Honda Australia has announced the just-released CMX Rebel 500 launched in Long Beach, California, will arrive here in early 2017 as a learner-approved motorcycle.
That is unusual because Honda Australia has been pretty slow and conservative about bringing in quirky new releases such as the Grom and X-ADV scooter.
But they couldn’t ignore the low-capacity bobber market being driven by urban hipsters.
There is no word yet on how much it will cost. However, they have confirmed we will only get the 500, not the 300 which has also been released.
Basically it’s a Honda Rebel with a bit of a Yamaha Bolt make-over.
In fact, it’s as if they are driving home the similarity with the Yamaha Bolt with its digital single-dial instruments with a LCD display.
This is how Honda sees it: “The CMX is a progressive new custom bobber that fuses tradition with ground-breaking new ideas and perspectives while offering ample scope for owner customisation.”
In other words, it’s fairly basic so you can customise it. We’re figuring the first thing to go would be the massive drain-pipe exhaust.
However, we’re not sure what is so “ground-breaking” about it.
The CMX looks pretty standard to us.
But it’s interesting that Honda actually points out that Prince rode a CM400A in the movie Purple Rain.
It features fat 16-inch Dunlop tyres, large-diameter wheels, 690mm seat height, stamped-steel rear fender and comes standard with ABS.
The CMX500 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 Rebel 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.
The Rebel 500 twin will be available in silver, red and black.
Honda Rebel CMX500
| ENGINE | 471cc liquid-cooled parallel-twin four-stroke |
|---|---|
| BORE x STROKE | 67.0 mm x 66.8mm |
| COMPRESSION | 10.7:1 |
| STARTER | Electric |
| 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 |
|---|