Slipping through the peak-period traffic snarls gives me a little personal satisfaction. Being able to legally filter to the front is one of the true advantages of being a motorcyclist in the city these days, and the new CL500 was perfect for the job.
Its upright riding position, narrow girth and easy manoeuvrability make getting around the tin-tops a simple job… and then I realised many of the potential buyers of this bike aren't allowed to filter anyway. Filtering isn't legal until you have a full licence.
Even so, the CL500 would be a great choice for many a learner — some will be put off by the high seat, but Honda has the CMX500 for those with duck's disease, the cruiser powered by the same engine. Indeed, it's the same motor that also powers the CB500X crossover and CB500F sports machines.
CLASSIC STYLE
The CL500's style is loosely based on the street scrambler CL models of the ‘60s and early ‘70s… but I reckon it's been revived not because Honda suddenly thought it was a great idea, but because Ducati has been selling so many scramblers, which were based (even more
