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To Rebel Or Not To Rebel
Blog Date - 28 August 2025
The regulars here know I once had a little accident and I have three screws in my left hip. They'll also know some 23 years after my little accident I am developing arthritis in said hip. I'm definitely not at the can't barely walk any more stage, I'm at the if I sit too long or do too much ladder work or sleep funny I get a bit of an ache stage. A friend of mine describes it as "a mild toothache in the hip".
Bit of double sided sticky tape and a self tapper, be right as rain that.
This ache also appears when I'm on a longish ride. Because I like to do longish rides this is a bit of a problem.
I presently own a CB500X 2018 model. Before that I owned a CB500X 2016 model. Between these 2 bikes I've done 98,000 miles so you'd be right in thinking I do like the Honda CB500X. Alas and alack I got to thinking though - is it the seating position on the CB500X that is leading to my aching hip? Do I have to get a different bike?
The current workhorse in it's preferred guise of camping tour motorcycle.
You see the human condition is a foolish one. We are constantly, endlessly seeking to improve our lot. From the six year old faced with a choice of crisps or chocolate, to the billionaire struggling to decide between the latest Bugatti or Ferrari - our lives are filled with angst. Mostly self induced angst if you're not starving or living in the middle of a war or have a terrible disease.
Yeah, it's the bike innit. Yeah having my footpegs (and therefore my feet) practically below my backside, yeah, it's messing up all my ergonomics innit. Yeah I need a more relaxed seating position don't I. Yeah, yeah I do. Oooh and I've always liked Honda's Rebel haven't I and that has a more relaxed seating position doesn't it. Yeah. Hmmm Yeah I need a Rebel 500 don't I. Yeah.
I must be getting old. Having convinced myself I need a CMX 500 Rebel I'm starting to ask some quite reasonable questions. Firstly - will the seating position of the Rebel ACTUALLY improve anything? There really is only one way to find out - that's to ride the darn thing. Of course most test rides are like "half an hour mate" and half an hour is not enough to decide if the bike is going to hurt or not.
I also consider if the CMX will be as suitable for touring as my X has proved. Can I get luggage for it? Yes, plenty of options. Can I get a screen for it? Yes, plenty of options. Will it actually go around corners? I'll have to ride it but most reports say they handle fine. Engine bars? Check. Hand guards? I'll fit my own ridiculous horrors anyhow. Having sat on one in a shop I realise there's a lot less real estate around the bike without any fairings. Less wind protection?
Looks similar to my load - job's a guddun.
Still, despite my sensible thoughts I'm still convincing myself. BUT!! I'm not spending 4-6 grand (used-new) on a bike that won't actually fix my hip issue. I need to ride one. I REALLY need to RIDE one! Hire one? I looked myself and asked on here, there's a place daaan saaaaf that'll hire me one for £188 a day. It's a thought... And then I dropped into Blackpool Honda this bank holiday Monday.
I give Simon the salesman a shortened version of this tale. They don't have a 500 demo at the moment but they do have an 1100 Rebel demo? Nope, definitely not, way too powerful and not economical. They do have 3 used ones in - one of them has a screen and a luggage rack... and AND AND I can take it out! AND AND AND Simon says take it out for an hour, 2 if you want. "Look we close at 1700 just be back before then with enough time to put it away." I am dumbfounded.
"Just don't bend it please..."
I will do a proper review of my thoughts on the Rebel 500 elsewhere. Briefly though that 500 engine is still awesome in the cruiser. It does corner perfectly well although the OE tyres aren't great (this applies to many new bikes). Everything works and does what it ought to (it's a Honda). I like it. BUT...
After an hour on the bike it's there, my aching hip. Dagnammit!
There's another thing too - the slightly feet forwards (mid position) pegs and the bar position kind of "fixes" you in your seating position more than the CB500X does. There's less seat to move forwards or back on. It is possible to stand on the pegs while riding the Rebel but it's a lot harder than on the X. Being able to stand up, shuffle around, sit in different places and stretch out all help ease my discomfort. There are simply fewer options for shuffling on the CMX500.
I have a hoot on my test ride. A little motorway work, a few roundabouts, some single track, some twisties, and some traffic too. But it's there, my little aching hip. I return to Blackpool Honda a tad dejected and inform Simon that regrettably the Rebel is not my panacea. He's a salesman, of course he wanted the sale, but he takes it well with a smile.
