Honda has launched two new 502cc four-cylinder motorcycles in China: the naked CB500 SUPER FOUR and fully faired CBR500R FOUR. Honda China lists recommended retail prices of RMB 42,980 and RMB 44,980 respectively, with staged availability beginning in late April 2026.
These are confirmed China-market production motorcycles—not a global Honda launch. Honda has not announced U.S., European, or Japanese availability for either model.
What Honda revealed
Honda China first unveiled the CB500 SUPER FOUR and CBR500R FOUR at the China International Motorcycle Exhibition on September 19, 2025. At the time, Honda described both as early-2026 models. Its March 2026 launch announcement subsequently confirmed the motorcycles’ recommended prices and a staged Chinese rollout beginning in late April.
The pair shares a newly developed 502cc inline-four engine and Honda E-Clutch technology. The CB500 SUPER FOUR is the traditional naked or standard motorcycle, while the CBR500R FOUR adds full fairings and a more overtly sporty design.
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Honda China describes the CBR500R FOUR as a motorcycle developed around the habits and needs of Chinese riders. That positioning matters: the company has confirmed a local product launch, not a worldwide 500cc four-cylinder range.
Price and availability in China
| Model | Configuration | China recommended retail price | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|
| CB500 SUPER FOUR | Naked standard motorcycle | RMB 42,980 | Staged launch from late April 2026 |
| CBR500R FOUR | Fully faired sport motorcycle | RMB 44,980 | Staged launch from late April 2026 |
Honda China says the two motorcycles will enter the market successively rather than necessarily becoming available on the same day. Buyers in China should confirm stock, delivery timing, registration requirements, and final dealer charges through an authorized Honda China sales channel.
For international readers, there is currently no confirmed export route or official launch date for these models in the United States, Europe, or Japan. Importing one privately would involve more than shipping: local type approval, emissions and noise compliance, registration, insurance, parts support, and warranty coverage would all need to be checked before purchase.
CB500 SUPER FOUR: a new four-cylinder standard
The CB500 SUPER FOUR is the retro-leaning member of the pair. Its design draws on Honda’s historic CB four-cylinder tradition while using a contemporary chassis, electronics package, and compact modern styling.
It is a conventional naked-bike layout, with the engine and mechanical components left visible rather than covered by a full fairing. Early visual comparisons have connected its styling direction with Honda’s CB1000F, but that is a design observation—not evidence that the two motorcycles share a platform or engine architecture.
The CB500 SUPER FOUR is likely to appeal most to riders who want the sound and character of an inline-four without moving to a large-displacement superbike. However, Honda has not yet published enough technical data to make a reliable assessment of its curb weight, acceleration, top speed, or performance relative to other middleweight motorcycles.
CBR500R FOUR: the faired sport version
The CBR500R FOUR is the fully faired counterpart. Honda presents it as a futuristic, mechanically detailed interpretation of the CBR family rather than simply a CB500 SUPER FOUR with bodywork added.
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The CBR name should not be taken as confirmation that the motorcycle shares a platform with another CBR model. The available Honda material confirms the 502cc inline-four engine and China-market positioning, but it does not publish a complete platform or component-sharing explanation.
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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesIt is also important not to confuse the CBR500R FOUR with the motorcycle sold by American Honda as the 2026 CBR500R. The U.S.-market CBR500R is a separate 471cc liquid-cooled parallel-twin model with a listed U.S. base MSRP of $6,399 before destination charges. The newly announced CBR500R FOUR is a China-market 502cc inline-four.
Engine: 502cc inline-four, but no official power figure yet
Honda confirms the engine configuration and displacement: a 502cc inline-four. That is the central mechanical distinction between these motorcycles and Honda’s existing 471cc parallel-twin CBR500R sold in markets such as the United States.
Several early reports placed output at approximately 80 horsepower. That number is not an official Honda specification in the launch materials reviewed for this article. The responsible wording is therefore “reported at around 80 horsepower,” not “the engine makes 80 hp.”
