Honda CB500 Brings CB750-Inspired Style to India for Less Than $3,000

Image from- Honda

A brand-new 500cc Honda motorcycle for less than $3,000 sounds like the kind of showroom deal that would have riders lining up around the block. In a market where entry-level machines are steadily creeping up in price, Honda has managed to launch a new half-liter CB500 starting at roughly $2,870. It is a striking price tag for a heavyweight badge, but before you start clearing space in the garage, there is a mechanical catch to this retro cruiser.

Visually, the new CB500 hits all the right nostalgic notes, drawing clear design inspiration from the legendary Honda CB750. It features a classic round headlight, a traditional teardrop tank shape, and a chunky engine profile that perfectly nails the vintage motorcycle aesthetic of its iconic four-cylinder predecessor. Honda hasn't skimped on modern rider aids to achieve that bargain price, either. The bike comes equipped with traction control, a slipper clutch, and smartphone connectivity. The base trim rolls on standard alloy wheels, while premium variants offer tubeless cross-spoke wheels for a true old-school look.

However, the powertrain is where this machine diverges significantly from the familiar CB500 lineup. Riders accustomed to the $5,899 CB500 Hornet or the Rebel 500 expect a high-revving 471cc liquid-cooled parallel-twin pumping out around 47 horsepower and mated to a six-speed gearbox. This new market-specific CB500 takes a distinctly different route. It is powered by a simpler 501cc air and oil-cooled single-cylinder engine that produces roughly 28 horsepower and 32 lb-ft of torque, paired with a five-speed transmission.

For now, the CB500 remains an India-focused model, and Honda has not confirmed wider international availability. The company’s official India listing states that the alloy-wheel model is scheduled to receive detailed configuration information in the third quarter of financial year 2026–27, with the spoke variants following in the fourth quarter. Deliveries are expected to begin shortly after the relevant specifications are released.

Ultimately, the simpler engine architecture are what separate this $2,870 single-cylinder cruiser from the more sophisticated parallel-twins people are used to seeing in showrooms. The familiar CB500 badge might be on the tank, but underneath is a completely different motorcycle philosophy. While the liquid-cooled twins offer faster, more refined performance, there is something undeniably appealing about a simple, torquey, big-single retro cruiser heavily inspired by the CB750 being offered at such an accessible price point.