This reviewer is the best I have found for comparison of motorbikes before one road tests them. I have bought a Honda CB300R from his comparison reviews and I have bought a Honda CB650 from his comparison reviews. I concluded that the Honda Rebel 500 was the best affordable cruiser 6 years ago for a short female based on quality and price and appearance and my opinion hasn't changed since the introduction of the ugly Kawasaki Eliminator that doesn't look like a cruiser to me or the offerings from Royal Enfield.
I grew up riding dirt bikes and then at age 58 i got a Suzuki intruder 1500. It is a recliner on two wheels but also a slug. I am looking for something that puts the fun into riding again and wondering what you would suggest I look into. Central Florida and have to cross the state to see family on highway 42 for a fun ride and 40 for a straight fast ride.
@davidcoleman6211 I would highly recommend test riding the Vulcan S. You may also enjoy the Super Meteor 650 but i would caution you that it does need you to be fairly comfortable with working on your bike. They rarely have major issues but minor pesky issues are fairly common.
@@RiderXpI am wanting to get away from the cruiser for something more sporty. Still want the comfort for the 3 hour ride but with the power to pass on the two lane roads that have moderate traffic. The Vulcan S still has the forward foot position and i like to stand up at times do to age and injuries from a life as an iron worker.
@@RiderXp Thank you for your advise. I am a UK expat living in Thailand. I have been looking at the Rebel 500 for my 5 foot (154 cm) Thai secretary. Honda have 76% of the Thai motorbike market. Nearly all Hondas under 750cc are manufactured in Thailand for the world market including the Honda Rebel.
I have a shotgun 650 in the uk. For anyone in the Uk considering getting one i will add to this review by saying the power is adequate for motorways, great in the city as it has a lot of low down torque for a 47 hp bike. The tyres are a bit squirmy in the wet, not dangerously so, but enough to give you a fright every now and then. I want to change mine asap. The exhaust note is too quiet for my liking, but sounds great with some new slip ons. The DNA air filter is a great addition in this bike. It majes a noticeable difference. So you may need to change a few things as i did, but its a great bike and a lot of fun to ride
I appreciate the way you deliver content. I owned a 2018 Himalayan for two years and had one issue that was covered under warranty. I've noticed some dealers dropping Royal Enfield after three years. If I decide to buy another and test ride the Himalayan 450, I'll ensure the dealer has a history with Royal Enfield for more than three years.
Thank you! US is a new market of Royal Enfields and they haven’t become as strong here as they are in the UK. I’m sure with time it’ll get better. And obviously, as i said, I’m in no way claiming that all RE’s are unreliable but dealer support is certainly important. Here in Florida I at least know one dealer who has been carrying RE’s for the past 3 yrs if not more. I’m not sure if they sell them a lot but I’m keen find out next time i go see them
I've owned my Vulcan S for 5 years, I road a Sportster for 18 years and also own a Triumph Bonneville. The Vulcan S is my go to daily bike. Absolutely love it!
Amazing. I have a rebel 500. Nowhere near your mileage. Do you find you have to change the chain quite often? I've done 3.5k and there's a clunking I can feel through the footpegs which seems to indicate chain/sprocket wear.
Thanks for the kind words! Rebel 500 is a great choice, Honda reliability & ease of use is unbeatable. Please share the video with other who may enjoy it. Currently working on my next video which will be released next week, please consider subscribing and watching it.
He was a new rider, probably came right after MSF to the demo ride. Being unsure of line and input on curves is pretty natural for new riders. Thankfully he made it back safely.
@@RiderXpI'm a new rider. Here in Quebec/Canada you cannot drive at a demo with a learner's driving licence 🙂 I already drove 1600km with my Vulcan S650 in 2 months. 🏍️ BTW nice reviews.
@draloha296 Awesome! Unfortunately, in the US (also in India) there is no such regulation so we get to see silly things like that. I’m glad you liked the videos, please share them with your friends who may find them useful.
The Vulcan S, although rather heavy for a newbie, can carry a passenger, once so equipped, easily down the Florida Highways. Plus since it is an older model it is easily discounted, many times down to the Eliminator price, which is barely discounted. The Honda also does not get that much discounted.
Take a look at the Honda PC800 Pacific Coast! The bike was ahead of it's time with respect to styling. I'm a returning rider! Before I bought my Pacific Coast, I rode the sport bike king of all time, a 1976 Kawasaki KZ-900. A wonderful machine! Now, 40 years later, I'm back in the saddle again. You'll find nothing priced at the level of the Pacific Coast! Mine is a 1990 edition, almost perfect, runs perfectly, has only 26k mikes on it, and was dealer serviced! I paid an astounding $2,234 for it, last month, that's September 2024!
