Thoughts on CB500F? | GTAMotorcycle.com

Thoughts on CB500F?

M

MaksTO

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Hey all!

My CBR125 is away for the winter - now I am looking at options to upgrade to something a little bigger / more versatile while still hopefully keeping my insurance low next spring.

Been debating on a few bikes, but the cb500f seems like the best option just from lurking online at low displacement nakeds when looking at price and reliability.

Still need to quote out insurance but seems there's not much point in doing that months in advance since rates may change and quotes are only good for 30 days I believe? Regardless, I am hoping since the 500 is not an "r" and still relatively low displacement, I can get a good rate. Hopefully. I imagine 1 year experience won't do S*** to lower my rate.

Anyone on here have any personal experience with the bike that would be worth sharing? Or possible alternatives for a similar thing? Vitpilen 401 is a little out of my price range, and seems reliability isn't fabulous since its basically KTM. Enfields are cool, but can't imagine sourcing parts for them is easy. Triumph seems pretty expensive too. Was also looking at a mid 00's Hornet 599, but pre 2007 are the nice looking ones to me, but I sure as hell don't wanna deal with carbs since it will be my only bike and I wanna use it daily.

Realistically $5k is about my budget fwiw. SV650 is cool, but I heard insurance on those is shooting through the roof these days, and that bike is probably a bit too advanced for my ability anyway.

Cheers!
 
Good comfy bike, bland in typical honda fashion, very reliable, good on gas, has enough get up and go to leave most traffic and the 300s in the dust.

Its not as light as the 300s but not exactly a heavy bike. Get insurance quotes right now, the rates are only valid for 30 days but unless something drastic happens you'll know the ballpark figure.

In Canada they mostly have the SV650S which are awesome, great handling, plenty of power, but pretty uncomfortable with the clipons.
 
bigpoppa said:
Good comfy bike, bland in typical honda fashion, very reliable, good on gas, has enough get up and go to leave most traffic and the 300s in the dust.

Its not as light as the 300s but not exactly a heavy bike. Get insurance quotes right now, the rates are only valid for 30 days but unless something drastic happens you'll know the ballpark figure.

In Canada they mostly have the SV650S which are awesome, great handling, plenty of power, but pretty uncomfortable with the clipons.
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Thanks for the info!

my broker was very hesitant to go through the legwork to get me a quote for a 500f last week... ugh... I will try some other companies since Dalton is being difficult. Or I'll bother them again.

Bland in honda fashion is ok I think. I did read everywhere that the parallel twins aren't much fun. Maybe I'll look into playing with the engine and see what people do online to make them a little more full of character - if at all possible. Though I'm sure it will make my 125 feel like a turtle no matter what.

Also side note, how feasible do you think it is to do a round headlight mod on a 500f? I love the new 650r and 300r, and want to try to sort of make the 500f look like the r's. Though I assume it might be a lot of work to find or fabricate brackets.
 
Have no idea about modding it
 
If you want the round headlight look and lower rates, try and find a SV650N, the naked version. Not a converted version, lots convert it though the vin remains unchanged. I had a SV650N, was paying less insurance than my CB500X now. It also had regular bars and better ergos than the S
 
ScorpionT16 said:
If you want the round headlight look and lower rates, try and find a SV650N, the naked version. Not a converted version, lots convert it though the vin remains unchanged. I had a SV650N, was paying less insurance than my CB500X now. It also had regular bars and better ergos than the S
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+1 - all round nice bike. The Honda CB500 I rode seemed bland.
 
the F and the RR - the X as well for that matter
pretty much all the same bike with different styling

50 HP and 50MPG = economical and boring riding
a typical Honda appliance in every way
uninspiring but dead nutz reliable
 
Is a really nice motor in a really nice frame rolling on the right size wheels. imho It's the suspension and brake parts that make the bike underwhelming. You could upgrade suspension components at significant cost (y)
but to squeeze more power out of the motor :/ I don't think that is going to happen without adding another piston.

... headlight is indeed hideous on some models.
 

CB650R - Versatile Street Bike - Honda

With a great suspension, responsive chassis, six-speed transmission and comfortable rider accommodations the CB650R is the multitool of our street bike lineup.
powersports.honda.com powersports.honda.com

this is a niceish looking new entry
the 500 can work as well

just know that after a 500 youll probably want a 750+ cc bike
i have a friend who went from 125 to 500 and loved the upgrade.
 
I found the SV to be a bit slow/underpowered, but my frame of reference is a bit different than the OP. SV makes for a good intermediate bike.
 
Age wise, under 30, cheaper insurance for me, as much as I wanted the 650 wee or sv. Height wise, I went with the x as the f felt cramped. Otherwise, good stepping stone for sure before insurance becomes more budget friendly for the 650 cc stuff.
 
How much of a difference is insurance when it comes to a 500cc vs 650cc for you, OP?
I'm wondering if it would make sense to jump straight onto a 650cc bike as it is unlikely you will outgrow in soon.
 
:LOL: What makes that a scrambler, the off road footpegs or the cross brace on the handlebars?
 
I would be surprised if the insurance was drastically different between the F, R and X. Don't go with the F just to keep insurance low, if one of the other variants works better for you, get a quote for that one too.
 
POWERMAN said:
How much of a difference is insurance when it comes to a 500cc vs 650cc for you, OP?
I'm wondering if it would make sense to jump straight onto a 650cc bike as it is unlikely you will outgrow in soon.
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depends on the insurance company, as always. some use CC as a big factor in their rates, others take into consideration the bike type a bit more.

in a lot of cases 599cc seems to be the big line in the sand
and technically speaking the cb5 series are, if im not mistaken, 479cc engines (or at least they used to be 5 years ago)
 
It will be more to go to a 650 vs. a 500. This is what I was quoted - 26yr old, M2, 2 yrs riding on a 300 (no claims):

CB650FA - $2500/yr
CB500FA - $1800/yr
CBR650RA - $3500/yr
CBR500FA - $2000/yr
R3 (no abs)- $1400/yr

all quotes from Echelon.
 
Wow, now I feel old :|
I pay less then half those rates and I still think it is way too much.
 
I wouldn't discount the new CB300R. Honda had a recent promo with $1000 off MSRP. I had one and enjoyed it more than the CB500X for riding pleasure. So easy to flick around at such a low weight, and enough power to lose you license on any road in Ontario.
 
Blooton said:
I wouldn't discount the new CB300R. Honda had a recent promo with $1000 off MSRP. I had one and enjoyed it more than the CB500X for riding pleasure. So easy to flick around at such a low weight, and enough power to lose you license on any road in Ontario.
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You think the 300 will be highway capable?

Have a buddy with a bmr 310R, says its scary on the highway lol!
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