Honda has unveiled a new generation of its Rebel motorcycles, debuting the all-new 2017 Honda Rebel 300 and 2017 Honda Rebel 500 in the US. The Honda Rebel is a cruiser style small displacement motorcycle in production on and off since 1985. For 2017, the Honda Rebel gets new styling and available in two engine formats - 300cc and 500cc.
The entry-level model is the Honda Rebel 300, powered by the CBR300's 286cc, single-cylinder, water-cooled engine. The Rebel 500 gets the liquid-cooled parallel twin from the 471cc CBR500, which makes around 45bhp and 44Nm of torque. Both engines are four-valve, DOHC, fuel-injected engines which have been retuned for better low-end grunt.
(2017 Honda Rebel 500)
Both bikes feature a new trellis frame, 41mm telescopic front fork, twin rear shocks, 16-inch wheels and optional ABS. The design incorporates a low seat suitable for shorter riders as well and claimed weight of the bikes is 165kg for the Rebel 300 and the 500 tipping the scales at 185kg. For more than three decades, the Honda Rebel has been the quintessential beginner's bike - lightweight, easy to manoeuvre and more importantly, cheap to buy and maintain.
(2017 Honda Rebel 300)
Over the years, the Honda Rebel has been quite a success as a beginner's motorcycle in the US, offering cruiser styling and a manageable engine which isn't intimidating to new riders, at the same time providing good fuel economy.
As a mini-cruiser, the new Honda Rebel makes perfect sense for a market like India, with this segment dominated by the hugely successful Bajaj Avenger. So far though, there's no word on pricing or of any plans of Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India bringing the new Honda Rebel bikes to India.
