Honda CBR500, CB500X spied

It seems that Honda is indeed developing not two new 500cc parallel twin motorcycles, but three, after new images emerged showing the bikes being photographed for an official brochure in Sulmona, Italy.

Expected to make their debut at the 2012 ECIMA show in Milan in November, Honda will release the Honda CBR500 light duty sports bike, the CB500 naked bike and the CB500X, the latter an unknown quantity until now.

The third model in the range, CB500X, takes a leaf out of the NX700X and Crosstourer's books, a more compact version of the dual adventure touring models, complete with duckbill front end and integrated tank.

All three bikes will weigh around 175kg and are based upon the same underpinnings, with the body work the major differentiators. Built to a budget, the new 500cc Hondas will be global models and are likely to very affordable..

When the first images of Honda's new 500cc parallel twins were leaked from Thailand it was understood that only two models were being developed - based on Honda's newly-developed 470cc parallel twin outputting 35kW (48hp) - the CBR500 which appears to be heavily influenced by the CBR1000RR Fireblade design, and its naked sibling, the CB500.

With the addition of the CB500X Honda appears to have covered all bases, but it's too early to tell if all three models will be making the journey to Australia.

We'll have more details on the new Honda trio from the Milanese motorcycle show EICMA in November, which begins on November 15, 2012.