Honda’s introduction of the CL500 Scrambler at EICMA 2022 was yet another instance of Team Red resurrecting a beloved old model designation. Sure, Honda hadn’t made a CL-series bike since the mid-70s, but if anything, that was all the more reason why the CL badge was ripe for a resurrection in the 2020s. A reimagining. A full-scale renaissance, if you will—on the order of either Michelangelo and/or Beyoncé (take your pick).
In April 2023, we caught a glimpse of the 2023 Honda CL500 in full production form at the 2023 Makina Moto Show in the Philippines. As an international manufacturer, Honda frequently rolls out new models (particularly small-to-mid displacement ones) in various markets across Asia and Europe before they come to the US. So, for US fans, one question seemingly remained: Should we expect the CL500 to make its way to our shores?
