Honda Rebel 500 specifications
Honda · Cruiser
The engine has a 67.0 x 66.8 mm bore and stroke, close to square, and 10.7:1 compression. The bike weighs 414 lb, has a 58.7 in wheelbase, 28.0 degrees of rake and 4.3 in of trail, and rolls on 130/90-16 and 150/80-16 tires. The 41 mm fork gives 5.5 in of travel and the dual shocks 3.7 in, which is short and is the reason the ride is firm over bumps.
Honda Rebel 500
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Model year | 2026 |
| Engine | 471cc liquid-cooled parallel-twin four-stroke |
| Displacement | 471cc |
| Bore x stroke | 67.0x66.8 mm |
| Compression ratio | 10.7:1 |
| Fuel system | Programmed Fuel Injection system (PGM-FI); 34mm throttle body |
| Transmission | Six-speed manual with slipper clutch |
| Final drive | O-ring-sealed chain, 15T/40T |
| Front suspension | 41mm fork |
| Rear suspension | Dual shocks |
| Front brake | Single 296mm disc, ABS |
| Rear brake | Single 240mm disc, ABS |
| Front tire | 130/90-16 |
| Rear tire | 150/80-16 |
| Seat height | 27.2 in |
| Wheelbase | 58.7 in |
| Fuel capacity | 3.0 gal |
| Starting MSRP | $6,799 |
| Destination charge | $600 |
| Class | Cruiser |
| Front suspension travel | 5.5 in |
| Rear suspension travel | 3.7 in |
| Rake (caster angle) | 28.0° |
| Trail | 4.3 in |
| Wet weight | 414 lb |
What reviews say
The single 296 mm front disc and 240 mm rear disc both have ABS, and the tank holds 3.0 gal.
Rebel 500 against its neighbors
At $6,799 it is $300 more than Kawasaki's Eliminator at $6,499 and 28 lb heavier, at 414 lb against 385.9 lb. Yamaha's V Star 250 is $2,000 cheaper at $4,799 and 90 lb lighter at 324 lb. But its engine is about half the size.
Kawasaki's Vulcan S has a 649cc engine, weighs 498.3 lb and costs $7,649 to $8,149. The Rebel 500 sits in the middle.
The size and price ladder in the Rebel line
The Rebel family is priced in steps, and the 500 is the middle one. The 300 costs $5,349 and weighs 379 lb at the curb, the 500 costs $6,799 and weighs 414 lb. The 1100 costs $9,699 and weighs 497 lb, so each step up adds about $1,450 to $2,900 and 35 to 83 lb.
The 300 and 500 share a 27.2 in seat, a 58.7 in wheelbase, 41 mm fork and 130/90-16 and 150/80-16 tires. The 1100 has a taller 27.9 in seat, a 59.8 in wheelbase and a 43 mm fork. A rider who expects to outgrow a beginner bike but is not ready for 497 lb should look at the 500 first.
Honda Rebel 500 — specification referenceKawasaki’s 2026 Eliminator specification sheet separates its $6,499 non-ABS and $6,799 ABS prices. The Rebel’s listed $6,799 matches the ABS version’s base price, so the $300 comparison applies to the non-ABS Eliminator.
Honda · Cruiser
The Honda Rebel 500 is Honda's entry-level lightweight cruiser, built around a 471cc parallel twin and aimed at new riders with a 27.2 in seat and ABS standard on every trim. Honda prices it at $6,799 plus $600 destination. For 2026 it gets a slipper clutch and ABS listed on the brakes, and the wheelbase moves from 58.6 in to 58.7 in.
What reviews say
Total Motorcycle calls the Rebel 500 one of the most popular choices for new riders, practical, approachable and fun, a cruiser that combines a hip design with a powerful-yet-smooth 471cc engine, and says the 27.2 in seat is set so that all riders feel confident when coming to a stop.
It lists the 2020 updates: an improved seat and suspension components for comfort, an updated LCD meter and LED lighting for convenience, and an assist/slipper clutch. Its 2026 page adds that the low 690 mm seat lets most riders put both feet flat at stops, and offers a choice of the classic 500 or the factory-custom SE.
What the numbers say
The engine has a 67.0 x 66.8 mm bore and stroke, close to square, and 10.7:1 compression. The bike weighs 414 lb, has a 58.7 in wheelbase, 28.0 degrees of rake and 4.3 in of trail, and rolls on 130/90-16 and 150/80-16 tires. The 41 mm fork gives 5.5 in of travel and the dual shocks 3.7 in, which is short and is the reason the ride is firm over bumps.
The single 296 mm front disc and 240 mm rear disc both have ABS, and the tank holds 3.0 gal.
Rebel 500 against its neighbors.
At $6,799 it is $300 more than Kawasaki's Eliminator at $6,499 and 28 lb heavier, at 414 lb against 385.9 lb. Yamaha's V Star 250 is $2,000 cheaper at $4,799 and 90 lb lighter at 324 lb. But its engine is about half the size. Kawasaki's Vulcan S has a 649cc engine, weighs 498.3 lb and costs $7,649 to $8,149. The Rebel 500 sits in the middle.
The size and price ladder in the Rebel line
The Rebel family is priced in steps, and the 500 is the middle one. The 300 costs $5,349 and weighs 379 lb at the curb, the 500 costs $6,799 and weighs 414 lb. The 1100 costs $9,699 and weighs 497 lb, so each step up adds about $1,450 to $2,900 and 35 to 83 lb.
The 300 and 500 share a 27.2 in seat, a 58.7 in wheelbase, 41 mm fork and 130/90-16 and 150/80-16 tires. The 1100 has a taller 27.9 in seat, a 59.8 in wheelbase and a 43 mm fork. A rider who expects to outgrow a beginner bike but is not ready for 497 lb should look at the 500 first.
Rebel 500 against the Eliminator and Vulcan S.
Kawasaki's Eliminator and Vulcan S are the closest cruiser rivals, one lighter and one larger.
- Model-year range
- 2025–2026
- Compared editions
- 2
- Specification entries
- 23
- Entries that differ
- 7
2026 Honda Rebel 500 questions
How tall is the Honda Rebel 500?
Honda lists a 27.2 in seat, 690 mm, low enough that most riders can put both feet flat at stops. It weighs 414 lb and holds 3.0 gal.
What changed on the 2026 Rebel 500?
Honda lists a six-speed manual with slipper clutch, ABS on both brakes and a 58.7 in wheelbase, compared with 58.6 in in 2025. The price is $6,799.
Other models in this reference: Honda SCL500, Honda Rebel 300 E-Clutch, Honda Trail125.