Honda CB 500 Launched In India At Rs 2.75 Lakh
Rahul Raj · 30 September 2026
Honda has launched the CB500 in India, its "big retro roadster" built around a 501cc air-cooled single-cylinder engine, with prices starting at ₹2.75 lakh ex-showroom. It's a genuinely significant launch beyond just being a new Honda — the CB500 steps directly into a segment that's been largely vacant in India since Royal Enfield discontinued its 500cc UCE models back in 2020, giving buyers who want more displacement than a 350 but aren't ready to stretch to a 650-twin something new to actually consider.
Pricing and Variants
The Engine: Honda's Largest Air-Cooled Single in India
At the heart of the CB500 is a 501cc single-cylinder engine, air- and oil-cooled, producing 28.1 PS and 43.3 Nm of torque through a 5-speed gearbox. That configuration is notable in its own right — a genuinely large air-cooled single is a rare engine type in today's Indian market, where most manufacturers have moved to liquid cooling even at this displacement, and it gives the CB500 a distinct mechanical character (and presumably a more old-school power delivery) compared to the smoother, more modern-feeling engines in Honda's own CB350 range sitting below it.
Equipment and Features
- Electronics: Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC) — switchable traction control — standard across the range.
- Clutch: Slipper clutch for smoother downshifts.
- Display: A semi-digital, analogue-digital instrument console with Honda RoadSync connectivity, bringing turn-by-turn navigation along with call and SMS alerts.
- Suspension: Telescopic front fork paired with twin gas-charged rear shocks.
- Brakes and Wheels: Dual disc brakes front and rear, with a 19-inch front wheel and 17-inch rear — classic roadster proportions rather than a sportier setup.
Colours by Variant
| Variant | Colour Options |
|---|---|
| CB500 Alloy | Pearl Deep Ground Gray, Pearl Igneous Black |
| CB500 Spoke | Rebel Red Metallic 2, Mat Steel Silver Metallic |
| CB500 Spoke with Stripes | Pearl Igneous Black (with exclusive graphics) |
Where It Actually Sits in the Market
Manufactured locally in India, the CB500 has managed to hold a relatively competitive price despite the steep 40 percent GST rate applied to motorcycles above 350cc — a tax bracket that's made larger-displacement bikes noticeably more expensive across the board in recent years. Positioned above Honda's own CB350 range but below Royal Enfield's 650 twins (which start at ₹3.39 lakh), the CB500 lands in a genuine pricing and displacement gap. Its most direct competitors on paper are Royal Enfield's Interceptor 650 and the BSA Gold Star 650, though both of those are twin-cylinder, liquid-cooled motorcycles with meaningfully different engine characters — meaning the CB500's real appeal may be less about beating those bikes head-on and more about offering a genuinely different riding experience at a lower entry price.
Full Spec Sheet
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Engine | 501cc, single-cylinder, air- and oil-cooled |
| Power | 28.1 PS |
| Torque | 43.3 Nm |
| Gearbox | 5-speed |
| Clutch | Slipper clutch |
| Traction Control | Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC) |
| Instrument Console | Semi-digital with Honda RoadSync (navigation, call/SMS alerts) |
| Front Suspension | Telescopic fork |
| Rear Suspension | Twin gas-charged shocks |
| Brakes | Dual disc, front and rear |
| Wheels | 19-inch front, 17-inch rear |
| Price (Alloy) | ₹2.75 Lakh, ex-showroom Bangalore |
| Price (Spoke) | ~₹3.00 Lakh, ex-showroom Bangalore |
| Price (Spoke w/ Stripes) | ~₹3.02 Lakh, ex-showroom Bangalore |