Honda CBF500/A Owner's Manual

© Honda Italia Industriale S.p.A. 2005

Honda CBF500/A

OWNER’S MANUAL

MANUAL DO PROPRIETÁRIO

MANUAL DEL PROPIETARIO

© Honda Italia Industriale S.p.A. 2005

Honda CBF500/A

OWNER’S MANUAL

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

• OPERATOR AND PASSENGER

This motorcycle is designed to carry the operator and one passenger, never exceed the
maximum weight capacity as shown on the accessories and loading label.

• ON-ROAD USE

This motorcycle is designed to be used only on the road.

• READ THIS OWNER'S MANUAL CAREFULLY

Pay special attention to the safety messages that appear throughout the manual. These
messages are fully explained in the “A Few Words about Safety” section which appears
opposite the contents page.

This manual should be considered a permanent part of the motorcycle and should remain with
the motorcycle when resold.

All information in this publication is based on the latest production information available
at the time of approval for printing. Honda Italia Industriale S.p.A. reserves the right to
make changes at any time without notice and without incurring any obligation.
No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission.

Honda CBF500/A

OWNER’S MANUAL

WELCOME

The motorcycle presents you a challenge to master the machine, a challenge to adventure. You ride
through the wind, linked to the road by a vehicle that responds to your commands as no other does.
Unlike an automobile, there is no metal cage around you. Like an airplane, a pre-ride inspection and
regular maintenance are essential to your safety. Your reward is freedom.

To meet the challenges safely, and to enjoy the adventure fully, you should become thoroughly familiar
with this owner's manual BEFORE YOU RIDE THE MOTORCYCLE.

As you read this manual, you will find information that is preceded by a symbol.
This information is intended to help you avoid damage to your motorcycle, other property, or the
environment.

When service is required, remember that your Honda dealer knows your motorcycle best. If you have
the required mechanical “know-how” and tools, your dealer can supply you with an official Honda
Service Manual to help you perform many maintenance and repair tasks.

Pleasant riding, and thank you for choosing a Honda!

NOTICE

• The illustrations herein are based on the CBF500/A type.

• Following codes in this manual indicate each country.

• The specifications may vary with each locale.

ED Italy

Germany
Portugal
Spain
Switzerland
Holland
Austria
Belgium

EK

E

F

IIIED

Ireland

UK

France
Belgium
Germany
Austria
Holland
Belgium

A FEW WORDS ABOUT SAFETY

Your safety, and the safety of others, is very important, and operating this motorcycle safely is

an important responsibility.

To help you make informed decisions about safety, we have provided operating procedures and
other information on labels and in this manual. This information alerts you to potential hazards
that could hurt you or others.

Of course, it is not practical or possible to warn you about all hazards associated with operating
or maintaining a motorcycle. You must use your own good judgment.

You will find important safety information in a variety of forms, including:

• Safety Labels - on the motorcycle.

• Safety Messages - preceded by a safety alert symbol n and one of three signal words:

DANGER, WARNING or CAUTION.

These signal words mean:

You WILL be KILLED or SERIOUSLY HURT if you don’t follow
instructions.

You CAN be KILLED or SERIOUSLY HURT if you don't follow
instructions.

You CAN be HURT if you don't follow instructions.

• Safety Headings - such as Important Safety Reminders or Important Safety Precautions.

• Safety Section - such as Motorcycle Safety.

• Instructions - how to use this motorcycle correctly and safely.

This entire manual is filled with important safety information - please read it carefully.

n

DANGER

n

WARNING

n

CAUTION

Page

1 MOTORCYCLE SAFETY
1 Important Safety Information
2 Protective Apparel
4 Load Limits and Guidelines

8 PARTS LOCATION

11 Instruments and Indicators

19 MAJOR COMPONENTS

(Information you need to

operate this motorcycle)
19 Suspension
20 Brakes
23 Clutch
25 Coolant
27 Fuel
30 Engine Oil
31 Tubeless Tyres

