Honda’s Big Wing division has pulled the covers off its all-new CB500 in India, and it’s shaping up to be one of the more interesting middleweight launches of the year. The CB500 is a proper retro-styled roadster with a thumping single-cylinder engine, and it’s set to slot in above the now renamed CB350 range. (CB350, CB350C, CB350RS).
Honda CB500 Price In India
Official pricing hasn’t been locked in just yet, with Honda expected to announce the CB500 fully around September 2026. That said, early estimates doing the rounds put the CB500 Alloy variant at around Rs 2.60 lakh, with the Spoke Tubeless version at roughly Rs 2.9 lakh and the top-spec Spoke Tubeless with Graphics variant coming in at approximately Rs 3.15 lakh (all figures ex-showroom, indicative and subject to change).
Honda CB500 Variants
Honda is offering the CB500 in three distinct flavours right from launch:
- CB500 Alloy – runs on alloy wheels
- CB500 Spoke Tubeless – gets spoke wheels with tubeless tyre compatibility
- CB500 Spoke Tubeless with Graphics – the top-spec option, adding graphics on top of the spoke wheel set-up
This spread means Honda is catering to riders who prefer the modern convenience of alloys as well as those who lean towards the classic look of spoked wheels.
Honda CB500 Engine And Performance
At the heart of the CB500 sits an all-new 501cc single-cylinder engine, air and oil-cooled rather than the parallel-twin many had speculated on ahead of the unveil. It’s confirmed to produce around 27-28hp (roughly 20.7 kW) along with 43.3 Nm of peak torque, sent through a 5-speed gearbox with the help of an assist and slipper clutch.
The weight is expected to be around the 200 kg mark with a 17L tank.
The power figure might not look like much on paper for a 500cc motorcycle, but that torque number tells the real story. It’s genuinely strong for the class, and remarkably it isn’t all that far off the Royal Enfield Interceptor 650’s 52.3 Nm, despite that bike packing a much larger 648cc twin-cylinder engine putting out 47.4hp. Rather than chasing outright horsepower, Honda has clearly tuned the CB500 for effortless low-end and mid-range pulling power, the kind that suits relaxed highway cruising and everyday city riding without needing to work the gearbox too hard. It’s shaping up as Honda’s largest air-cooled single-cylinder motorcycle in India to date.
Honda CB500 Features
The CB500 comes reasonably well equipped for its segment:
- Full LED setup across headlight, taillight and indicators
- Combined analogue and digital instrument console
- Honda RoadSync smartphone connectivity
- Pass beam switch
- Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC) for added rider assistance
- Dual-channel ABS as standard
Honda CB500 Suspension, Brakes And Tyres
Up front, the CB500 runs a conventional telescopic fork with fork gaiters, while the rear gets gas-charged twin Showa shock absorbers to keep that classic roadster character intact. Braking duties are handled by disc brakes at both ends, backed up by dual-channel ABS. Tyres are tubeless across the board, and the CB500 has been spotted with cross-spoke wheels expected to run a 19-inch front and 18-inch rear setup, alongside the alloy option depending on variant.
Honda CB500 Design
Honda has gone all-in on retro styling with the CB500, drawing inspiration from the legendary CB750. Expect a round LED headlamp, a sculpted teardrop-shaped fuel tank, a ribbed single-piece seat and wide handlebars, all combining to give the bike proper modern-classic road presence while still packing in genuinely modern running gear underneath.
Honda CB500 Rivals
Once launched, the CB500 will find itself up against some serious names in the midsize retro space, including the Royal Enfield Interceptor 650, Royal Enfield Classic 350, Triumph Speed 400, Harley-Davidson X440 and the BSA Gold Star 650. Its own stablemate, the Honda CB350RS, also sits in the same general territory, giving Honda a broader spread across the segment. In many ways, the CB500 feels like a spiritual successor to the old Royal Enfield Classic 500, built around character and effortless torque rather than outright performance.
Honda CB350 Range Also Gets An Update
Alongside the CB500 reveal, Honda has refreshed its existing CB350 line up with new dark-themed graphics, giving the smaller retro roadster a fresh visual update to sit alongside its bigger new sibling.
What’s Next
With the CB500 now unveiled, key engine figures confirmed, and an expected launch window of around September 2026, Honda looks set to make a serious push into the growing midsize retro motorcycle segment in India. Official pricing and the final launch date are still to be confirmed, so it’s worth keeping an eye out for updates as Honda locks in the CB500’s full India debut.
