CB 500 T

1978 Honda CB 500 T Technical Analysis & Specification Breakdown

Engineered by Honda for the classic motorcycle segment, the 1978 Honda CB 500 T pairs a 499 cc (30.5 cu in) air-cooled twin, four-stroke architecture with road-focused gearing. In factory specification, peak output is rated at 42 HP (30.7 kW) at 8,000 rpm, transferring power to the rear wheel through a 5-speed gearbox and chain final drive. With a specific output of 84.2 HP per liter, the engine character is indicating a tractable, stress-free state of tune focused on everyday usability and broad torque delivery.

On the scales, the CB 500 T measures 210 kg (463 lbs) wet (curb), translating to a power-to-weight ratio of 0.2 HP/kg (5 kg per horsepower). The 13-liter (3.4 US gal) fuel tank supports practical everyday commuting and weekend road stints, while factory top speed is listed at 160 km/h (99 mph).

Within MotoLibrary's Honda archive, this model family spans 4 indexed model years from 1975 to 1978, allowing buyers to track year-over-year changes in emissions tuning, weight and equipment.