The Best Honda Motorcycle No One Talks About Is The SCL500

Honda makes everything from a humble Navi to a 210+ horsepower CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP. And most of these motorcycles are great at what they do. In fact, you can often find them sitting somewhere near the top of their respective segments. Yet, with a lineup such vast, many go under the radar, like the NC750X, Shadow Phantom, or CB750 Hornet.

Among these underrated motorcycles, one bike that stands out the most today is the SCL500, which doesn’t get nearly as much love as it deserves. It’s a scrambler-style model that shares its engine with the famed 500 lineup, and it promises to be an excellent urban roundabout that can handle a bit of weekend off-roading adventures, too. Here’s what makes the SCL500 so awesome.

To give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from authoritative sources, such as Honda Powersports.

Why No One Talks About The Honda SCL500 Today

Starting Price: $6,799

The Honda SCL500 suffers from a double whammy issue, stemming from both Honda and its competitors. When it comes to Honda motorcycles, everyone usually talks about the segment leaders. Think the Gold Wing, Africa Twin, and the CBR sports bikes. Even in the lineup of underrated Honda bikes, you’d find the lesser-known bikes like the Trail 125, Super Cub, and Shadow. Meanwhile, the SCL500 is somewhat left to its own devices.

A similar story follows when you consider its niche scrambler segment. Here, the most popular scramblers are the Triumph trio, including the Scrambler 400, 900, and 1200. The next best scrambler is the Ducati Scrambler line, which includes some incredible variants as well. The SCL500 is lost among the rest, along with the Indian FTR 1200 Rally and Royal Enfield Bear 650.

Lack of recognition here doesn’t mean the SCL500 is a bad motorcycle. On the contrary, it ticks all the boxes of being a great scrambler. It achieves the right look, featuring a full black-out treatment, high-mount exhaust, and 19-inch front wheels. That’s paired with a versatile, reliable, and frugal parallel-twin engine that will outlast most of its rivals. It combines timeless style with modern performance like few of its competitors can. That’s what makes it the best Honda bike no one talks about.

The SCL’s Engine Is Ready For Everything

Power Output: 46 HP @ 8,500 RPM

The Honda SCL500 shares its parallel-twin engine with the rest of the Honda 500 lineup, including the CBR500R, Rebel 500, and NX500. That alone should tell you how versatile and tried-and-tested this powerplant is. It is known for its smooth, approachable power delivery that can do anything you want it to. At the same time, it’s also one of the most reliable and easy-to-maintain engines in this engine category, and serious problems are few and far between.

In this scrambler, it becomes even more urban-friendly, as Honda has equipped it with revised fuel injection mapping, intake/exhaust, and one less tooth in the rear sprocket compared to the Rebel 500. Honda says the engine now offers crispier acceleration through each gear while delivering engaging torque in the mid-range, striking a perfect balance of peppy performance and agility.

The engine is mated to a six-speed gearbox with profiled shift dogs in the transmission, which should make shifting between gears smoother. It also features a shift and assist clutch, which is said to reduce clutch-lever effort by 30 percent compared to previous systems, while preventing rear wheel lockup during aggressive downshifting. Finally, Honda claims a mileage of 65 miles per gallon, which should translate to a range of over 186 miles.

Performance Specs

Chassis And Suspension Tuned For City Agility And Mild Off-Roading

Chassis Type: Tubular Steel Trellis-Style Main Frame

According to Honda, the diamond-shaped steel tune is designed using computer-aided engineering (CAE) to achieve the proper rigidity and weight balance. This structure is also said to provide the bike with a smooth and stable ride, along with easy handling. The frame sits on long-travel suspension, with five-step preload adjustment at the back and CL-specific top and bottom yokes. As a result, the SCL500 is said to offer precise steering accuracy and feel while delivering a supple and comfortable ride over various road conditions.

For light off-roading, the SCL500 gets a 19-inch front wheel paired with a 17-inch wide rear wheel, which can soak up urban road undulations and handle light off-roading without getting unsettled. To keep in line with the bike’s design, the wheels are shod in block-pattern tires that are said to offer optimal grip on road and light trails. Finally, a large front disc with sintered pads promises to offer strong and predictable stopping power.

Suspension And Dimensions Specs

Honda Calls The SCL’s Riding Position Open And Unencumbered

Seat Height: 31.1 in.

Unlike some other style-first motorcycles, the SCL500 does not sacrifice comfort for looks. It features an “open, unencumbered riding position,” with high handlebars and mid-set pegs. The Big Red claims that the handlebars are angled precisely to provide leverage when standing up or sitting down, and they feature internal weights to dampen vibrations. The tank pads provide another contact point for your legs in both riding positions, and the steel pegs feature rubber inserts for better comfort. Honda also offers optional rally pegs that should offer more grip while standing up.

The third contact point, the seat, features a new urethane foam material that is said to offer better comfort than before. The foam is also designed to cover the frame rails, so you don’t feel metal digging into your legs or thighs while riding the bike. The seat also sits pretty low, with a narrow mid-section, offering easy ground reach for most riders while making the bike easy to manage in traffic. If the seat height feels too low for you, you can even opt for a taller seat from the optional catalog.

Not Enough Tech For Modern Times

The only place where the SCL500 shows compromise is its tech package, or lack thereof. It features LED lighting front and back, along with a small LCD instrument panel. For rider aids, it only gets dual-channel ABS and an Emergency Stop Signal (ESS). While it ticks the essentials box, it feels lacking compared to other sub-500cc motorcycles that feature cornering ABS, ride modes, and even adjustable suspension sometimes. This can be a deal-breaker for some. At least Honda offers heated grips as an option!

Gorgeous Scrambler Styling With A Blank Canvas Feel

Older scrambler motorcycles were designed to scramble over mixed terrain during point-to-point races. Today, the scrambler tag is less about performance and more about style. So, people who buy scramblers in 2025 are looking for more style. According to the manufacturer, the design team’s goal was to create something simple, raw, and tough, and the SCL500 is the result.

It gets the scrambler styling right without compromising on anything, including urban performance. It features some lovely details all around, including the high-mounted dual-outlet exhaust, 19/17-inch wheel setup with block pattern tires, and a blacked-out engine and frame. Honda even offers various cosmetic accessories that make the bike even better, like a high front fender, a tall brown seat, a center tank pad, and hand guards. While we find the lack of color options a problem, the SCL500 can serve as a blank canvas for customization.