2022 Honda CBR500R

Here is the thing about the CBR500R that makes it such a clever buy. It is A2 legal straight out of the box, with no restrictor kit, no paperwork faff and nothing to undo later. Honda designed it to sit exactly on the limit, which means you are getting every bit of performance the licence allows rather than a bigger bike with its throat half closed. This 2022 example came to us in genuinely good order and we were glad to get it, because clean low mileage 500Rs tend not to hang around. Look at it and you can see where the money went. The full fairing, the twin LED headlights and that sharp nose are all lifted straight from Honda's bigger sports bikes, and it carries the look properly rather than approximating it. This one is in the red with black and white detailing, with red rim tapes on the wheels, and it presents well throughout. What makes it work is that the sports bike appearance is not matched by sports bike discomfort. The 471cc parallel twin makes its power in the middle where you can use it, so it pulls cleanly from low revs in traffic instead of demanding you rev it out. The riding position has a bit of a lean but nothing punishing, and you can sit on it for a couple of hours without your wrists complaining. It is a bike you can commute on during the week and enjoy properly on a Sunday. The chassis backs it up. Upside down front forks, a big single front disc with radial mount caliper, ABS as standard and a slipper clutch, which is genuinely useful when you are still learning how aggressive you can be on downshifts. Some of the highlights: 471cc liquid cooled parallel twin A2 licence compliant with no restriction required Upside down front forks Radial mount front caliper with ABS Slipper and assist clutch Full LED lighting Full digital dash Red, black and white with red rim tapes 22,086 km showing This suits somebody coming off a 125 who wants a real step up without immediately buying more bike than their licence permits. It also suits anyone who simply wants a sports bike that is cheap to insure, easy to live with and reliable in a way that only a Honda twin really manages. Come down and have a sit on it. It is a lot more comfortable than it looks, which is usually the first thing people say.