The Honda CB500 has launched in India at an introductory ₹2.75 lakh ex-showroom, giving Honda a made-in-India 501cc single-cylinder roadster positioned above its CB350 range. The important move is not only the displacement: Honda is using local production to reopen a category that has been thin since India’s older 500cc singles disappeared.
Honda CB500 pricing and equipment
Honda lists the Alloy version at ₹2,75,000, the Spoke Tubeless version at ₹2,99,900 and the Spoke Tubeless with Stripes version at ₹3,01,900, all ex-showroom Bengaluru. Autocar India and BikeWale independently reported the same three-step price ladder after the September 21 launch.
The new roadster uses a 501cc air-cooled engine with an oil cooler. Independent reports put output at 27.6 bhp, or roughly 28 hp, and peak torque at 43.3 Nm. Standard equipment includes LED lighting, an analogue-digital instrument cluster, Honda Selectable Torque Control, a slipper clutch, front and rear disc brakes and dual-channel ABS.
Why the made-in-India single matters
Honda first showed the model as part of a broader July product programme, but the actual price disclosure and on-sale launch are the fresh event. Honda’s official product material says the motorcycle is made in India, while Autocar notes that localisation helped keep it below the entry prices of Royal Enfield’s 650 twins despite the higher GST applied to motorcycles above 350cc.
That creates an unusual proposition. Most middleweight motorcycles sold near this price rely on twin-cylinder engines or smaller-capacity singles. The Honda CB500 instead offers a long-stroke-style, torque-led format aimed at riders who want simple roadster character rather than maximum cylinder count. Its closest comparison is therefore partly emotional: it revives the big-single space vacated by older Royal Enfield 500 models, while competing for money with newer 440cc and 650cc machines.
The commercial test is distribution
Honda is selling the motorcycle through its premium BigWing network. That gives the product a more specialised showroom environment, but it also means reach will be narrower than the mass-market dealer footprint used by the CB350 family. Bookings have begun; Honda’s public material and the independent launch reports do not state a national delivery total, so no volume claim should be inferred.
For Honda, the more consequential question is whether local engineering can support a wider middleweight line-up at viable prices. The company’s July announcement covered several upcoming models, including cruisers, adventure bikes and an electric scooter. A locally made 501cc engine therefore acts as a manufacturing signal as well as a single product launch.
What buyers should compare
Buyers should compare the three variants on wheel design, tyre convenience and finish, rather than expecting major mechanical changes. The spoke-tubeless option adds the classic look without requiring an inner tube, while the top variant mainly adds graphics and colours.
The ₹2.75 lakh entry price is the clearest strategic number. It places the roadster above Honda’s CB350 line but below the starting point of the Interceptor 650 cited by Autocar. Our earlier coverage of the Royal Enfield Classic 350 Signature White shows how established rivals are also using design-led variants to defend the modern-classic segment.
Honda CB500 facts table
| Starting price | ₹2.75 lakh |
|---|---|
| Top listed price | ₹3.019 lakh |
| Engine | 501cc air/oil-cooled single |
| Claimed output | 27.6 bhp; 43.3 Nm |
| Sales channel | Honda BigWing |
Related Lapaas Voice coverage: related business coverage and related business coverage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Honda CB500 price in India?
Honda lists the CB500 from ₹2.75 lakh to ₹3.019 lakh ex-showroom Bengaluru, depending on wheel and graphics variant.
Is the Honda CB500 made in India?
Yes. Honda’s official material and independent launch coverage identify the India-spec CB500 as a made-in-India motorcycle.
How is it different from global CB500 models?
The India model uses a 501cc air- and oil-cooled single-cylinder engine, not the parallel-twin format associated with some overseas CB500 nameplates.
Everyone else is reporting the announcement; we are explaining the operating mechanism, commercial consequence and limits of what is disclosed.
Get the day’s top stories in your inbox
One concise email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
