Honda Rebel 500 - 3,000 Mile Review: My Honest Opinion 

Fantastic story and points! That’s really cool that you got a Rebel to get back into riding on two wheels. I 100% agree, this bike is great for beginners, people getting back into motorcycles, or just riders in general wanting to try something different. It has the perfect balance in my opinion. Ride safe!

lot's of luck ride on!

I just acquired Honda Rebel 500 SE as my first bike. I'm still learning. I started late in life. I'm in my 40's . My riding friends were talking smack about getting that bike. They were all recommending Rebel 1100 which is way too powerful and too heavy as my first bike. I'm a small female and I feel that Rebel 500 gives me the happy balance. It's powerful enough but not crazy heavy. I can handle it. It's actually about 100 lbs lighter than the HD Street 500 that I rode in my MFS class. It's a great looking bike too. I get a lot of " looks" while riding. Be safe out there!

@@kingab6865 that’s awesome!! Congrats on getting your first bike, it’s awesome that you were able to do it. Forget the haters, it’s important to get what works for YOU. I totally agree, it is a great first bike in terms of the weight and power. Ride safe!

Hi, I'm a 64 year old guy. I bought myself a Rebel 500 S a couple of years ago. Hadn't ridden a motorcycle in over 40 years. The Rebel 500 is a fantastic bike to ride. I enjoy every mile on Norwegian roads between mountains and fjords, when spring comes and the snow has gone. The bike has now traveled about 9,000 miles.🙂👍🏻

Such a great bike to jump on and explore!! Ride safe and enjoy!

Hei åsem har hondan vært fornøyd?

I am 73 and I had bigger and heavier bikes in my life but I have never had as much fun as I do riding my 2022 Rebel 500. I do like riding with my windshield

Toby, thank you for the kind words, I am so glad you enjoy the videos and I was able to help you learn more about the Rebel 500. It’s such an incredible bike and I have really enjoyed riding it. It has enough power to make it a ton of fun and keep up anywhere you ride. If you do end up getting one, let me know what you think! Ride safe, and thanks again!

Haha I’m not sure about that, but I started on the Rebel 500, so I wanted to share my beginner perspective. I hear you, really making a bike comfortable for you to enjoy is super important. Ride safe!

That’s awesome! I’m glad you enjoyed the video, and congratulations on your first bike! You are going to love it! Ride safe and let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks Brotha! Just constantly learning and trying to improve. Ride safe!

Absolutely! That’s really cool, I see Rebels riding around from time to time. If you are close, it would be cool to do a group ride sometime!

Thank you so much! I have visited Ireland, I really like it over there. So beautiful!

Absolutely! If someone has never been on a bike before, it might take some getting used to. It’s in a really nice sweet spot where a seasoned rider can totally enjoy it.

Thank you! Yeah, I totally agree. I think the 500 is in the perfect sweet spot where a disciplined trained beginner can start on it, but a more experienced rider can really enjoy it.

Thank you so much!! It really is a great bike!

Wow! That is really fast. It is a great bike though!

I feel I have outgrown the 390 Duke that is one of my concerns as will be stuck with it for 4 years atleast. Would love if they had a 750 version hahah 1100 one feels over kill but 500 a bit too shy.

@@jonrando8727 Yup, it’s crazy to think that a grown 6’2” guy could even possibly outgrow a 500cc beginner bike. Ffs 🙄

That’s awesome!! I 100% think the mustang seat is perfect. I think it looks better on the Rebel than the stock seat and it’s way more comfortable. Good suggestion with the forward controls, that’s not a bad idea. I’ll have to look into that. Ride safe ✌️

That’s awesome!! I 100% think the mustang seat is perfect. I think it looks better on the Rebel than the stock seat and it’s way more comfortable. Good suggestion with the forward controls, that’s not a bad idea. I’ll have to look into that. Ride safe ✌️

Thanks for the input! Yeah, I have heard really awesome things about the Vance & Hines. I’m not the biggest fan of the look though, I like some of the other slip on options out there. But it does sound good, so I was planning to look into it more!

Thank you very much!! Yeah, getting in the 500 was one of the best things I have done in a long time. So much fun. Ride safe!

