Honda CBR500R Four: New mid-range supersport motorbike

Honda aims to attract beginners and younger riders to the supersport segment with the CBR500R Four. To this end, the Japanese manufacturer has combined a completely new 500cc inline four-cylinder engine with standard E-Clutch technology and high-quality chassis components to create an accessible and affordable overall package.

At the heart of the new CBR500R Four is a compact, in-line four-cylinder engine – entirely new to the European market – featuring DOHC control of its 16 valves. Further design features such as Ni-SiC-coated cylinder walls, DLC-coated bucket tappets, dual ram-air ducts and a downflow intake system will delight tech enthusiasts. The oversquare configuration of 60 x 44 mm for bore x stroke (resulting in 502 ccm) promotes revving and peak power. Honda quotes 72 PS at 11,000 rpm and 46 Nm at 10,500 rpm. The rev limiter kicks in at 12,500 rpm.

‘Completely new’, as Honda claims, isn’t quite accurate. Honda has been fitting this 502 ccm engine since early 2026 in the CB500 Super Four and CBR500R Four, which are intended for the Chinese and other Asian markets; a smaller 399 ccm version is fitted in models intended for the Japanese market. It is true, however, that this engine has not previously been found in any Honda model sold in Europe or America.

The CBR500R Four comes as standard with the E-Clutch, which enables seamless stopping, starting and gear changes without operating the clutch, whilst manual clutch operation remains available at all times. A version compliant with the A2 driving licence, producing 35 kW, will be available.

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Foto: Honda

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The chassis consists of a steel frame, a 41 mm USD fork from KYB and an aluminium swingarm with a central shock absorber. The front twin-disc brakes (296 mm) feature radially mounted Nissin brake calipers. The tyre sizes are 120/70-17 and 160/60-17. The kerb weight is 189 kg.

The throttle-by-wire system offers three standard riding modes, plus two freely programmable user modes and adjustable traction control. The rider is kept informed via a 5-inch TFT display with Honda RoadSync connectivity and a USB-C charging port.

The front-biased design is inspired by the styling of Honda’s larger-capacity supersport motorbikes. The Honda CBR500R Four will be available in red and black. The price has not yet been confirmed.