Honda Rebel 500
2025 Honda Rebel 500 (CMX500): 46 hp A2 cruiser, 191 kg, 690 mm seat, €6,499. Full specs, press reviews, 2027 E-Clutch and rivals.
At a glance
The Honda Rebel 500 (CMX500 Rebel) is a bobber-style cruiser powered by the CBR500R's 471 cc, 46 hp twin, A2-compliant without restriction. Priced at €6,499, it owes its success to its 690 mm seat, ease of riding and frugality. Reviewers criticise weak front braking, minimal equipment and ergonomics too compact for tall riders.
World press review
Meta-score
7 sources
Press ratings
Very easy and reassuring, a perfect, well-priced entry point to the bobber scene; hard-to-read dash with no rev counter, suspension a little soft when pushed.
A cruiser for everyone, accessible and surprisingly agile, with adequate brakes despite the single disc; hard-to-read screen and an engine less emotional than a V-twin.
Very easy, agile in town, engine at the limit of the A2 category and frugal; short rear travel felt over bumps.
An agile little cruiser, easy and enjoyable in town, still the benchmark for beginners; limited practicality and a rising price.
Easy and reassuring, ideal for shorter riders and new licence holders, with great looks; firm suspension, thin seat, brakes to be anticipated.
Press synthesis
What the world’s press says
No test of the 2025 or 2027 model years has been published: reviews cover the 2020 second generation, whose engine and chassis have not changed. MCN rates it 3/5 and Motorcycle.com 83.5/100. BikeSocial, 1000PS, Motociclismo, Moto Magazine and Le Repaire des Motards tested it without a numeric score; Moto Magazine calls it the “princess of small cruisers for beginners”.
What reviewers like: exceptional ease of handling, a very low seat, a smooth and torquey engine, surprising agility, frugality and A2 compliance.
What they criticise: weak front braking, minimal equipment (no rev counter on the LCD screen), basic suspension and ergonomics too compact for tall riders.
Key quotes
"If you’re looking for an unintimidating, reasonably priced slice of the A2-ready bobber motorcycling experience, you ought to look no further than the 2020 Honda CMX500 Rebel - otherwise known simply as the Honda Rebel 500."
"All that and 60 mpg. There’s nothing not to like here. The Rebel 500 is the modern Honda you meet the nicest people on, with all the same attributes that launched Honda’s amazing success 60 years ago."
"The Honda Rebel is a cruiser! And not just for leather-clad bikers in half-shell helmets, but also for women, beginners, hipsters, pensioners - in fact for anyone who wants to cruise."
"With minimal changes, here is the Euro 5 Rebel, a very easy bike to ride, perfectly suited to female riders thanks to its seat height, weight and agility, but which goes further thanks to an engine with performance at the limit of the A2 category and handling that is not bound by convention."
"But its lightness and ease of handling still make it the princess of small cruisers for beginners."
Pros
- Very easy to ride
- 690 mm seat
- Smooth, torquey engine
- Agile for a cruiser
- Frugal (3.6 L/100 km claimed)
- A2-compliant without restriction
Cons
- Weak front brake
- Minimal equipment
- Basic suspension, short rear travel
- Too compact for tall riders
Our review
What is the 2025 model year?
The Rebel 500, called the CMX500 Rebel in Europe, was launched in 2017. Its second generation, in 2020, brought revised suspension, an assist and slipper clutch, full LED lighting and a gear position indicator. The 2025 model year received new seat foam, a repositioned handlebar, reshaped shock bump stops, an LCD screen easier to read in sunlight and Euro 5+ homologation.
According to Honda Motor Europe, it has been Europe’s best-selling cruiser every year since 2021.
What about the 2027 Rebel 500 E-Clutch?
On 6 October 2026 Honda unveiled a 2027 Rebel fitted with the E-Clutch electronically controlled clutch, which allows pulling away and changing gear without touching the lever. It also gets a round TFT screen with a rev counter and Honda RoadSync connectivity, and a six-button left switch cube. It is only offered with the E-Clutch. As of 10 October 2026, Honda France has not announced its price and still sells the 2025 manual-clutch version.
How much does it cost?
