Honda Rebel 500 vs rivals: price and specifications compared

Honda has launched its second model based on the 471cc twin-cylinder engine – the Rebel 500. The Rebel is a bobber, so we’ve pitted it against similar machines from Japan and India. 

Honda Rebel 500 vs rivals: engine and output

Rebel and Eliminator have similar engines 

The Honda Rebel 500 and Kawasaki Eliminator 500 are very closely matched in their engine architectures, displacement and outputs, but the Kawasaki has the highest power-to-weight ratio because it is 15 kilos lighter than the Honda. In comparison, the Royal Enfield Shotgun 650’s motor is a little more old-school and uses a 270-degree firing order, unlike the Japanese machines, which have a true-to-tradition 180-degree firing interval. This will also lend the RE a different, more cruiser-y sound and feel.

Honda Rebel 500 vs rivals: dimensions and weight

Shotgun is the heaviest, Rebel has the least ground clearance 

The Rebel 300 has the most approachable seat height of the three by a huge margin, although it does come at the expense of ground clearance – a typical bobber trait. The RE has the tallest perch (still set at an approachable 800mm), but it’s the Kawasaki that packs in the best of both worlds. Its 736mm seat height is very friendly, and simultaneously, the 150mm of ground clearance is decent enough for our road conditions.

There will be no escaping the Royal Enfield’s weight penalty in comparison to the Japanese bobbers, and it weighs a full 64kg more than the Kawasaki! What is also worth mentioning is that the Shotgun’s engine does splay your legs out a fair bit, which is something shorter riders should be mindful of. 

Honda Rebel 500 vs rivals: suspension, tyres and brakes

Tyre sizes are very different on all three

On paper, the Shotgun has superior componentry with a Showa USD fork and large disc brakes at both ends, but in the real world, things aren’t so clear-cut. For starters, the Shotgun’s suspension setup is rather stiff, and its big brakes are commensurate with its weight. Again, here too, the Honda and Kawasaki are similarly matched on the brakes and suspension front, but one area where all three bikes go down a different route is wheel sizes. 

The Rebel is a pukka bobber with fat 16-inchers at both ends, the Kawasaki is the most cruiser-like in its tyre sizes, and the Shotgun sits somewhere between the two. 

Honda Rebel 500 vs rivals: features

All three are not tech-laden and are closely matched on this front

Yet again, this is another area where the Rebel and Eliminator are quite closely matched with their simple, round LCD displays sans Bluetooth connectivity. The Shotgun uses a digi-analogue speedometer but comes standard with the Tripper TFT navigation pod, capable of displaying turn-by-turn navigation. While the Kawasaki and the Honda come standard with all-LED lighting, the Shotgun only gets an LED headlight and tail-lamp as standard; the indicators are halogen from the factory, although you can get LED units as accessories. 

Honda Rebel 500 vs rivals: price

Honda and Kawasaki are expensive because they are CBUs

Pricing is one area where the Royal Enfield Shotgun 650 has an undeniable advantage, and it is over Rs 2 lakh more affordable than the Kawasaki Eliminator 500 – the most expensive model here. The Honda Rebel 500’s price tag is relatively more digestible than the Kawasaki’s, but still quite pricey – a by-product of the Japanese bikes coming to India as CBUs (Completely Built Units). Another point to bear in mind is that the Rebel will only be sold in 3 cities for now – Gurugram, Bengaluru and Mumbai – making its availability quite a challenge. These two Japanese machines are likely to cater to a different audience than the Royal Enfield, and due to their high price tags, they will remain niche offerings in India. 

Also See: Triumph Scrambler 400 XC vs rivals: price and specifications compared