It's a Honda Rebel. I pick it up on Tuesday. I'm getting a used one, but it was raining outside and so I'll post a pic of the shiny new one.
The pros: it's pretty similar to the bike I road last weekend in the MSF safety course. The controls are identical, it's just put on a cruiser chassis. This means it will be familiar (implication: safer) from the get go. It weighs half what the entry level Harleys weigh, so it will be a lot easier to control (implication: safer). It's very inexpensive, so there's not much financial risk if I end up not riding much. It's not over powered, so when (not if) the kids want to start riding, it will be a good size for them.
The con: it tops out at 65 MPH or so. No long range trips on this bike, but good for around town.
In short, it's a starter bike. Everyone more or less says that your first bike will only last you 12 months, and so this is an easy step into the motorcycle world. We'll see when I start making noise about getting something bigger.
18 comments:
Looks like fun!
They make starter bikes nicer these days.
+1 on John, MUCH better than the 'starters' we had... (think Cushman scooter)...
Thumbs up!
Nice. Enjoy it. Those Rebels are nifty little machines.
And if/when you lose a leg, call me. My prosthetist is great and gives me a referral fee. ;-)
Congrats and have fun on that thing
I'm actually kinda curious how much the Rebel has in lineage with the old CB series. I've got a much later (read 'detuned') CB750 Nighthawk, and the frame looks strikingly similar. If you get tired of the cruiser vibe, I bet you could pull the controls back a little, put longer shocks on the back, drop the fork tubes down a touch and drop a motocross bar on it- poof! Instant cafe style in-town knockabout bike!
Borepatch,
Couple quick comments.
1. You can't go wrong with Honda. You just can't. The Rebel is a great starter bike - it's definitely not too much bike.
HOWEVER.
2. When you feel like you've mastered it, GET RID OF IT. Seriously. I ran into that hazard with my 750cc Magna - I had gotten to the point where I was starting to push the Magna beyond the point it was meant for.
Yup, first road bike was a 500 Virago. Great starter. When I found myself grinding down the footpegs and scraping the pipes, it was time to get something a bit more in line with the way I was riding.
Funny thing is, twenty years later, something similar to that Virago sounds just my style.....
Congrats on a very wise first choice - You are going to have many happy miles on the Rebel! Enjoy it, Borepatch!
+1 on Jay G's post.
It's an "ok" starter bike, good for getting some after-course experience on the road, practicing turns, and getting some miles under your seat.
BUT, if the bike tops out at 65, STAY OFF THE FREEWAYS!! You won't have enough reserve power to get out of the way of someone barreling down the road behind you, or to pull an evasion maneuver to avoid a situation.
My guess is that you'll quickly tire of the bike's lack of oomph, even tho you're an old fogey who probably isn't suffering from "showoff syndrome", an affliction typically demonstrated by young males who do wheelies on their rice rockets while lane-splitting without wearing helmets.
Ride safe, BP.
Since you are buying used, after a seasons riding (we have a bike season here in the U.P.) you should be able to get near what you paid for the Rebel when it is time to upgrade.
After short while with the Rebel you will start thinking of what your next bike will need.
Jay, I may keep it around for the kids to learn on, and then get rid of it. Good advice, though.
Burt, there seems to be some dispute over just how fast it goes. I'll likely learn something as I get used to the bike, but riding the divided streets here will get you to 60, so I should be able to gather that data without getting on the Interstate.
Jon, that was the hope. Nice to see a confirmation.
Be expecting a visit from an Ogre on an FJR in the very near future.
I'm already laying the groundwork with TWWKMT.
(Besides, the Perfect Child is up in ATL until the 1st week of August. I need to go check up on her...)
Congrats!
I have a friend who has been buying and trading Rebels since the line was introduced. They ARE the quintessential perfect starter bike, but yes, while the top speed design limit can keep you out of trouble it also will disabuse any notion that you'll want to ride it further than 50 miles a day. Said friend and myself used to run up to one of the local lakes on Sunday afternoons to eye the young ladies, but for some reason he always wanted to ride my 650 Yamaha. It didn't take me long to figure out why when I had to chase him down with that slow-assed Rebel.
My buddy's rebel maxed out at 65 and didn't have much oomph left above 58 or so. As was previously stated - stay off the freeways.
Not such a bad thing anyway. Bikes are for Backroads.
Congrats BP. Now I need to visit for a ride.
Six, yes you do
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