Honda Rebel 300 and My Unreasonably High Expectations

The Honda Rebel 300 is intriguing to say the least, and it may succeed where the Rebel 500 may not as much. Image taken from the Honda motorcycles USA website.

I see the arrival of the Honda Rebel 300 as the arrival of someone important - yes, I said someone, not something. Someone whose significance we don’t yet fully realise. It’s like the coming of a new teacher whose knowledge and teaching methods change the fortunes of a class for good. Like a new friend who goes on to be cherished forever. Like the joining of a new team member whose skills were not yet known to be missed but they were!

Am I exaggerating the Rebel 300? Am I overestimating it? You may think I am. But I don’t think so because I truly believe in its potential to succeed, especially in our market.

And it’s not merely a case of the fact that we don’t have anything like it in its segment here, even though that is actually true! At the same time, it’s nothing more than hype if it doesn’t turn out to be any good. The bike has to be good. Damn good.

It is also very interesting, to me, that the launch of the Rebel 300 hasn’t created much noise as such. It’s been quite lowkey. It’s been very understated. But do we know for sure if the Rebel 300 is any good? The only way to know that would be to ride it, and so it will take some time before that happens.

But the Rebel is not a new platform. It’s been around for a while in major international markets in the form of the Rebel 250/300, Rebel 400/500, and the Rebel 1100. All Rebel motorcycles are a mix of a new chassis platform with an existing engine from motorcycles like the CBR250R, CB300R, Honda’s 500cc parallel-twin as well as the Africa Twin’s parallel-twin.

Funnily enough, the Rebel 300 is not the first Rebel in India. Honda previously introduced the Rebel 500 here but it was quite expensive as a CBU (Completely Built Unit) and hence, out of the budget or preference for many riders out there.

At a starting price of just ₹2,22,000, I see great potential in the Rebel 300 to succeed in our country.

But now things are changing. Honda is changing its approach towards the Indian market and taking it more seriously than before. The Rebel 300 launched recently will be made in India completely which means competitive pricing. And it shows in the pricing figures - starting at ₹2,22,000 (and ₹2,62,000 for the E-clutch version). The Rebel 500 which will be launched later will also be made in India this time, or at least it will be heavily localised to keep the pricing sensible.

Anyway, the price at which the Rebel 300 has been launched - ₹2,22,000 - shouldn’t be taken lightly in my opinion. The figure is disruptive and if the motorcycle is as good as I believe it to be, it shall be disruptive too. And I hope people are smart enough to see that eventually.

Nothing currently available is close to it. Nothing from Royal Enfield. Nothing from Triumph really. And nothing from Jawa/Yezdi (I don’t consider the Bobber or the Perak of any importance).

All these aforementioned companies have combinations of standard/classic and modern-retro roadster motorcycles. The Rebel 300, on the other hand, is a proper modern-cruiser and that too, in the sub-400cc segment which makes it even more special. It promises a riding dynamic and experience unlike anything that is currently provided to us under 400cc in India.

But its benefits as a unique offering only matter because it is backed by a proven platform and a certain equally-fantastic motorcycle - the CB300R. An exceptional motorcycle that was underappreciated.

The way the CB300R was engineered and built, it made us fall in love with that little engine! Now the Rebel 300 is not that light, of course. According to the Honda USA website, the Rebel 300 E-clutch version weighs around 172 kg, which means that the standard (non E-clutch) version should weigh 2-3 kg less. Because that’s usually the difference in weight between Honda’s standard and E-clutch versions of motorcycles.

That's quite heavy compared to the CB300R, but the point is, we know the potential of that engine. It is far from boring. It is lively. It is exciting! And that’s what I am looking forward to in the Rebel 300.

To be honest, the Rebel 300 makes me excited because of the way it is. But I need to ride it to be sure regardless of my trust in it that it’s a really good motorcycle (as a Honda). And so it makes me wonder. I am curious to find out. And I have a strong feeling it will be a great fun motorcycle.

I believe the Rebel 300 is possibly one of the best additions in Honda India lineup. A lovely 286cc engine that is proven in the CB300R, a solid Rebel chassis platform, and a design language that promises a fresh riding experience throughout. Image taken from the Honda motorcycles USA website.

The Rebel 300 sits low - at around 690 mm - which is appropriate for it as a cruiser. But then it starts to move away from traditional cruiser traits. For example, the wet weight of nearly 172 kg is still well under control and is noticeably lighter than everything that Royal Enfield, Jawa or Yezdi, and Triumph can throw at it.

The styling of the motorcycle is something that only resembles another Rebel, and not some classic cruiser. The barebones design with the completely exposed chassis that goes around the engine like a twin-spar frame is one of the highlights when you lay your eyes on the Rebel. It is an inseparable factor that creates the Rebel’s unique visual impact along with its aggressively-angled fuel tank. The manner in which the fuel tank is angled upwards at the front is similar to how a lot of fuel tanks rest on custom choppers! And that’s what gives this motorcycle an imposing look.

With a flat-ish handlebar that doesn’t look too wide, 16-inch wheels at both ends, mid-set foot-pegs, and a well-crafted, impeccably-finished, modern, industrial design, the Rebel 300 looks too inviting to me to ignore. I just can’t dismiss it as something that some people might consider overweight or boring with a tiny 286cc engine. The power and torque figures should be around 31 PS and 28 NM, respectively, that are enough for a brisk performance. And I'm positive the motorcycle doesn't ride anything like a traditional cruiser or a classic/standard roadster.

I think the Rebel 300 is probably good enough to keep even experienced riders happy. I think we tend to see motorcycles in a certain way as we spend years riding them - that small motorcycles (or less powerful ones) aren’t good enough anymore for experienced riders. But this is not true. While experience makes you a sensible rider, ideally, to confidently ride big and powerful motorcycles, it also enables you to enjoy small bikes in a way you previously didn’t (or couldn’t) do when you had less experience.

The Honda Rebel 300, with its design more than anything else, makes me want to ride it a lot and see how it handles. How it takes on the intense city traffic. How it takes on a series of corners on twisty mountain roads. And definitely, how it goes on a highway with that tiny, little 286cc single-cylinder, liquid-cooled, DOHC, 4-valve engine. I am so looking forward to this motorcycle right now that I can't allow myself to get distracted with the thought that I might be expecting a bit too much from the smallest Rebel!