Honda Scrambler 500

Go anywhere, do anything

We’re a quarter of the way through the 21^st century. Pretty much any bike built by any of the major manufacturers since 2000 is proving to be reliable after 25 years, if taken care of properly.

In the big cities, housing is going up, up, up, while garage space is going down, down, down. In the 20^th century, rancho sprawls were common. Now the trend is multi-level townhomes near the bus lines, so who needs garage space? If you live in such a cracker box, you may not even have a garage, perhaps just a little concrete pad to park a car next to your unit.

With that, the trend is more likely to move away from owning multiple motorcycles to owning a single bike, one that fits several riding desires.

Leave it to Honda to hatch just such a bike.

The Scrambler 500, released for the 2023 model year, may just be that bike for a lot of people. While Honda was no doubt looking to cash in on the scrambler fascination rejuvenated by Ducati and Triumph almost a decade ago, the long wait may have been worth it. Not only for the style aspect, but for the diversity and longevity the bike is sure to provide for years to come.

Think of it this way. Looking for a commuter bike? Check. Looking for a weekend warrior for a few nights away from home? Check. Need to take a short cut down a well-groomed fire road? Check. Wanna show a little flare of your own at the next bike night? Check.

The parallel twin 471cc engine was originally developed for the Rebel 500 back in 2016. And like all modern Honda engines, it’s a solid performer both around town and on the highway. And speaking of the highway, the Scrambler 500 gets a sweet 65mpg on the highway. With a 3.2 gallon tank, you’ll only need to gas up about the same time you’re ready to stop for a stretch.

Incorporating a 19” front wheel and 17” rear, the bike is a shoe-in for a little gravel travel from time to time. No doubt, there will be enthusiasts who will figure out how to mount a 21” spoked tire in the front and attempt to move it up the ADV ladder a position or two.

Scroll through the Honda site and you’ll note there are several OEM luggage options. Could you load it up for a weekend camping trip? Yes. Or, skip the camping, lose the tent and sleeping bag, and you can pack a few niceties and roll from motel to hotel with plenty of storage. Not a fan of OEM? There’s plenty of after-market options for storage as well.

Back at home on Monday morning, this agile wonder is ready to roll off the parking pad and get you through city traffic and into the office in style.

When it comes to pricing, inflation is out the window! You can pick up the bike for under $7k and that includes standard ABS brakes.

Honda’s re-introduction of the Scrambler makes great sense. It makes you wonder if an SL revival is next?

PT/May 24