Our iconic style starts with the 12L fuel tank; smooth, rounded and perfectly formed, with authentic rubber knee pads for comfort. And everything that can be – engine, frame and suspension – is blacked out for sleek, minimalist looks. Rubber gaiters protect fork legs, just like back in the day. High, wide handlebars give excellent control and, in true CL tradition, mirror the evocative high-level exhaust muffler, with its distinctive drilled stainless heat shield and twin-pipe exit, that sits just right.

We’ve built the CL500, now you need to make it yours. And that starts with colour; choose between vibrant Candy Orange or Blue Metallic, ultra-modern Matte Gunpowder Black or rugged, earth-toned Matte Green. What else? That’s up to you. Maybe start with the simple pleasure of riding, meeting friends, hanging out and talking bikes. You’ll find what you need and want for your CL500. It will evolve around you, just as it should and become the motorcycle you dream of. More than lifestyle, this is living.

The CL500 is built to handle whatever you’ve got from dirt roads, cobbled city streets or weekends away. Longer travel suspension soaks up the bumps and deep-grooved tyres ensure confidence from walking speed upwards. Seat height is 790mm and the mid-section slim, great for easy ground reach and low-speed manoeuvrability. There’s plenty of leg room (a taller seat is available as an optional accessory) while the pillion seat mounts low, for easy access.

Whether just starting your two-wheeled journey – or have been riding for years – you’ll love this engine. Parallel twin-cylinder, DOHC 4V and spinning a 180° crank, it’s so easy to use at low speed, with smooth throttle response, easy-going power delivery and soulful sound. And, thanks to street scrambler-specification intake, exhaust and gearing there’s strong torque all the way through the rev-range – with peak of 43.4Nm @ 6,250rpm – which equals acceleration, when needed, that even the most experienced will enjoy.