I’m at the Long Beach Motorcycle Show all day, so no bikes for sale. Instead I’ll be learning all about next year’s new bikes so I can figure out what’s cool enough to share with you. Are you going to be there in the evening? Drop me a line and let’s meet up! Last night was the start of the local debuts – Honda had their global premiere of the new Rebel 300 and 500. It’s a new take on the Rebel 250, with tweaked powerplants from the new CBR300/500.
Under the covers, it looked a lot bigger!
As you can probably guess, the idea is to provide a easy to ride platform for young riders. In Honda’s words, “Both youth-focused customs promote cutting-edge style and self-expression,” so they’re hoping to see people customize them like this:
Other snippets from Honda’s press release:
TORRANCE, Calif. (Nov. 17, 2016) – Honda today introduced a pair of progressive customs that fuse tradition with groundbreaking new ideas and perspectives while providing ample scope for owner customization. Offering a fresh take on custom cool, the Rebel 500 and Rebel 300 mix old- and new-school style and are engaging and fun to ride, with an outlook geared toward firing the imagination of a younger generation of riders.
“For many riders who have grown up through the digital age, motorcycles represent a lifestyle and an attitude, a means of expressing their individuality,” said Lee Edmunds, Manager of Motorcycle Marketing Communications at American Honda. “The machines that speak to these riders need to reflect this, to fit with their life while also offering the potential for further individualization. The Rebel 500 and Rebel 300 are simple and raw, offering cutting-edge style and a radical image while minimizing the barriers to riding. There’s literally nothing else out there like them, and we’re confident that both models will appeal to young riders who want to stand out and are open to new experiences.”
You know, youth stuff:
In other exciting news, the US will finally get the Africa Twin in the awesome White/Red/Blue livery!
It’s going to be a good day. If you’re a social media person, I’ll be sharing some highlights from the show on Instagram.