@@evergreenmoto I can only imagine! You too mate and keep up the good work

Thank you, I really appreciate it! Just doing my best to give my honest thoughts on the bike, but it’s been awesome so far. Glad you got the mustang seat figured out, it’s incredible how much of a difference it makes. And yes, that’s 1100 is a very enticing bike!

I had a Suzuki GS 850 years ago that was way too much bike for my then skinny 18 to 22 year old self. Gobs of power, but handling wasn’t great and I could barely get it back up if it went down. I haven’t thought about a bike in 30 some years since I sold the 850, but I’m getter g the itch. This seems like just the ticket to get back into it. I don’t want a powerhouse or a crotch rocket, and I damned sure don’t want some stupid chopper.

@@corneliuscrewe677 yeah, the Rebel fits that in a lot of ways. It’s a lighter bike that still have a good amount of power. I would recommend it for sure. That or the 1100. Cheers!

@@corneliuscrewe677 haha I like your profile picture.

@@evergreenmoto Damn, I thought I had started a new comment thread, sorry I hijacked this one. Red Foreman is my spirit animal 😆😆🤘Thanks for the insight on the bike. I’m not sure I want an 1100, I was never very restrained with the throttle when I had that 850, I’d rather not be tempted 😁 Of course, I was in my early 20’s then, I’d like to think I’m a bit more responsible at 52. I think that 500 would be just the ticket for me. Did I hear you say you got 50-something MPG?

Thank you, glad you enjoyed the video! Yeah, that’s fair. The seat is terrible. Check out my install and review of the mustang seat, it’s worth the upgrade for sure. Ride safe!

Yeah, I completely agree. I know most motorcycle manufacturers cut corners with seats, but they could have made this one slightly less crappy. Check out my mustang seat videos, it adds the much needed improvement!

Yeah, I agree. I don’t know why they don’t at least give you a factory option to upgrade to something better. My only thought is maybe they have agreements with all of the aftermarket companies to not make the seats better? Or think people will buy the bikes either way, so it’s a cost savings? Who knows…

Oh for sure, this bike is perfect for any kind of rider. I just addressed the beginner bike question because it comes up a lot. But I see myself enjoying this bike well beyond the beginner years. It does awesome on the interstate. Cheers!

I am a 15 year veteran on two wheels and this is my bike as well. It's a blast to ride , very smooth with plenty of power. It's just like a perfect all around bike. Only thing I changed was the stock seat

@@larzman651 thank you for your service! Yeah, I really like the Rebel 500. It works for so many occasions. Once the stock seat is switched out, I had no complaints.

Ride on old man. I'm 69 and got a Kawasaki z 400 2022 grand kids love it but adults find it uncomfortable as a passenger. So I wonder how the Honda 500 is? Otherwise I have been looking at the Kawasaki valcon 650.

@@YooperDanKulka That's great there are a lot of older guys like us riding. I haven't had a passenger on my Rebel 500 yet. The video's I've seen with a passenger looked good

That’s awesome, what kind of bike did you upgrade to? Exactly. For my size, the Rebel 500 is perfect. And I really think it is a perfect “middle road” option. Anyone can start on it, and any rider can enjoy it. It does awesome in the highways (video coming soon, stay tuned) but I 100% see a bigger heavier bike being more comfortable.

I think it is more of an intermediate bike. It is good for a beginner as well as a seasoned rider.

@@timothyforsythe3155 exactly!

Well I really respect that you are getting back on two wheels. I’m sure it’s been hard working through a bad crash and dealing with all that comes with it, physically and mentally. The 500 is going to be an awesome bike to get back into riding with. Good luck, ride safe, and here is to many great rides in your future✌️

Thank you for sharing your experience! I completely agree, it really feels like a great bike for someone to start on, but something they can grow into over time. Yeah, I love that it has 6 gears. Makes highway riding a great experience. How do you like the Scout Rogue? That’s a really nice looking bike.

