2023 Honda CL500 Street Motorcycle Review Specs Price

The new 2023 Honda CL500 Street Motorcycle has a powerful twin-cylinder engine that complies with A2 standards and has a traditional street scrambler design. There is a rich legacy of famous motorcycles from which this one is descended. It’s time to introduce a brand-new breed of CL designed for modern streets.

The CL72, our first street scrambler, was introduced in 1962. We reasoned that a new breed designed for today’s streets must be presented. The new CL500 exudes a sober sense of design and refinement that comes with a lengthy heritage. It begs to be ridden, customized, and enjoyed. It also has a powerful twin-cylinder engine that complies with A2 standards inside a durable, compact frame, in line with the original.

The original CLs from the 1960s and 1970s inspired Honda’s new CL500, which has a strikingly vintage aesthetic. It uses a novel tubular diamond-structure steel frame, long-travel suspension, and 19/17-inch front and rear tire combinations, all while using the A2-licence compatible twin-cylinder engine from Honda’s CB500 series. It is lightweight off-road and suitable for the rigors of urban travel from the start. Rich details abound on this head-turning design, like the rounded fuel tank, knee pads, rubber fork guards, and upswept dual-exit exhaust muffler with a heat shield drilled in it. The CL500 stands out even more from the crowd thanks to its four modern color choices, dash with a negative LCD, and all LED lighting. One can also have a look at the comparison review of Triumph Scrambler 400 X vs Honda CL500.

2023 Honda CL500 Street Motorcycle – Features and Specs

Styling & Equipment

The three phrases “Simple, Raw, and Tough” established the mindset and course of action for the styling team of the CL500. The street scrambler design is stylish and functional in any setting. Its ergonomic features also contribute to the bike’s ease of riding in various circumstances.

The upswept exhaust with stainless steel heat shield and the neat, rounded fuel tank design strongly evoke nostalgia. Additionally, the meticulously designed elements—such as the rubber fork guards and tank pads, the high-level handlebars, and the wadded, smooth outer seat skin with the Honda emblem embossed—combine to produce an incredibly charming appearance. The paint choices make every color “pop” brilliantly when paired with the blacked-out engine and chassis.

A 790mm seat height and a thin midsection provide easy ground reach and plenty of legroom. Its low rear part facilitates simple pillion access, and its sides hide the frame rails while standing. Along with the ignition key and a discreet helmet holder, it also detaches easily.

In addition to being aesthetically pleasing, the high handlebars are perfectly positioned to provide leverage, either sitting or standing, and they include internal weights and off-road grips to lessen strain. When standing, the tank pads provide an additional point of contact for the legs; the broad steel footpegs include rubber inserts for further comfort.

With its classic design and four LED lamps with thick inner lenses for a unique frontal identity, the low-set 175mm diameter headlamp is sure to turn heads. Classic-looking 55mm circular LED indicators are placed on each side of a narrow, oval-shaped LED taillight.

The negative LCD dash is housed in a tidy circular display with a diameter of 100mm. Individual indication arrows, fuel usage, and a gear position indicator are examples of explicit and straightforward information transmission.

The Emergency Stop Signal (ESS), a standard feature, is activated by hard, abrupt braking. It flashes the rear indicators to warn other drivers behind before automatically canceling.

The theoretical range of a 12L capacity is more than 300km, with a fuel efficiency of 27.7 km/L. It is the reason why, the new 2023 Honda CL500 Street Motorcycle is included in the list of Top Ten Best Honda Motorcycles In 2023.

Chassis

For the CL500, the tubular steel frame with a diamond construction gives the necessary handling power, comfort throughout the ride, and aesthetic base. Its sturdy tubes and loop-shaped rear subframe give it a lovely, minimalistic appearance. Computer-aided engineering (CAE) was implemented to achieve optimal stiffness and weight balancing.

From rough city streets to uneven dirt roads, a scrambler-style bike must handle it all. For this reason, the chassis was designed to be light and quick, with suspension that can take a beating.

The rake is set at 27° with a trail of 108mm and a wheelbase of 1,485mm. The ground clearance is 155mm. 192 kg is the curb weight, enabling motorcycle to stand top among the list of Top Ten Best Scramblers in 2023.

