Honda’s Best Affordable, Approachable Cruiser Just Got Even Better

The 2025 Rebel 500 boasts all its predecessor’s finest features, a few new wrinkles and one seriously tempting price tag.

By Steve Mazzucchi

Published March 14, 2025

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Updated March 15, 2025

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Honda just announced a bunch of new and updated bikes for 2025, leaving any motorcycle super fan feeling like a kid in a candy store.

Still, some of the upcoming releases stand out from others, and the latest edition of the brand’s most compelling entry-level cruiser, the Rebel 500, certainly falls in that category.

honda rebel 500 abs se hero — The ABS SE version of the 2025 Rebel 500 rocks a Pearl Blue paint scheme and brown saddle I don’t hate.

Previous editions of the bike have already delivered a blend of looks, performance and price that is pretty damn tough to beat.

However, the 2025 update introduces a few tweaks that should make it even more approachable, stylish and just plain fun.

City to country

I’m gonna try to keep this pretty simple. First, let’s examine what makes the Rebel 500 so attractive in general. Second, we’ll scope out the 2025 updates that only strengthen its case.

Regarding the former, what really makes this bike work is its balance.

With a 27.2-inch seat, slim standover height and 408-pound curb weight, the Rebel 500 is small and nimble enough to be approachable for shorter and newer riders. It’s also perfect for flicking around the city on daily errands, darting through traffic and parking with ease.

Sitting somewhere in the middle of the Rebel spectrum (between the scrappy Rebel 300 and the powerful Rebel 1100), the 500 really delivers the best of both worlds.

With a 27.2-inch seat, slim standover height and 408-pound curb weight, it is small and nimble enough to be approachable for shorter and newer riders.

honda rebel 500 action — Like most entry-level cruisers, this bike is most at home zipping along twisty two-lane roads.

It’s also perfect for flicking around the city on daily errands, darting through traffic and parking with ease.

At the same time, the 500’s 471cc liquid-cooled parallel-twin four-stroke engine delivers a satisfying amount of pep.

Via a six-speed manual transmission with slipper clutch, it makes 45 horsepower and 43.3 Nm (32 ft-lb) at 6,000 rpm.

honda rebel 500 headlight and handlebars — With many less expensive bikes, you have to fight the urge to rip the turn signals off on Day 1. Not the case here.

That’s enough juice to get you out of tight spots — and produce plenty of smiles per mile on twisty two-lane country roads.

The only place you might feel a bit overmatched is on, say, a bustling six-lane highway.

But having ridden bikes around this size in those sorts of situations, as well as the Rebel 1100, I’d say it’ll do in a pinch.

New for ’25

As far as the latest edition of the bike is concerned, Honda has introduced a few changes to add to the 500’s appeal.

First off, the bike gets new handlebars that Honda says make the bike “even more comfortable and confidence-inspiring.”

The brand is a bit hazy on details but I am guessing the bars are angled a bit closer to the rider, which generally sets neophytes at ease.

honda rebel 500 dudez — Unlike these models, they won’t have to pay you to smile around this bike.

Second, the rear shocks have been tweaked to boost bottoming resistance, comfort and handling.

In a related move, the seat has been redesigned to complement the suspension and improve rider comfort and control.

The final Rebel 500 update the brand itself trumpets is purely for style points. Color-matched front and rear fenders now come standard on the 500 line.

I dare say, that, along with the rest of this approachable, affordable new bike, they look pretty damn good.

Availability and pricing

The 2025 Honda Rebel 500 begins rolling into US dealerships next month at a starting price of $6,499. The Rebel 500 ABS starts at $6,799, while the Rebel 500 ABS SE starts at $6,999.