37 ESSENTIAL INDIVIDUAL COMPONENTS
37 Ignition Switch
38 Keys
39 Right Handlebar Controls

Page
41 Left Handlebar Controls

42 FEATURES

(Not required for operation)
42 Steering Lock
43 Helmet Holder
44 Seat
45 Storage Compartment for U-shaped

Anti-theft Lock
46 Document Compartment
47 Side Cover
48 Headlight Aim Vertical Adjustment

49 OPERATION
49 Pre-ride Inspection
51 Starting the Engine
55 Running-in
56 Riding
57 Braking
60 Parking
61 Anti-theft Tips

OPERATION

Page

62 MAINTENANCE
62 The Importance of Maintenance
63 Maintenance Safety
64 Safety precautions
65 Maintenance Schedule
68 Tool Kit
69 Serial Numbers
70 Colour Label
71 Engine Oil
75 Crankcase Breather
76 Spark Plugs
78 Throttle Operation
79 Idle Speed
80 Air Cleaner
81 Coolant
82 Drive Chain
87 Drive Chain Slider
88 Front and Rear Suspension Inspection
89 Side Stand
90 Wheel Removal
96 Brake Pad Wear
98 Battery

Page
101 Fuse Replacement
105 Brake Light Switch Adjustment
106 Bulb Replacement

111 CLEANING

115 STORAGE GUIDE
115 Storage
117 Removal from Storage

118 SPECIFICATIONS

122 CATALYTIC CONVERTER

MAINTENANCE

1

MOTORCYCLE SAFETY

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

Your motorcycle can provide many years of
service and pleasure - if you take
responsibility for your own safety and
understand the challenges that you can meet
on the road.

There is much that you can do to protect
yourself when you ride. You’ll find many
helpful recommendations throughout this
manual. Following are a few that we consider
most important.

Always Wear a Helmet

It’s a proven fact: Helmets significantly
reduce the number and severity of head
injuries. So always wear an approved
motorcycle helmet and make sure your
passenger does the same. We also
recommend that you wear eye protection,
sturdy boots, gloves and other protective
gear (page 2).

Make Yourself Easy to See

Some drivers do not see motorcycles
because they are not looking for them. To
make yourself more visible, wear bright
reflective clothing, position yourself so other
drivers can see you, signal before turning or
changing lanes, and use your horn when it will
help others notice you.

Ride Within Your Limits

Pushing the limits is another major cause of
motorcycle accidents. Never ride beyond
your personal abilities or faster than
conditions warrant. Remember that alcohol,
drugs, fatigue and inattention can
significantly reduce your ability to make good
judgements and ride safety.

2

Keep Your Bike in Safe Condition

For safe riding, it’s important to inspect your
motorcycle before every ride and perform all
recommended maintenance. Never exceed
load limits, and only use accessories that have
been approved by Honda for this motorcycle.
See page 4 for more details.

Don’t drink and ride

Alcohol and riding don’t mix. Even one drink
can reduce your ability to respond to changing
conditions, and your reaction time gets worse
with every additional drink. So don’t drink and
ride, and don’t let your friends drink and ride
either.

PROTECTIVE APPAREL

For your safety, we strongly recommend that
you always wear an approved motorcycle
helmet, eye protection, boots, gloves, long
pants and a long-sleeved shirt or jacket
whenever you ride. Although complete
protection is not possible, wearing proper gear
can reduce the chance of injury when you ride.
Following are suggestions to help you choose
proper gear.

n

WARNING

Not wearing a helmet increases the chance
of serious injury or death in a crash.

Be sure you and your passenger always
wear a helmet, eye protection and other
protective apparel when you ride.

3

Helmets and Eye Protection

Your helmet is your most important piece of
riding gear because it offers the best
protection against head injuries. A helmet
should fit your head comfortably and
securely. A bright-colored helmet can make
you more noticeable in traffic, as can
reflective strips.

An open-face helmet offers some protection
but a full-face helmet offers more. Always
wear a face shield or goggles to protect your
eyes and help your vision.

Additional Riding Gear

In addition to a helmet and eye protection,
we also recommend:

• Sturdy boots with non-slip soles to help

protect your feet and ankles.

