension and airflow tweaks arrive, plus a hinged fuel cap, adjustable brake lever and new exhaust can.
  • 2019: The first major update to the CBR500R. It got Fireblade superbike styling including MotoGP style wings, a claimed 4% more grunt, and was 3kg lighter. It also had a sportier riding position, refined suspension, new slipper clutch, a fresh dash, and LED headlights.
  • 2020: Entire Honda 500 range updated to meet Euro5 compliance.
  • 2022: Honda update the CBR500R with new Showa 41mm Separate Function Big Piston forks, dual brake discs and new radial calipers. There’s a lighter swingarm and new shock settings. LED headlights get a power boost, too.
  • 2023: Minor updates to Honda CBR500R for 2024

Watch MCN's 2019 Honda CBR500R video review here

Other versions

There is only one version of the Honda CBR500R, however Honda have four bikes in their A2-compliant 471cc parallel-twin range. These are the sporty 500R, a naked CB500F, adventure styled CB500X (later renamed the Honda NX500) and laidback cruiser CMX500 Rebel.

Owners' reviews for the HONDA CBR500R (2022 - on)

6 owners have reviewed their HONDA CBR500R (2022 - on) and rated it in a number of areas. Read what they have to say and what they like and dislike about the bike below.

Review your HONDA CBR500R (2022 - on)

Summary of owners' reviews

Overall rating: 4.8 out of 5 (4.8/5)
Ride quality & brakes: 4.7 out of 5 (4.7/5)
Engine: 4.8 out of 5 (4.8/5)
Reliability & build quality: 4.8 out of 5 (4.8/5)
Value vs rivals: 4.5 out of 5 (4.5/5)
Equipment: 4 out of 5 (4/5)
Annual servicing cost: £280
5 out of 5 A stable, nimble platform that comes to life when thrashed
19 August 2024 by RoryD

Year: 2024

Annual servicing cost: £300

A stable, nimble platform that comes to life when thrashed

Ride quality & brakes 5 out of 5

The bike feels planted and stable but handles nimbly enough. I’m not an experienced enough rider to give you a proper review but I adore it. It makes me laugh out loud.

Engine 5 out of 5

The engine absolutely comes alive between 6000 and 8500. Reviews on YouTube never seem to cover the fact that this is a bike that likes to sing. Push it hard and you’ll have a superb time.

Reliability & build quality 4 out of 5

Showa forks are a nice touch and handle bumpy British roads fantastically well. The TFT screen is decent enough but nothing wildly exciting in the era of iPads and software UX. The finishing on the paint is very classy.

Value vs rivals 5 out of 5
Equipment 4 out of 5

As above, decent screen, basic torque assist, very light clutch.

Buying experience: Dealer - Newcastle Motorcycles. A superb experience, good folks. 6k.

4 out of 5 Great do-it-all sporty bike.
02 May 2024 by Rory Belshaw

Year: 2022

Great bike for long days in the saddle or short days ripping it up. The bike looks fantastic, it's flexible, comfy, and it turns every local back road into a race track thanks to accessible performance. Selling it because I now want two bikes: something better suited to chilled-out touring and something with a bit more drama and revs for sunday rides. As a bike to do it all this Honda has been perfect.

Ride quality & brakes 4 out of 5

Brakes are very powerful with great feel. Likewise the ride is confidence inspiring. I think both are helped by the fantastic michelin OEM tyres which feel like thay have loads of grip. You can feel what the bike is doing under you clearly. I did start to spin the rear one time in a moist, bumpy bend while full throttle in second gear but I don't beleive that to be the bikes fault. If you ride it hard the ABS is far too intrusive however. Even on the road. On track it's incredibly frustrating. Ergonomically it is comfy. Gets wristy after a few hours or in town. Go fast, take breaks, and it's fine.

Engine 4 out of 5

Sounds great taking it easy through town with little pops every now and then. Sounds great when thrashed. Absolutely silent outwith that. Cruising on the motorway you cannot hear the engine. Not an issue for me as I'm usually hammering it. I did start to want more revs. The engine is very flexible which is great and I know that to have something revvier we would need to lose torque. Honda have done a decent job balancing that.

Reliability & build quality 5 out of 5

Fit and finish is as good as you can expect from a bike at this price point. There's no rear hugger so you need to be vigilent with the underside or buy one. Mine lives outside under a cover and the rear shock has some corrosion that's really quite hard to access. My fault for not getting some acf50 on it before winter.

