- Based on 500 SR Voom
- To use the same 499cc inline-four engine
- Likely to be introduced in the next few months
CFMoto looks set to expand its 500cc sports range with the introduction of a sportier-looking version of the 500 SR Voom, simply called the 500 SR. The 500 SR has received type approval in China, confirming its final design and technical specifications.
The model has been a long time in development. Back in 2023, CFMoto displayed camouflaged prototypes of both the 500 SR and the 675 SR-R to the public in China. While the three-cylinder 675 SR-R was the first to make it into production, the 500 SR quietly faded from view. Instead, CFMoto launched the 500 SR Voom, a bike that shared the same mechanical platform but looked nothing like the original prototype.
Visually, the production bike aligns with CFMoto’s newer sports models, including the 675 SR-R, the upcoming 750 SR-S and the 1000 SR-RR superbike. However, it looks very different to the bodywork seen beneath the camouflage of the 2023 prototype, suggesting the bike was heavily redesigned. That explains the delay in bringing it to market.
Mechanically, nothing has changed from the 500 SR Voom. The new 500 SR uses the same tubular steel frame and the same 499cc four-cylinder engine, producing 58kW at 12,500rpm and 49Nm at 10,000rpm. The dual under-seat exhaust system carries over, as does the chassis geometry, including the 1395mm wheelbase. Suspension hardware is also unchanged, with 41mm adjustable upside-down forks up front and a matching rear shock and swingarm.
Where the differences really show is in the styling. The retro-inspired look of the Voom, with its late-80s and early-90s influence and circular headlight design hiding the front air intakes, is gone. In its place is a modern, aggressive design featuring sculpted side panels, aerodynamic detailing and narrow headlights set beneath sharp LED daytime running lights.
Rider ergonomics appear largely unchanged, with similar handlebar and footpeg positioning to the Voom. However, the new fairing design allows for conventional fairing-mounted mirrors, replacing the bar-end mirrors used on the retro model. There is also a change to the braking setup, with new calipers visible behind large cooling ducts surrounding the twin front discs.
According to the type-approval documents, the 500 SR has a claimed curb weight of 187kg, which is 7kg lighter than the Voom. That difference may come down to how the figures were measured, as there are no obvious areas where significant weight savings have been made.
With the 500 SR Voom already available in New Zealand at $11,990, and both bikes sharing identical mechanicals, bringing the modern-styled 500 SR to the local market should be straightforward if there’s enough interest. For riders who want a 500cc four-cylinder sportsbike without the retro look, this could be the missing option in CFMoto’s line-up.
