Honda rolls into the new decade with the first overhaul to its newest-generation Rebel range. It has only been a few years since the classic Rebel line was replaced by the current iteration, and the added features are largely due to feedback from the new rider base. New suspension components improve the ride along with upgrades to the lighting and clutch pack to increase overall safety and expand its buyer base.

Honda Rebel 300 / 500 Performance and Capability

The Rebel line splits along the displacement break with a choice between the 286 cc “300” model and a 471 cc “500” version. At the bottom of the foodchain is the 300 that rocks a 76 mm bore and 63 mm stroke thumper with a 10.7-to-1 compression ratio that turns out a total of 27.4 horsepower and 19.9 pound-feet of torque for a Rebel 300 top speed of 85 mph.

The 500 measures in with a nearly-square 67 mm bore and 66.8 mm stroke and the same compression ratio as its smaller sibling, just with a parallel-twin layout. It cranks out 45.9 ponies and 31.9 pounds o' grunt with a Rebel 500 top speed around 95 mph.

Both engines run with DOHC valve timing and four poppets per cylinder along with a water jacket and radiator to deal with the waste heat. New for 2022 is the slip-and-assist clutch that delivers a light lever pull and protects the rear contact patch from the effects of excessive drag torque under heavy engine braking and hard downshifts.

Engine & Drivetrain

Model:

Rebel 500

Rebel 300

Engine:

471 cc liquid-cooled parallel-twin four-stroke, DOHC; four valves per cylinder

286 cc liquid-cooled single-cylinder four-stroke, DOHC; four valves per cylinder

Bore x Stroke:

67.0 mm x 66.8 mm

76.0 mm x 63.0 mm

Compression Ratio:

10.7:1

10.7:1

Induction:

PGM-FI; 34 mm throttle bodies

PGM-FI; 38 mm throttle bodies

Ignition:

Full Transistorized ignition

Full Transistorized ignition

Transmission:

Six-speed

Six-speed

Final Drive:

O-ring-sealed chain

O-ring-sealed chain


Design

The new Honda Rebel carries itself with much the same panache as the initial “new” Rebels, but with a few important distinctions. First, the headlight was reshaped and repositioned with a quartet of LED emitters set behind a round lens, blackout housing, and chrome bezel.

The homegrown-custom blackout continues throughout the design of both displacements, and it would be easier to tell you what didn't get hit with the dark finish, namely the inner fork tubes and brake discs out of necessity, and the aforementioned headlight trim for the sake of vanity. This effectively gives the Rebel a home-built vibe, but it doesn't stop there.

Fenders front and rear are both heavily bobbed with builds that seek the lightest balance between weight and function, and this, too, adds to the homemade look. The exposed framing goes with the design flow and adds an industrial edge to the package. Stock, the new Rebel line rolls with a solo seat, but if you like to share the fun, you can peruse the well-populated accessory catalog for all the extra gadgetry you'll need to bring a friend.

A blackened, short-rise handlebar and low-rise clamp push your hands back just a skosh to make for a comfortable, relatively upright riding posture in keeping with the longstanding cruiser tradition of the Rebel family, even if the foot controls are in a sportier, heels-under-butt position.

The unusual way the oddly-shaped, 2.96-gallon fuel tank is perched on the frame lends even more custom flavor to the mix to finish off the aesthetics in a way that, I gotta' say, looks nothing like the original Honda Rebel that launched a sub-genre and inspired a cult-like following. Not sayin' that's a bad thing, just making an observation.

A 67 mpg fuel-efficiency rating gives the 500 a range right around 200 miles per fillup, which should be plenty for some very light long-distance work right along with urban commutes. One thing is certain, the 27.2-inch seat height is an improved feature that will endear itself to your butt with its new plusher foam construction and especially to shorter riders as it provides plenty of leverage for riders with less-than-athletic legs.

For some added sophistication, the Rebel 500 SE comes with ABS and it comes standard with a selection of accessories. Lifting it to a little higher prestige, it includes the black diamond-stitch saddle, black fork boots and covers, and a black headlight cowl.

Dimensions & Capacities

Model:

Rebel 500

Rebel 300

Model:

27.2 in.

27.2 in.

Rebel 500

5.4 in.

5.9 in.

Rebel 300

58.7 in.

58.7 in.

Seat Height:

2.96 gal.

2.96 gal.

Ground Clearance:

67 mpg

78 mpg

Wheelbase:

408 lbs.(ABS: 414 lbs.)

364 lbs. (ABS: 370 lbs.)

Fuel Capacity:

95 mph (est)

85 mph (est)


Chassis

Steel-tubing members on the Honda Rebel make up the completely exposed fame with plate gussets for stiffness. The 28-degree rake angle and 4.3-inch trail helps it track to combat the squirreliness that a sportbike's steering geometry would provide. It's billed as a cruiser, and those are some mighty cruise-tastic steering numbers to go with the 58.7-inch wheelbase.

Since the 300 weighs in at 364-pounds wet and the 500 weighs in at 408-pounds wet, there's no getting around the fact that these are very light bikes. The good news is, even the largest of the pair is easily finessed without being reduced to a wrestling match of mass versus muscle.

