Honda CBF 500

One of the best value commuter/novice motorcycles around, the Honda CBF500 is a decently quick twin cylinder motorcycle that's well made, reliable and handles predictably. It does everyhting you can ask in a novice-friendly package and holds its resale value too. Compared to the Kawasaki ER-6 the Honda CBF500 perhaps looks a little bit plain, but some folk prefer less flash.

Engine

The Honda CBF500 isn't a sportbike, but 56bhp is enough to make life interesting, especialy if you've never been on a motorcycle before, except a CBT 125cc training motorcycle. The Honda CBF500 has a smooth parallel twin motor too, which makes commuting on dual carriagways or motorways less vibey than on some rival twin cylinder 500-600cc motorcycles.

Ride and Handling
MCN rating rating is 4
Owners' rating rating is 4

The Honda CBF500's chassis is nothing special but it does the job more than adequately and the Honda CBF500 has monoshock rear suspension that's tweakable to an extent, depending on your weight and riding style. The Honda CBF500 also has ABS braking as an optional extra, which is another plus point for novice bikers who want a budget motorcycle that's as safe as possible too.

Equipment

The Honda CBF500 is just as well equipped as the average mid-sized commuter motorcycle, with good quality brakes, suspension and a comfortable seat. It also has passenger grab handles, plus a little hugger near the rear wheel to protect the monoshock and mirrors that offer a good rear view. The Honda CBF500's 19-litre fuel tank offers a good range too.

MCN Review