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Post by w650 on May 26, 2017 16:34:04 GMT -5
Recently someone slammed this bike as strictly an MSF Trainer Bike. Cycle World magazine had more complimentary things to say. No other motorcycle has introduced more road riders to the sport than the novice-friendly Rebel 250. Its tame power delivery, long 57.1-inch wheelbase, low 26.6-inch seat height, and 331-pound claimed curb weight add up to an agile yet stable platform that instills rider confidence. As the legendary Rebel 250...
www.cycleworld.com/honda-rebel-250-cruiser-best-used-motorcyclesIt's a shame the engine will be replaced by a single cylinder lawn mower engine. The older Rebel's British Twin beat will be missed. |
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Post by oldchopperguy on May 26, 2017 22:06:48 GMT -5
w650,
I've gotta agree with you on the usefulness of the venerable Rebel 250... They always seemed to me to be "the poor boy's Harley Sportster"... LOL! Everything BUT the engine had a decidedly Harley appearance. (Shoulda had a small V-twin...). A nice looking small bike for a reasonable price, and, they rode fine. I just looked up the new Rebel, and while it's pretty slick in its own genre, the original look is long gone. However, even with its modern "exoskeleton" style frame, modern components, etc. it still looks sharp... Even just a teensy bit "Harley Davidson" from a distance. Seems it comes in two flavors... 300cc and 500cc. The 300 is a single, but the 500 is a parallel twin, sorta "Brit" looking. It does retain SOME of the appeal of the old 250, but in a much more updated version (not to mention twice the displacement...). And, they're not all that "entry-level-affordable" anymore. My guess is that the new Rebel will generate its own following, but the basic, affordable appeal of the original is now gone. Good thing there are some originals left around... They still make sweet general purpose bikes! Even fairly credible "bobbers"... upload  image upload no size limit
They WILL be missed, but a LOT of them will still be on the road for many years to come...Ride safe!Leo in Texas
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Post by w650 on May 26, 2017 22:55:46 GMT -5
What vexes me is that the engine is an economy move. They use it in the CB300F, CBR300 and now the Rebel. You gotta know when the engine falls out of fashion in the first two the Rebel will either disappear or get the latest boat anchor. The twin cylinder engine was used for 30 years. You'll never see that again.
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Post by wheelbender6 on May 27, 2017 8:26:16 GMT -5
Agreed. Honda needs to stop imitating KTM aND stick with their great twin cyl engines.
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Post by cyborg55 on May 27, 2017 20:48:01 GMT -5
The rebel had a great run,,,it was and still is a great machine,,,, sales must have slumped ,,,
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Post by w650 on May 27, 2017 22:25:12 GMT -5
I doubt it Pete. I'm more inclined to think it's a half baked economy move to use one engine across the entry level line and discontinue the existing motor. Plus I believe it's this dumb move to fuel injection. They probably didn't want to invest in creating a system for the much better engine.
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Post by wheelbender6 on May 28, 2017 9:05:27 GMT -5
Emissions has a lot to do with the replacement of classic, proven engines. I suppose controlling emissions is much easier with an ecu and O2 sensor loop.
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Post by cyborg55 on May 28, 2017 9:10:47 GMT -5
Emissions has a lot to do with the replacement of classic, proven engines. I suppose controlling emissions is much easier with an ecu and O2 sensor loop. Good point |
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Post by oldchopperguy on May 28, 2017 23:05:57 GMT -5
All this Honda nostalgia reminds me of my Army days in the late sixties... My Harley was languishing at home, and I was at Fort Bragg, NC. I missed riding SO much that I broke down and bought a floor-model NOS last-year's out-of-production 305cc "Super Hawk". The "new" 350cc scramblers and standard "CB" 350's had just hit the stores, and I got the 305 (old styling, old engine, etc.) for $600 out the door.