Right-way-up, 41 mm hydraulic forks float the front end on 4.8 inches of travel with dual, coil-over shocks to support the rear and tame the motion of the swingarm while they allow a 3.8-inch range of motion that should be sufficient for any urban jungle. A set of 16-inch, cast-alloy blackout rims round out the rolling chassis with a chunky-looking 130/90 leading the way ahead of an even fatter 150/80 – dimensions that reinforce the custom vibe further yet.

You can choose to take or leave the ABS protection since both displacements come with and without an anti-lock version. If you're a new rider, it's probably safe enough to cut your teeth on an ABS bike since that technology is nearly ubiquitous nowadays and you can rely on it becoming even more widespread in the foreseeable future.

Chassis & Suspension

Front Suspension/Travel:

41 mm telescopic fork/ 4.8 in.

Rear Suspension/Travel:

Dual shock/ 3.8 in.

Rake (Caster Angle):

28º

Trail:

4.3 in (110 mm)

Brakes, Front:

Single 296 mm disc w/ hydraulic calipers; (ABS model W/ABS)

Brakes, Rear:

Single 240 mm disc w/ hydraulic calipers; (ABS model w/ ABS)

Tire, Front:

130/90-16

Tire, Rear:

150/80-16


Honda Rebel 300 / 500 Pricing

There are actually five separate models in play here. We have the 2022 Rebel 300 and 300 ABS for $4,699 and $4,999 respectively, then there's the Rebel 500 non-ABS model at $6,399 with the ABS version priced three Benjamins more. For 2022, the Rebel 500 ABS SE rolls for $6,899.

Pricing

Model:

Rebel 500

Rebel 300

Model:

CMX500 (ABS: CMX500A)

CMX300 (ABS: CMX300A)

Rebel 500

Transferable, unlimited-mileage limited warranty; extended coverage available with a Honda Protection Plan

Transferable, unlimited-mileage limited warranty; extended coverage available with a Honda Protection Plan

Rebel 300

└ 2020:

Matte Armored Silver, Matte Blue Jeans Metallic, Graphite Black

Matte Blue Jeans Metallic, Matte Fresco Brown, Graphite Black

└ 2021:

Matte Pearl White, Matte Gray Metallic (SE: Matte Gray Metallic)

Matte Gray Metallic, Pearl Blue

└ 2022:

Pearl Organic Green, Matte Gray Metallic, SE: Matte Silver

Pearl Blue, Matte Gray Metallic

Model ID:

└ 2020:

$6,199 (ABS: $6,499)

$4,499 (ABS: $4,799

└ 2021

$6,299 (ABS: $6,599, SE: $6,799)

$4,599 (ABS: $4,899

└ 2022:

$6,399 (ABS: $6,699, SE: $6,899}

$4,699 (ABS: $4,999


Competitors

Honda kinda went in a bold new direction with the look of its interminable Rebel line, but its competitors are still working off the old mold and a perfect example of that is the Boulevard S40 from Suzuki.

Suzuki Boulevard S40

Like the outgoing Rebel design, the Boulevard S40 carries itself with a '70s bobber look that borrows heavily from the custom bikes of that era. Blackout treatment is another constant across the board, though the Boulevard doesn't suffer from quite the same dearth of chrome as the Rebel.

An old-school teardrop tank and duplex seating defines the S40's flyline in a way much like the Rebel used to. Standard forks and coil-over shocks deliver a non-adjustable ride, not a great surprise at this price point, but what is surprising is Suzuki's insistence on using an antiquated drum brake to slow the rear wheel instead of a hydraulic disc like the front wheel and most of the rest of the full-size motorcycle world.

Rather than going with low, fat hoops, the Suzuki rolls on a 19-inch front and 15-inch rear wheel for a large offset that leaves it with custom roots of its own. Too bad for Suzuki, it has no answer for the Honda's (optional) ABS feature, and so it falls behind in the only gadgetry category the Red Riders bring to the table.

The S40 runs a 652 cc, air-cooled thumper that churns out 31 ponies and 37 pounds o' grunt against 45.9/31.9 on the 500 for the trade off I'd expect to see from similar displacements in a one- versus two-cylinder layout. Suzuki slips again with a standard clutch against Honda's slipper clutch. It seems the only thing the S40 really has going for it is the $5,799 sticker that lands almost a grand less expensive than the Rebel 500.

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“I'm kinda torn here. As a former Rebel rider, I will always hold the old design close to my heart and this new machine looks nothing like it, but on the other hand, it was a dated design and the younger riders make up the target audience for this bike. Got to cater to your crowd, ya' know? Looking at the rider's triangle, it certainly seems like the new Rebels are going to be as cramped for taller riders as they ever were.”

He Said

My wife and fellow motorcycle writer, Allyn Hinton, says, “I was never really a Rebel fan back in the day, but I am digging the new styling and getting more appreciation for this iconic little ride.” “One thing I will say, though, on the 500, the clutch cover seems big and a bit intrusive right there at the rear brake lever. I can see that being a bit wearisome after a long ride..”