• Leather gloves to keep your hands warm

and help prevent blisters, cuts, burns and
bruises.

•A motorcycle riding suit or jacket for

comfort as well as protection.
Brightcolored and reflective clothing can
help make you more noticeable in traffic.
Be sure to avoid loose clothes that could
get caught on any part of your motorcycle.

4

LOAD LIMITS AND GUIDELINES

Your motorcycle has been designed to carry
you and one passenger. When you carry a
passenger, you may feel some difference
during acceleration and braking. But so long
as you keep your motorcycle well serviced,
with good tyres and brakes, you can safely
carry loads within the given limits and
guidelines.

However, exceeding the weight limit or
carrying an unbalanced load can seriously
affect your motorcycle's handling, braking and
stability. Non-Honda accessories, improper
modifications, and poor maintenance can also
reduce your safety margin.

The following pages give more specific
information on loading, accessories and
modifications.

Loading

How much weight you put on your motorcycle,
and how you load it, are important to your
safety. Anytime you ride with a passenger or
cargo you should be aware of the following
information.

n

WARNING

Overloading or improper loading can cause
a crash and you can be seriously hurt or
killed.

Follow all load limits and other loading
guidelines in this manual.

5

Load Limits

Following are the load limits for your
motorcycle:

Maximum weight capacity:

180 kg

Includes the weight of the rider, passenger, all
cargo and all accessories.

Maximum cargo weight:

14 kg
The weight of added accessories will reduce
the maximum cargo weight you can carry.

Loading Guidelines

Your motorcycle is primarily intended for
transporting you and a passenger. You may
wish to secure a jacket or other small items to
the seat when you are not riding with a
passenger.

If you wish to carry more cargo, check with
your Honda dealer for advice, and be sure to
read the information regarding accessories on
page 6.

Improperly loading your motorcycle can affect
its stability and handling. Even if your
motorcycle is properly loaded, you should ride
at reduced speeds and never exceed 130 km/h
(80 mph) when carrying cargo.

Follow these guidelines whenever you carry a
passenger or cargo:

• Check that both tyres are properly inflated.

• If you change your normal load, you may

need to adjust the rear suspension (page

19).

• To prevent loose items from creating a

hazard, make sure that all cargo is securely
tied down before you ride away.

• Place cargo weight as close to the center of

the motorcycle as possible.

• Balance cargo weight evenly on both sides.

6

Accessories and Modifications

Modifying your motorcycle or using non­Honda accessories can make your motorcycle
unsafe. Before you consider making any
modifications or adding an accessory, be sure
to read the following information.

Accessories

We strongly recommend that you use only
genuine Honda accessories that have been
specifically designed and tested for your
motorcycle. Because Honda cannot test all
other accessories, you must be personally
responsible for proper selection, installation
and use of non-Honda accessories. Check
with your dealer for assistance and always
follow these guidelines:

• Make sure the accessory does not obscure

any lights, reduce ground clearance and
banking angle, limit suspension travel or
steering travel, alter your riding position or
interfere with operating any controls.

• Be sure electrical equipment does not

exceed the motorcycle's electrical system
capacity (page 121). A blown fuse can
cause a loss of lights or engine power.

n

WARNING

Improper accessories or modifications can
cause a crash in which you can be
seriously hurt or killed.

Follow all instructions in this owner’s
manual regarding accessories and
modifications.

7

• Do not pull a trailer or sidecar with your
motorcycle. This motorcycle was not
designed for these attachments and their
use can seriously impair your motorcycle’s
handling.

Modifications

We strongly advise you not to remove any
original equipment or modify your motorcycle
in any way that would change its design or
operation. Such changes could seriously
impair your motorcycle's handling, stability
and braking, making it unsafe to ride.

Removing or modifying your lights, mufflers,
emission control system or other equipment
can also make your motorcycle illegal.

