In 2001, the Japanese motorcycle manufacturer released the Honda CB500E, a motorcycle in its ninth year of production that came in the same package as its predecessors and featured only graphics and color changes.
The Honda CB500E was a standard motorcycle that had its debut in 1993, and with a low cost, reliability, and good handling, the bike was a popular choice for commuters and motorcycle couriers. Also, the bike was used for racing in the Honda CB500 Cup in the United Kingdom.
The Honda engineers claimed that the 499cc engine was designated to last for 300,000 km (186,000 miles). One motorcycle was tested by Moto Revue from 1993 through 1996 and dismantled at 50,000 km (31,000 miles), and the engine was in perfect condition.
At 100,000 km (62,000 miles), only the cam chain and piston were replaced, but other than that, in the tester's opinion, the bike could have run with the original parts for longer without any problems.
Equipped from the factory, the CB500E came with standard features, such as cast aluminum wheels, a one-piece dual seat with a passenger grab handle, a black-finished steel frame, a round headlight with a chromed housing, an analog instrument panel, and a completely blacked-out exhaust system.
In the performance department, the 2001 Honda CB500E had at its core a 499cc four-stroke parallel-twin liquid-cooled engine fitted with two Keihin carburetors and delivered an output power of 58 hp at 9,500 rpm and 47 Nm ( 32 lb-ft) of torque at 8,000 rpm.