Honda Australia has announced the CMX bobber will arrive here in April 2017 at $8995 ride away.
While the learner-approved 471cc motorcycle is basically a Honda Rebel with a bit of a Yamaha Bolt ($11,999 + on-road costs) make-over, it won’t be called a Rebel here.
In Australia, it will just be called the CMX bobber and will be available with the removable pillion seat as standard. Colour choices are Matte Armoured Silver Metallic, Victory Red and Graphite Black.
Australia will not get the 300cc CMX version.
The competitive price brings it in under the Bolt, as well as the Yamaha XZVS650 ($10,799+ORC) and Kawasaki Vulcan S ($9999 +ORC), but about the same price as the Suzuki S40 ($7990+ORC).
However, it is probably not cheap enough to tear too many away from the top-selling Harley-Davidson, the Street 500 at $10,750 ride away.
Honda sees the CMX bobber as a blank canvas that will attract customisers.
It’s interesting that, at the worldwide launch late last year, Honda actually pointed out that the late Prince rode a CM400A Rebel in the movie Purple Rain.
We don’t think Honda Australia will make much of a point of that piece of history.
Prince on his RebelHonda CMX bobber details
The CMX 500 features fat 16-inch Dunlop tyres, large-diameter wheels, 690mm seat height, stamped-steel rear fender and comes standard with ABS.
It is powered by a 471cc, eight-valve, liquid-cooled parallel twin tuned for bottom-end torque.
The cylinder head uses roller rocker arms; shim-type valve adjustment allows them to be light, for lower valve-spring load and reduced friction.
Honda’s CMX bobber has a silent (SV Chain) cam chain, with the surface of its pins treated with Vanadium to reduce friction through its increased protection against dust.
It is suspended with 41mm forks set wide at 230mm apart for handling rigidity, comfort and style, and the lower legs are blacked-out.
2017 Honda CMX bobber is LAMS approved (Overseas model shown)Honda Rebel CMX500
| PRICE | $8995 ride away |
|---|---|
| ENGINE | 471cc liquid-cooled parallel-twin four-stroke |
| BORE x STROKE | 67.0 mm x 66.8mm |
| COMPRESSION | 10.7:1 |
| CARBURETION | PGM-FI; 34mm throttle bodies |
| IGNITION | Computer-controlled digital transistorised w/ electronic advance |
| TRANSMISSION | six-speed |
| DRIVE/TRAIN | Chain; 15T/40T, DOHC; four valves per cylinder |
| DIMENSIONS | 2,190 x 820 x 1,090mm |
|---|---|
| WHEEL BASE | 1,490mm |
| SEAT HEIGHT | 690mm |
| CLEARANCE | 135mm |
| FUEL TANK | 11.2 litres |
| KERB WEIGHT | 187.8 kg ABS Standard |
| TYRES | 130/90 – 16 inch; 150/80 – 16 inch |
|---|---|
| SUSPENSION | 41mm telescopic fork, twin shocks |
| FRONT BRAKES | Single 296 mm disc with hydraulic callipers and ABS |
|---|---|
| REAR BRAKES | Single 240mm disc with hydraulic callipers and ABS |
| WARRANTY PERIOD | 24 months |
|---|