A first look at the Honda CB500 from MCN

At EICMA this past year, one of the big draws was Honda's new 500 Twin series. It reflects Honda's new pholosophy of reusing the engine over a number of models and thus we have the sporty CBR500R, naked roadster CB500F and adventure CB500X.

On paper, they don't sound like a lot - around 47bhp isn't a lot these days, they're basically equipped and they're built in Thailand to reduce costs - but the low price point and the effective rebirth of a "mid-range" market has gotten a lot of people, including me, very excited indeed.

And now it's broken cover, the initial review seems very positive indeed. Aimed at the european A2 license requirements, it's easy to ride, which is good for newer riders, but it also offers a level of detail and performance that means they're not going to get bored or ashamed of it overnight.

I was definitely impressed by the promise of the CB500 at EICMA and I'm even more excited for it now. Expect a review just as soon as we can get our hands on one.