First A2-friendly bike with electronic clutch
E-Clutch debuts on A2
E-Clutch (Honda's electronically-actuated clutch system) launched 2024 on the CB650R and CBR650R inline-4 middleweights. For 2026, Honda extended it to A2-compliant 500cc models — CB500 Hornet, CBR500R, NX500. New riders can now buy a brand-new bike that handles clutch operation electronically — a real first for the A2 segment.
471cc engine unchanged in 13 years
Same parallel twin since 2013
The 471cc liquid-cooled parallel twin debuted in the original 2013 CB500F. Same engine architecture today (2026) — same 67mm × 66.8mm bore/stroke, same 47bhp peak, same 43Nm torque. Honda has made detail revisions for emissions (Euro 5+) but the core engine is unchanged. A bike that hits A2's 47bhp ceiling without restriction can't legally make more power, so there's no need to.
Rebranded from CB500F to CB500 Hornet
Hornet family expands to 4 bikes
For 2026, Honda renamed the CB500F to CB500 Hornet to consolidate the streetfighter Hornet sub-brand. The Hornet family now spans CB500 Hornet (47bhp / £6,399), CB750 Hornet (90bhp / £7,995), CB1000 Hornet (149bhp / £8,999), and CB1000 Hornet SP (155bhp / £10,799). One styling language, four power tiers.
£1,000 cheaper than the equivalent rival
£6,399 vs MT-07 £7,402
At £6,399 OTR, the CB500 Hornet undercuts every middleweight twin rival: Yamaha MT-03 (£6,201 — but only 42bhp), Yamaha MT-07 (£7,402, 73bhp full-power, A2 with restrictor), Suzuki GSX-8S (£8,499). Honda is positioning the CB500 Hornet as the cheapest A2 streetfighter you can buy.
Showa SFF-BP USD forks - upmarket suspension
Big-bike spec at A2 price
The CB500 Hornet has Showa SFF-BP (Separate Function Front-Big Piston) USD forks — same fork architecture as the CB1000 Hornet. Most A2 rivals make do with conventional right-side-up forks (Yamaha MT-03, Kawasaki Z500). Genuinely upmarket suspension at this price point.
Honda CB500 platform: 3 bikes share engine
Hornet + CBR500R + NX500
The 471cc engine is shared across CB500 Hornet (£6,399), CBR500R (£6,899 — fully faired), and NX500 (£6,999 — adventure styling). Same engine, same 47bhp, three different riding stances. All A2-compliant out of the box. All offered with optional E-Clutch for 2026.
