9th March 2017

All new Honda CMX 500 Rebel is set for release this year. The cruiser motorcycle is refreshingly designed to resemble the Bobber, which is a giant leap for Honda’s design sensibilities. An idea to revamp the iconic bike which was initially released in 1983 is proof that when it comes to blending the old with the new, there is only one expert and that is Honda. At first glance, the bike can be mistaken for a simple and minimalistic motorbike, but knowing Honda’s love for detail, one can expect that everything from the lean and low silhouette to the larger wheel diameter of the CMX 500 should be an attempt to boost performance.

Specification

Keeping with the Bobber design of the bike, Rebel 500’s fuel tank is steeply raked and ends with a fat handlebar. The raw appeal of the bike is exuded from covering everything which can be in black. Coming to the actual numbers, maximum horsepower of the Rebel 500 is 45hp at 8500 rpm with torque of 32.9lb-ft at 6000rpm. The fuel efficiency of the bike is 61mpg. There are two models of Rebel 500 – Rebel 500 and Rebel 500 ABS. Given the lower height of the seat, the riding position is neutral and relaxed, making it the right choice for long, relaxed rides. The low clearance of the bike does not hamper the ground clearance which is surprisingly good for such designs. Supporting the steel rakes of the bike is the steel frame which is soldered at three unique locations and is so designed to keep the width to a bare minimum. This allows the rider to be enveloped into the bike’s design while riding. The angle of the rake is 28⁰ with a trail at 110mm. Dunlop tires of 130/90 in the front and 150/16 at the rear offer commendable road balance and control. Staying with the times, the speedometer is a compact dial with a quirky negative LCD display. The bike is available in four colours, Bright Yellow, Graphite Black, Millennium Red, and Matte Armored Silver Metallic.

Performance

The engine in the Rebel 500 is a 471cc, liquid cooled, 8-cylinder, parallel twin with accentuated linear power delivery owing to a sturdy bottom end torque. The weight of the engine is cut by the use of shim-type valve adjustment and cylinder heads which use roller rocker arms. Slashed engine weight ensures that less friction is created. The cam chain is a new SV chain with coated Vanadium to prevent dust accumulation. The diameter of the exhaust valve is 21.5mm while that of the inlet is 26.0mm. Pins of the crankshaft are at an angle of 180⁰ and close to the bike’s centre of gravity, the primary coupe-balancer is housed. The combination of the balancer and the primary gears maintains the smooth spinning of the engine reducing inertia. Transmission is standard 6-speed. There is a design change in the crankcase, the walls are centrifugally thin with fine sleeves to reduce any loss caused by pumping. Rebel 500 also boasts a new muffler design.

Honda’s CMX 500 Rebel is certainly a bike to look out for this year.