Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India has finally launched its much-awaited New Honda CB500 in the Indian market. The company unveiled this motorcycle in July 2026, and now its official price starts from Rs. 2.75 lakh, ex-showroom.
Honda has positioned the CB500 as a heritage roadster, which offers a relatively large-capacity single-cylinder engine with retro styling.
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The most interesting thing about the New Honda CB500 is its engine. The motorcycle is equipped with a 501cc single-cylinder, air-cooled engine, which also has an oil cooler.
This engine produces a maximum power of 28hp and a peak torque of 43.3Nm. Honda has also added modern electronic features, ensuring the motorcycle doesn’t simply remain an old-school retro roadster.
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New Honda CB500 Price: Available in 3 Variants
Honda launched the CB500 in India in three variants. The entry-level version comes with alloy wheels, while the higher-end variants feature a spoke-wheel setup. The top variant also offers exclusive graphics and color options.
| Variant | Price (Ex-showroom) |
|---|---|
| Honda CB500 Alloy | Rs. 2.75 lakh |
| Honda CB500 Spoke | Rs. 2.99 lakh |
| Honda CB500 Spoke with Stripe | Rs. 3.02 lakh |
With this pricing, the New Honda CB500 becomes an interesting middleweight roadster proposition. According to BikeWale, bookings have already begun through Honda BigWing dealerships.
501cc Big Single Engine
The biggest highlight of the New Honda CB500 is its all-new 501cc engine. This single-cylinder motor uses an air-cooled setup with an oil cooler and produces 28 hp and 43.3 Nm. Honda developed the engine with a torque-rich riding experience in mind rather than outright peak power.
The 43.3 Nm torque figure makes this motorcycle interesting for both daily riding and highway cruising. This engine configuration from Honda is quite uncommon in the Indian market, especially in this displacement range. The discontinuation of Royal Enfield’s 500cc UCE engines created a noticeable gap in the large-capacity single-cylinder segment, and the CB500 targets that space.
Honda has also decided to manufacture the motorcycle in India. Local production helps the company keep pricing relatively competitive, although the higher GST structure applicable to motorcycles above 350cc affects overall pricing.
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What will you get in the features?
The new Honda CB500 combines modern features with a retro design. The motorcycle comes with Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC) as a standard feature. Additionally, a slipper clutch is provided, which helps manage rear-wheel behavior during downshifts.
The bike features an analog-digital instrument console that draws visual inspiration from the CB350 family. Honda RoadSync connectivity is also available, allowing access to connected functions with a compatible smartphone. All-LED lighting and dual-channel ABS are also part of the motorcycle’s equipment package.
Design: Inspiration from the CB350, but Bigger Road Presence
The new Honda CB500 may be reminiscent of the CB350 family in terms of design, but the motorcycle’s overall stance is larger and more substantial. It features classic elements like a round LED headlamp, teardrop-style fuel tank, ribbed seat, and an upright roadster riding position.
Honda also offers the CB500 with cross-spoke wheels. The mid-spec and top-spec variants come with spoke setup tubeless tires, while the base variant rides on alloy wheels. The top model also gets exclusive graphics and color treatment.
Who will the Honda CB500 compete with?
Given its price and engine positioning, the new Honda CB500 could be directly compared to multiple premium roadsters. The Harley-Davidson X440 is its displacement-wise close alternative, while the Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 is positioned as the higher-capacity twin-cylinder option.
The CB500’s unique feature is that it offers a single-cylinder configuration with a displacement around 500cc. Therefore, its riding character can be different from conventional 400cc roadsters and 650cc parallel-twin motorcycles.
Auto India Daily Verdict
The new Honda CB500 fills an interesting gap in Honda’s India portfolio. A starting price of Rs. 2.75 lakh, a 501cc single-cylinder engine, 43.3Nm of torque, and a three-variant lineup clearly place it above the existing CB350 range. Honda has combined retro styling with features like HSTC, a slipper clutch, RoadSync, and dual-channel ABS.
The most interesting factor is its 501cc big-single engine, as options for this configuration are limited in India. Real-world riding experience and customer response will determine how strong an impact this Honda car makes in the niche roadster segment.
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