Honda Rebel 500

The Honda Rebel 500 is expected to return to India as a 500cc bobber-style cruiser, with a relaxed cruiser riding position. It is likely to retain the 471cc parallel-twin engine, which produces 46hp and 43.3Nm, paired with a six-speed gearbox. The bike is expected to feature a 690mm seat height, 175 mm circular headlight, teardrop-shaped fuel tank, two-piece seat and short exhaust, along with a circular TFT instrument cluster unlike the LCD unit offered on international models. It will also feature a dual-channel ABS. Rebel 500 will be available with Honda’s E-Clutch system that allows riders to shift gears without using the clutch lever while still retaining manual clutch operation. 

The biggest change for the India-spec model is expected to be its manufacturing process. Unlike the earlier Rebel 500, which was imported as a CBU, the new model is expected to be locally manufactured in India, with around 50 percent of its components likely to be sourced locally while the engine will initially continue to be imported. This increased localisation should help Honda position the Rebel 500 at a more competitive price than the previous version, although the final price is yet to be announced.