Honda France lists the 2025 CMX500 Rebel from €6,499, in Mat Gunpowder Black Metallic or Mat Dim Gray Metallic. In the United States, the 2026 Rebel 500 costs $6,799 ($6,999 for the SE).
How good is the engine?
The 471 cc 180-degree parallel twin comes from the CBR500R, retuned for low-down torque. It makes 46 hp (34 kW) at 8,500 rpm and 43.3 Nm at 6,000 rpm: the Rebel is A2-compliant without restriction.
Reviewers find it smooth and torquier than expected. Motociclismo considers it at the limit of what the A2 category allows, Motorcycle.com notes vibrations above 70 mph, and 1000PS finds it less emotional than a V-twin.
How does it ride?
At 191 kg with a 690 mm seat, the Rebel is very easy to get to grips with; 1000PS and MCN find it surprisingly agile in corners. The suspension is basic: a non-adjustable 41 mm fork and twin preload-adjustable shocks whose 95 mm travel Motociclismo finds short over bumps. Braking relies on a single 296 mm front disc: MCN finds it weak, Motorcycle.com regrets the lever effort required, and Le Repaire des Motards advises anticipating it.
Fuel consumption and maintenance
Honda quotes 3.6 L/100 km on the WMTC cycle, giving a range of about 310 km from the 11.2-litre tank. The foreign press recorded from 3.5 L/100 km (Motociclismo, normal riding) to 5.2 L/100 km (MCN). The manual calls for an oil change every 12,000 km or every year and a valve clearance check every 24,000 km. The warranty is 2 years with unlimited mileage, extendable up to 6 years.
Recalls
In July 2026 Honda recalled CMX500s built between December 2022 and March 2025: the steering lock screw may not have been tightened correctly (Safety Gate SR/01580/26). The same defect led to NHTSA recalls 26V-146 and 26V-500 in the United States.
Specifications
| Displacement | 471 cc |
|---|---|
| Power | 46 hp (34 kW) @ 8,500 rpm |
| Torque | 43.3 Nm @ 6,000 rpm |
| Weight | 191 kg (kerb weight) |
| Power-to-weight ratio | 4.15 |
| Seat height | 690 mm |
| Fuel capacity | 11.2 L |
| Fuel consumption | 3.6 L/100 km (WMTC cycle) — 84 g/km CO2 |
| Maintenance interval | Oil change every 12,000 km or 1 year — Valves, spark plugs and air filter: 24,000 km (Honda 2025 owner's manual) |
| Engine type | 180-degree parallel twin, 4-stroke, DOHC, 8 valves, liquid-cooled |
| Cooling | liquide |
| Transmission | 6-speed, chain drive, assist and slipper clutch |
| License | A2 |
| MSRP | €6,499 |
Engine detail
| Bore x stroke | 67 x 66,8 mm |
|---|---|
| Compression ratio | 10,7:1 |
| Fuel system | PGM-FI electronic fuel injection |
| Valve train | DOHC, 4 valves per cylinder, roller rockers |
| Max power RPM | 8500 units.rpm |
| Max torque RPM | 6000 units.rpm |
| Starter | Electric |
| Euro standard | Euro 5+ |
Chassis & running gear
| Frame type | Tubular steel diamond frame, cast aluminium rear subframe |
|---|---|
| Rake angle | 28 ° |
| Trail | 110 mm |
| Wheelbase | 1490 mm |
| Ground clearance | 125 mm |
| Front suspension | 41 mm conventional telescopic fork, non-adjustable, 121 mm travel |
| Rear suspension | Twin nitrogen-charged shocks, 5-step preload adjustment, 95 mm travel |
| Front brake | Single 296 mm disc, two-piston axial Nissin caliper |
| Rear brake | Single 240 mm disc, single-piston caliper |
| Front tire | 130/90-16 |
| Rear tire | 150/80-16 |
| ABS system | Dual-channel ABS |
Performance
| Top speed | 153 km/h |
|---|
Electronics & rider aids
| Traction control | No |
|---|---|
| Anti-wheelie | No |
| Quickshifter | No |
| Cruise control | No |
| Dashboard | 100 mm round LCD dial (gear position indicator, fuel consumption) |
| Other features | Dual-channel ABS, Assist and slipper clutch, Full LED lighting, HISS immobiliser |
Ergonomics & rider fit
| Riding position | Cruiser: low seat, mid-mounted footpegs, swept-back bars |
|---|---|
| Wind protection | None (no screen) |
| Payload | 176 kg |
The Rebel 500 offers a cruiser position with a very low 690 mm seat, mid-mounted footpegs and swept-back handlebars. This makes it a benchmark for shorter riders, but MCN and Le Repaire des Motards find it too compact for tall ones. Le Repaire finds the seat thin and the suspension firm; BikeSocial, on the contrary, finds the suspension a little soft when pushed. Maximum load is 176 kg, including rider, passenger and luggage.
