Honda's new CBR500 family on its way to India

Honda recently added a new family to its 2013 model range consisting of a new 500cc family which inlcudes the CBR500, the CB500 and the CB500X. All three machines are essentially powered by the same 500cc engine but cater to different tastes of buyers. The new CBR500 line-up consists of a 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.  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.

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. However from what we hear, only the CBR500 and the CB500 naked will initially make their debut in India in 2013 and brought in via the CKD channel, the two bikes will carry a highly competitive pricetag to fight the likes of the KTM 390 Duke and the Kawasaki Ninja 300 as well as the Ninja 650 and the Hyosung twins.