I wish Kawi updated the Vulcan S with LEDs, full LCD screen, and perhaps a bit more ground clearance...something like 140mm. It'd be a perfect cruiser IMO.
After 3 decades I am returning to riding. So I've been considering 3 of the bikes you reviewed, so thank you for that. Leaning towards the Vulcan S but very disappointed they didn't use LED head light and include a center stand, the latter being almost essential! Still looking at used late model CTX and the V Strom as alternatives. Thanks again!
Yeah, I agree that the Vulcan S wins your test/review. The ergo-fit allows for shorter/taller riders. I've checked out many small to midsize cruisers recently, including the Yamaha Bolt and Honda Shadow Phantom. For me it boils down to the Phantom and the Vulcan S. Nice review!
The Phanton is a great bike as well, I have included that in the previous video I did comparing 7 or 8 cruisers. You'll enjoy watching that one as well. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-RLbbUz2Us-A.html
What a great review! I really enjoyed the exhaust sounds on the different bikes. Would be nice to see what the clocks look like for night riding though. I find my Meteor 350 clocks are way too bright and slightly hamper my vision at night. A bit like a small torch constantly shining straight at you.
Should I be offended that I bought my first bike last year and it was a Vulcan S? (and honestly, it was for all the same reasons. A 650 in the US is highway capable at 70+ speeds. And we aren't all 160 lbs anymore...)
Haha! No actually validated. When I lived in India I found it overkill when US content creators recommended 600s for beginners. But when I moved here and rode around on highways and interstates I realized that the sense of speed is different. A lot of people are a lot bigger and need the bike to have torque to get around. So the perception has changed. Funny story: In India a CBR650F was my third bike that I only dared to buy after about 7 yrs of riding experience and it still felt very powerful and I rode it with great respect. Cut to 2024, I was at a demo ride and out of curiosity I rode a CBR650R (newer gen of the same bike) to see how it feels on US roads. I was shocked that it felt painfully slow & unexciting. But it was a good reminder that the context changes by the region and I try my best to keep that in mind during my videos.
For me, Kawasaki are best looking in this contest! Both Eliminator and Vulcan S. RE are like what you said. Also 350 looks a lot better than 650. And Rebel ain't my style at all. Even though I ride Honda all my life.(apparently not the case for Rebel1100) Too bad that Vulcan doesn't update like 10 years now. And.... I don't know why my brain keep remembering that Vulcan use 17" front.😂
I'm glad you enjoyed the video. I've loved Hondas all my life but now I've been trying newer bikes. I'm with you on the missing updates, it would've been nice if they gave it a refresh beyond just 'bold new graphics'. It is a 18" front and 17" rear but handles pretty well(I remembered clearly but still double checked since you mentioned it). I am planning on videos about Royal Enfield 350s as well very soon. So stay tuned for that. Cheers!
@@equalfps Rebel has been around as a cruiser platform for longer so parts and support would be a lot more. Finding used bikes & used parts for cheap would be a lot easier with the Rebel. Just my two cents from a practicality standpoint. Other than that both are pretty good bikes to be honest.
i have a re continental gt, had some issues at the beginning, after that no other issues. its a simple bike with simple solutions, its great but not perfect. its like a good girlfiend has some issues but nothing crazy xd
Thank you for sharing your experience. I've been researching and talking to a lot of Royal Enfield owners for my next video and everyone who has owned Royal Enfields (especially from the 80s and 90s) keeps calling it that... a temperamental girlfriend that they're madly in love with. Stay tuned for the next video coming soon. I hope to capture the right vibe about REs in the next one and be less analytical and possibly more romantic about that one.
@nashd.2248 Rebel and Vulcan have the lowest seat height, you can choose between the two based on your preference for riding stance. Rebel has mid mounted foot controls, Vulcan has forward mounted ones. You may want to refer to the ergonomics section of the video one more time to get a sense of that.
Any recommendations. Cruiser bike that can take highway 300 miles trip? I had older Honda rebel 250 before. Im 5.4”, looking for budget easy maintain cruiser bike. Thanks
@@markjeepingful None in this group. I did make another video that includes a couple of shaft drive bikes (Boulevard & Shadow) that’s linked here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-RLbbUz2Us-A.html
Noise = sound = note = numerous other synonyms you could find in the English language. Usage will vary according to the life experience of the speaker and where it is spoken.
I usually say that but for some weird reason, the Vulcan S is an exception. In fact I have never liked that specific 650 Kawasaki engine but somehow Kawasaki made it work in the Vulcan, I was legit surprised how they did that.
