In 1962, the Honda CL 72 Scrambler was born in the North American market. We are talking about the genesis of the motorcycle lineage that we tested in Seville. In the 70s, this motorcycle began its journey with a 250 cc engine and 19″ wheels. Later on, it evolved and built a legacy with more powerful engines up to 450 cc, always maintaining the DNA of its origin. Now it’s time for Honda to place one of the most successful engines of recent years and try to succeed again in a segment that is becoming increasingly competitive.
When we talk about this parallel twin 471 cc engine from Honda, we are talking about an engine that has sold more than 130 thousand units since 2013, encompassing all the models it equips, from the CB500F – the best-seller – to the CB500X. It is a true success story and has also allowed the golden wing brand to test and prove its qualities and flaws over the years and many units. However, this engine is more comfortable at low and medium revs and that’s where it shines, with a very respectable torque of 43.4 Nm at 6,500 rpm, allowing for smooth city driving with few gear changes, handling high and low revs very well.
This engine is thus an excellent compromise for someone looking for ease of driving, combined with low fuel consumption – and speaking of this aspect, we achieved an average of 3.6 l per 100 km. If we are more unconcerned about gasoline expenses and want to push a little more with the 47 hp, it is worth noting that, as mentioned, this engine is not the most suitable for high-speed driving, but it provides good moments if we know how to take advantage of its momentum and play with the gearbox.
Source: Honda.pt
The CL500 was revealed at last year’s Milan Motor Show and we can say that it was somewhat overshadowed by names like the Hornet and the Transalp. The truth is that, even though it is a motorcycle without exotic details and jaw-dropping features, Honda did what it does best – a motorcycle that is competent in everything and we have little or nothing to criticize.
