Honda's big showing at Makina Moto Expo 2026
Honda Philippines took center stage at Makina Moto Expo 2026, held April 10-12 at the SMX Convention Center Manila in Pasay City, with the official launch of three new models — the WN7, CB650R, and NX500 — each representing a different part of Honda's product strategy for the Philippine market.
Photo: Captainmorlypogi1959 — Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
WN7: Honda's first full-size electric motorcycle
The headline launch was the Honda WN7, positioned as Honda's first "proper" full-size electric motorcycle — a step up from scooter-class EVs like the Honda EM1 e. The WN7 highlights Honda's continued push into full-size electric two-wheelers, and it earned a notable accolade: the Gold Award at the iF DESIGN AWARD 2026 in the Product Design category, marking the first time any Honda product has received that specific honour.
CB650R: naked streetfighter styling
The CB650R brings Honda's Neo Sports Café design language to the Philippine market — an inline-four naked sport bike aimed at riders who want performance and aggressive styling without a full fairing.
NX500: expanding the adventure/crossover range
The NX500 extends Honda's adventure/crossover lineup, giving Philippine riders another option in the increasingly popular adventure-touring segment.
What this means for the Philippine market
The three-model launch signals Honda Philippines is pursuing two tracks simultaneously: growing its combustion-engine sport and adventure lineup (CB650R, NX500) to compete in increasingly popular mid-capacity segments, while establishing early electric motorcycle credibility with the WN7 ahead of what's likely to be a longer-term shift toward electrification across the region.
FAQ
Q: What is the Honda WN7? The WN7 is Honda's first full-size electric motorcycle, positioned above scooter-class EVs like the EM1 e. It won the Gold Award at the iF DESIGN AWARD 2026 in Product Design — a first for any Honda product.
Q: Where and when were these models launched? At Makina Moto Expo 2026, held April 10-12 at the SMX Convention Center Manila, Pasay City.
Q: What type of bike is the CB650R? An inline-four naked sport bike (streetfighter styling) built on Honda's Neo Sports Café design language.
Q: What segment does the NX500 compete in? The adventure/crossover touring segment, extending Honda's existing adventure bike lineup in the Philippines.