Ownership & maintenance
3.5 to 5.2 L/100 km (foreign press readings: Motociclismo, Motorcycle.com, BikeSocial, MCN)
L/100km
Real-world consumption
~~310 km (calculated from the WMTC figure: 11.2 L tank / 3.6 L/100 km)
km
Estimated range
| Oil change | every 12,000 km or every 12 months |
|---|---|
| Valve check | every 24,000 km |
| Spark plugs | every 24,000 km |
| Chain | Check and lubricate every 1,000 km |
Warranty
2 years / Unlimited mileage; extendable year by year up to 6 years with servicing in the Honda network
Honda’s 2025 owner’s manual specifies a first oil change at 1,000 km, then an oil change every 12,000 km or every year, and oil filter, air filter and spark plug replacement every 24,000 km. Valve clearance is checked every 24,000 km. Coolant is changed every 3 years, brake fluid every 2 years, and the chain is checked and lubricated every 1,000 km. Honda’s warranty is 2 years with unlimited mileage, extendable year by year up to 6 years with servicing in the network.
Direct competitors
Compare →| Model | MSRP | Power | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honda Rebel 500 | €6,499 | 46 hp (34 kW) @ 8,500 rpm | 191 kg (kerb weight) |
| Kawasaki Eliminator 500 SE2027 | €6,899 | 45 hp | 177 kg (wet) |
| Royal Enfield Super Meteor 6502026 | €7,890 | 47 hp | 241 kg |
| Royal Enfield Meteor 3502026 | €4,990 | 20 hp | 191 kg (kerb) |
| Kawasaki Vulcan S2027 | €8,499 | 61 hp | 229 kg (wet) |
Generations
- CMX500 Rebel (1re génération)2017 – 2019
471 cc · 46 hp · 43.2 Nm · 190 kg (road-ready)
Launch of the A2 bobber-style cruiser, powered by the CBR500R's 471 cc twin retuned for torque, with ABS as standard.
- CMX500 Rebel (2e génération)2020 – today
471 cc · 46 hp · 43.3 Nm · 191 kg (road-ready)
Revised suspension, assist and slipper clutch, full LED lighting, gear position indicator and Euro 5 homologation; Euro 5+ in 2025, E-Clutch and TFT dash announced for 2027.
| Generation | Displacement | Power | Torque | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CMX500 Rebel (1re génération)2017 – 2019 Launch of the A2 bobber-style cruiser, powered by the CBR500R's 471 cc twin retuned for torque, with ABS as standard. | 471 cc | 46 hp | 43.2 Nm | 190 kg road-ready |
| CMX500 Rebel (2e génération)2020 – today Revised suspension, assist and slipper clutch, full LED lighting, gear position indicator and Euro 5 homologation; Euro 5+ in 2025, E-Clutch and TFT dash announced for 2027. | 471 cc | 46 hp | 43.3 Nm | 191 kg road-ready |
Manufacturer figures (otherwise specialist press). Weighing conditions differ between generations: compare weights with care.
Available colors
Manufacturer recalls
Steering lock screw may not have been tightened correctly on CMX500s built from 1 Dec 2022 to 31 Mar 2025: if it loosens, it can interfere with the steering
Voir le rappel →Same defect in the United States (handlebar lock screw), first on 2023-2025 Rebel 500s, then extended to 2017-2023 and 2025; screw replaced
Voir le rappel →