Honda CB500F (2013-2018) Simplified Maintenance Schedule and Service Intervals
This is the maintenance schedule and associated service intervals for the Honda CB500F made from 2013 to 2018.
The Honda CB500F is a standard/naked bike that is part of the Honda 500 twin series made since 2013. It shares the same liquid-cooled DOHC 8-valve 471cc parallel twin as in the CBR500R, among a few other motorcycles, that makes a peak of 35 kW or 47 hp, making this motorcycle learner/A2-legal in relevant markets.
The Honda CB500F has gone through a few updates since its release.
- 2013-2018 CB500F: The original, with the big silver can exhaust, then updated in 2016 to get preload adjustable front forks, LED lights, lighter exhaust (matt black), adjustable brake lever, and revised styling. (Same maintenance parts/schedule as the original 2013 CB500F)
- 2019-2021 CB500F: New exhaust (stacked twin) and intake (some parts change), revised valve timing and lift for slightly more power, Slipper/assist clutch, revised fork internals and new rear shock, colour LCD dash, new looks.
- 2022 CB500F: Showa 41mm SFF-BP inverted forks, twin 298 mm front brake discs, redesigned swing-arm, recalibrated front/rear balance (more weight on the front wheel), new lighter radiator.
Honda updated the 2019 Honda CB500F with a new airbox and some internal engine parts, resulting in a slightly revised maintenance schedule and list of parts.
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Honda CB500F Service Intervals
Aside from the break-in service, the service interval for the Honda CB500F is every 8000 miles / 12800 km or annually, at which point you change the engine oil and check for leaks, worn components, or things in need of lubrication.
Honda also recommends some service between scheduled services, mostly for safety (brakes, clutch) and emissions equipment.
Every 16000 miles / 25600 km, change the oil filter and spark plug and check the valve clearances. The CB500F has a parallel twin with four valves per cylinder, so the checks are relatively simple, especially considering it’s a naked motorcycle.
Air filters changes are between, or more often if you ride the bike in dusty or wet areas.
Make sure to keep the brake fluid and the coolant up to date, and to maintain the chain of course, checking the slack and making sure it’s clean and lubricated.
What you need to service the Honda CB500F
To service the CB500F, you might need some (or many of) the following parts.
| Part | CB500F (2013-2018) |
|---|---|
| Oil | Honda recommends SAE 10W-30, JASO T 903 standard MA. Pro Honda GN4 10W-30 is good. Use a torque wrench to tighten the bolt to 30 Nm (22 lb-ft). |
| Oil filter | Honda’s standard part number for the oil filter is 15410-MFJ-D01 (used on many Hondas). You can also use Hiflofiltro HF204RC the oil filter. Use a torque wrench to tighten it to 26 Nm (19 lb-ft). |
| Air filter (OEM) | The OEM air filter part is 17211-MJW-J00. You can also use the K&N alternative air filter HA-5013, which is often more available. |
| Spark plugs | Use NGK spark plug part CPR8EA-9. Use a gapping tool to set the gap to 0.8-0.9mm. |
| Brake fluid | You can use any DOT 4 oil, but Honda recommends Honda DOT 4. |
| Brake pads (front) | OEM front brake pads are part number 06455-MGS-D32. Alternative EBC double-hardened front brake pads have part number FA196HH. |
| Brake pads (rear) | OEM rear brake pads are part number 06435-MGZ-J01. Alternative EBC double-hardened rear brake pads have part number FA140HH. |
| Coolant | Use Honda Long-life Coolant, which is based on ethylene glycol. |
| Cable lube | Keep cables (throttle, clutch) lubricated with Protect all cable life. |
| Grease | Keep external parts greased with a good lithium soap-based grease. |
Honda CB500F (2013-2018) Maintenance Schedule
Below is the maintenance schedule for the Honda CB500F. It’s adapted from the manual (see screenshots below), but cleaned up for ease of reading.
Maintenance Procedures:
- I: Inspect and clean, adjust, lubricate, or replace, if necessary
- R: Replace
- L: Lubricate
- C: Clean
Notes:
- The break-in service is omitted (it’s just to change the oil/filter).
- At higher odometer readings, repeat at the frequency interval below.