So what next? The Africa Twin and Transalp will both have "more room" to stretch about - but neither will return 80mpg all day. They're both too tall and powerful for my style anyhow. Same with other models such as the splendid NT1100. I am MORE than happy with Honda's 471cc 180 degree parallel twin engine, I particularly like it's mixture of performance and economy. I shall be sticking with the CB500X for now, I'll just keep shuffling and stopping regularly in the hope of keeping the hip in as good condition as I can.
Thanks to Simon at Blackpool Honda for the opportunity to ride the Rebel for more than "half an hour mate", much appreciated.
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Reader's Comments
Paul said :-
I've not looked into the detail, but would engine bar mounted footpegs help?
29/08/2025 09:43:13 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
Those footrests look to be in a similar position to the ones on my B'Zuki. But that benefits from having a flattish dual seat - about 31" high -that allows changes of position, and is also higher than the Honda so the hip angle would be less. As I've mentioned before I was initially quite suspicious of the forward rests and planned to move them in the fullness of time but have decided that I'll leave them as thay are despite occasionally waving my feet about trying to find them.
I'm sure you could change the seat on the Honda to make it more ergonomically suitable. Speaking of ergonomics, you know abou this site don't you? Unfortunately it doesn't seem to have that model Rebel but does have others.
https://cycle-ergo.com/...
29/08/2025 10:04:32 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
ps tried to add photo but got an error - see link. Here's the photo.
29/08/2025 10:10:42 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
I occasionally get that error too Ian - and as yet I've not sussed it. I've removed the link you put up as I don't need people poking around in my code :)
The cyclo-ergo site has the Rebel 1100 but not the Rebel 500. I've used this site quite a few times, it's a clever piece of kit.
29/08/2025 10:29:10 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
There's been talk of "highway pegs" for the CB500X I already have Paul. It's still being considered.
29/08/2025 11:16:45 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
Re the error - it seems to happen if I edit a post to add a picture. May be other times as well but I think always when editing. Right first time? Not round here mate.
Re highway pegs - as I mentioned, they're fine till you need to change gear / brake. OK for hundreds of miles of freeway - less so for nadgery B roads.
29/08/2025 12:04:01 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
IMHO, get the seat sorted, if it's still standard then it will have been borderline useless from new and is now full of tired foam. Buy some decent adjustable footpegs, it's not hard.
For £500.00 the bike will be transformed and when you swap it for another X you can swap the bits over.
Just my opinion but the Rebel looks pants and a cruiser seating position is not the answer, it's physics innit.
So for £500 ish you will have more comfortable (?) riding for the next ten years or more.
29/08/2025 13:12:43 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
Or. Even less with the cheap options.
https://sw-motech.com/en/products/ergonomics/cushions/4052572045824.htm...
29/08/2025 13:36:53 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
https://www.saddlecraft.co.uk/airrider/...
29/08/2025 13:34:10 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
https://sw-motech.com/en/products/ergonomics/footrests/...
29/08/2025 13:36:18 UTC
Bogger said :-
You're coming at this 'problem' from the wrong angle.
It's not the bike that need changing, it's your hip pal.
Bogger...........always there with the answer
29/08/2025 14:17:15 UTC
nab301 said :-
Ren it's a difficult one to call , modifying seats and pegs doesn't always help as I found out on my BMW, I bought a cheap s/hand seat and got it modified but it was worse .. The tank is broad on the BMw possibly splaying my hips , not uncomfortable when riding but unable to walk after dismounting! The 650 Transalp that didn't agree with my hips was traded for an older 600 bandit , all day comfort for a few years until ankle issues meant the gear change would have required modification and also it was a naked version and I never got an aftermarket screen to work effectively.
I know it's no use for luggage but see if you can road test the Rebels incestuous relation , the CL500 , it looks different in the seating dept (narrower too) compared to the 500X. As with the Rebel , I reckon the twin shocks might be a comfort issue , we'll see when you post the road test .
Nigel
29/08/2025 16:04:37 UTC
Glyn said :-
I second that BMW issue Nigel. I hadn’t thought it might be the width of the tank but now you mention it.. I sat on the Honda CMX500 at the NEC bike show a few years back and was greatly impressed by it. The price was not unreasonable either but other than sit there for a few moments I have no idea of what it would be like to live with for hours on end. My issues (many years ahead of you Ed) are starting to worry me about balance, especially very low speed left to right over-exaggerated wobble. This is much worse on a cruiser because of the steering rake almost allowing the bike to fall into the turn when implemented. I seem to have the same issues now as when I was learning to ride a bike when I was 5 or 6 years old. I seem to have much more control on the lightweight TZR, the reason for which I am unsure. I’m thinking the Goldwing trike might be the answer to my final years of non 4 wheeled travelling, then it’ll be time to utilise the bus pass ( if there were any buses around her that is).