This one (below) could have been mine (except for the Euro license blank on the front fender)... What a SWEET ride! Even the mechanical drum-brakes were quite adequate at 80-mph... With its weird gas-tank, bloated mufflers and such, it didn't even LOOK like a "motorcycle" to me. Cheesh... It didin't even SOUND like one. I hated that trademark Honda "blat-blat-blat" exhaust note. But... After a week, I was HOOKED!  That itsy-bitsy 305 turned out to be one of my ALL-TIME favorite bikes of my entire life. It was drop-dead reliable, handled great, had plenty of speed, gave obscene gas mileage... My FIRST electric-start bike. It was simply a dream to ride. Made me understand why Honda named its incredibly UGLY "Dream" 305 (weird fork, weird fenders, etc.) the "DREAM"... Those 305's, the SUPER HAWK, SCRAMBLER AND DREAM were entry-level rides of a MAGNIFICENT stature. Wish I still had that Hawk! They were early ancestors to the old Rebel 250, though not as good looking (except maybe for the 305 Scrambler). It was almost "Brit" looking. Honda has made some marvelous small-displacement FUN bikes... I too hate to see new models spawned just to use existing components. Even though my past riding has been dedicated to Harley Davidson iron, I have a real "soft spot" in my heart for Hondas, especially the small/mid-sized vintage bikes. And, I must admit my "new" 2004 Accord is THE best car I've ever had! 118K miles on her clock, and absolutely LIKE NEW in EVERY respect. Honda marketing says the Accord it "fun to drive" and I do agree... Dang clever these Japanese! Hmmm... I've always had a "Jones" for one of those pesky inline crosswise 6-banger Honda factory café racers... Jus' somethin' appealing about all them church-organ-pipes facing front... and all SIX carbs out back... LOL!
Ride safe, and enjoy those old-school Hondas while they still exist!Leo in Texas |
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Post by w650 on May 29, 2017 9:46:52 GMT -5
A little background here. For years I rode big bikes. When my late wife and I bought her Rebel I looked at the "Little" bike with some amusement. It looked and sounded like my Kawasaki W650 only smaller. I sold my bike and spent two years riding my 250 Fashion exclusively. In 2014 I hopped on the Rebel one day for laughs and was immediately impressed with its capabilities. It had speed and handling my Fashion couldn't even touch. It led me to acquiring the 250 Nighthawk.
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Post by wheelbender6 on May 29, 2017 9:56:00 GMT -5
Those Honda twins, as small as 160cc, provided basic transportation for young Americans througout the 1960s and 1970s, and maNY are still on the road. That engine has been in production in various forms for over a half century. That's pretty good engineering.
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Post by w650 on May 29, 2017 12:06:33 GMT -5
Yes, it started out as a Twin Star 185 in the 1970's and evolved into the 233cc engine along the way. Sound engineering that lasted for decades.
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Post by wheelbender6 on May 29, 2017 13:35:30 GMT -5
I remember riding my Kawasaki 100cc dirt bike on the local trails during the 1970s. A friend joined us on the trails with his Honda 160cc twin.
-The Honda looked dated, front end heavy, and poorly suited to off roading.
-We were surprised how well the Honda twin handled the trails. I got schooled that day.
-If he added a high exhaust to that twin, he could have gone anywhere we went. My other chum was riding a Yamaha DT 175.
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Post by rockynv on Jul 13, 2017 3:44:40 GMT -5
The air cooled twins are falling all over the world due to not meeting the new stricter air quality regulations. Ducati, Victory and a number of other manufactures have all ceased making them or closed down altogether rather than invest in trying to make the old air cooled twins meet the new regulations.
The only weakness in the Rebel was the tiny rod on the shifter. To quote the MSF instructors "It's only about the diameter of a pencil so they have had quite a problem with big guys forcing it down into first and twisting or bending it". The ladies and skinny kids got the Rebels while the Big Guys got the Suzukis or the Yamaha Street and Trail bike. Enforcing this greatly reduced how many bikes they had in the shop for regular shift rod replacements.
The performance difference between say a 500cc Bullet and the old 250 twin is really not that great. Hopefully more will come out with modern 300cc bikes that give the economy of the 250 and the same or a greater level of performance.
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