8

PARTS LOCATION TYPE CBF500/A

Throttle grip

Front

brake lever

Rearview
mirror

Tachometer

Speedometer

Front brake fluid reservoir

Rearview
mirror

Ignition switch

Fuel fill cap

Left handlebar controls

Clutch lever

Indicators

ABS
indicator

Right handlebar controls

9

Passenger
footpeg

Footpeg

Battery

Tool kit

Rear brake pedal

Oil filler
cap/dipstick

Rear suspension
spring preload
adjuster

10

Helmet holder Seat lock

Document compartment

Air cleaner

Passenger footpeg

Footpeg

Gear shift pedal

Side stand

11

INSTRUMENTS AND
INDICATORS

The indicators are contained in the instrument
panel. Their functions are described in the
tables on the following pages.

(1) Speedometer
(2) High beam indicator

Low oil pressure indicator
Neutral indicator

Fuel indicator
(3) Tachometer
(4) Tachometer red zone
(5) Coolant temperature gauge
(6) Right turn signal indicator
(7) Odometer/tripmeter button
(8) Left turn signal indicator
(9) Anti-lock brake system (ABS) indicator

light (CBF500A)
(10) Odometer digital display
(11) Reset odometer key

(1)

(3) (4)

(5)

(6)(7)(11)(8)

(9)

(2)

(10)

12

(Ref. Nr.) Description Function

(1) Speedometer

(2) High beam indicator (blue)

Lights when the headlight is on high beam.

- Low oil pressure indicator (red)

- Neutral indicator (green)

Lights when the transmission is in neutral.

- Fuel indicator (orange)

Lights when the fuel level is low .Amount of fuel left in
the tank is approximately: 3.5 liters.

Lights when the engine oil pressure is below normal
operating range. Should light when ignition switch is ON
and engine is not running. Should go out when the
engine starts, except for occasional flickering at or near
idling speed when engine is warm.

Running the engine with insufficient oil pressure may
cause serious engine damage.

NOTICE

Shows riding speed.
Shows the speed in kilometers per hour (km/h)
and/or miles per hour (mph) depending on the
model.

13

(Ref. Nr.) Description Function

(7) Odometer / Tripmeter button

This button is used to select the tripmeter 1 or
tripmeter 2 or odometer (see page 17)

Shows engine revolutions per minute.

(4) Tachometer red zone

(5) Coolant temperature gauge

Shows coolant temperature.

(6) Right turn signal indicator(green)

Flashes when the right turn signal operates.

(3) Tachometer

Never allow the tachometer needle to enter the red
zone, even after the engine has been broken in.

Running the engine beyond recommended maximum
engine spped (the beginning of the tachometer red
zone) can damage the engine.

NOTICE

14

(Ref. Nr.) Description Function

(8) Left turn signal indicator (green) Flashes when the left turn signal operates.

(9) Anti-lock brake system (ABS) indicator

light (red)(CBF500A)

This indicator light normally illuminates when the
ignition switch is set to ON and is extinguished when
the motorcycle is ridden at a speed of more than 10
km/h (6mph). If there is a problem with the ABS
system, this light flashes and remains on (see page

18)

(10) Odometer digital display

This display shows the following information:
main odometer: total distance travelled by the
motorcycle;
trip odometer: resettable distance of individual journeys.
There are two trip odometers, trip odometers 1 and 2. You
can switch between the display of trip odometer 1 and 2
by repeatedly pressing the right control key (7). To reset
the trip odometer, hold down the reset odometer key
(11) while displaying trip odometer 1 or trip odometer 2
for two seconds.

15

(Ref. Nr.) Description Function

(11) Reset odometer key This button is used to reset the tripmeter (see page 17)

16

Coolant Temperature Gauge

When the needle begins to move above the “C”
(Cold) mark, the engine is warm enough for the
motorcycle to be ridden. The normal operating
temperature range is within the section
between the “H” and “C” marks. If the needle
reaches the “H” (Hot) mark, stop the engine and
check the reserve tank coolant level.
Read pages 25-26 and do not ride the
motorcycle until the problem has been
corrected.

Exceeding maximum running temperature
may cause serious engine damage.

NOTICE

(1) Coolant temperature gauge

(1)