Honda · Sport

Honda CBR500R specifications, dimensions and price

Honda · Sport

The Honda CBR500R is a 471cc supersport-styled parallel twin with a six-speed gearbox, a Showa Big Piston fork and standard ABS. RevZilla calls it a user-friendly package for newer or smaller riders and notes that its weight, friendly power delivery and fuel range put it at the edge of sport-touring.

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Honda CBR500R

Honda CBR500R
Specification	Value
Model year	2026
Class	Sport
Engine	471cc liquid-cooled parallel-twin four-stroke
Displacement	471cc
Bore x stroke	67.0x66.8 mm
Compression ratio	10.7:1
Fuel system	Programmed Fuel-Injection system (PGM-FI); 34mm throttle body
Transmission	Six-speed manual
Final drive	O-ring-sealed chain; 15T/41T
Front suspension	41mm inverted Showa SFF-BP fork
Front suspension travel	4.7 in
Rear suspension	Pro-Link Showa single shock
Rear suspension travel	4.7 in
Front brake	Dual 296mm discs with four-piston calipers; ABS
Rear brake	Single 240mm disc, ABS
Front tire	120/70R-17
Rear tire	160/60-17
Seat height	31.1 in
Wet weight (curb)	421 lb
Wheelbase	55.5 in
Rake (caster angle)	25.5°
Trail	4.0 in
Fuel capacity	4.5 gal
Valve train	DOHC; four valves per cylinder
Warranty	Transferable, one year included, limited warranty
Starting MSRP	$6,399
Destination charge	$600

What the CBR500R is like to ride

The CBR500R is the comfortable sportbike. RevZilla credits its greater weight, friendly power delivery, excellent fuel range, slightly better comfort and smoothness, and overall feeling of solidity for making it feel closer to sport-touring than a pure sportbike. The rider's seat is comfortable by minimalist sportbike standards.

A long-term test at Visordown put it this way: you could ride to the south of France on it and have fun, and 47 bhp is enough if you want it to be.

CBR500R or Ninja 500

The Ninja 500 is the more powerful bike on paper. KickTheStand lists 51 hp and 42.6 Nm for the Kawasaki against the Honda's 471cc twin, and picks the Ninja as the more approachable choice for a new rider. The Honda's case is comfort and range: it carries 4.5 gal of fuel against the Ninja 500's 3.7 gal, and it has a heavier, more planted feel.

Choose the Honda for long rides and the Kawasaki for power and price.

Fuel, clutch and passenger comfort on the CBR500R

The CBR500R's tank is its practical advantage. RevZilla says its 4.5 gal tank carries about a gallon more than its competitors, which accounts for part of the extra weight over the Kawasaki and Aprilia, and that the slipper and assist clutch needs light effort and shifts precisely, giving a better transmission feel than the price point suggests.

Honda’s US 2026 CBR500R specification lists a six-speed manual transmission. E-Clutch equipment in another market does not establish availability on this US model. US CBR500R specification

CBR500R against the Ninja 500 and YZF-R3

Kawasaki's Ninja 500 starts at $5,399, a full $1,000 below the CBR500R's $6,399, and is about 48 lb lighter. Yamaha's YZF-R3 is a 321cc twin at 373 lb and $5,499. The CBR500R is the heaviest and most expensive of the three and has the biggest tank.

Honda CBR500R — specification reference

For a purchase comparison, the CBR500R’s $6,399 base price plus $600 destination totals $6,999 before tax, registration and dealer fees. Against the stated $5,399 Ninja 500 base price, the Honda’s base-price premium is $1,000. Its 4.5-gallon tank carries 0.8 gallon more than the Ninja’s 3.7-gallon tank, but range still depends on consumption; the capacity difference alone does not promise an extra distance.

The 2026 Honda CBR500R is a 471cc supersport-styled parallel twin with a six-speed gearbox, a Showa Big Piston fork and standard ABS. RevZilla calls it a user-friendly package for newer or smaller riders and notes that its weight, friendly power delivery and fuel range put it at the edge of sport-touring. It suits a rider who wants a comfortable, solid-feeling faired bike for road use, and it is not the quickest 500.

The CBR500R's tank is its practical advantage. RevZilla says its 4.5 gal tank carries about a gallon more than its competitors, which accounts for part of the extra weight over the Kawasaki and Aprilia, and that the slipper and assist clutch needs light effort and shifts precisely, giving a better transmission feel than the price point suggests. The passenger seat is the usual skimpy perch, best for short rides.

For 2026 the CBR500R can also be ordered with Honda's E-Clutch, alongside the CB500 Hornet and NX500.

Model-year range: 2025–2026
Compared editions: 2
Specification entries: 23
Entries that differ: 0

RevZilla calls it a user-friendly package for newer or smaller riders, with a 421 lb wet weight and a seat just over 31 inches. The power delivery is friendly and ABS is standard.

The tank holds 4.5 gal, and RevZilla praises the bike's excellent fuel range. That is 0.8 gal more than the Ninja 500's tank, which helps on long rides.

Fairing condition belongs in the used-bike inspection

CBR500R shares its 471cc twin with the CB500F, but the fairing is part of what the buyer is choosing. Inspect panel mounts and alignment on a used example, and ask about repairs if the bodywork and service history do not agree. Fresh panels can improve appearance without establishing the condition of the parts underneath.

The published curb figure is 421 lb and the seat 31.1 inches. That places it 7 lb above the listed CB500F, while both use the same nominal seat height. Try the reach to the bars and the view behind the screen in riding gear. A sport appearance does not establish that the riding position suits every trip or every rider.

The $6,399 base price is $500 above the naked CB's figure. Compare that difference with what the rider actually wants: factory bodywork and the CBR arrangement, rather than a promise that engine capacity alone delivers another category of performance. Confirm the braking configuration and included equipment on the written offer.