CFMoto 500SR Voom Previews New Four-Cylinder Engine

[Hugh Janus]

CFMoto’s 500SR Voom Concept brings back ’90s styling cues. (CFMoto/)

The development of a new 500cc four-cylinder sportbike platform is no secret at CFMoto, but the company’s latest development of the idea has turned heads by adopting a 1990s-inspired retro style that’s perfectly suited to the revival of the small-capacity supersport class.

Last year CFMoto previewed a modern-styled version of the new 500SR, the debut model for its new four-cylinder screamer, with a demonstration run at the Zhuzhou International Circuit in at the annual CFMoto Day for the brand’s fans. Despite a camo wrap to hide its styling, the bike was clearly in the same mold as existing, modern CFMoto sportbikes like the 450SR. We’re still waiting for that version of the 500SR to be fully revealed, but in the meantime the company has started teasing a second model on the same platform, dubbed 500SR Voom.

The CFMoto 500SR Voom looks production ready, but CFMoto has not released specifics. (CFMoto/)

Unveiled via a YouTube video, the 500SR Voom appears to share the same engine and chassis as the 500SR prototype that was demonstrated last year, but it’s clothed in completely new styling that takes a leaf from the Papio SS, with retro style that evokes 1990s classics like the original Honda CBR900RR, Yamaha’s FZR750, or  Kawasaki’s ZXR750. Coming on the heels of machines like Yamaha’s new XSR900 GP, it reflects a new revival for ‘80s and ‘90s styling cues with clean, rounded lines that are a sharp contrast to recent origami-folded bodywork trends. Most interesting are the twin-intake ducts surrounded by daytime running lights while the headlight is mounted below.

Daytime running lights surround two round intake ducts giving the appearance of retro headlights; the actual headlight is a rectangular unit tucked away lower on the fairing. (CFMoto/)

Styling aside, the 500SR Voom also reveals technical details that will be shared by the more contemporary 500SR and the inevitable 500NK naked bike that’s sure to follow it. These include our first look at the frame, which was hidden under plastic wrap on the bike that premiered last year. That wrap gave the look of a beam frame, but it’s now clear that it’s really a steel tube design that’s in keeping with CFMoto’s smaller sportbikes like the 300SR and 450SR.

A steel tube frame is used on the 500SR Voom. (CFMoto/)

As on last year’s 500SR prototype, the 500SR Voom uses an upside-down fork and aluminum swingarm, but instead of the belly-mounted exhaust there’s a pair of high pipes, one on each side. The previous prototype’s Moto3-style rear disc wheel is also replaced with a more conventional design, but it’s clear that the 500SR and 500SR Voom will be essentially the same, mechanically.

Another clue from the new video is a shot of the instrument panel, showing a typical color TFT display, but one that includes graphs for the power and torque curves as well as a 16,000 rpm rev counter. The tach itself is intriguing. The numbers from 0 to 7,000 rpm are tightly packed into the first inch of the needle’s movement and those from 11,000 to 16,000 rpm—gradually getting redder as the numbers rise—are compressed into a similar space at the top end of the dial, leaving the lion’s share of the space for the 7,000 rpm to 11,000 rpm range that CFMoto clearly expects riders to spend most of their time using.

Video capture of the TFT reveals a possible 16,000 rpm redline. (CFMoto/)

The power and torque curves illustrated on the dash to the left of the rev counter lack figures on the y-axis but show that the bike’s power is spread from 2,000 rpm to 14,000 rpm. There are also three horizontal lines that are each likely to represent 20kW and 20 Nm gaps. The red line for power very nearly touches the third horizontal marker at around 12,000 rpm. If that line represents 60kW—which is equivalent to 80 hp in more familiar terms—that’s about right for a highly tuned 500cc four. The white torque curve, meanwhile, peaks a little above the second horizontal line and at about 10,000 rpm. That would be around 45 Nm, or around 33 lb.-ft. Again, that would be about right. For comparison, the full-power version of Kawasaki’s ZX-4RR—arguably the closest rival to the 500SR—makes 57kW (76 bhp) at 14,500 rpm and 39 Nm (29 lb.-ft.) at 13,000 rpm. With a 100cc capacity advantage the 500SR should be able to beat those numbers while revving a little lower, just as the curves on the dash suggest. The instruments also point to some strong technology, including real-time tire pressure and temperature monitoring.

The 500SR Voom looks like it shares much with the yet to be released 500SR. (CFMoto/)

While some elements of the bike’s styling look like a concept—most notably the air intakes set inside the running lights—others are very production-looking, including the presence of a license plate hanger and light at the back. It’s possible that those open-centered DRL intakes really are production parts; it’s a styling idea that Dodge used the Challenger Hellcat several years ago.

Most concepts don’t include a license plate bracket, is the 500SR Voom close to production? (CFMoto/)

Whether the 500SR Voom will reach the USA remains uncertain. CFMoto’s video description says it’s “dedicated to CFMoto’s domestic market,” suggesting it won’t be leaving China, but on the flip side all the text on the instrument panel is in English. That could be a clue that, once fully launched, there is a chance the bike will be appearing on export markets as well.

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