When a builder designs a new platform, they generally like to squeeze every ounce of possible model identity out of that platform that they can. For example, we can think of the Honda CB500: even though the CB500X, CB500F and CBR500R all share the same engine, these machines have distinct personalities. It's a motorcycle family that's a bit like a human family in that way: genetically related, but each playing by their own rules.
Engines are certainly important, but they are far from the only thing that sets a given motorcycle model apart. With all of this in mind, the idea that Honda might consider expanding its Rebel 250 and Rebel 500 into the Scrambler realm isn't all that surprising. Would a new CL 250 and CL 500 make sense? There japanese magazine Autoby seems to think so.
To be completely clear, there has been absolutely no official information regarding potential CL 250 or CL 500, but there are rumors about it. Apparently, Autoby saw enough to believe here that designer Shinji Miyakubo came up with designs to illustrate what both machines could look like.
The CL 250 designed by Shinji Miyakubo takes a visual reference from the Scrambler CL72, which existed between 1962 and 1965. Crucially, although he used the name Scrambler, this machine wasn't really one in the functional sense. His bias was more oriented towards the road.
As for the redesigned CL 250 here, all the expected visual elements are there: black fork gaiters, long, relatively straight and flat saddle, high-mounted exhaust and larger alloy wheels help cement its on-road nature. Moving to the CL 500, the visual cues are almost the same, save for the addition of a high-mount dual exhaust in place of the single unit found on the CL 250.
If everything goes like this Autoby expected, the CL 250 could make its official debut towards the end of 2022, with the CL 500 to follow in 2023.
