2017 new Honda Rebel CMX500 (Europe) photos & details
2017 NEW HONDA REBEL CMX500
For many riders in their early 20s – Generation Y, who have grown up through the digital age – motorcycles mean so much more than just transport. They need to represent a lifestyle, an attitude, and to allow them to express their own individual identity. These riders' expectations are different to those of the motorcycling mainstream and the machines that speak to them reflect this. They have to fit in with their life but must also contain the potential for further individualisation.
Mr Keita Mikura, Large Project Leader (LPL) of the innovative NM4 Vultus* understands this. He likes to play with the rules, creating machines that fuse tradition with groundbreaking new ideas and perspectives. Mikurasan is the Large Project Leader of the new Honda Rebel. His team has produced a custom motorcycle that showcases a classic, timeless look but is also imbued with a forwardlooking, contemporary style all of its own.
DEVELOPMENT
Development of the Rebel began in North America, with an outlook geared toward firing the imagination of a younger generation of riders in a different way to traditional cruiser motorcycles. Powered by a 471cc parallel twincylinder engine, with strong bottom end torque and a smooth, linear power delivery the Rebel is A2 licence friendly. It's also slim, with a low seat height and therefore easy to manage at low speeds. The riding position is relaxed and neutral, with gently outstretched arms matched to midmounted footpegs.
The Rebel's tubular steel frame is brand new and draws fresh, contemporary lines into strippedback, fattyred 'bobber' style. Blacked out to the maximum, with the minimum of paint, it also switches from soloonly to pillionpossible via two bolts.
BOBBER STYLING
Two key words ran headlined throughout the Rebel's development programme: 'SIMPLE' and 'RAW'. But to do so much with so little is an art form in itself, an exercise in minimalist design where every detail matters.
And the Rebel does not disappoint_ rolling on fat tyres its low and lean 'bobber' silhouette – crowned by the steeply raked 11.2L fuel tank and fat handlebars – sits the rider firmly 'in' the machine. From every angle of its stripped form it expresses an offbeat individuality.
Everything that can be is blacked out, which highlights the Rebel's lithe design as well as underlining the subtle paintwork. Set high up front the evocative round headlight features a 135mm diameter glass lens and diecast aluminium mount.
The 'one button' speedo is a compact 100mm dial with negative LCD display and blue backlight and is both striking and effective, while the ignition is housed below the left side of the fuel tank.
The Rebel will be available in the following colour options: Graphite Black, Matte Armored Silver Metallic, Millennium Red.
The pillion pad and rear footpegs are easily removed, and a number of tailormade accessories will be available for the Rebel_ these i
