A lighter, tech-rich 471cc Honda against Royal Enfield 648cc touring cruiser. We compare the Rebel 500 and Super Meteor 650 on power, weight, comfort and price.

The Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650 is the default choice for an affordable, big-feeling touring cruiser in India. The newly-unveiled Honda Rebel 500 takes a very different route to a similar goal. Here’s how they compare.

Rebel 500 figures are from Honda’s India unveiling; Super Meteor 650 figures are current-market and approximate.

At a glance

	Honda Rebel 500	RE Super Meteor 650
Engine	471cc liquid-cooled parallel-twin	648cc air/oil-cooled parallel-twin
Power	~46 bhp @ 8,500 rpm	46.3 bhp @ 7,250 rpm
Torque	~43 Nm @ 6,000 rpm	52.3 Nm @ 5,650 rpm
Kerb weight	191 kg	241 kg
Seat height	690 mm	740 mm
Fuel tank	~11.2 L (expected)	15.7 L
Traction control	Yes (HSTC)	No
E-Clutch option	Yes	No
Price	~₹4.7–5.5 lakh (leaked/est.)	₹4.06–4.40 lakh

The big story: same power, 50 kg lighter

Look closely and the peak power is almost identical — both around 46 bhp. But the Rebel 500 weighs about 50 kg less (191 kg vs 241 kg). That gives the Honda a real power-to-weight advantage and makes it noticeably easier to manage at low speed, in traffic and while parking.

The Super Meteor hits back where it matters for cruising: torque. Its 52.3 Nm (vs ~43 Nm) means more effortless roll-on and a relaxed, big-twin lope that defines the Royal Enfield experience.

Comfort & touring

The Super Meteor 650 is built to tour — a large 15.7 L tank, relaxed ergonomics, and a Tourer variant with a screen and backrest. For long highway days two-up, it’s in its element.

The Rebel 500 counters with accessibility: a much lower 690 mm seat (vs 740 mm) and far less weight make it the friendlier bike for shorter riders, city use and newcomers to bigger cruisers.

Tech & features

The Rebel 500 is the more modern machine on paper: a TFT-style display, traction control (HSTC), full-LED lighting and the E-Clutch option for clutchless traffic riding. The Super Meteor keeps it simpler, leaning on character and the proven 650 twin.

Price

This is where it gets tricky for Honda. Leaked figures put the Rebel 500 at roughly ₹4.7–5.5 lakh, which sits above the Super Meteor 650’s ₹4.06–4.40 lakh. So you’d pay more for the smaller 471cc Honda — its case rests on being lighter, lower and better-equipped, not cheaper.

The verdict

• Super Meteor 650 if you want maximum torque, big-twin character, touring comfort — and the lower price.
• Rebel 500 if you’ll pay a premium for light weight, a low seat, modern tech and Honda refinement — nearly the same power in a much easier package.

Also see: Rebel 500 vs Shotgun 650 and the full RE 650 twins comparison.

This is an independent fan article. Rebel 300 India is not affiliated with Honda. Specifications and prices are expectations based on public information and may change at launch.