A middleweight sport bike that behaves like something much bigger on the open road and like something much smaller in traffic. The CBR 500R runs Honda’s 471cc parallel twin: 47 horsepower, six gears, and a torque curve that starts low, so you are not hunting for revs at every junction between Canggu and Uluwatu.
This one is the white version with red detailing and a slip-on exhaust in place of the stock can — a fuller note when you open it up, quiet enough at idle not to annoy the villa neighbours. ABS is standard on both wheels and the brakes are strong without being grabby. The riding position is a proper sport crouch, but a moderate one: the bars are low enough to feel committed and high enough that a two-hour run to Amed does not leave you sore.
It suits riders who already have a few seasons on a manual bike and want pace, brakes and a machine that photographs well. Take it for the Bukit peninsula, the east-coast road past Candidasa, or the climb to Kintamani. It is not a first motorcycle and not a two-up tourer — the pillion pad is small and the passenger will tell you so.
A 471cc twin needs a motorcycle licence and an International Driving Permit with the motorcycle category; we check both before handing over the keys. If you want the same engine in an upright, more relaxed frame, the CB 500X is the better pick. Minimum rental is three days, helmets and a phone holder are included, and delivery within 20 km of the office is free.