- Honda suggests a mechanic do several of the below operations, servicing the steering bearings, spark plugs and wheels/tires.
| x 1000 mi | 4 | 8 | 12 | 16 | 20 | 24 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| x 1000 km | 6.4 | 12.8 | 19.2 | 25.6 | 32 | 38.4 | Every |
| Engine Oil (Pro Honda GN4 10W-30) | R | R | R | 1 Year: R | |||
| Engine Oil Filter (HF204RC) | R | ||||||
| Air Cleaner (HA-5013) | R | R | Service more often when riding in dusty areas or rain | ||||
| Spark Plug (CPR8EA-9) | R | ||||||
| Valve Clearance | I | ||||||
| Crankcase Breather | C | C | C | C | C | C | Service more often when riding in rain or at full throttle |
| Engine Idle Speed | I | I | I | ||||
| Throttle Operation | I | I | I | ||||
| Fuel Line | I | I | I | ||||
| Radiator Coolant (Honda Coolant) | I | I | I | 3 Years: R | |||
| Cooling System | I | I | I | ||||
| Brake Fluid (Honda DOT 4) | I | I | I | I | I | I | 2 Years: R |
| Brake Pads Wear | I | I | I | I | I | I | |
| Brake System | I | I | I | ||||
| Brake Light Switch | I | I | I | ||||
| Secondary Air Supply System | I | ||||||
| Evaporative Emission Control System | I | ||||||
| Headlight Aim | I | I | I | ||||
| Clutch System (Protect all cable life) | I | I | I | I | I | I | |
| Side Stand | I | I | I | ||||
| Suspension | I | I | I | ||||
| Nuts, Bolts, Fasteners | I | I | I | ||||
| Wheels/Tires | I | I | I | ||||
| Steering Head Bearings | I | I | I |
Honda CB500F Chain Maintenance
As the Honda CB500F is an everyday sport motorcycle, it’s important to take care of the chain — as on any chain-driven motorcycle, but particularly on one that might be exposed to all kinds of conditions.
Honda recommends Honda’s own chain lubricant/cleaner. But you can use any good-quality chain lubricant like Motul chain paste, or a Motul chain care kit which comes with a couple of handy tools to maintain the chain.
Honda recommends you follow the following chain maintenance schedule for the CB500F:
| Chain maintenance task | Every |
|---|---|
| Check drive chain lubrication condition, lubricating if necessary | 600 mi / 1000 km |
| Check drive chain slack, adjusting if necessary Target chain slack: 1 3/8 to 1 3/4 in (35 to 45 mm) | 600 mi / 1000 km |
Notes:
- Do these items (checking/adjusting slack, and checking/applying lubrication) more often if you ride your CB500F in dusty or rainy conditions.
- Always lubricate the chain after washing the motorcycle (similar to after riding in the rain).
Tyre size and tyre pressure for the Honda CB500F
The Honda CB500F has the following tyre sizes standard, as well as the following recommended tyre pressures.
| Tyre | Size | Tyre pressure |
|---|---|---|
| Front | 120/70Z R17 M/C(58W) | 36 psi (250 kPa, 2.50 bar) |
| Rear | 160/60ZR17M/C (69W) | 42 psi (290 kPa, 2.90 bar) |
Stock, the Honda CB500F ships with a road/sport tyres, like Dunlop D222 or Metzeler Roadtec Interact tyres.
Depending on how you use your CB500F, you could give it any number of appropriate tyres.
About the Honda CB500F (2013-2018)
The Honda CB500F is a mid-range commuter sportbike that Honda released first for the 2013 model year along with its stablemate with the same engine, the 2013-2018 Honda CBR500R.
Like its sibling, the Honda CB500F is powered by a liquid-cooled 8-valve DOHC 471 cc parallel twin that makes modest, learner-legal power, making it the ideal starter bike for many.
But the CB500F has a secret — it’ll get to 100 mph (160 km/h) without too much fuss. By that point, you’ll either be wondering whether you need to be wearing better gear, or you’ll see flashing lights behind you.
So the CB500F is definitely a bike you can have “fun” on. You can take it to freeway speeds as fast as mid-range sports cars. Coupled with the upright riding position, there’ll be enough pull on your arms and wind against your chest to keep you entertained!
The CB500F is ideal for anyone stepping up from either a 250cc motorcycle, or those who hold an A2 or LAMS license.
The naked CB500F takes styling cues from the stripped-down four-cylinder CB1000R (before it got a “Neo Sports” rebrand in the 2018+ Honda CB1000R), and its slim form offers great urban ability as well as enjoyable performance in the hills.
Its DOHC twin-cylinder fuel-injected engine produces 35kW / 47 bhp and has really impressive fuel economy, even when you’re hammering it.
By the way, this isn’t the first time Honda has made a CB500. In the nineties, there was a more performance-oriented parallel twin CB500 that had much the same spirit, but a little more power and peo — it was a bike people kept for a little longer.
The 2013 Honda CB500F was updated once in 2016 with some better components, then significantly enough with the 2019 Honda CB500F to warrant a new maintenance schedule.
Manual for the Honda CB500F
The above maintenance schedule comes directly from the user’s manual for the 2016 Honda CB500F, with input from other manuals. You can see screenshots for them below.
There were a few changes from earlier manuals for the CB500F, such as changing whether or not something should be checked at the first service interval, or changing the way the oil change frequency is displayed, but nothing huge.
You can download the manual for the Honda CB500F from Honda’s website here.
