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Review of the Honda Rebel CMX 250C

The Honda CMX 250C motorcycle, popularly known as the Honda Rebel, is an entry level motorcycle that has all the zip necessary to keep up with larger and more expensive bikes.

I purchased the Honda Rebel new in April 07 for $3200 and have been very satisfied. I had not ridden a motorcycle in over 40 years and wanted a bike that was inexpensive, light, zippy and could maintain speed in moderate traffic around town as well as be able to make road trips of 500-1000 miles to view parts of the southeast US. I am not mechanically inclined so I wanted a bike that was known to have few mechanical problems and would last for a life time with minimal attention. My car is now 20 years old and I have no intention to replace it.

The Honda Rebel fits the bill perfectly. I joined a local riding club and made several day trips of 150-250 miles and the Honda Rebel had absolutely no problem keeping up with the Harley, Goldwing, Kawasaki or BMW riders as well as the assortment of other bikes that are operated by this eclectic riding club.

The Honda Rebel can easily maintain a 50-60 MPH pace and while riding on the Interstate for short durations it was easily able to maintain 75MPH. The 234 cc air cooled twin cylinder engine has been manufactured by Honda for more than a decade and has been proven reliable. Surprisingly, there was some power left although as a light bike, it does get a bit hairy when passing or being passed by big rigs on the Interstate. I would not recommend this bike for lengthy high speed Interstate riding. However for roads in the 45-60 MPH range, it is perfectly adequate and rides smoothly. I consistently achieve over 65 miles per gallon so the fuel bill is minuscule. The Honda Rebel fuel tank holds a generous 2.6 gallons so the range is in the order of 150-170 miles before refueling is necessary.

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The Honda Rebel ride is smooth and the position of the rider is upright. I did not even consider bikes where the rider is positioned in a forward leaning position. At 5′ 10″ and 175 pounds, I find that my legs and arms are positioned comfortably and the bike is easy to control. The seat height is just a little shy of 27 inches and the Honda Rebel tips the scales at just a little over 300 pounds.

In the past 8 months I have ridden a little over 3,000 miles. I have conducted frequent safety and maintenance checks on the bike to insure the chain is well lubricated, all nuts and bolts have remained tight and the oil level is correct. In fact I have changed the oil twice, not because it needed it, but because it only takes a few minutes and I am of the opinion that a well lubricated engine will last a lifetime. Other than the oil changes, and insuring that tire air pressure is optimum, there has been no maintenance required.

The Honda Rebel has virtually no Honda produced accessories available so an owner has to search a bit to find the right accessories. I did add a windshield and a small rear bike rack. I recognized the need for a windshield after swallowing a few unknown critters that meandered into my path. That bitter aftertaste convinced me that a windshield was probably a necessity. The windshield was simple to install and made the ride much more pleasant as it diverted the wind over my head. As the colder months have approached, I also noted that it was much warmer with the windshield installed.

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The bike rack lets me place small items on the back strapped down with bungee chords. I stress small. I have a very small overnight bag that I use to store a jacket, hat, a few tools and other paraphernalia that I can’t leave home without. For a trip to the grocery store, I wear a backpack – keeps the grocery bill small!

I intend to purchase a sissy bar, not because I want to carry a passenger, but it will add a way to secure baggage for a road trip. I have taken the Honda Rebel on one overnight trip to a national park about 200 miles away where my route across country roads enabled me to enjoy the fall air and foliage. I brought my sleeping bag, a small tent, a change of clothes, some camping meals and hit the road. All fit nicely when tied to the bike and the weather cooperated for my short overnight jaunt.

I wanted to capture the freedom of the open road and the Honda Rebel was just the bike for me. Inexpensive, simple to maintain, reliable and nice looking.

It is recommended that if parts or accessories are needed that Jacks Rebel Warehouse (http://www.rebelcatalog.com) be examined as they appear to have the most complete selection available and cater exclusively to the Honda Rebel market.

Are there any drawbacks to the Honda Rebel? For me there are none, however, it is not a Harley and doesn’t have the trademark “varoom”. Space is limited, but in reality, how much does one want to carry on a motorcycle? It is a lightweight bike so it becomes a bit “squirrelly” at speeds in excess of 65MPH. The electrical system is just sufficient to operate the headlight, turn signals and such, so it is difficult to add additional lights.

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The bottom line is that if you are in the market for economical transportation and want to possess the option to take to the open road at an inexpensive price, you might want to include the Honda Rebel as one of your considerations.