The front of the motorcycle has 41mm telescopic forks with 150mm of travel and traditional black fork guards. They provide a period-appropriate design while protecting the seals and legs from harm and dust. The CL-specific top and bottom yokes improve steering feel and accuracy. An aesthetically basic swingarm at the back uses 45mm circular tubing to create a muscular look. The 145mm travel and 5-step spring preload adjustment are features of the long-stroke dual rear shocks (3 up from standard, one down). Regardless of the road surface, the damping at both ends is designed to provide a soft, pleasant ride.

A 310mm floating disc is operated by a two-piston front caliper using sintered pads. The hydraulic pressure is calibrated to provide high levels of braking control on a variety of surfaces between the front and rear single-piston calipers and 240mm discs. Both asphalt and dirt tracks are ideal for using the ABS.

The wheels, 17 inches in the back and 19 inches in the front provide light handling and secure grip on various surfaces. Dunlop Mixtours with deep grooves, measuring 110/80 R19 up front and 150/70 R17 in the back.

Engine

The 471cc, 8-valve, liquid-cooled parallel twin-cylinder engine of the CL500 is a smooth, user-friendly, and exciting powerplant. The wildly well-liked and robust device gained recognition in Honda’s CB(R)500 series and the CMX500 Rebel. With updated PGM-FI fuel injection programming and a redesigned intake and exhaust system, the CL500 can now achieve peak power of 34.3kW at 8,500 rpm and engaging torque of 43.4 Nm at 6,250 rpm. The Rebel features 40 teeth on its rear sprocket; the rear sprocket has 41 teeth for sharper acceleration in each gear.

One of Honda’s most cherished engines, this powerplant offers a willing delivery of high-end power and mid-range torque, all while striking a perfect balance between physical size and flexible output. 67 mm by 66.8 mm is the bore and stroke, while the compression ratio is 10.7:1. Roller rocker arms are used internally in the cylinder head; they may be made light for less friction and a lower valve-spring load by shim-type valve adjustment.

Vanadium is applied to the pin surfaces of silent (SV Chain) cam chains to reduce friction and improve dust resistance. The piston skirt’s striations, which increase surface area and provide spaces for oil to pass through for improved lubrication, further decrease friction.

Near the bike’s center of gravity, a main couple-balancer is positioned behind the cylinders, and the crankshaft pins are phased at 180°. Scissor gears are used in the balancer gears to cut down on noise. Because of its slight weight and specially designed couple-balance form, the crank counterweight reduces inertia and enables the engine to spin quickly. The overall diameter of the exhaust valve is 21.5 mm, while the inlet valve is 26.0mm.

Centrifugally cast thin-walled sleeves are being used in the crankcases. A 180° phased firing sequence might result in “pumping” losses, lessened by their internal architecture. A 3.2L deep oil sump is available.

The six-speed gearbox is easy to operate and offers seamless shifts, particularly when traveling short distances. A slipper clutch, also known as an assist clutch, lessens the strain on the lever during rear wheel control and reduces rider fatigue.

2-1 downpipes and upswept feed the classic CL twin-pipe exhaust muffler. A note is tuned for a similar throbbing sensation but with a more robust low-frequency sound than the Rebel.

Accessories

For the 2023 Honda CL500 Street Motorcycle, a wide selection of authentic Honda accessories are offered, ready for customization to the owner’s specifications that’s why the Honda CL500 is among the list of Top Ten Awesome Motorcycles Arriving in 2023.

The soft rear panniers and decorative components slide into the back subframe easily, and a rear rack holds the 38L top box in place. For taller riders, there’s also a 30mm higher seat option available. It’s completed in brown with black double stitching.

Lightweight polypropylene side number boards, a fly screen, knuckle guards, and a high front mudguard are decorative elements that offer traditional off-road appeal. Heated grips, an ACC charging plug, and rear shock covers are helpful accessories.

Three freshly created packets are prepared for your convenience:

1. Adventure Pack: The rally footpegs, rear shock cover, high front mudguard, and knuckle protectors.
2. Travel Pack: Adjustable brake lever, tank pad, heated grips, soft saddlebag, and ACC socket.
3. Style Pack: Cowl headlight, cowl stripe, wheel, rear side cover, high seat, and rear side cover stripe.

2023 Honda CL500 Street Motorcycle – Technical Specifications

Engine

Fuel System

Electrical System

Drivetrain

Frame

Chassis

Suspension

Wheels

Brakes

Instruments & Electrics