Hey everyone! I’m Dimple Khandani, and if you’ve been following my blog for a while, you know how much I love exploring all things on two wheels. Over the past few years, I’ve written about everything from budget commuters to high-end performance machines. But today, I want to dive into a bike that has recently made a lot of noise in the Indian cruiser segment: the Honda Rebel 500.
After a long wait, Honda has finally brought the Rebel 500 to Indian shores through its premium BigWing dealerships. While many of us were hoping to see more of Honda’s 500cc twin-cylinder bikes, the Rebel’s arrival marks an exciting development. However, with a price tag of ₹5.12 lakh (ex-showroom), it’s significantly more expensive than its main rival, the Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650, which starts at just ₹3.68 lakh. This naturally raises the question: is the Rebel 500 worth the premium?
Let me take you through the specs, performance, ride feel, features, and my overall thoughts on how the Honda Rebel 500 stands up to competition and what kind of riders might appreciate it the most.
Contents
Engine and Performance
At the heart of any motorcycle lies its engine, and in the cruiser category, this matters even more because cruisers are all about the relaxed yet commanding riding experience. The Honda Rebel 500 is powered by a 471cc liquid-cooled, parallel-twin engine that produces 45.59 bhp at 8,500 rpm and 43.3 Nm of torque at 6,000 rpm. On the other hand, the Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650 uses a larger 648cc parallel-twin engine that churns out 46.37 bhp at 7,250 rpm and a meatier 52.3 Nm at 5,650 rpm.
| Specification | Honda Rebel 500 | Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650 |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 471cc, liquid-cooled, parallel-twin | 648cc, air-oil cooled, parallel-twin |
| Max Power | 45.59 bhp @ 8,500 rpm | 46.37 bhp @ 7,250 rpm |
| Max Torque | 43.3 Nm @ 6,000 rpm | 52.3 Nm @ 5,650 rpm |
| Transmission | 6-speed | 6-speed |
Now, even though the Super Meteor boasts more torque and a bigger engine, the Rebel 500 feels more refined and easier to manage. It’s about 50 kg lighter, which is a significant factor when it comes to ease of handling. In city traffic, the Rebel’s lightweight nature and high-revving engine make it feel more agile. Meanwhile, the Super Meteor’s broader torque band offers a more relaxed, old-school cruiser feel that shines on open highways.
Ride Quality and Suspension Setup
Comfort is a crucial part of any cruiser’s appeal, and both these bikes try to offer that in different ways. The Honda Rebel 500 gets Showa 43 mm USD front forks and twin rear shock absorbers. The Super Meteor 650 uses conventional telescopic forks at the front, paired with twin shocks at the rear.
Despite the USD forks on the Rebel, the comfort levels aren’t drastically better. Indian roads can be unforgiving, especially for low-slung cruisers, and both bikes do their best to cope. However, given the weight advantage and slightly more modern suspension setup, I’d say the Rebel feels marginally more composed over uneven patches.
| Component | Honda Rebel 500 | Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650 |
|---|---|---|
| Front Suspension | 43 mm USD forks | Telescopic forks |
| Rear Suspension | Dual shock absorbers | Twin shock absorbers |
| Front Brake | 296 mm disc | 320 mm disc |
| Rear Brake | 240 mm disc | 300 mm disc |
| Front Tyre | 130/90 – 16 | 100/90 – 19 |
| Rear Tyre | 150/80 – 16 | 150/80 – 16 |
In terms of braking, while the Super Meteor comes with larger disc brakes, the Rebel 500’s fatter tyres and lighter weight help it deliver confident stopping power. It’s one of those bikes where you immediately notice how easy it is to manage at low speeds and during quick stops.
Read This: – Bajaj Dominar 400 Review 2025 – Power, Comfort & Touring Redefined
Dimensions and Ergonomics
The ergonomics of a cruiser can make or break the riding experience. With its low 690 mm seat height, the Honda Rebel 500 is one of the most approachable motorcycles I’ve come across in this category. It’s incredibly welcoming for shorter riders or anyone who prefers to have both feet firmly on the ground.
The Super Meteor 650 is more traditional in its dimensions. With a taller seat height of 740 mm and a larger fuel tank, it feels like a proper heavyweight cruiser. It’s the kind of bike that commands attention on the road and offers a sense of grandeur.
| Dimension | Honda Rebel 500 | Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650 |
|---|---|---|
| Seat Height | 690 mm | 740 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 11.2 litres | 15.7 litres |
| Kerb Weight | 191 kg | 241 kg |
| Wheelbase | 1490 mm | 1500 mm |
Despite the smaller tank and lower stance, the Rebel feels compact and user-friendly. The Super Meteor offers better highway range, thanks to the 15.7-litre tank, making it a great pick for long-distance riders.
Features and Equipment
Here’s where things get interesting. While Honda is known for its build quality and reliable engineering, the Rebel 500 doesn’t offer many modern features. It comes with full-LED lighting, a digital LCD console, and a USB-C charging port. There’s no Bluetooth connectivity, navigation support, or rider modes.
Surprisingly, the Super Meteor 650 offers more in this department. It gets LED lighting as well, along with a retro-styled digi-analog instrument cluster that looks stunning. The top-spec Celestial variant even comes with Royal Enfield’s Tripper navigation pod and adjustable levers.
So, while the Rebel keeps things clean and minimal, the Super Meteor gives you a more well-rounded and feature-rich experience at a lower price point. If you’re someone who enjoys the latest tech on your ride, the Royal Enfield might be more up your alley.
Read More: – KTM 200 Duke 2025 – Bold Design, Smarter Features & Refined Performance
Price and Availability
Now let’s talk numbers. The Honda Rebel 500 India is priced at ₹5.12 lakh (ex-showroom), which positions it well above the Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650, starting at just ₹3.68 lakh. That’s a pretty steep difference, especially when you consider that the Rebel offers fewer features and less power on paper.
Adding to that, Honda is only offering the Rebel 500 through select BigWing dealerships in cities like Gurugram, Mumbai, and Bengaluru. That means it’s going to be a rare sight on Indian roads, which might appeal to some but also limits its reach. On the flip side, Royal Enfield’s wide dealer and service network ensures that the Super Meteor 650 is more accessible and practical for a wider range of riders.
Final Thoughts: Which One Would I Recommend?
So, is the Honda Rebel 500 India a better cruiser? Well, it depends on what you’re looking for. The Rebel has a lot going for it: it’s light, refined, easy to ride, and carries that premium Honda feel. If you’re someone who values smooth power delivery, minimalist design, and exclusivity, the Rebel 500 is definitely worth considering.
However, from a pure value-for-money standpoint, the Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650 is hard to beat. It offers more torque, better touring range, more features, and a wider support network—all at a significantly lower price.
As an automobile blogger, I see the Rebel 500 as a niche product meant for enthusiasts who want something different. It’s not the obvious choice, but for those who pick it, it will definitely feel special. Meanwhile, the Super Meteor continues to set the benchmark for cruisers in India under the ₹6-lakh mark.