Value vs rivals 5 out of 5

Easy to work on. MPG is fantastic. Almost done the whole SW300 from Glasgow on one tank. Done a track night at Knockhill from Glasgow on one tank. I was not cruising around in 6th gear at 40mph.

Equipment 3 out of 5

Everything you need is there. These days it would be nice to see traction control for a safety net and maybe some cruise control since it's such a capable tourer. I added puig rear hugger, R&G crash bars, R&G bobbins, Pyramid fender extender, and oxford hotgrips. All I highly recommend. Essential for me personally.

Buying experience: Bought used from Victor Devine, Glasgow. Service was fantastic. They let me test ride the specific bike, gave a very reasonable trade-in on my YBR125, and the gunk they put on the chain lasted months of use.

5 out of 5
10 July 2023 by Cbr girl

Year: 2022

Fantastic mpg brilliant little bike , little vibration in the foot pegs

Ride quality & brakes 5 out of 5
Engine 5 out of 5
Reliability & build quality 5 out of 5
Value vs rivals 5 out of 5
Equipment 4 out of 5

Got the Honda heated grips fitted , should be a standard accessory to the bike

5 out of 5 Just bought my second one.
13 February 2023 by Allen Jagger

Year: 2023

Been riding a 2017 cbr500r some time, just ordered a 2023 model, my best bike after biking for 63 years. comfort and economy are good, not as quick as my cbr600 but quick enough for a 76 year old. smoother than my old BSA twins but not as enjoyable as my GPZ500. Well pleased overall.

Ride quality & brakes 4 out of 5

Can ride for two hours before old bum aches, ABS not much use, back brake not very powerful

Engine 5 out of 5

Very smooth, rev limiter a pest, overtaking in 4th comes to an abrupt halt at 80, just when you don't want to be changing gear. would be brilliant if it could be remapped for 55/60 bhp, but it's an A2 bike so you get what you get. 90% of my riding is touring. My cbr600 only did 38mpg.

Reliability & build quality 5 out of 5

It's a Honda - had a cb400/4 for 20 years, no problems.

Value vs rivals 4 out of 5

Bit pricey to buy but 90mpg on E5 petrol and 80mpg on E10 petrol. Always use E5 for a bit more power, it does not have power to spare.

Equipment 3 out of 5

At least my new bike has a gear indicator. Hondas heated grips and carrier and topbox and rear hugger for a grand - no way,

Buying experience: At least the price quoted was otr , no extra charges, £6699 I think.

5 out of 5 Super machine for shorter smaller and older riders like me who still want to be sporty
03 January 2023 by Chas

Version: CBR500

Year: 2022

Annual servicing cost: £250

I'm nearly 72 and finding the versys too heavy and clunky for me. Test ride was love at first sight!

Ride quality & brakes 5 out of 5

The gear change and light clutch were revelation and make the K seem agricultural. I have had a K sport's and adventure machine and the cbr is just superb

Engine 5 out of 5

Makes a lovely noise! I'm not into loud exhausts as my gearing and tinnitus are a problem to me. This is sweet with a little rasp which i find very comforting.

Reliability & build quality 5 out of 5

Really looks the part and rides as well as it looks. Very helpful and friendly local dealer who added some extras for me and honda dealers everywhere for back up.

Value vs rivals 5 out of 5

Havent had it long but very impressed with mpg so far

Equipment 5 out of 5

The light clutch and smooth gear change are winners all the way.

Buying experience: Bought as an ex demo bike from local dealer who could not have been more helpful and understanding to an old fart like me!

5 out of 5 Old age rocker
24 October 2022 by Mike Hyett

Year: 2022

Why are my exhaust down pipes chrome and not stainless as stated in handbook ? Phoned Honda help line to ask waste of time not interested , very easy and light compared to CBF 1000 which I just sold after 8 years of trouble free riding

Ride quality & brakes 5 out of 5

Very confident in corners, front brakes brilliant rear average. Considering it’s a sports bike for me it’s very comfortable ride from Gloucester to Weymouth (side roads 105 miles ) just to have a cuppa and check the caravan out then ride home. Just get tired of people telling me at 75 the bike should go

Engine 5 out of 5

Obviously has not got the power of the1000cc , for a low powered 500 it has good torque runs nicely at 70/80 mph. The most important thing for me is I’m able to ride slower ( well most of the time )

Reliability & build quality 5 out of 5

To early to comment only have it for 5 months only done 2,430 miles

Value vs rivals 3 out of 5

First service (600 miles )152 just for oil change!

Equipment 5 out of 5

Simplicity

Buying experience: Dealer

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