The Honda XBR 500 is a 500cc Japanese sports single motorcycle

Motorcycle

A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...

 launched by Honda

Honda

is a Japanese public multinational corporation primarily known as a manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles.Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, as well as the world's largest manufacturer of internal combustion engines measured by volume, producing more than...

 in 1985 in response to the Yamaha SR500

Yamaha SR500

The Yamaha SR500 is a popular thumper. It first started production in 1978, as a road-going version of the popular Yamaha XT500. It experienced good sales throughout the US, Europe and Australia. The SR500 is no longer sold in any market worldwide, but its sister bike, the SR400, was manufactured...

. It is powered by a single-cylinder four-valve engine with the valves arranged radially (the Radial Four Valve Combustion Chamber, or RFVC). Displacing 498 cc and producing 44 hp, the engine, which originated from the Honda XR series

Honda XR series

The Honda XR series motorcycles are a range of single-cylinder four-stroke off-road motorcycles that were designed in Japan and assembled all over the world. The series is gradually being replaced by the similar CRF series. Some of the XR series came in two versions, R and L...

 off-road models, features a dry-sump, the oil being stored in a separate oil tank below the seat. The steel-braided hoses connecting the oil tank to the engine (clearly visible at the right-hand side of the motorcycle) became a strong visual elementl.

The two exhaust valves enabled the motorcycle to be fitted with two separate silencers. The motorcycle had both an electric start and a kick start which linked to an automatic decompression valve to reduce compression during operation. The fuel-efficient engine combined with the large fuel tank capacity provided the bike with a long range between refuelling.

The early XBR500 was fitted with Comstar wheels and tubeless tyres. Later models were provided with spoked wheels and tubed tyres. A removable seat cover was also fitted in order to simulate a cafe-racer look. Honda subsequently released a café racer

Café racer

A café racer is a type of motorcycle as well as a type of motorcyclist. Both meanings have their roots in the 1960s British counterculture group the Rockers, or the Ton-up boys, although they were also common in Italy, Germany, and other European countries...

 version of the XBR500, the Honda GB500

Honda GB500

The Honda GB500 'Tourist Trophy' was a niche motorcycle introduced in the late 1980s. Based on the Honda XBR500 and first marketed in Japan as a 400, it was exported to the US, Europe and Australia as a 500...

, which featured some "classic British qualities", such as a solo seat, seat hump, wire wheels, and a fuel-tank with pinstriping.

Specifications

Engine Engine An engine or motor is a machine designed to convert energy into useful mechanical motion. Heat engines, including internal combustion engines and external combustion engines burn a fuel to create heat which is then used to create motion...	Single cylinder, four stroke
Displacement	498 cc
Bore & Stroke	92 mm x 75 mm
Valvetrain	SOHC, 4 valve
Compression ratio	8.9:1
Maximum power	31.94 kW @ 7,000 rpm
Maximum torque	43 newton metres (31.7 ft·lbf) @ 6,000 rpm
Starter	Electric / kick-starter
Cooling system	air cooled
Transmission	Five speed
Drivetrain	Chain
Fuel Fuel Fuel is any material that stores energy that can later be extracted to perform mechanical work in a controlled manner. Most fuels used by humans undergo combustion, a redox reaction in which a combustible substance releases energy after it ignites and reacts with the oxygen in the air... capacity	20 litres
Brakes	Front: single disc Rear: drum
Dry weight	157 kg