Honda Rebel 300 or 500?

[Loes]

Hello,

I’m thinking of buying a Honda Rebel 300 or 500 in the USA and driving through the USA, Mexico and Central America and maybe South America and I’m wondering if that is a good plan.

Some background information.

I’m travelling through South America for over a year now and I love it!!! I started in Colombia with my BMW F750 GS, with low saddle and low suspension and I’m now in the south of Argentina (Rio Grande). I chose the motorcycle because I’m 5’4 (1,62 cm) with short legs and it was the one from which I could make the motorcycle with the lowest seat height (not being a cruiser/chopper). The seat height is 30 inch (77 cm), but I still cannot put my feet flat on the ground. I have trouble maneuver with the motorcycle and taking it backwards. I don’t dear to write down how many times I dropped my motorcycle and fell off my motorcycle. I also had some serious injuries on my ribs and lung in the last year and 3 weeks ago I broke 7 ribs and had a collapsed lung. I decided that I will sell the motorcycle, because I cannot handle it. Some of you warned me that it won’t be easy to handle that motorcycle in South and Central America for a short woman. Now I experienced that myself. I’m near Punta Arenas now and I hope I can sell the motorcycle there.

So, after I am recovered from my injury and have sold my motorcycle I was thinking of going to the USA to buy a Honda Rebel 300 or 500 and drive through some states of the USA and Mexico and Central America and maybe South America again.

I was thinking about this bike because I cannot find a motorcycle not being a cruiser/chopper with a saddle (also with low saddle and low suspension) lower than 30 inch (77 cm). The Rebel is not that heavy (Rebel 300 is 370 lbs (168 kg) and Rebel 500 is 414 lbs (188 kg) including gasoline) and the seat height is 27,2 inch (69 cm). I am planning to have other tires on it (maybe 50/50) and a bash plate and some other things and drive as little off road as possible. I don’t like riding off road anyway, maybe because I tried it on the heavy BMW, but what I don’t like about it is that I have to concentrate so much and I don’t like bumpy roads.

I only looked for reliable brands, because I know very little about motorcycles. I was at a dealer in Argentina which sold BMW and Royal Enfield (my motorcycle got a service there) and the seller said that I should never ever buy a Royal Enfield, because there are so many problems with that brand.

Long story, but I’m wondering if a Honda Rebel would be a good choice for me, and if so, if I should buy a 300 or a 500. I tend to buy a 500, because it weighs only 20 kg more and from reviews I understand that it is way more comfortable (less vibration on the highway, less noice (I don’t like noice…) and more power.

Thanks a lot for advice on this!

Loes

[mark manley]

A friend who is 5" tall has owned both and said the 300 was underpowered even on Hawaii where they live, I would say the 500 would be a better bet especially on the US mainland.

[Flashdog]

How much did your friend weigh Mark?
Loes; in the USA you can test ride both if the dealership is halfway decent.
If you are light/small/ skinny then I would be inclined to take the smaller bike and save some money. All the usual suggestions apply; ie don’t carry mountains of stuff etc etc
BTW Honda has a 750 V twin shaft drive custom, “Shadow Aero” with a very low 25.9in seat could be a perfect travel bike, I like shaft drive ikes as you reduce the maintenance

[Loes]

Ha Flashdog,

I'm certainy not skinny! I'm 155 lbs, but I'm not physically strong.

The Shadow Aero is really low! It's heavier, but I will put it on my list; thanks!

[AnTyx]

One thing I would say is that if you go with a cruiser style bike, assume you won't be going offroad more than a decently maintained gravel road. But I think that is your preference anyway.

The Honda Rebel and Shadow are good choices for reliability. There is also the Kawasaki Vulcan, another small Japanese cruiser. Make sure you figure out what kind of luggage systems are available for your bike, and if you are okay with them.

One option that is not very common in the USA but is maybe worth a look, is a maxi scooter. Something like a Suzuki Burgman, and there are others available - they can be a decent option. Also consider a Yamaha Niken - it has three wheels, so it's inherently stable, and is a full-sized motorcycle that can do highways and carry luggage.

[Loes]

Thanks!

The availability of the luggage system is really a point. I was looking for the possibilities for the Rebel and for sure I cannot take as much luggage as I did on the F750!!!!

[AnTyx]

Originally Posted by AnTyx

There is also the Kawasaki Vulcan, another small Japanese cruiser.

I happened to be in the local Kawasaki/Triumph dealer yesterday and had a closer look at these. I think they could be a very good choice. 45kw so not intimidating, but plenty for the highway; and you can get a tall factory windscreen and luggage rack. The factory leather luggage is too small for sure, but you can definitely get some custom fittings for a big set of panniers, and with a rear-seat drybag, it could make for a very interesting long-distance low-seat tourer indeed.