Honda introduced the GB350 S at the 2024 EICMA event for the European market. In the international market, Honda uses the GB350 name as compared to the CB350 in India. New reports suggest that the company is also working on the GB500.
Which could be a CB500 version for the Indian market to compete with Royal Enfield’s ever-growing 650cc portfolio. The company has trademarked the GB500 and its parts. In the USA, the name GB500 was trademarked with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) on November 12.
The GB500 is likely to go into production and take on Royal Enfield’s ever-popular and ever-growing 650cc portfolio. If the price is competitive and manufacturing efficiency is achieved from the Indian plant, Honda could be an attractive winner.
The small-capacity Honda GB350 uses a single-cylinder, air-cooled engine. If the larger GB500 also gets a single-cylinder setup, its price will not increase. With a single-cylinder engine, the GB500 could produce around 30hp. In comparison, the GB350 generates 20 hp.
Existing Honda motorcycles bike such as the CMX 500 Rebel and the CB500 models use the 471cc, water-cooled, inline two-cylinder engine. It generates 47 hp at 8,500 rpm. Using the existing 500cc twin engine seems more apt from the cost angle.
The Honda GB500 will be designed to comply with the A2 motorcycle licensing system in Europe. The bike may use a tubular steel frame, integrated with telescopic forks at the front and dual shock absorbers at the rear. The bike will also have the disc brakes at both ends and the dual-channel ABS will be offered as standard.
Honda has registered the GB500 in several markets, but it is unlikely to be launched soon. It is expected to be brought by 2026. In terms of cost, Honda may choose a competitive pricing strategy for the GB500.
Something similar can already be seen with the GB350, which is available in Europe for 4,490 euros (around Rs 3.99 lakh). The current ex-showroom price of the CB350 bike in the India is Rs 2 lakh. At the same time, Royal Enfield’s 650cc portfolio starts at Rs 3.02 lakh ex-showroom.