Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
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look cool, as do the rest of both bikes. The Rebels come in four colors: Matte Pearl White, Matte Silver Metallic, Red and Black, but Matte Pearl White is replaced by Bright Yellow on the 500. It was a good day bopping around downtown L.A. on the Rebels. Again, I found them to be fun and easy to ride; reason a true, never-ridden-a-motor- cycle-before beginner might opt for the 300 over the 500 is weight. At 364 pounds (full fuel), the 300 weighs a little over 40 pounds less than the 500, and you do feel the difference, though both bikes overall feel very light and maneuverable to me. If you chose ABS, add about six pounds to each bike. Both bikes have light steering yet still feel stable at speed via their 28-degree rake with 4.3 inches of trail and 58.7 inches of wheelbase. Up front, suspension is handled by a 41mm non-adjustable fork with 4.8 inches of wheel travel, an in the back, preload adjustable dual shocks with 3.8 inches of travel. The ride is typical cruiser—bouncy but tolerable. Maybe a little soft for some. They both roll on 16-inch 10-spoke cast wheels with plenty of rubber that help give the bikes a stout look, while providing a solid feel on the road and plenty of confidence in the turns. The small, modern-looking, all-digital instrument pod is a little hard to read in bright sunshine, but there really isn't much to look at anyway; after all, what do you really need to know while riding these simple motorcycles around town beside speed? Even then. Beginner bikes or not, the Rebels are handsome motorcycles that will make you feel a little swanky while cruising the boulevard; the only real giveaway that you're not on a big ol' bad-ass bobbler is sound. Neither bike emits a particularly nspiring tone or that booming sound from the engine when you hit the starter button, but that is to be expected for small- engined bikes like the Rebels. At least the blacked-out exhaust systems do 2017 Honda Rebel 300/Rebel 500 First Test CYCLE NEWS CRUISER BUYERS GUIDE