Easy Rider
A reasonable person probably wouldn’t buy an Ariel Atom as their first car – and as well with their two-wheeled counterparts, they (hopefully) wouldn’t buy a Honda Africa Twin as their first bikes too. The usual path of growth starts small and ups the ante as your confidence and experience grow. But as we continue to live through one historic event after the next, money isn’t quite so disposable to allow us to follow these once-typical milestones of growth. Wouldn’t it be nice if there was a bike that was accessible enough for newer riders, but engaging enough for experienced motorists to hang on to?
This might be it. The Rebel 500 looks menacing, yet modern. Our tester had all the visual attitude of a custom Harley-Davidson, but once you straddle it between your legs, it feels light, maneuverable and welcoming. Despite its visual heft, the Rebel 500 was designed to be trim, helping riders hop on and off without difficulty. As an added bonus, for those on the shorter side, the 690mm ride height also means it’s far easier to plant your feet on the pavement. Despite its cruiser-style appearance, the Rebel’s riding position is more like a standard motorcycle. It’s upright, neutral, and comfortable for longer rides – though our tester’s seat was not broken in yet, resulting in some mild cheek soreness after a prolonged period.
41-mm forks in front and twin shock absorbers with 5 stages of preload in the back keep the ride rigid, comfortable and stable. The chunky 16-inch Dunlop rubber contrasts nicely with the narrow, stripped-down look of the bike, and only aids in comfort, grip and maneuverability – as do the lightweight 16-inch aluminum wheels. All Rebels feature standard LED lighting, but its housed in a retro-styled round headlight, fitting the bike’s restomod aesthetic. Our ABS model featured a 296mm disc and two-piston caliper up front, and a 240mm single-piston setup in the back. With a 188kg curb weight, braking feels predictable, smooth and confidence-inspiring.
Frills are kept to a minimum on the Rebel 500, which is appropriately reflected in its affordable $7,999 price tag. You get a single digital display on the dashboard, featuring a digital speedo, and not much else. There’s a fuel gauge, gear indicator and clock. The Rebel 1100 does get the added bonus of a tachometer, which would have been nice, but is absolutely no issue to live without. The readout is clear and easy to see, so long as the sun isn’t shining directly on it.
The Rebel’s liquid-cooled 471cc four-stroke parallel twin engine pushes out 46 horsepower at 8,500 RPM and 31 lb-ft of torque, managed by a six-speed transmission and a 520 chain. Those numbers may not be all that impressive on paper, but keep in mind the aforementioned curb weight. This Rebel has plenty of cause. After all, that engine was plucked straight from the CBR500R. Though, it has been tweaked to better fit the city cruiser attitude of the Rebel, with more focus on torque and bottom-end power.
Twist the throttle and you get a smooth, gradual acceleration. Unless you flick it hard, that is. But that’s the great thing. It’s simple to go gracefully or hard off the line, and both feel natural and in character with the bike. Cycling through the 6-speed transmission’s gears is a joy, and made even smoother with Honda’s slipper clutch system. Without getting into the nitty-gritty of it, a slipper clutch reduces the force of engine braking, theoretically helping decrease wear and tear on your drivetrain, but also resulting in a smoother, less jarring ride if you happen to make an aggressive downshift.
Whether you’re coolin’ around the city corner with your fly bike, or laid back on a back country cruise, the only place the Rebel may really feel out of place is off-road or cross-country. This is a versatile, usable motorcycle for those who just want to go for a ride for the fun of it. While we are certain anyone dedicated enough could absolutely cross provinces and states on the back of one of these, we think its fuel capacity, at just over 11-litres, best reflects its true intent.
Its shortcomings are few and significantly outweighed by the positives. There’s even a number of very reasonably priced accessories to reduce the stripped-down nature of the Rebel and help make it a little more livable for regular use. Many new riders may have quickly outgrown their first ride in the past, but the Rebel 500 gracefully toes that line between entry level and exciting. It’s the first bike you can realistically keep and enjoy for years to come.
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