29/08/2025 19:28:50 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
I must confess that I too occasionally look at trikes although so many are appallingly built. I'm probably even older than you Glyn and the balance thing occasionally nearly catches me out although in truth the problem is more in perception than in fact. It mainly appears when I'm pushing bikes around to get them out of the garage, or putting them on centre stands.
The only bike I've ever actually fallen over with in such circumstances was the ill-chosen Yamaha Xmax a few years ago when I found myself almost pinned to the floor. Fortunately I managed to shove it hard enough to get out otherwise I would have beeen there till my wife found me. Which may have been some time.
30/08/2025 10:08:56 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
Getting older is a privilege not afforded to many, but it is certainly not without it's drawbacks.
I'm glad to be reading the comments in as much that I'm realising a few things.
1. I'm not the only one.
2. There's a range of options.
3. It's not going to magically get better, I'm not going to become young again.
4. I've always been a grumpy curmudgeon. It seems I am beginning to mature into a group of peers equally curmudgeonly.
01/09/2025 08:12:43 UTC
Bogger said :-
Ren I've looked again at the image of your hip. I can see the problem, they've come undone a bit. The washers look very loose.
If you pop round one night I'll get one of my lads impact gun on them for you.
Bogger
02/09/2025 08:26:37 UTC
Glyn said :-
Sadly, it’s not only the physical reminders that you have to contend with. I’m often disappointed with myself for doing something daft that I’m sure I wouldn’t have done a few years back. In relation to daftness and balance, I dropped the TZR in the garage a few days ago. Fortunately, I had removed the fairings to get at the carbs so the really delicate parts were not exposed. The impact did break the clutch lever and, luckily, very little other damage is evident. It was a simple mistake entirely of my making. I moved the bike forward a little with the sidestand down not realising the forward movement had shifted it back from the pivot point . It stood happily for a second or two before dropping down. I was still beside it and managed to prevent a really heavy fall. It took me a while to recover my thoughts and then pick the bike up. I was pretty upset with myself. The new clutch lever has now arrived and has been fitted. I’m just lucky it wasn’t the 200kg Intruder. I definitely did the right thing selling the 260kg BMW. Bogger is right, go for the lightweight Cub type bike, it won’t stop me being a silly old fool though.
02/09/2025 08:34:26 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
It's a very kind offer Bogger but I think the impact gun might be overkill. A decent torque wrench set to 30 foot pound ought to be enough surely?
Oh no Glyn!! That's a bummer dropping the TZR (and not damaging that infernal engine...).
Be careful though - did you never ever drop things, make mistakes, do stupid things, and generally mess up when you were younger? Yes there is little doubt dotage means you lose strength, become less sharp, and things get more difficult. But I have noticed older folks blame everything on age - even things that might just as easily have happened when they were younger. Dropping the TZR (or a 260kg BMW) could happen at any age. But yeah, lifting a 260kg BMW is difficult for the young let alone the aged.
02/09/2025 09:01:44 UTC
Glyn said :-
Perhaps it’s the fact that you become more willing to own up to things when you’ve aged a bit Ren. The stock answer when we were at school was “it wasn’t me”! All we needed back then was a pensioner willing to admit to everything whilst the kids just got on with learning stuff, academic or life skills stuff. But, I think I came from a different society where we weren’t all “amazing, inspirational and brilliant “ like my grandchildren are apparently.
02/09/2025 10:20:18 UTC
Bogger said :-
Yea when I was at school we were either very thick, a bit thick, brainy, clever, stupid, nuts, or mad.
Or a combination of all of the above. I know which category I was in and it wasn't the brainy or clever one. Surprise!
Bogger
02/09/2025 11:19:27 UTC
Glyn said :-
Back in our youth there wasn’t enough spectrums to go around. There was only 1 lad in a school of 250 who was known to be a bit odder than could be explained with just being “naughty.” There must be something in the water/ air/ food etc that has caused such a high percentage of mental illness these days.
03/09/2025 12:14:38 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
You know how much you'll be paid these days for being able to tag your child strange?
It's not fair because I'm really strange and got nowt!
