▲ 2023 471cc Honda CL500. This basic, general purpose half-litre streetbike (with very mild off-road/flat track pretensions) was first revealed at the EICMA trade show in Milan in late 2022. It's not yet in UK dealer showrooms, but it should arrive within a matter of weeks. What makes it special is simply that it's so ordinary; a basic roadster that will do pretty much anything that the average biker might expect it to do, but without much aplomb or gusto. The engine is a now familiar 471cc/46bhp liquid-cooled DOHC, four-valve, 6-speed parallel twin that Honda has been campaigning across a range of bikes plugging as many market niches as possible. The torque dials in 32lb-ft of nothing to shout about, but is probably more than enough for daily commuting and whatnot. The front fork is a basic 41mm construction. The rear is a twin-shock rig with preload only. ABS braking is handled by a 310mm floating disc with a two-piston caliper up front, and a 240mm single disc with single-piston caliper at the back. Instrumentation is equally basic (LCD display showing speed, gear position, fuel capacity, etc). No rev counter incidentally, not that you need it). Lighting is LED. The seat height is 790mm. It's Euro 5 and A2 compliant. When it arrives it will be asking for £5,999—which is around a grand heavier than rival Royal Enfield Scram 411. But in our opinion it's way prettier than the RE and is probably more reliable having had longer development. Other colours will be coming, note. Overall, it's a sweet enough wine, but it's not sparkling, and that's not necessarily a bad thing.

MOTORCYCLE NEWS

March 2023

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