Honda CB500F
The default A2 naked. Honda's 471cc parallel-twin makes a tidy 47 PS — exactly the A2 limit — wrapped in a light, friendly chassis that newer riders can grow into rather than out of. The 2024 refresh got TFT dash, full-LED lighting and revised ergonomics. The CB500F is the bike instructors most recommend for the step after passing your A2 test; it stays composed at motorway pace and the engine has more low-end charm than the on-paper numbers suggest.
- Engine
- 471 cc
- Power
- 47 PS
- Weight
- 189 kg
- Seat height
- 785 mm
- A2 licence
- —
Liquid-cooled DOHC parallel-twin
wet
The short version
Forecourt score
Value 55 · Insurance 50 · Theft 65
The Honda CB500F holds its value about as well as most bikes (around 28% lost over three years, against the 25-32% bike norm) and costs about average to insure (group 9). Theft risk is moderate. It's A2-licence legal in standard form.
A bike-specific blend of value retention, insurance and theft risk (weighted 40/35/25). Bikes carry no MOT reliability data, so reliability isn't scored. Higher is better.
Variant: CB500F
Engine
Petrol · 471cc
Power
47 ps
Torque
43 Nm
Weight
189 kg
Seat
785 mm
Transmission
6-speed manual
Economy
70 mpg
The volume CB500F. 471cc parallel-twin DOHC 8-valve, 47 PS, 43 Nm. 6-speed manual, chain final. 189 kg wet. 785mm seat. From 2024: TFT dash, full LED lights.
Tell us about the one you're looking at
Tidy and well looked-after for its age — the typical clean bike.
Estimated market value
£4,463
Range £4,017 – £4,909
HIGH CONFIDENCE
Holding value
Bikes hold value far better than cars — typical motorcycle 3-year depreciation is 25–32%, against cars' 40–50%. Some bikes (Hayabusa, Gold Wing, classic Z1000) actually appreciate in the 7–15 year zone as cult demand outstrips supply.
New
£6,499
At 5 years
£4,029
At 10 years
£2,769
Value loss by phase
Each band shows the share of original value lost during that window — not cumulative. Appreciation (green, marked +X% gained) is real for bikes that develop cult status.
UK new price by year
How we estimate this
Phase depreciation derived from observed UK used-bike pricing — classified ads, dealer asking prices, and end-of-auction figures. Bike residuals depend heavily on theft history, service-stamp count, and crash-damage signatures. The figures here are indicative for clean, fully-stamped examples.
What it costs to own
Indicative running costs at 8,000 miles a year — the UK rider average. Chain-drive bikes carry a chain/sprocket consumable line; tax (typically £25–£100/yr) and depreciation are excluded — see the section above for value retention.
3-year total
£4,139
Per year
£1,380
Per mile
£0.17
Service costs assume independent specialist labour and OE parts. Tyre intervals reflect typical UK road riding — track-day usage burns through rear tyres in <2,000 miles. Fuel uses the variant MPG at £1.45/L. Lower-mileage riders see proportionally lower totals; higher-mileage commuters pay roughly linearly more.
Estimated insurance
Group 9 of 17 (mid — mainstream) · Comprehensive · 5 yr NCB
Indicative annual comprehensive premiums for this bike. Bike insurance is far more sensitive to licence tier and rider age than cars — pick the combination closest to your circumstances.
Licence
Age
No-claims bonus
5 yearsRisk profile
Estimated annual premium · typical, age 30-39
£540/ year
Roughly £45 per month
Typical
Suburban postcode, 3+ years NCB, standard security (Thatcham chain + disc lock), no recent claims.| Age band | Lower risk | Typical | Higher risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age 17-21 | £891 | £1,188 | £1,663 |
| Age 22-29 | £547 | £729 | £1,021 |
| Age 30-39Selected | £405 | £540 | £756 |
| Age 40-49 | £356 | £475 | £665 |
| Age 50+ | £324 | £432 | £605 |
How we estimate this
Premiums combine licence tier, rider age, no-claims bonus and a risk-profile multiplier on top of a bike-specific baseline. Bike insurance is materially more sensitive to licence tier (CBT / A1 / A2 / A) than car insurance, and young riders pay considerably more than older riders even on the same machine. Always get individual quotes before buying.
Theft risk
Bike-specific · Met Police + insurance reporting
UK bike theft rates are an order of magnitude higher than car theft. Nakeds and supersports lose more to professional gangs; large adventure bikes and tourers are statistically much safer.
Theft risk score · 1 to 4
2/4Medium risk
Medium risk
Some theft pattern, particularly in urban postcodes. Thatcham-approved chain plus disc lock recommended; secure overnight parking helps premiums.Theft hotspot postcodes
Postcode prefixes only; full London hot zone runs across E, N, NW, SE, SW, W boroughs depending on the model.
What this means for you
A2 bikes are stolen at a lower rate than full-A nakeds — too modest to outrun on, but valuable enough to part out. Standard chain + disc lock advised in London postcodes.
How we set this band
Bands derived from Met Police bike-theft reporting (most-stolen lists) cross-referenced with insurance industry underwriting data. Model + postcode are the two biggest factors in motorcycle theft risk in the UK, materially more than vehicle value.
What goes wrong
5 known issues · sorted by severity
Documented failure modes from UK owner forums, dealer service bulletins, and aggregated mechanic feedback. Mileages are approximate — different riders see different intervals depending on use and maintenance. Always address "high"-severity items before resale.
High severity
0
Medium
1
Low / cosmetic
4
| Severity | Part / issue | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| medium | Chain stretch 18-22k mi | £200 (chain + sprockets) |
| low | LCD dash dimming (pre-2022) Replaced with TFT from 2022 20k+ mi | £180 |
| low | Fork seals 25k+ mi | £120 |
| low | Battery every 3 years | £70 |
| low | Side stand cut-out switch 15k+ mi | £30 |
How we score severity
High — strands the bike or causes consequential damage if left. Medium — service item that affects ride quality or risks failure. Low — cosmetic or minor inconvenience. Costs are independent-specialist UK rates for parts and labour together; main dealer prices typically run 30–50% higher.
Safety recalls
Manufacturers occasionally issue safety recalls to fix a fault free of charge. You can check whether the Honda CB500F, or your exact vehicle, has any outstanding recalls on the official DVSA service.
Check on GOV.UKOpens the Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency recall checker. Choose the make, model and year of manufacture — no registration needed.
Variant comparison
The default A2 naked. Cross-shop Yamaha MT-03 (lighter, cheaper, only 321cc), Kawasaki Z650 (more power but not A2-friendly), Honda NX500 (same engine in adventure form). CB500F is the safe pick for the step after CBT/A2 — proven engine, dealer network, strong residuals.
Known issues
- Pre-2022 LCD dash sometimes goes dim — £180 to replace
- Chain wear at 18-22k mi (£200 chain + sprockets)
- Battery every 3 years (£70)
- Fork seals at 25k+ mi (£120)
- Otherwise extremely reliable — proven engine
Strengths
- +Hits A2 limit exactly (47 PS) — no restriction needed
- +Honda reliability story — bulletproof 471cc parallel-twin
- +Light at 189 kg — manageable for shorter or newer riders
- +Honda dealer network — parts and service nationwide
- +Strong residuals — A2 buyers are a stable used market
Watch-outs
- −Pre-2022 LCD dash feels dated next to MT-07's TFT
- −Suspension on the softer side — sport riders upgrade
- −Limited touring range from 17.1L tank
- −Quickshifter optional accessory, not standard