Honda Will Sponsor 2013 European Junior Cup; Provide New Sport Bike Rumored To Be 500cc Parallel Twin

The KTM 690 single raced by youngsters this year competing in the European Junior Cup will be replaced by an all-new Honda for 2013.
Honda says the new sportbike will be revealed at the EICMA show next month, but rumors suggest that the bike will be a parallel twin 500cc model, perhaps known as the CBR500.

Although designated for a race series, the production bike could be an affordable, entry level machine along the lines of the CB500 twin produced until 2003 and raced in the Honda CB500 Cup in the UK. This is the type of bike Honda would typically release only in Europe, not the US, but the market has embraced lower cost machines here such as the CBR250R and the Ninja 250/300. Honda might expect a new, affordable 500cc twin to sell well enough to bring it into the US market the first year. We sure hope so. Stay tuned for EICMA coverage next month.