The Honda CB500 has been unveiled in India as a locally manufactured heritage roadster powered by a new 501cc single-cylinder engine. Honda has confirmed three variants but it has not announced the motorcycle’s price, booking date or exact launch timeline.
Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India revealed the CB500 on July 24, 2026, as part of an expanded portfolio of ten motorcycles and scooters for the Indian market.
The new motorcycle will sit above Honda’s existing CB350 range. It combines retro roadster styling with a larger engine, modern connectivity and electronic rider-assistance features.
However, the motorcycle has only been unveiled. Honda has not commercially launched it or opened bookings.
Has the Honda CB500 launched in India?
No. Honda has revealed the CB500, but customers cannot purchase or book it yet.
Honda stated that the products unveiled as part of its new portfolio will enter the Indian market in phases. The company will announce individual prices, launch schedules and market availability closer to their respective introductions.
Therefore, the CB500 should currently be described as unveiled, not launched.
Honda has yet to announce:
- Official ex-showroom price
- Booking opening date
- Delivery schedule
- Available colours
- Complete variant-wise specifications
- Dealership availability
Any exact price or launch date circulating before Honda’s next announcement remains speculative.
What engine powers the new Honda CB500?
Honda has officially confirmed that the CB500 uses a 501cc single-cylinder air-cooled engine with an oil cooler.
The engine layout is important because the new Indian CB500 is different from several international Honda motorcycles carrying similar names. Honda has developed this model as a torque-focused heritage roadster rather than a high-revving parallel-twin motorcycle.
Honda’s official announcement does not list the CB500’s power and torque figures. However, multiple reports from the unveiling state that the engine produces 20.7 kW, equivalent to approximately 28.1 PS, and 43.3 Nm of torque.
Reports also state that the engine is paired with a five-speed gearbox.
The figures indicate that Honda is prioritising accessible torque, everyday usability and relaxed road performance rather than the highest possible power output.
Honda itself describes the motorcycle as offering a torque-rich riding feel, strong road presence and reliable everyday usability.
Is this the same Honda CB500 sold in other countries?
No. The newly unveiled Indian CB500 is not the same motorcycle as the international CB500 Hornet or older CB500F.
Those motorcycles use Honda’s established 471cc liquid-cooled parallel-twin engine. The new India-focused CB500 instead uses a 501cc single-cylinder air-and-oil-cooled engine.
The similar names could create confusion in search results. Specifications for the international CB500 Hornet, CB500F, NX500 or Rebel 500 should not be used for this motorcycle.
The new CB500 also differs from the Honda NX500 sold in India. The NX500 is an adventure motorcycle powered by a 471cc parallel-twin engine, while the new CB500 is a retro-styled roadster powered by a larger single-cylinder engine.
This distinction is particularly important when checking information such as engine output, gearbox, dimensions, mileage or top speed.
What does the Honda CB500 look like?
The CB500 follows Honda’s retro-sporty roadster design direction.
It features a round headlamp, a sculpted fuel tank, an upright handlebar, a long ribbed seat, prominent fenders and a substantial exhaust. Its silhouette resembles Honda’s smaller CB350 motorcycles, but the CB500 appears larger and more muscular.
Honda officially positions it as “The Honda Heritage Roadster,” combining classic styling with modern technology and everyday usability.
The design avoids the sharp bodywork normally associated with streetfighters and sports motorcycles. Instead, it uses traditional roadster proportions aimed at riders who prefer a simple, substantial and recognisable motorcycle shape.
What features does the Honda CB500 offer?
Honda’s official announcement confirms the engine type and variant structure but does not provide a complete equipment list.
Reports from the unveiling list the following features:
- Assist-and-slipper clutch
- Honda Selectable Torque Control
- Honda RoadSync smartphone connectivity
- Analogue-digital instrument console
- LED lighting
- Gas-charged rear suspension
- Disc brakes at both ends
- Dual-channel ABS
These details have been reported consistently by established automobile publications covering the unveiling.
Honda Selectable Torque Control is designed to help manage rear-wheel spin by adjusting engine power when necessary.
The assist-and-slipper clutch should reduce clutch effort and limit rear-wheel instability during sudden downshifts.
Honda RoadSync provides compatible smartphone connectivity for functions such as navigation, calls and notifications. The exact connected functions available on the production CB500 should become clearer when Honda releases the complete specification sheet.
Does the Honda CB500 have E-Clutch?
Honda has not confirmed E-Clutch specifically for the CB500.
The company stated that selected motorcycles within its wider ten-product portfolio will receive Honda E-Clutch technology. However, Honda did not identify an E-Clutch version while listing the CB500 variants.
By comparison, Honda explicitly announced Standard and E-Clutch variants for the newly unveiled Rebel 300 and Rebel 500. It made no equivalent announcement for the CB500.
E-Clutch should therefore not be listed as a confirmed CB500 feature unless Honda announces it separately.
Which Honda CB500 variants have been confirmed?
Honda has officially announced three CB500 variants:
- Alloy
- Spoke Tubeless
- Spoke Tubeless with Graphics
The Alloy version will use conventional alloy wheels.
The Spoke Tubeless version will provide the appearance of wire-spoke wheels while supporting tubeless tyres. The highest version will add exclusive graphics alongside the tubeless spoke-wheel setup.
Honda has not disclosed whether the three variants will receive different colours, accessories or additional equipment.
The company has also not announced variant-wise prices.
Has Honda announced the CB500 price and launch date?
Honda has not announced the CB500’s official price or exact launch date.
The company has only confirmed that the newly unveiled products will enter the market in phases. Pricing and availability will be disclosed closer to each product’s commercial launch.
Local manufacturing could help Honda price the CB500 more competitively than a fully imported motorcycle. However, the final price will depend on its equipment, production scale, variant positioning and dealership strategy.
The CB500 will sit above the CB350 range, but that does not provide enough information to calculate a dependable expected price.
Publishing an invented price range would be misleading at this stage.
Honda’s next announcement is expected to clarify:
- Ex-showroom price
- Booking date
- Delivery timeline
- Complete dimensions
- Kerb weight
- Seat height
- Fuel-tank capacity
- Ground clearance
- Official mileage information
- Colour options
Until Honda confirms these details, they should remain marked as unannounced.
Which motorcycles could compete with the Honda CB500?
Honda has not announced an official list of competitors.
Based on its engine capacity and retro-roadster positioning, buyers may compare it with motorcycles such as the BSA Gold Star 650 and Royal Enfield Interceptor 650.
The motorcycles use different engine layouts. The Interceptor 650 has a parallel-twin engine, while the Gold Star 650 follows a large single-cylinder format.
The Honda CB500 appears to offer its own combination of a 501cc single-cylinder engine, modern electronics, retro styling and local manufacturing.
Its true competitors will become clearer only after Honda announces the price. A competitive price could attract riders upgrading from motorcycles in the 300cc to 450cc segment. A higher price could place it directly against established 650cc roadsters.
What remains unknown about the Honda CB500?
Honda’s unveiling provides a clear look at the CB500’s positioning, but several important ownership details remain unavailable.
Honda has not officially published:
- Kerb weight
- Seat height
- Ground clearance
- Fuel capacity
- Certified mileage
- Top speed
- Complete tyre dimensions
- Service schedule
- Warranty details
- Accessory list
Some media reports have published additional specifications based on the motorcycles displayed at the event. However, the details may not represent the final production model.
Buyers should wait for Honda’s official product page or specification sheet before relying on those figures.
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