03/09/2025 13:15:11 UTC
CrazyFrog said :-
I bought a 2023 CMX500 earlier in the year Ren. I've had 5 operations on my hands over the last 10 years, and the last one on my left hand has left it very weak. The clutch on my Enfield Meteor was making my hand very uncomfortable after more than half an hour, so I swapped for the Rebel which has an ultra light slipper clutch. I was worried about tank range on the Rebel, but I'm getting between 180 and 200 miles to the tank, which is fine for me. The seat isn't the best, but the addition of an air cushion has made the bike comfortable enough for up to 3 hours before I need to stretch my legs, which is good enough for me. I've been on a couple of camping weekend's with it, and it's been fine, as you'd expect. I definitely recommend having a test ride!
10/09/2025 19:51:37 UTC
CrazyFrog said :-
Sorry, I posted the above without finishing reading your article - I got distracted, which is another of the joys of getting on a bit! Sorry to hear the Rebel didn't help your hip issue. Dare I say this may be a case of managing expectations? Though the clutch is a delight on the Rebel, both of my hands are either numb, or aching like mad after a couple of hours cycling or motorcycling, not to mention my arthritic elbows and hips. In my case it's grit your teeth and bear it or pack it all in...
10/09/2025 20:03:08 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
Sharon's Z500 has the "slipper" clutch. The correct term is "Slip Assist" as not only does it act as a slipper clutch (designed to prevent overrevving or locking the rear on silly downshifts (when racing)) but also "tightens" when torque from the engine is applied, thus lighter springs can be used. This is the assist aspect. They are lovely ain't they CrazyFrog! In fact it takes me a few moments to adjust to Sharon's clutch as it's so light I keep thinking the cable is broken.
I have ridden one Crazy Frog - the result of the seating position for myself is documented here. I shall, when I pull my finger out of my derreire, be writing a review on said machine. I shall take note of your tank range too - it was a concern of mine but 180 is more than enough for any normal human being ain't it. Unless you're crossing the Russian Steppe and that's not likely given the current Ukrainian situation.
10/09/2025 20:25:18 UTC
nab301 said :-
Ren , thanks for the brief description of the slip assist clutch , While I Enjoy the benefits of it (light action) on my 500R I'd never thought about how it works but it really is the lightest clutch of any bike I've ridden .
Nigel
12/09/2025 13:56:51 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
I've never had (nor, as might be expected found the need for) a slipper clutch. Could someone more versed in the concept explain to me why it should be lighter in operation? Could it possibly be like the servo clutch fitted to Vincent twins?
12/09/2025 14:07:29 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
Imagine a nut and bolt. Imagine the bolt is attached to the crank and the nut is attached to the transmission. This bolt is configured such that when the engine is under power it turns the bolt in the nut to tighten. Now put a clutch pack between the nut and bolt.
As the engine drives the bolt tightening the nut this compresses the clutch pack. Assist. When the throttle is closed the transmission is now trying to undo the nut. Slipper.
In the real world we don't have a threaded nut and bolt. We have short ramps but the principle is the same.
With the engine driving the transmission the ramps pull the clutch pack tighter, this means we need less stiff springs to keep the clutch pack engaged, leading to a lighter clutch lever. A regular clutch if configured correctly is just fine with regular strength hands. If however you have weakness in the hand or RSI as I have at the moment, or you just like a light clutch... The assist is lovely.
12/09/2025 22:44:45 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
The original slipper clutches only slipped on the overrun to protect the engine and prevent the rear wheel locking up under excessive engine braking. As such the ramps were one sided. I don't know which genius figured out you could double side the ramps and use the same force to compress the plates.
12/09/2025 22:54:45 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
Thanks Ren, my knowledge has increased 1,000%. Obviously different to the Vincent item which was effectively a conventional clutch but driven by a twin leading sho brake arrangement. The conventional clutch gave initial engagement which then drove the brake by centrifugal action. A bit like the auto clutches on Honda 50s and the like although Vincent purists would disagree.
13/09/2025 13:16:38 UTC
CrazyFrog said :-
Great explanation, thanks Ren. I can't think of any reason to move away from the Honda 500 platform when I next change bikes in 4 or 5 years. Apart from the lovely clutch, the engine is a peach in every way. 45 - 55 bhp is a sweet spot IMHO. Not so big as to make the bike a behemoth, and more than enough go for every day riding. The exceptional economy of the Honda engine is the icing on the cake.
14/09/2025 12:58:11 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
Oddly I thought I'd find a youtube video that would explain slip assist clutches. I'm still looking for one that actually shows you what's going on...
15/09/2025 07:40:03 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
This will show you the components - watch the whole video for more details
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJOGKCbvMo8&t=120s...
15/09/2025 07:45:36 UTC
nab301 said :-
Excellent Ren , thanks.
Nigel
15/09/2025 16:18:10 UTC
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