As part of Honda’s push to gain the number one position in the Indian two-wheeler market, the company has plans to bolster its premium business with the introduction of new models. Our sister publication, Autocar Professional, has learned from sources that Honda is working towards launching the Rebel 300 as well as new 500cc bikes in India.
- Rebel 300 will go up against RE 350s
- New 500s could build on CB platform
The Honda Rebel 300 is already a well-known motorcycle overseas, and it uses the same 286cc liquid-cooled single engine that is in use on the CB300R. Unlike the CB, this is a bobber-style cruiser motorcycle that uses a unique chassis, which enables a very low 690mm seat height. The Rebel 300 also weighs in at just under 170 kilos.
Honda India has already localised the CB300R to some extent, which has enabled a Rs 2.40 lakh price tag. The Rebel 300 is positioned lower than the CB in international markets, so it should be able to hit a sub-Rs 2.40 lakh price with similar levels of localisation. If Honda can manage that, it will be able to position the Rebel 300 as a more powerful alternative to the Royal Enfield 350s or even the CB350 family.
Sources suggest that Honda is also working on a new India-specific 500cc project that will lead to two different motorcycles, currently codenamed MLHJ and MLWA. Not much is known about these 500cc models at the moment, but considering that they are part of a new project, it is possible that this will be a different engine from the existing 471cc parallel-twin that is used in multiple 500cc models, including the Honda NX500 that is sold in India.
We have already reported that Honda has registered the GB500S name overseas, which does suggest that this new 500 could be based on the existing Honda CB350 H’ness platform. If Honda does make a single-cylinder 500, it will occupy a unique space in the market vacated by Royal Enfield when it stopped making the UCE 500 at the onset of the BS6 emissions norms.
As of now, the launches of the new 500cc Honda motorcycles and the Honda Rebel 300 are still some time away and are expected to happen in 2026-2027.
Azaman Chothia
Vishal Venugopal
