Honda CB500 vs Royal Enfield Interceptor 650: Price Comparison

Honda has recently launched the CB500 in India. It gets a retro roadster design, a large single-cylinder engine and a relatively accessible price tag. We have compared it with the Royal Enfield Interceptor 650. Here’s a price and specification comparison to help you choose between the two:

Price

All prices are ex-showroom, Chennai. 

The Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 is Rs 62,909 more expensive than the Honda CB500 in its base variant.

Honda CB500

The Honda CB500 gets a retro-inspired roadster design, with a muscular fuel tank, a flat seat and a simple, upright riding stance. The motorcycle is designed to offer a classic look while retaining modern equipment.

The Honda bike is powered by a 501cc air/oil-cooled single-cylinder engine which produces 28.1 PS and 43.3 Nm and is paired with a 5-speed gearbox. 

The bike is available with two-wheel configurations depending on the variant. The base Alloy variant gets alloy wheels, while the higher variants get cross-spoke tubeless wheels. 

Suspension duties are handled by a telescopic fork and a monoshock. Braking duties are taken care of by disc brakes at both ends, with dual-channel ABS offered as standard.

The CB500 also gets a relatively accessible riding position, making it easier to manage in everyday conditions. 

The bike gets a semi-digital instrument console, along with Honda RoadSync connectivity. It also features Honda Selectable Torque Control (switchable traction control) and a slipper clutch. 

The CB500 is manufactured in India, which has helped Honda price it below the Royal Enfield 650 twins.

Royal Enfield Interceptor 650

The Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 gets a classic retro roadster design inspired by the original Interceptor. It features a sculpted fuel tank, a wide handlebar, a flat seat and a relaxed riding position, making it look and feel like a traditional roadster.

The bike is powered by a 648cc air/oil-cooled parallel-twin engine which produces 47.4 PS and 52.3 Nm and is paired with a 6-speed gearbox. This gives the Interceptor 650 a significant power advantage over the CB500. 

The Interceptor 650 rolls on 18-inch front and 18-inch rear wheels. It gets a telescopic fork and twin gas-charged shocks. 

Braking duties are handled by a 320mm front disc and a 240mm rear disc, with dual-channel ABS as standard. The larger front disc also gives the Interceptor stronger braking hardware compared to the CB500's setup.

The bike gets 804 mm seat height and 174 mm of ground clearance, while its kerb weight stands at 218 kg. The additional weight is largely down to its larger parallel-twin engine and substantial chassis. 

The Interceptor 650 gets a relatively simple instrument console, retaining its analogue character. However, the current motorcycle features an LED headlight and a USB charging port. 

The motorcycle also gets a 6-speed gearbox and slipper clutch, making it well suited to highway riding and longer-distance touring. Its 13.7-litre fuel tank and relaxed engine character further add to its touring credentials. 

BikeDekho Says

All said, both bikes cater to slightly different kinds of audiences. The Honda CB500 focuses on simplicity, accessibility and a big single-cylinder character, while the Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 offers a larger parallel-twin engine and stronger outright performance.

If your primary use case is city riding, relaxed cruising and occasional highway trips, the Honda CB500 offers a simpler package at a lower price. If you want more performance, a parallel-twin engine and stronger highway touring ability, the Interceptor 650 provides that extra performance, but at a premium of Rs 62,909 over the CB500 base variant.