Anyone Outgrow their Rebel?

**Croz** · 09-10-2010, 12:39 PM

As I said in another post, my wife is considering learning to ride, and she likes the Rebel because the seat height and weight feel like a bike she could handle. (She's only 5 feet tall)

But of the couples we ride with, 2 women have learned on a Rebel, and both quickly moved on to bigger bikes. (One a Shadow 750 and the other a Sportster 883) They both said the small engine on the Rebel wasn't enough for them, and they wanted bigger bikes. Now, they are both a few inches taller than my wife, and a bit more physical / athletic than she is.

(Now they both learned on the same Rebel, and it doesn't seem to run super smooth. I suspect the engine might not be running at the peak)

My wife sat on the Shadow 750 and couldn't flat foot the bike, like she can with the Rebel. I'm not a huge fan of the idea that you need a huge engine. My wife and I currently ride 2 up on my Shadow 500, and it does just fine for our style. I can't imagine that 2 up on my 500 could be better than just her on a 250. But I'd hate to take the plunge and then be trying to sell it soon after that.

I'm just wondering if anyone finds that they started with a Rebel and then quickly found out that it wasn't enough bike for them?

Does anyone have trouble with acceleration, or find that the Rebel doesn't work for them on the Interstate? (We're not big interstate riders, but occasionally you have no choice.)

**Buickguy** · 09-10-2010, 12:53 PM

Some people do feel that hey have outgrown their Rebels.

I am not one of them. I bought mine new and kept it. I've had bigger bikes before and since but the Rebel is just too fun and handy to get rid of.
I was on a stretch of interstate just yestrday cruising along at 65 with no problems. If the bike fits her, she may find it is all she every needs.
It comes down to individual tastes.

**mmslogic** · 09-10-2010, 12:59 PM

When my wife decided to learn to ride, she took the MSP in PA and learned on a 125cc, first bike she ever drive. We were shoping for almost a year before we found a bike she was comfortable with, ended up being a '85 Virago 700. she will do highway on her way to work, which is why we went a little larger. She can still flat foot, but the virago had a higher center of gravity then I may have liked for her.
This was last october.
Fast forward to today, she barely rides the virago becasue it's heavier and she's not that comforatble. So, I coughed up $800 and bought her an '85 rebel.
She LOVES it! small, light, low, & a little worse for wear. This is a bike she's not hesitant to learn on because she's no longer afraid of dropping it and banging up the tank (the virago was in pristine condition, not a scratch on it).

All in all, I see her riding the rebel through next season, then moving up to the virago after a little trading back and forth.

She does like the power of the larger bike though. She misses the comfort that acceloration can bring, and keeps telling me she want's a 6th gear (which I translate to she wants to go faster

).

Either way, my wife is 5'2". She decided that the rebel would be better to learn on, and when it's time to 'CRUISE', she'd move to the larger bike.
It's much better to be comfortable and confident with what you ride. Your bike can have all the fancy specs in the world, but if you're not confident on it, there's no point in riding because you won't be safe.

BTW, I think getting the rebel was a great investment; when we're done, if I decide to sell, I think I'll get 100% out what I put in. Good luck! Let me know if you have other detailed questions, because I've been in your shoes.

**Blueberry** · 09-10-2010, 02:41 PM

You will find people like me that went back to a smaller bike because they are much more fun to ride. I gave my 84 Goldwing to my son in law. It was just too big and heavy for me and went back to my roots with a basic, lightweight, fun motorcycle. My wife rides also and for our riding style (no interstates) the Rebel will do everything we need. I have been riding for over 45 years (I am 59 yo) on everything from a Honda Cub to a GL1100 and find the Rebel one of the best and most fun bikes I have ever owned. IMHO its very important she rides what she wants to ride. It will be a much safer ride if she likes her motorcycle and feels comfortable on it. That goes for moving up or down in size.
Its not that the Rebel will not handle interstates. In So. Fla. the traffic is soooo bad on them, to me, its just not safe, and Debbie and I like to ride 2 lane rural roads with speed limits from 35 to 55 mph. A happy place for the Rebel and RE

**Croz** · 09-10-2010, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blueberry

You will find people like me that went back to a smaller bike because they are much more fun to ride. I gave my 84 Goldwing to my son in law. It was just too big and heavy for me and went back to my roots with a basic, lightweight, fun motorcycle. My wife rides also and for our riding style (no interstates) the Rebel will do everything we need. I have been riding for over 45 years (I am 59 yo) on everything from a Honda Cub to a GL1100 and find the Rebel one of the best and most fun bikes I have ever owned. IMHO its very important she rides what she wants to ride. It will be a much safer ride if she likes her motorcycle and feels comfortable on it. That goes for moving up or down in size.
Its not that the Rebel will not handle interstates. In So. Fla. the traffic is soooo bad on them, to me, its just not safe, and Debbie and I like to ride 2 lane rural roads with speed limits from 35 to 55 mph. A happy place for the Rebel and RE

We ride the same way, and my Shadow 500 loves them too. However, sometimes you have to hit the big slab. I'm in Tampa and it's not as bad. I have to go to Boca 2x per month for work and I spend enough time on S. Fla. interstates to know what you're saying. I'm dying to ride my bike to Boca but it's not the ride there that scares me, it's riding around while I'm there!

She's still on the fence on learning to ride. I won't pressure her in any way. I don't want her on a bike if she doesn't want to be there! But I know when she decides, it will all go very fast from there!

That's how it works with her!

**korge** · 09-10-2010, 02:58 PM

I dont see myself outgrowing the rebel. While I hate the egros and shape and look of the bike, the engine is perfect for my size. The honda 250 is such a reliable engine. I wish I could take the engine and mount it on a custom frame.

**Blueberry** · 09-10-2010, 04:15 PM

Why don't look for a 250 Nighthawk? Same engine as the Rebel and it has a standard riding position. I saw one on craigslist with 5,000 miles for $1,350.00. I like the standard better and if I had the $ I would have jumped on it. I got our Rebel for a song. ($100.00) and put $$350.00 into it to make it right. I love the bike inspite of the crusier ergos. and have no plans of selling it even when we get another bike or two.

**Croz** · 09-10-2010, 04:21 PM

I really like Nighthawks but my wife likes the cruiser style (as do I.)

**Blueberry** · 09-10-2010, 05:41 PM

Sorry I should have added a quote from Korge on my last post. Tell me more about your 500 Shadow. Whats it weigh, mpg, best cruise speed? It sounds like a bike I would like to add to our stable. I don't dislike the crusier ergos. Its that I grew up on standards and our Rebel is the first crusier style that I have spent a lot of time on. 45 years on standards and 2 years on crusiers.

**Croz** · 09-10-2010, 05:54 PM

Actually, it's an 86 Shadow 500. They stopped making the 500's sometime in the 80's. Weighs about 360, has been getting about 58+ MPG for me. It ADORES being in the 45-60 MPH range, which is perfect for the rural road riding we like to do. While it's technically a cruiser, it has mid controls, which for my legs, put it in more of a standard position. While it has no problem handling the 2 of us for 2 up as far as performance goes, but we're looking for something with a longer frame so it's more comfortable. Here's a pic:

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