The Honda CB500 Hornet brings the aggressive streetfighter styling of the range-topping CB1000 Hornet down to the A2 licence class, wearing the same insect-eyed face and sharp, layered bodywork over a genuinely capable middleweight platform. It slots in beneath the CB650R and CB1000 Hornet as the entry point into genuine Hornet styling, giving A2 riders the same visual drama as their bigger siblings.
Its 471cc liquid-cooled DOHC parallel twin, with a 67 x 66.8mm bore and stroke and 10.7:1 compression, produces 35kW at 8,600rpm and 43Nm of torque at 6,500rpm through a six-speed gearbox. An assisted slipper clutch keeps changes smooth and controlled on the way down through the box, and Honda’s E-Clutch system is available for clutch-lever-free riding while keeping full manual control of the gearbox, useful in stop-start traffic or for newer riders still building confidence with their left hand.
A steel diamond frame carries Showa 41mm SFF-BP upside-down forks and a Prolink monoshock with five-stage preload adjustment, giving sports bike-spec quality rare at this level and in this class. Dual 296mm front discs with Nissin radial-mount four-piston calipers and a 240mm rear disc provide strong, progressive stopping power that inspires real confidence under hard braking. With 145mm of ground clearance, a 1,410mm wheelbase, a kerb weight of 191kg and a low 785mm seat height, it stays agile in town and composed on twisting backroads alike, without ever feeling like hard work. Its relatively light kerb weight for the class also makes it an easy bike to handle at low speed, whether filtering through queued traffic or manoeuvring in a car park.
A full colour five-inch TFT display, Honda RoadSync with turn-by-turn navigation and HSTC traction control bring real substance to the technology package, while a generous 17.1 litre tank adds genuine everyday range between fill-ups, making it a realistic everyday commuter as well as a weekend backroad companion. The CB500 Hornet suits newer riders who want genuine naked bike attitude and Hornet DNA without stepping outside their licence limits. Available now at GT Motorcycles, your Honda dealer in Plymouth. We serve riders across Devon and Cornwall, with finance and test rides available.
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