Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India has launched the new CB500 in the country at Rs 2.75 lakh, ex-showroom, positioning the middleweight roadster as an aggressively priced entry into the company’s multi-cylinder motorcycle range. The CB500 is powered by a 471cc, liquid-cooled, parallel-twin engine producing 47.5hp and 43Nm of peak torque. The engine is paired with a six-speed gearbox and is designed to offer a balance between everyday usability and performance. At its introductory price, the motorcycle significantly lowers the entry point to Honda’s twin-cylinder big-bike portfolio in India.
Familiar twin-cylinder motor
The 471cc engine belongs to Honda’s established 500cc parallel-twin family and uses a 180-degree crankshaft. Its relatively accessible performance makes the CB500 suitable for both urban riding and highway use.
Honda has equipped the motorcycle with a slip-and-assist clutch, while Honda Selectable Torque Control provides an additional electronic safety net by managing rear-wheel traction.
The CB500 uses a steel diamond-type frame and has a conventional roadster riding position, with an upright handlebar and relatively neutral ergonomics.
Its styling follows Honda’s contemporary naked-bike design language, combining a muscular fuel tank with a compact LED headlamp and minimalist rear section.
TFT screen, traction control
Equipment includes a five-inch full-colour TFT instrument console with smartphone connectivity through Honda RoadSync.
The connectivity system allows riders to access functions such as navigation, calls and music when paired with a compatible smartphone and headset.
All-LED lighting is standard, while braking duties are handled by twin front discs and a single rear disc supported by dual-channel ABS.
The motorcycle rides on 17-inch alloy wheels at both ends. Suspension comprises a telescopic fork at the front and a preload-adjustable monoshock at the rear.
Competitive pricing
The Rs 2.75 lakh introductory price places the CB500 unusually close to several smaller-capacity single-cylinder motorcycles, while offering a 471cc parallel-twin powertrain.
That pricing is expected to make the motorcycle an important addition to Honda’s Indian premium-bike portfolio, particularly for buyers looking to move from 250-400cc machines to a twin-cylinder motorcycle.
The CB500 will be sold through Honda’s BigWing dealership network. Bookings have opened, with deliveries expected to commence in the coming weeks.
Honda’s latest launch also adds another option to India’s rapidly expanding middleweight motorcycle segment, where manufacturers have increasingly introduced locally produced or competitively priced models to attract riders upgrading from smaller motorcycles.