Honda has not yet published a complete public specification sheet covering:
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- Official horsepower or kilowatt output
- Peak torque
- Bore and stroke
- Redline
- Curb weight
- Seat height and wheelbase
- Fuel-tank capacity
- Top speed or acceleration
- Suspension travel
Until Honda China publishes those figures, comparisons based on power-to-weight ratio, highway performance, or outright acceleration remain provisional.
Honda E-Clutch and electronic equipment
Both motorcycles use Honda E-Clutch. Honda describes the system as reducing the difficulty of coordinating the clutch and throttle while retaining a conventional manual riding mode.
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- 【Optimized Airflow for All-Weather Riding】 Experience superior ventilation with 4 strategically placed air intakes and exhaust vents. This full face helmet design minimizes wind resistance and fogging, keeping you cool during summer rides and providing a reliable full face helmet adult option for rainy or cold weather
- 【Quick-Release Dual Visor System】 Adapt to any light condition with ease. Our full face helmet motorcycle features a tool-free quick-release system. Each order includes a pre-installed tinted shield plus a bonus clear visor, making these full face motorcycle helmets for men and women versatile for both bright days and night riding
- 【Washable Lining & Comfort Fit】 Maintain freshness on every journey with our fully removable and machine-washable interior. The moisture-wicking sponge padding makes these motorcycle helmets for adults incredibly comfortable for long-distance trips, ensuring a snug fit for these full face motorcycle helmets dot certified
- 【Complete Bundle & Perfect Sizing】 We include a premium carrying bag for easy storage and scratch protection. Whether you are searching for motorcycle helmets for women or men, TRIANGLE offers 4 sizes (S-XL) to ensure a secure fit. Please measure your head circumference to find the perfect full face motorcycle helmet for women or men
In practical terms, E-Clutch is intended to manage clutch operation during starts, low-speed riding, and gear changes while allowing the rider to override the system and operate the motorcycle manually. That makes it different from a fully automatic scooter transmission: the rider still has a manual gearbox, but the clutch workload can be reduced.
The reviewed launch announcements confirm the following electronic equipment on the new models:
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- Honda E-Clutch
- Throttle-by-wire
- Automatic downshift blipping
- Honda Selectable Torque Control
- Five riding modes
- 5-inch Chinese-language TFT display
- Honda RoadSync connectivity
Honda’s materials do not establish every internal detail of the E-Clutch hardware or identify a specific second-generation designation. Claims about a particular E-Clutch generation, exact weight savings, or internal redesign should therefore be treated cautiously unless Honda publishes a technical document.
Chassis and hardware: what is confirmed and what is only reported
Honda’s launch information confirms the motorcycles’ general identity and equipment but does not provide a complete technical specification table. Secondary reporting based on display information has described hardware including:
- An apparent steel diamond frame
- A Showa upside-down front fork
- An aluminum swingarm
- Pro-Link rear suspension
- Nissin front brake calipers
Those details should be regarded as reported or observed descriptions rather than a substitute for Honda’s final specifications. Exact fork diameter, suspension adjustability, brake-disc dimensions, wheel sizes, tire sizes, and electronic brake functions remain important unanswered questions for buyers.
Three colors for each motorcycle
Honda China says each model will be offered in three color schemes. The launch material confirms the number of available schemes, but the information reviewed here does not provide a complete market-by-market color name list or establish whether every color will be available at every dealer.
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The CB500 SUPER FOUR and CBR500R FOUR sit in an unusual space. Their 502cc displacement places them near Honda’s established middleweight models, but their four-cylinder engine gives them a different character from the 471cc parallel-twin used in the globally sold CB500 and CBR500 families.
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The word “FOUR” is significant because it signals the engine layout and recalls Honda’s long-running four-cylinder CB tradition. It does not mean that these motorcycles are simply updated versions of the Japanese CB400 SUPER FOUR or CBR400R.
Honda’s global design site has separately shown CB400 SUPER FOUR E-Clutch and CBR400R FOUR E-Clutch concepts for the Japanese 400cc class. Those are distinct concepts from the China-market 502cc production motorcycles. Similar names and four-cylinder layouts should not be treated as proof of a shared model or imminent export plan.