Thanks man!! Glad the audio is working out! I use the GoPro Hero 9 with the Giant Squid mic. Links are in the description if you are curious! Ride safe!! ✌️

Oh no! I’m sorry to hear about your crash, I hope everything is okay! I’m glad that you have been enjoying the Rebel 500, it’s a ton of fun and I think a fully capable bike. It’s the Puig windscreen, check out my video on it! Ride safe ✌️

I need a vehicle and I’m thinking of getting a motorscooter like the Honda metropolitan but after looking around online in now thinking the Honda “Navi” cause it’s super affordable and has an automatic transmition, no clutch to deal with like motor scooters and mopeds which is what I’m more used to. Gonna get a Honda Navi in Green as my first bike and eventually work my way upto this Honda Rebel 500, I been looking at the 250 rebel bikes for the last 25 years 😂. This is the year I get one. But like I said I’m gonna get a Honda Navi maby try to get a good deal on a last years model. But a new vehicle by a real company like Honda for about $1,000 n done, is amazing.😊

That’s awesome!! I would love to test ride a Vulcan one day to see what it is like vs. the Rebel. I like it, I think it does pretty good. There are times that it is hard to see, but really only when there is direct sun on it, so if I am riding with the sun right behind me or above me. But even then, it is only for a few seconds. Otherwise if it is just bright out, I don’t have any issues seeing it. Good luck with your first bike!!

I’ll see if I can get out and check those bikes out once they are available!

Yeah, I agree!

Yeah, I think you can. I think it’s about finding the right ones that would mount nicely to the frame, but I think the better option would be to install crash bars and then mount pegs to those. I don’t think it is long at all, I think it is pretty straight forward and something that can be done at home. Thanks!

That’s awesome, congratulations! It’s going to be a ton of fun once it comes. Waiting till March is tough!

I bought one from our honda dealer with 700km. 1. Service is done and i will do my permit with it. Yes im also a beginner and cant wait for my first ride in 2023 (1.74m 37 years old )

@@opium-jack2985 congratulations! Ride safe.

I think it handles 70 totally fine. In fact, I have a video coming out soon where I take it on a long distance ride and it does really well. I don’t have a tachometer yet, so I’m not 100% sure, but I recall barely twisting the throttle and probably sitting around 3k rpm’s while riding in 6th gear in the 70s. Still plenty of power left for sure. I haven’t really had experience with those bikes (while they look pretty cool) but I will say, for highway riding, you want to make sure you have 6 gears. I have a buddy who has a 5 gear Yamaha V-Star and you really have to rev it up to go 70-75 on the highway, not great for long distances. Since the Rebel 500 is liquid cooled with 6 gears, it does totally fine on the highway. Hope this helps!

Thanks! It’s the puig 9462 H. Review coming soon!

A trip that is 1000 miles long? Yeah, for sure I think it would handle it. I did a 300 mile trip a few months ago and there were no issues that I could see happening. The only things I wished I had were cruise control and highway pegs.

I’ve heard arguments on both sides, but I’ve generally been told by motorcycle instructors to go with abs. I don’t think it’s a huge deal if you don’t, but I do have friends who started on bikes without abs and their brakes have locked up a few times. You just need to be a lot more careful with the breaks, but it is a good way to practice progressive breaking. I’ve only had my abs go off a handful of times before since I got my bike, but you never know. I recommend that you do some research and consider all of the factors. Good luck!

Yeah, 100%! The Rebel 500 will do awesome on the highway and freeway. It should have plenty of power to be a commuter. That’s awesome! Where are you at in the PNW?

@@evergreenmoto I'm about 30 minutes north of Seattle. You?

@@ToyotaSubieDude I’m about 50 minutes south of Seattle haha. If you ever want to meet up and ride, let me know!

@@evergreenmoto that would be awesome. Maybe once I get faster bike since I only have a z125 and that would take forever to get anywhere that's more than a couple cities away haha

@@ToyotaSubieDude fair enough!

For sure, the stock seat is comfortable for short rides, but anything over an hour you start to really feel it. Just in case someone else wonders, I used the giant squid mic and a GoPro hero 9! Cheers!

For sure! I am a huge fan of all the gear all the time. Great advice!

That’s awesome! Congrats on getting your first bike, I hope you have been enjoying it a ton! The Rebel 500 is great and can totally go on any highway. Ride safe!

