Honda Rebel 500: What to Expect?

Honda recently hosted a grand unveil event where, among many other two-wheelers, was the Rebel 500 urban cruiser. The motorcycle is all set to make a comeback, and there are a few things that make its India re-entry interesting.

Lower Pricing

Before it went off the shelves, the Rebel 500 was priced at a staggering Rs. 5.12 lakh, ex-showroom, because it came to India via the CBU (completely built-up) route. This time around, close to 50 per cent of the bike’s parts, excluding engine, will be locally sourced, and that should bring the price down significantly.

Two Variants

The Rebel 500 will be available in two variants, including E-Clutch and manual, with varying prices. We expect the motorcycle to be priced in the Rs. 4.5-5 lakh, ex-showroom ballpark. The motorcycle competes against the like of the Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650, which starts from Rs. 4.06 lakh.

E-Clutch Convenience

Honda’s E-Clutch offers similar convenience to BMW F 450 GS’ ERC, but it is known to be more seamless and easier to use. The E-Clutch not only allows clutchless shifts on the move, but also lets you roll away from a standstill without operating the clutch at all. At any point, one can override the system and use the clutch just by pulling it in.

Smooth Twin

The Rebel 500 is powered by a 471cc, liquid-cooled, parallel-twin engine that develops 46hp at 8,500rpm and 43.3Nm at 6,000rpm. This is essentially the same engine as the NX500 and, as per our experience, it is a fairly refined and flexible powerplant. There is a seamless delivery of torque from mid to top end, which makes it enjoyable to ride on the city as well as on the highway.

Easy to Use

Considering its body style and displacement, the kerb weight of the Rebel 500 is on the lighter side at 191kg. For reference, the Super Meteor 650 weighs as much as 241kg, which makes it a bit of a handful to manoeuvre in the city or parking spaces. The Rebel 500 also offers a very low seat height of 690mm which should be especially beneficial for shorter riders. Other key details include 16-inch alloy wheels with telescopic forks and dual springs, along with a single disc brake at both ends with dual-channel ABS.