Honda CB500F

Honda's mid-spec streetfighter, the CB500F, may make it to India pretty soon. It's been designed to look aggressive with a mean-looking LED headlight. The tail light and turn indicators and LED too! The tapered handlebars add feel and leverage while the slightly rear-set footpegs and split seat make for a comfortable riding posture. Other notable features include an LCD instrument console which offers a shift up and gear position indicators apart from the regular trove of information. 

In terms of performance, the CB500F uses a 471cc, liquid-cooled, parallel-twin engine that makes 47.5PS at 8,500rpm, with 43Nm of torque delivered at 7,000rpm. Its 6-speed transmission comes equipped with a slipper clutch. Compared to the previous iteration, the motor has been tweaked to make 4% more power and torque between 3000 to 7000rpm, thanks to revisions to the inlet, exhaust and valve timing. It features a 17.1-litre fuel tank.

The CB500F uses a 41mm preload-adjustable telescopic fork and a monoshock with  5 steps of preload adjustability. Bringing the bike to a dead stop is a single 320mm front disc and a 240mm rear disc paired with dual-channel ABS. Its 17-inch cast aluminium wheels come shod in 120/70-section front and 160/60-section rear tyres. The bike tips the scale at 189kg kerb. Expect Honda to price the bike around Rs 4.79 lakh (ex-showroom), putting it up against the CFMoto 650NK and Kawasaki Z650.