Honda · 2026
CB500 Hornet
Honda's middleweight twin, now with sharper clothes and Showa forks.
Jun's rating
out of ten
In one line
Not the sharpest tool in the class, but the one that will still be running, unchanged, in fifteen years.
What is new for 2026
For 2026 the US-market CB500F becomes the CB500 Hornet, with the sharper European bodywork, a 5-inch TFT, a Showa 41 mm SFF-BP inverted fork, and dual 296 mm front discs.
- Engine
- Liquid-cooled 471cc parallel twin, DOHC, 8 valves
- Displacement
- 471 cc
- Power
- 47 hp
- Torque
- 43 Nm
- Wet weight
- 188 kg
- Seat height
- 790 mm
- Fuel
- 17 L
- Base MSRP
- $5,899
25 hp per 100 kg
US, subject to change
The review
Five parts, no spec-sheet copying.
“Some machines teach you speed. This one teaches you that boring is a compliment when it means you are still riding in a decade.
Mechanical Breakdown
The 471cc twin is a 180-degree crank design with a counterbalancer, which is why it feels smoother than the Kawasaki but sounds less interesting. Honda tuned it for 47 hp exactly, the A2 licence ceiling in Europe, and the torque curve is almost flat from 4,000 rpm up.
The Hornet rename brought a 41 mm Showa SFF-BP fork, dual 296 mm front discs with Nissin calipers, and a 5-inch TFT. The steel diamond frame is over-engineered for the power, which is why it feels planted with a pillion.
Ride Character
It is the calmest bike here. Throttle response is linear enough to be boring, and I mean that as praise for a first year. The wide bars and 785 mm seat make it feel like a smaller, friendlier CB650R.
Where it disappoints is excitement. It never feels fast, even when it is doing 140 km/h, and some riders will find themselves wanting more after six months.
Maintenance Outlook
Honda publishes 12,000 km oil intervals and 24,000 km valve checks, and the checks are usually within spec. The engine bay is roomy, the oil filter is on the front of the block where you can reach it, and the chain adjusters are the sensible snail-cam kind.
This is the bike I would use to teach a maintenance class, because nothing on it is hidden or fragile.
Who It's For
The rider who wants to learn maintenance as much as riding, or anyone who plans to commute daily and never wants to think about the bike. Also the best of the three for a taller learner thanks to the roomier layout.
Jun's Verdict
If the Ninja 500 is the best first sport bike, the Hornet is the best first motorcycle full stop. It costs more, but the Showa fork and twin discs are real upgrades, and Honda's reliability is not a marketing line, it is a maintenance schedule you can plan a life around.
Watch a review
Visordown. An outside opinion, chosen because they ride the bike properly.
Gallery
Photography from Unsplash contributors. Some frames show a close relative of this exact model.
Cross-shop
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Prices are US base MSRP at time of writing ($5,899 for this bike) and change without notice. Specs are manufacturer claims unless stated.