Adam Waheed gives a thumbs-up next to a red, white and blue Honda CBR sportbike with a speech bubble reading I4 500RR, Yes!
I4 500RR? Yes! Honda’s 2027 CBR500R Four brings a 502cc inline-four and standard E-Clutch.

Honda’s 502cc four with E-Clutch, live from Milan

Summary: The 2027 Honda CBR500R Four is an all-new middleweight sportbike with a 502cc inline-four rated at 71 hp and a 12,500 rpm redline. Honda’s E-Clutch is standard, dual ram-air ducts feed a downdraft intake, and the styling borrows from the Fireblade. U.S. availability and pricing haven’t been announced.

Coming at you live from EICMA 2026 in Milan, and Honda just answered the question every sportbike nut has been asking for years. This is the 2027 Honda CBR500R Four, and yes, it’s got four cylinders. Not a parallel twin. A real, revvy little inline-four. This is our first look from the show floor. For the full technical breakdown, read our 2027 Honda CBR500R Four Preview.

The Engine: Finally, a Baby Inline-Four

Get low and look at those headers. That’s Honda’s signature symmetrical 4-2-1 exhaust, with side-swept downpipes that tip the hat to the 1975 CB400 Four. The 502cc DOHC 16-valve engine grew out of the CB400 Super Four, a favorite in Japan for more than 30 years. Honda rates it at 53 kW (71 hp) at 11,000 rpm and 47.4 Nm (35 lb-ft) at 9,750 rpm, with a 12,500 rpm redline. Ni-SiC plated cylinder walls and DLC valve lifters cut friction and weight. A 35 kW version is coming for A2 license holders in Europe.

Fireblade Family Looks

Stand it next to the CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP and you can see the family resemblance in the lines. The obvious difference is up front. There’s no big ram-air hole in the middle like on the Fireblade. It’d be cool if it had one. Honda tucked two ram-air ducts below the twin LED projector headlights instead, feeding a downdraft intake and a 5.8-liter airbox. Our show bike wore the Ignition Red Tricolour paint. Honda also offers Mat Ballistic Black Metallic.

Honda E-Clutch Standard

Check out the left side of the engine. That cover houses the Honda E-Clutch actuator. It’s standard on the CBR500R Four, so you can pull away, stop and shift without touching the lever, and it’ll blip the throttle on downshifts. Want to use the lever like normal? Go ahead. The clutch has an assist/slipper function too.

The chassis is all new: a steel-tube diamond frame that uses the engine as a stressed member, a 41mm KYB inverted fork, an aluminum swingarm and a Pro-Link shock with five-step preload. Nissin two-piston radial calipers grab dual 296mm discs, and Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV tires come stock. Seat height is a friendly 30.7 inches, and curb weight is 417 lb. A 5-inch TFT with Honda RoadSync and a USB-C port handle the everyday stuff.

Verdict: The Four-Cylinder Starter Bike We Wanted

A four-cylinder 500 with clip-ons, E-Clutch and Fireblade styling is exactly what the next generation of riders needs. It sounds like a real sportbike, and it should be a blast to wring out. American Honda hasn’t announced U.S. plans or pricing yet. We’re crossing our fingers.

Want more? Read our 2027 Honda CBR500R Four Preview, our 2027 Honda CBR600RR Preview and our 2027 Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP Preview.

2027 Honda CBR500R Four Specifications

Spec2027 Honda CBR500R Four
U.S. MSRPNot announced
WarrantyNot announced
Engine502cc liquid-cooled 16-valve DOHC inline-four
Bore x stroke60.0 x 44.4 mm
Compression ratio12.3:1
Horsepower53 kW (71 hp) at 11,000 rpm
Torque47.4 Nm (35 lb-ft) at 9,750 rpm
Transmission / clutchSix-speed; Honda E-Clutch; assist/slipper clutch
ElectronicsThrottle-by-wire; 5 riding modes (3 + 2 User); HSTC; wheelie control; ABS
FrameSteel-tube diamond; aluminum swingarm
Front suspension41mm KYB inverted fork
Rear suspensionPro-Link shock, five-step preload
Front brakesDual 296mm discs, Nissin radial two-piston calipers
Rear brake240mm disc, single-piston caliper; two-channel ABS
TiresPirelli Diablo Rosso IV; 120/70ZR17, 160/60ZR17
Rake / trail25 degrees / 3.9 in. (99mm)
Wheelbase55.6 in. (1,412mm)
Seat height30.7 in. (780mm)
Curb weight417 lb (189 kg)
Fuel capacity3.7 gal. (14 L)
Instruments5-in. TFT with Honda RoadSync; USB-C
LightingTwin LED projector headlights, LED taillight
ColorsIgnition Red (Tricolour); Mat Ballistic Black Metallic
U.S. availabilityNot announced

2027 Honda CBR500R Four FAQ

Is the 2027 Honda CBR500R Four really a four-cylinder?

Yes. It uses a 502cc DOHC 16-valve inline-four developed from the CB400 Super Four engine.

How much horsepower does the CBR500R Four make?

Honda rates it at 53 kW (71 hp) at 11,000 rpm and 47.4 Nm (35 lb-ft) at 9,750 rpm. A 35 kW A2 version is also offered in Europe.

Does the CBR500R Four have E-Clutch?

Yes. Honda E-Clutch is standard, and the clutch lever still works normally whenever you want it.

Does the CBR500R Four have ram air?

Yes. Two ram-air ducts sit below the headlights, rather than one central intake like the Fireblade’s.

Is the CBR500R Four coming to the U.S.?

American Honda hasn’t announced U.S. availability or pricing.

More EICMA and Honda Coverage on Moto-1

You May Also Like
Model walking away from the camera in the Alpinestars RSRV Broken In Varsity Leather Jacket, its back reading World Champion and Bikers League around a red V and Astar logo, carrying a helmet across a moody blue-lit wet floor

Alpinestars RSRV Broken In Fall 2026 Capsule Preview

Alpinestars RSRV’s Broken In capsule turns crashed MotoGP leather into pre-worn streetwear.
Red Bull inflatable arch on the Adelaide Street Circuit at the MotoGP Red Bull Grand Prix of Australia announcement

Red Bull to Sponsor MotoGP’s 2027 Adelaide Australian GP

Red Bull becomes title sponsor of MotoGP’s Australian Grand Prix as it moves to Adelaide’s street circuit in 2027.