[RideApart] - Honda Targets the Hip with New Rebel Models

[Ninjette Newsbot]

Honda Targets the Hip with New Rebel Models

Never one to dive into a trend too early, Honda has pulled the cover off two new bobber-inspired models aimed at younger/newer riders: the Honda Rebel 300 and Honda Rebel 500.

Honda describes the*pair as*"progressive customs that fuse tradition with groundbreaking new ideas and perspectives while providing ample scope for owner customization."

Development for the Rebel 500 and Rebel 300 began in the United States, where Honda's cruiser line-up is far more extensive than in other countries. The Rebel has long been a newbie stalwart, with thousands of American riders fondly recalling their early street riding days astride the trusty machine. Honda*says that in bringing the Rebel up to date it went retro,*"referencing a timeless look while also introducing a forward-thinking, contemporary style."


"For many riders who have grown up through the digital age, motorcycles represent a lifestyle and an attitude, a means of expressing their individuality," said Lee Edmunds, manager of Motorcycle Marketing Communications at American Honda. "The machines that speak to these riders need to reflect this, to fit with their life while also offering the potential for further individualization. The Rebel 500 and Rebel 300 are simple and raw, offering cutting-edge style and a radical image while minimizing the barriers to riding. There's literally nothing else out there like them, and we're confident that both models will appeal to young riders who want to stand out and are open to new experiences."

Honda describes the*models as exercises in straightforward, minimalist design. The bikes' low, lean silhouettes are crowned by iconic fuel tanks, aggressively raked front ends and fat tires on large-diameter wheels – along with a stamped-steel rear fender and narrow frame body. A round*headlight sits up high in a die-cast aluminum mount, the speedometer is a compact dial with negative LCD display and blue backlight, and the ignition is housed below the left side of the fuel tank. Everything that can be is blacked out.

Powered by*a 471cc parallel twin, the Rebel 500 claims*"strong bottom-end torque and a smooth, linear power delivery." We'd assume that parallel twin to be the same one used in the existing CB500X, CB500F, and CBR500R models. Which means we'd expect a maximum power output of roughly 47 horsepower (35kW).


Meanwhile the Rebel 300 is powered by a 286cc single cylinder engine – presumably the same found in the CB300F and CBR300R (which suggests a maximum power output of about 30 hp, or 22kW). In both cases, the bikes' riding positions are relaxed and neutral, with arms outstretched and feet dropping straight down to mid-mounted pegs.

We'll be looking forward to throwing a leg over, but Honda says the Rebels are "fun to ride slow and fast, great for day trips, jaunts to the coffee shops or even sporty sessions on winding roads."

Both the Rebel 500 and Rebel 300 are available in standard and ABS versions. Farewell the drum brakes of old. The new Rebels will be available in a number of colors:

• Rebel 500: Matte Silver, Bright Yellow, Black, Red
• Rebel 500 ABS: Black
• Rebel 300: Matte Silver, Matte Pearl White, Black, Red
• Rebel 300 ABS: Black

The Rebel 300 has been tentatively priced at*$4,399, whereas the*Rebel 500 has been tentatively priced at*$5,999. Honda says it will announce*the official MSRP next month. The bikes are expected to hit dealerships in April 2017.

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