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Honda’s Dazzling New Sport Bike Just Might Be the Easiest Rider Yet

Compact displacement plus the brand’s innovative (if polarizing) shifting tech adds up to one super-approachable machine.

Close-up of a silver Honda motorcycle focusing on the front and side fairing, showing the "CBR" and "500R FOUR" markings. The bike features a sleek, aerodynamic design with a tinted windshield, side mirrors, and a visible front tire with a yellow accent on the rim. The seat and part of the engine are also visible.Honda

By Steve Mazzucchi

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Honda’s heavily anticipated new CB500SF may have stolen Chongqing, China’s CIMAMotor show over the weekend, but it wasn’t the red brand’s only notable reveal.

See, they also raised the curtain on a new sport bike with similar bones but a much different skin.

Sporty silver and black Honda CBR 500R motorcycle with neon yellow accents on the wheels and fairings, featuring a sleek aerodynamic design and a comfortable seat.
The new sport bike is vision in silver and black, but there’s also a red-dominant paint scheme.
Honda

Dubbed the CBR500R Four, it’s arguably even more noteworthy than its retro-styled counterpart.

Because thanks to Honda’s ever-improving shifting tech, it could be the most beginner-friendly sport bike of its size ever made.

Familiar framework

While details are still emerging on both bikes, some common qualities are quite clear. 

Like its naked bro, the CBR500R Four emerges from a diamond-shaped steel frame in which the engine — an all-new 502cc four-banger making a claimed 80 horsepower — is a stressed member.

(That number of cylinders accounts for the Four in the name, in case there were any doubt.)

Close-up of the rear section of a red Honda motorcycle, showing the rear wheel with a disc brake, exhaust pipe, foot pegs, and part of the engine casing. The Honda logo is visible on the lower fairing.
As something of an exhaust system fetish, I can’t help but admire the jut of this pipe, which is almost arrogant.
Honda

For suspension, the bike boasts trendy inverted forks up front and a monoshock out back. 

Front wheel braking relies upon dual radial-mount Nissin four-piston calipers while a two-piston sliding caliper handles the rear.

Unlike the retro standard, however, the sport bike’s outer shell draws upon the renowned aesthetic of the iconic CBR family.

Red Honda sport motorcycle with black and silver accents, featuring a sleek aerodynamic design, visible exhaust pipe, and "500R FOUR" text on the front fairing.
As much as I like understated paint jobs, the big bold red here is pretty dang compelling.
Honda

That means a classically contoured and streamlined silhouette, as well as a robust, aggressively angled exhaust pipe.

The trad CBR vibes are so strong, in fact, that it’s impossible to image search the new bike without coming across the parallel twin-powered CBR500R, among other bikes.

That said, they differ in the shaping of the upper fairing, with the new bike’s notably aligning with the fuel tank cover.

Paradigm shift

As notable as the aforementioned elements are, they’re not the reason this bike should be almost offensively easy to ride.

Nope, that aspect owes to the fact that the CBR500R Four features the second-generation of Honda’s innovative E-Clutch system, in which small electronic motors automatically control the clutch. 

Close-up of a Honda motorcycle engine featuring the "Honda e:Architecture" label on a black casing, with visible bolts, mechanical components, and part of the red motorcycle frame.
Like it or not, shift assistance tech such as Honda’s E-Clutch system are the clearly the wave of the future.
Honda

This second round of the tech — which has been moved from the right side to the left for better weight distribution — takes things a step further, teaming up with the throttle-by-wire system to automatically down shift.

While this level of rider assistance may rub old schoolers the wrong way, it’s very much in line with current trends, with brands as different as Benda and Ducati introducing their own spins on simplified or non-existent shifting.

Silver Honda CBR 500R sport motorcycle parked on a street, featuring a sleek aerodynamic design with black and neon yellow accents on the wheels and fairings. The bike has a black seat, large exhaust pipe, and visible front disc brakes.
As good as it looks on a showroom floor, the CBR500R Four belongs out on the road.
Honda

Considering the fact that automatic electric bikes are continuing to proliferate and younger generations may be completely oblivious to manual transmissions, it’s the only logical business decision. 

That being said, it’s worth noting that — for the moment — you can override the system with your own inputs and even shut it off entirely. I’d say enjoy that while it lasts, as a day may come that twist-and-go is the only option. 

Availability and pricing

Honda should reveal availability and pricing for the CBR500R Four at EICMA in November or one of the Japanese moto shows next year.

Along with the CB500SF, it is sure to be released in Japan, possibly in China and other parts of Asia. As for a North American release, hey, anything is possible.

About the Author:

Now managing editor, Steve has served in a variety of roles with GP since 2019. Having previously written and edited for such publications as Men’s Health, Men’s Journal, Esquire and ESPN, he enjoys covering a range of topics — but mostly those pertaining to cycling, snow sports, pocket knives and motos — and dreams of a utopian world in which everyone’s bike seat is at the proper height.

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