2013 Honda CBR500 line-up pictures and details leaked

2013 Honda CBR500R

After a lot of speculation and Honda’s best efforts to keep its new model range hidden from the prying eyes of the motorcycle paparazzi, the first clear images of the new CBR500 line-up have eventually surfaced over the internet. Our friends at Italian website Motociclismo leaked first shots of the CBR-family which will be added to the Honda 2013 line-up and is expected to make its world debut at the EICMA show in Milan next month.

2013 Honda CB500X

There are a total of three new street models including the sporty middleweight supersports-like CBR500 complete with a full-fairing, split seat and sporty ergonomics accompanied by a CB500 naked machine taking inspiration from the bigger and badder CB1000R. The third model is a rather interesting addition, the CB500X, which is a middleweight adventure/sports touring machine with its styling identical to the recently released Honda NC700X.

All three motorcycles share the same platform with minor changes and tweak to the underpinning to differentiate as per their target groups. Bringing practicality and affordability in the current economic dip is the order of the day and this is a strong change in the strategy of big H, which has dished out some of the best machines in the Superbike class. The new models indicate the change in market demand as well as changes in the objectives of leading bike companies.

2013 Honda CBR500

Powering the CBR500 is a 470cc liquid-cooled parallel-twin fuel injected motor mated to a six-speed transmission. The engine is expected to pump out 46 horses and 40Nm of torque and an expected top-speed of 170km/h. For a 500cc machine though the said weight of 181kg is a bit too much and will definitely hinder its acceleration performance but then for streetbike it will be more than adequate.

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Platform sharing is the new way forward in the motorcycle business and going by this rule, all three bikes will employ engine and chassis as well as certain body panels from the same parts bin to keep the costs under check while adding a variety of models to the Honda range. Whether or not these models will make to India is still uncertain but going by the current wave of middleweights making it into the country, for example the new Kawasaki Ninja 650R, the Ducati 795 and the Hyosung GT650 twins, there is a good chance that Honda too will jump into the fray sooner or later.

Source: www.motociclismo.it