The first images of the brand new Honda CBR500, CB500X and CB500R (though something has already surfaced on the internet) come from Sulmona, Italy, where local newspaper Il Centro (’The Centre’) has spotted the three models on the ‘top secret’ set of some commercial in view of the official unveiling at the upcoming EICMA Show in Milan.
Following in the footsteps of the NC700 series, the three members of the new CB500 family – which are set to debut on the market next spring – will be equipped with the same 45 hp 500cc flat twin engine, with DOHC and liquid cooling, and will thereby consist of three units: the sporty CBR500 (whose design and graphic scheme are obviously pretty reminiscent of the latest incarnation of the Fireblade) the ‘naked’ CB500R (which mimics the lines of CB1000R) and the interesting crossover CB500X, a model that we did not really know much about until today.
From these images it is not possible to say much: all three models use a ‘traditional’ telescopic fork, perimeter frame, single-disc brakes at both ends and seem to have paid great attention to the ergonomics (the CBR500 for instance doesn’t seem to require the same sort of extreme riding position of its bigger 1000 cc sis) but the really important new feature here is of course the new engine, which should be particularly frugal in terms of fuel consumption.
More information on these models should be released by the eve of the show in Milan, but it seems already certain – if not obvious – that the CBR500 will be the bike that Honda will provide to the European Junior Cup series in 2013, to get their recently signed supply relationship started.
foto Claudio Lattanzio (ilcentro.
it)