Ride Review
The Honda Rebel 500
Courtesy of Velocity
Cycles
Mechanicsburg, Pa
By: Jim Bull
Well this month I got my wish – yes that ride on Hondas
Street Retro the Rebel 500. If you read last months article we tested the 300cc
series of bikes from Honda. The 500’s like the 300’s offer different model
configurations based on your riding style and preference only with a larger
powerplant.
Check out Velocity Cycles in Mechanicsburg, Pa
The last time the staff at Velocity Cycles put me out on the
CB300 F or standard as I like to say. That bike shares the same geometry as its
cousin the R series but the Rebel understand is a different animal all its own.
Honda also offers an Adventure model in this 500 series but that’s a story for
a different day.
I started out working in this industry way back in the early
1980’s at a Honda dealership and stayed there for 10 years. During that time
Honda introduced the CMX250 or what would become known as the Honda Rebel. I’m
not going to tell you what that bike retailed for but let me say this. We sold
them by the tractor trailer loads. Honda hit the mark way back then, and after my ride last month I'm here to tell you that they did it again.
The Honda Rebel loved the open roads in the foothills of Pa
Below
find some commentary from Honda's website:
THE ALL-NEW 2017
REBEL 500
YOU DON’T BUY THIS
BIKE. YOU MAKE IT YOURS.
The Rebel 500 is a
true triple threat: part impressive performance, part minimalist good looks and
completely fun to ride. The first thing you’ll notice is its subtle,
blacked-out looks. From the compact frame to its low-slung seat, it’s just
cool. Once you get on, you’ll know immediately that this bike was meant to be
ridden, thanks to an impressive lean angle, and a 471cc parallel-twin engine
tuned for middle and upper-rpms. Ride
it stock. Trick it out. Either way, this bike just feels right.
I’d have to concur with everything Honda says above. When
you swing your leg over this half liter cruiser you can just begin to feel the
cool creep through your body. The bike looks great, sits low to the ground and
has a just right riding geometry.
Pulling out onto the highway I could immediately notice the
difference in power and torque over the 300 series bikes. As I headed out of Mechanicsburg and up into
the foothills I was even more impressed as this cruiser handled the twisty
roads very nicely. I wasn’t sure what to expect given the cruiser style frame
geometry and different tire and wheel configurations but this half pint cruiser
got the job done. It was also a breeze to ride as I worked my way down into the
city traffic of Carlisle and made my way back to the shop.
The Rebel was right at home tooling around the city streets
This bike hits the mark. It looks great, is super
lightweight and easy to balance. It has nice big disc brakes, electronic fuel
injection, a user-friendly gauge package and best of all – it is highly customizable.
Both Honda and the aftermarket companies have set their sights on how much we
crazy Americans love to make things are own.
If you’re looking for a great bike to get out and cruise I
would definitely give this ride a look. Whether you’re an entry level rider
looking for your first bike or an experienced veteran looking for a fun and
versatile machine. The Honda rebel just might be your best pick.
Read more at:
Check out Velocity Cycles for all your Honda, BMW and Genuine Scooter needs
by: Clicking Here
If you live in central Pa and I would give Velocity Cycles a
yell at: 717.766.2523 and please tell them that Brapp Mag sent you.
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