I recently rented the Honda CL500—a scrambler I’d been curious about—and took it on a three-day ride, covering roughly 550 km. Here’s my honest take on how it performed.
Although it’s based on the Rebel 500, the CL500 feels like a completely different machine. It pairs a classic scrambler look with a modern riding feel—making it a fun and unique bike to ride.
What You’ll Find in This Review:
- First impressions: Riding in the city
- First impressions: On the highway
- First impressions: In the curves
- A couple of minor downsides
If you’re thinking about renting or buying the CL500, I hope this review helps.
About the Author
- 35 years working in a corporate IT environment
- 13 years of motorcycle experience
- Ridden everything from mopeds to 1800cc touring bikes
- Owned a total of 11 motorcycles
What Is the CL500?
Let’s start with a quick overview. The CL500 is Honda’s 500cc parallel twin scrambler. While it shares its engine and frame with the Rebel 500, the CL500 stands out with a 19-inch front wheel, upswept exhaust, and a high seat—features that give it a completely different attitude.
It may look vintage at first glance, but the details are thoroughly modern. If you’re into rugged, minimalistic designs, this bike will likely catch your eye.
Key specs (from Honda’s official website):
| Length | 2,175 mm |
| Width | 830 mm |
| Height | 1,135 mm |
| Wheelbase | 1,485 mm |
| Seat height | 790 mm |
| Curb weight | 192 kg |
| Fuel tank capacity | 12 L |
| Front tire | 110/80R19M/C 59H |
| Rear tire | 150/70R17M/C 69H |
Taking the Shinkansen + HondaGO Combo
This was my first time using HondaGO, and I also tried a new approach: taking the Shinkansen to my destination, then renting a bike locally to start my tour.
I rode the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen to Nishi-Akashi, then picked up the bike at Honda Dream Akashi. From there, I headed out on a ride through the San’in region. The dealership is only about a 10-minute walk from JR Nishi-Akashi Station—perfect for combining high-speed rail and bike touring.
Since I live in Tokyo, touring all the way to the San’in area by bike has always felt impractical due to the time and distance involved. But this new strategy worked out perfectly.
Riding from Tokyo to Akashi would take a full day. That’s two days just getting to and from your destination. But with the Shinkansen, you can cover that 600 km in just three hours—making long-distance touring realistic, even on a short break.
Thanks to this plan, I was able to fully enjoy riding around San’in. I’ll definitely be using this method again.
City Riding: Light, Nimble, and Effortless
First, let’s talk about how the CL500 performs in city traffic.
The bike is light and easy to maneuver. It has a wide steering angle, making U-turns and tight streets no problem. At 790 mm, the seat is slightly tall, but footing is excellent. I’m 178 cm tall, and both feet touched down with ease, giving me great confidence.
My first impression was: “Narrow! Light! Smooth!” It was so easy to handle that I got really excited for the next few days of riding.
The standard tank pads work well with the slim tank design, making it easy to grip with your knees. I also appreciated that they kept the tank from feeling cold against my legs—small detail, big comfort.
The engine has plenty of low-end torque—more than you’d expect from a 500cc. It pulls smoothly off the line, and the throttle response is quick and satisfying. There’s minimal vibration, the exhaust note is gentle yet lively, and it feels like a great fit for everyday use.
The clutch is light too, which is a huge plus in stop-and-go traffic.
Highway Riding: More Than Enough Power
Next, I took it out on the expressway.
I didn’t expect much from a 500cc bike at highway speeds—but I was pleasantly surprised. Acceleration was more than adequate for merging and overtaking. I got it up to 100 km/h with no issue. It felt natural and stable the whole time.
As a scrambler, it has an upright riding position and no windscreen, so you’ll feel some wind pressure. Still, the bike stayed calm and composed, and I didn’t feel overly fatigued, even at speed.
The 19-inch front wheel probably contributes to its excellent stability. Cruising at 100 km/h felt easy and confidence-inspiring.
Winding Roads: Where the CL500 Shines
Where the CL500 really excels is on winding roads and relaxed touring.
The 19-inch front wheel makes the bike lean into corners a little more gradually, but it feels stable and predictable all the way through the turn. And most importantly—it’s just fun to ride.
The engine isn’t overly powerful, so you can open the throttle without feeling intimidated. At the same time, it has enough torque to climb hills smoothly. Combine that with the agile handling, and you’ve got a bike that’s fun to ride at your own pace.
The seat is thick and plush, and surprisingly, it was the most comfortable one I’ve ever experienced. I never once felt sore, even after long rides.
A Few Small Quirks
Overall, the CL500 is a well-rounded bike with very few drawbacks. But if I had to nitpick, here are two things that stood out:
- No tachometer, so you can’t visually check engine RPM
- The handlebar lock uses a separate keyhole from the ignition, which can be a bit inconvenient
Both are minor issues, and I quickly got used to them.
Final Thoughts: A Bike That Feels Just Right
The Honda CL500 is the definition of a “just right” motorcycle.
It’s great for city riding, a joy on twisty roads, and perfect for short weekend trips. It doesn’t have crazy horsepower, but it’s easy to handle and brings out the pure fun of riding in just about any situation.
It’s a bike I’d recommend both to new riders and to experienced ones looking for a solid second bike.
Who knows—I might just end up getting one myself.