Is the CB500 SUPER FOUR or CBR500R FOUR coming to the U.S.?
There is no confirmed U.S. launch. American Honda’s current CBR500R listing is for the separate 471cc parallel-twin motorcycle, not the China-market CBR500R FOUR.
There is likewise no cited confirmation of a European or Japanese sales launch for the 502cc models. Reports from early 2026 indicated that Honda UK and Honda Motor Europe had nothing to announce regarding future model plans. Honda China has said that its local sales and development infrastructure may help bring China-originated technology to wider markets, but that is not an export commitment.
Until an announcement comes from Honda’s relevant regional operation, headlines claiming that these motorcycles are “coming to America” or launching globally go beyond the available evidence.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why the launch matters
The motorcycles are notable for combining three features that are not commonly found together in this displacement category:
- A middleweight engine size: The 502cc displacement should make the bikes more approachable than Honda’s larger four-cylinder machines, although weight and seat height are still unknown.
- An inline-four engine: Four-cylinder motorcycles typically offer a different smoothness, sound, and high-rpm character from parallel-twin alternatives.
- Assisted manual operation: E-Clutch can reduce clutch coordination demands without eliminating the manual gearbox.
The result is not necessarily a direct replacement for Honda’s existing global CB500 or CBR500 models. Instead, it appears to be a China-focused product designed to broaden Honda’s local lineup with a distinctive engine and a more technology-heavy equipment package.
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Timeline
- September 19–22, 2025: Honda China unveiled the CB500 SUPER FOUR and CBR500R FOUR at the China International Motorcycle Exhibition and said they were planned for early 2026.
- September 26, 2025: Early reporting detailed the 502cc engine and the then-unconfirmed approximately 80-horsepower estimate.
- March 27, 2026: Honda China held its 2026 new-model launch event in Shanghai.
- March 30, 2026: Honda China published recommended prices and announced staged availability from late April.
- March–July 2026: Honda’s global design material publicized separate 400cc CB400 SUPER FOUR and CBR400R FOUR E-Clutch concepts.
What remains unknown
The launch announcement answers the most important market-positioning questions, but not all the questions a prospective owner would ask. Before treating either motorcycle as a serious alternative to an existing model, buyers should wait for official information on power, torque, weight, dimensions, service intervals, fuel requirements, suspension adjustment, braking specifications, warranty coverage, and parts availability.
International buyers should also wait for a regional Honda announcement before assuming that a gray-market import will be supportable. A China-market motorcycle may not have the same certification, software configuration, replacement-parts catalog, diagnostic support, or warranty terms as a motorcycle sold through a buyer’s domestic Honda network.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are the Honda CB500 SUPER FOUR and CBR500R FOUR global models?
No. Honda has confirmed them as China-market production models. The reviewed materials do not announce U.S., European, or Japanese availability.
How much do the new Honda four-cylinder motorcycles cost?
Honda China lists the CB500 SUPER FOUR at RMB 42,980 and the CBR500R FOUR at RMB 44,980. Both are scheduled for staged availability from late April 2026.
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How much power does the 502cc engine make?
Honda’s reviewed launch materials do not publish an official power figure. Early secondary reports put output at around 80 horsepower, but that number should not be treated as confirmed.
Is the CBR500R FOUR the same motorcycle as the U.S. CBR500R?
No. The U.S. CBR500R is a separate 471cc liquid-cooled parallel-twin motorcycle. The China-market CBR500R FOUR uses a 502cc inline-four engine.
The Bottom Line
Honda has now moved the CB500 SUPER FOUR and CBR500R FOUR beyond a concept-style reveal and into a confirmed China-market launch program. They bring a 502cc inline-four, E-Clutch, five riding modes, a TFT display, and RoadSync connectivity to a naked and faired middleweight pair. The important limitation is geography: neither motorcycle is confirmed for the U.S., Europe, or Japan, and Honda has not yet published the complete performance and chassis specifications needed for a full comparison.
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