2016–2018 · Naked Bike · Buyer's Guide
Reliable Naked, Zero Fuss
The CB500F builds its whole case around a 471 cc liquid-cooled parallel twin making 48 hp at 8,500 rpm and 32 lb-ft at 7,000. Honda put the money where a rider notices it: a 320 mm front disc, ABS, preload-adjustable suspension at both ends, LED lighting, and a sharp, angular tank and headlight shape that give the bike real presence at a gas stop. Six speeds, chain drive, 419 lb wet, a 30.9 in seat, and 17 in wheels front and rear. In a class that usually sells horsepower, this one sells composure.
It rides the way you hope a Honda rides. The twin pulls cleanly without being coaxed, the 55.5 in wheelbase keeps it settled at 70 mph, and 69 mpg out of a 4.4 gal tank means fuel stops stay rare on a long Sunday. This is a bike for the rider who wants a motorcycle, not a project: commute Monday, ride the good roads Sunday, service it, repeat for years. The honest caveat is the ceiling. Top speed is 112 mph, and if your regular group is on big-bore machinery, you will be working the gearbox hard to stay in the picture.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 48 hp (35 kW) @ 8,500 rpm |
|---|---|
| Torque | 32 lb-ft (43 Nm) @ 7,000 rpm |
| Displacement | 471 cc |
| Engine | Parallel twin |
| Cooling | Liquid-cooled |
| Gearbox | 6-speed |
| Final drive | Chain |
| Fork | Telescopic |
| Front brake | 320 mm |
| Front tire | 120/70-17 |
| Rear tire | 160/60-17 |
| Wheelbase | 55.5 in (1410 mm) |
| Seat height | 30.9 in (785 mm) |
| Wet weight | 419 lb (190 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 4.4 gal (16.7 L) |
| Top speed | 112 mph (180 km/h) |
| Fuel economy | 69 mpg (US) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Lighting
Safety
This isn't my test ride. It's what CB500F owners have told me over the years: in the paddock, on club nights, and in the messages riders send me directly. For the 2016–2018 bike the pattern is consistent. Owners love how easy and dependable it is, and most gripes come down to wanting more.
The loudest praise is about trust. Owners describe solid build quality and miles that pass without trouble. The engine gets equal credit: smooth, predictable, low on vibration, and suited to new riders and seasoned commuters alike. Riders call the chassis light and responsive in town and in corners, and many point to the value of a full-size feel without big-bike running costs. Owners who do long highway days mention the upright position, wide bar and well-padded seat.
The most common gripe is output. Experienced riders say the power runs thin when passing on the highway or keeping up with quicker traffic, and some feel rival twins at similar money offer more. A few owners call the equipment basic, citing the simple LCD dash and no traction control or riding modes. Others mention wind blast on long highway stints unless they fit an aftermarket screen.
Sidestand switch failure
A faulty sidestand cutoff switch can prevent the engine from starting, a rare but known issue reported by some owners.
Where this Honda CB500F pulls ahead of — or falls behind — its rivals on the numbers, and the typical bike in its class on character.
Power
Torque
Displacement
Wet weight
Top speed
Seat height
Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the CB500F is actually built for.
Repetition is how you get better on the Dragon and the Cherohala, and this bike makes repetition cheap: light steering, tiny fuel bills, zero intimidation. You will out-ride it long before it lets you down.
Made for Back of the Dragon · Blue Ridge Parkway · Cherohala Skyway
Good for learning a clean canyon line, and stable enough on the fast sections. Be honest with yourself first: 48 hp feels thin on Angeles Crest if your usual group is running serious power.
Made for Angeles Crest Highway · Coronado Trail / US 191 · Highway 1 / Big Sur
If you're cross-shopping the older generation, here's what changed.
Previous generation · 2013–2015
Honda's Easiest Entry Into Fast
Compare to the previous model →If this one isn't quite the fit, these are the bikes worth riding back-to-back against it.
Any price note compares both bikes at the same age — the youngest age both have on the used market — against this Honda CB500F. “cheaper/pricier” is what that bike costs second-hand, not how worn it is.
Successor · 2019–2024
Confidence Built Into Every Mile
Competitor · 2019
Light, Nimble, Wrung Out
Competitor · 2014–2017
Raw Twin, Weightless Handling
Roughly $1,900 pricier used than this bike at 10 yr
Same Platform · 2017–2018
Easy Miles, Penny Pincher
Roughly $500 cheaper used than this bike at 8 yr