Thread: Living with a Honda CB500F

Now, I'm the first to admit that Honda are taking the piss with calling this bike a CB, because CBs are supposed to be 4 cylinders, but I guess after establishing a brand for 40 years, Honda figured its theirs to do as they wish, so fair enough.

I'm also very skeptical that at 47bhp bike is happy hauling my fat arse around, but so far so good. I've got to get the revs low for the first 500kms and the bike pulls really well and is very smooth. Honda may not make the most powerful engines out there, but their bike engines are renowned for being the most refined. I'm not a 'rev the nuts of it' type of rider, but it'll be nice to use the other half of the engine once I've finished the running in period. I bet the same procedure on something like an ER6N wouldn't be as pleasurable.

The Midget and I are going out for a little ride in a bit and I'll take my camera (I might even take some pictures). For now, here are two I took yesterday and originally posted in FS's new bike thread.

Looks nicer than I thought. My mate as opted for one and hopes to get his within a month. Nice color too.

Are you sure its a CB? looks like a Sonic. Check the name badge.

Lovely engine for sure ,, dont like bikes without the fairing though ,, allways look incomplete , but thats just my personal choice

It's nice, but yeah, not what I think of when I think of a CB.

Looks nice, congrats with the new toy Marmite.

Congrats hope it brings you many miles with smiles.

I know how long you have waited and worked hard to get this bike mate.

Good on ya and I hope it gives you and the midget years of joy.

Just put about 100kms on her. As expected, she runs perfectly, although it's a bit of a bummer having to keep the revs under 4k. There is a little snatch on take-up sometimes, so the throttle cables could do with a tiny bit of tweaking, but I'll wait until the 1000km check-up.

It's bloody hot today, but you don't feel it when the bike is moving. Wearing jeans doesn't help, unless you like having a sweaty crack. I'll see if those canvas trousers with all the pockets are cooler on my next outing. I'm very grateful for having a modular helmet as flipping it open when crawling is very cooling.



"Hey sis. Where the fuck are we?"




A right pair of helmets




Parked outside the sister's house




View form the sister's front door. Looks nice, but was sweltering.

Looks great.

Nice bike Marmite, I you have a good time riding it.

Looks better than the yellow beast that was parked in your house the last time I was up there !!! Enjoy and safe riding.

Would be interesting to do a comparison with your other bike after the running in is over.

Originally Posted by draco888

Would be interesting to do a comparison with your other bike after the running in is over.

Initial thoughts are that the CB is more comfortable as the pegs are lower. The brakes are light years ahead of the Sabres, despite only having a single disc front and rear. It's much easier to ride than the Sabre and it doesn't need a major rebuild every 10 miles . Fuel economy should be somewhere around twice as good.

You can't compare that bike to your old Sabre- there are at least seven generations of technology separating them.

Looks very nice and also looks much more 'Slender' Than I thought it would be.

As for running it in it is not necessarily the best idea to ride at under 4000rpm. You need to bed the rings in to the bores properly so don't ride it like a nutter but you should certainly give it some more than 4000rpm and definetly change the oil before the 1000km service! If you've done about 100km now then change the oil now and then start riding it a bit harder.

Originally Posted by FailSafe

You can't compare that bike to your old Sabre- there are at least seven generations of technology separating them.

True, but it is interesting to be able to actually feel the difference.

Originally Posted by supernovadw

As for running it in it is not necessarily the best idea to ride at under 4000rpm. You need to bed the rings in to the bores properly so don't ride it like a nutter but you should certainly give it some more than 4000rpm and definetly change the oil before the 1000km service! If you've done about 100km now then change the oil now and then start riding it a bit harder.

While I appreciate the advice, I respect Honda's advice more than anyone else's.

Honda only want you to treat it with kids gloves so that when it fails it will already be out of warrantee.

When I was involved in racing, engines were always run in way up near the red-line. Just make sure its warmed up first.

Originally Posted by TizMe

Honda only want you to treat it with kids gloves so that when it fails it will already be out of warrantee.

I don't think it'll take the remainder of my warranty period to add another 400kms to the bike.

Originally Posted by TizMe

When I was involved in racing, engines were always run in way up near the red-line.

How many miles/kms did those racing engines last without having to replace anything?

Originally Posted by Marmite the Dog

Now, I'm the first to admit that Honda are taking the piss with calling this bike a CB, because CBs are supposed to be 4 cylinders

There's been plenty of CBs throughout Honda's history that had less than 4 cylinders, and a few that 6.

I think the only "CB" feature is/was that they are all inline engines.

Originally Posted by Marmite the Dog

How many miles/kms did those racing engines last without having to replace anything?

Plenty, these were super bikes that raced on the weekend and would commute to the office during the week, with some country blasting on other weekends.

Originally Posted by TizMe

There's been plenty of CBs throughout Honda's history that had less than 4 cylinders, and a few that 6.

True. I suppose the parallel twin counts as inline, even if it is only half an engine.

Originally Posted by TizMe

these were super bikes that raced on the weekend and would commute to the office during the week, with some country blasting on other weekends.

Fair enough. I'm still going to trust Honda more than you lot.

If you rev them a bit harder when running in the piston/bore surfaces form a better seal giving a bit more power and fuel economy. Pays also to vary the revs so I've heard.

Originally Posted by draco888

If you rev them a bit harder when running in the piston/bore surfaces form a better seal giving a bit more power and fuel economy. Pays also to vary the revs so I've heard.

I know when I was young run in outbourd motor every 5 minute to change the rev's.
But this is old.
I had new piston & rings in my 600, when I stop it was a pig to get it started again untill it cooled down, I was told to keep the rev's down & I road around 3,000RPM.
give it a scirt now & then.
now at 2000klm the bike will start at any temp.