@@evergreenmoto thank you still trying to convince my coworkers. It is a small motorcycle but they don’t believe me even though Honda says so and I’m like but guys it’s got gears and I have to use them. And I have been taking safety seriously I have a very good helmet and other safety gear I wear on a regular basis. I did my research a lot before I bought this bike. My goal was to get the most inexpensive, reliable and economical all around bike that I could and the cub is what I came up with, and also the things that kill motorcycle riders, the most are drinking riding which I will never do and high speed which the cub cannot do so I figured the two things that kill motorcycle riders the most can’t get me not that other things can’t, of course. Apparently, the guy bought it for his girlfriend, and in his words, she was petrified of the cub. I’m not sure why I have found that I am not as scared of it. I mean, it is a piece of machinery. It has no self driving features. It does whatever I physically tell it to do. I have found that it gets anywhere from 60 to 100 miles a gallon depending on how I ride it if I ride it as fast as I possibly can it’s towards the 60 end of the spectrum but if I’m going like 35 and fourth gear and keep it there it gets closer to 100 per gallon. So far, I have replaced the chain rear tire and I recently did a valve adjustment which it technically didn’t need but you’re supposed to check it every 4000 miles. I do an oil change every 2000 miles but when I first got it, I did an oil change at 300 miles and 600 miles for the break-in. So I’m basically cutting the oil change intervals in half because I want the thing to last, and it only takes a quart of oil. And I’ve adjusted the chain before I replaced it and I have adjusted the rear brakes numerous times but that’s OK not difficult to do. I also added a rear rack and a 65 L locking waterproof box which I love that thing. Soon I’m gonna put a little front rack on it and a tiny box in the front. Oh, and I also added a side stand. Which is definitely convenient.

@@charleshunt3806 that’s awesome! It sounds like you have already been making the bike your own which is awesome. The future plans sound really cool as well! I totally agree, safety is very important when riding and taking it seriously really helps to lower your chances of having an accident. Ride safe and enjoy this up coming riding season!

All good points! I will have to think about that stuff for part 2.

That’s really awesome! Tell her congrats, she is going to love it. Ride safe ✌️

Yeah, I think so. I think the biggest issues now are not having enough storage capacity and not having highway foot pegs/forward controls. But I’ve gone over 200 miles on the seat and felt totally fine after the ride.

Cool. I might get a Rebel next season for touring! Thanks!

@@basedmushroom I hope you do, such a fun bike!!

Hahaha yeah, it was lookin real nice in the sun that day 😎 Glad you are enjoying the videos!

To add to that, my Burgman is sooo heavy that I’d rather take my Honda Monkey 9 out of 10 times because of the ease of getting it out and back in my garage. I believe my Burgman is 500 pounds! Seriously. That’s a heavy ‘scooter’.

@@mikem9953 the windscreen makes a huge difference, I have a review coming soon so stay tuned! But it does a great job at keeping the direct wind off of me mostly. When I ride in colder weather I notice my arms and legs getting colder faster.

Thanks man. Good, honest review.

Thanks man. Good, honest review.

Thanks man. Good, honest review.

I hear you, I’ve never been on an 1100 on the interstate, but I will say, the 500 has more than enough power for the interstate. Once you hit 80, it starts to diminish. I’m sure the 1100 is awesome on the interstate.

Good question! In general, I think the 1100 would be a good bike to progress to. For me personally and for the channel? I’m not sure yet. There are a lot of bikes that interest me so I plan to do some test rides next year. What would you like to see next?

Thanks for the feedback! I’ll need to mention the suspension on a future video. Cheers!

O?

Haha probably should but… 🤷‍♂️

I did the same for the longest time. I have a 500 same color as yours.

@@timpatrick2109 yeah, I’ll get around to it eventually. That’s awesome, it’s a great bike!

😂 I guess you caught me….

Year for sure!! I think the 500 is an awesome bike and is a great all around cruiser. It does great on the highway, is super nimble, and a ton of fun. If you are looking for something with a bit more power, take a look at the Rebel 1100, it’s got a few more features like cruise control and different riding modes. You might want something with a bit more power since you are coming from a sportbike. Honestly, you can’t go wrong with either one though. Let me know what you decide!