JunkyardDog

Welcome. I also like the Harley Sportster Iron, but it is just too small for me for the price. About the mufflers, JC Whitney is a good place for aftermarket "universal" mufflers, and the clamps and reducers to make them fit. Another place that sells those really short mufflers designed to bolt right onto the Rebel is www.bluecollarbobbers.com You might want to listen to some Rebels with louder pipes on Youtube, they definitely don't sound anything like a Harley, or even a motorcycle to me, especially at higher rpms. You might also find something else BCB has you like. I believe everything they carry for the Rebel fits the '85-'87 models except for the side covers (which I have on my '04), but IMO the '85-'87 Rebel side covers are some of the coolest looking side covers Honda has ever used. Just love that battery box. Jerry.

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Shogun25

Those Universal mufflers youre talking about are these right?

http://www.jcwhitney.com/chrome-plat.../p2006468.jcwx

http://www.hondarebelforum.com/showt...-you-3343.html

those sounds pretty good in the video.

*sidenote: yesterday i heard someone who lives in my neighborhood talking about my bike. he said "its sick". but then added it sounds "like s***". lol he also said something about it sounding like an electric scooter or something like that. which i dont think it does but w/e. at least i have a motorcycle. meanwhile he just rides his bicycle/scooter.

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JunkyardDog

Check on youtube for a BCB video of a Rebel with their shorty mufflers. It sounds nice at idle, but to me it sounds more like a lawn mower when you rev it up, or ride it. The Rebel has two problems when it comes to getting decent sound out of it (besides not being a v-twin) One, it is small, and revs very high. The high rpm ruins the sound. The second problem is it is a 180 degree engine, which means one piston goes up while the other one is going down. This is the way to build a smooth running engine, but it also messes up the sound. A 360 degree engine, where both pistons go up and down together, would make it sound and feel a lot more like an old Triumph or Yamaha XS650, but it would vibrate a lot more, and probably wouldn't last as long, as it was not meant to withstand that kind of vibration. Another way to make it sound better would be to stagger the crankpins a bit, to give it an uneven firing order. It still wouldn't sound like a v-twin, but it would be a lot closer. And it would also shake like crazy.


But, it is what it is, and I like it that way. It was designed back in the day when Honda engineers designed their engines to run good, not to shake or make a particular sound. I just left my stock pipes on it, and live with the fact that the Rest of the Rebel way more than makes up for the fact that it really doesn't sound like a cruiser.

I have a 750cc Kawasaki single crankpin v-twin that I put Vance and Hines Cruzers (loud pipes) on, and it sounds remarkably like a Harley.

And please no comments about trying to "copy" the Harley sound. Like them or not, Harleys just sound like what I think a cruiser motorcycle should sound like. Of course I wouldn't mind having a non detuned GSXR1000 engine in a cruiser either. The sound wouldn't be there, but the speed and acceleration sure would. Jerry.

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Fridgitator

No matter how much louder you make the Rebel exhaust, the sound still comes from a Rebel engine. Peewee Herman at max volume is never going to sound like Barry White.

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SMLE

Welcome to the forum and the wonderful world of the Honda Rebel. A BIG +1 on the BRC and David Hough's books. Nice looking bike. I'm toying with the bobber idea for my Rebel.

Also, Is that front brake mounted on the RIGHT side of the front wheel? Mine(2001) is on the left.

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Guba

Yep, your seeing it correct. The classics have the front brake on the other side.

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Some days beer tastes good...other days beer tastes better!

'07 Rebel 250 26,000 miles

kjohnson

True. haha
It would be nice, but I think the engine sound is worth the bike.
I like the smaller bike size.

And it could be worse. 250 (er, 234 or so ) isnt too bad. lol

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Kyle Johnson
"So, I'm new at this. Feel free to correct me. "
In my Garage (er... Parking Spot):
1986 Honda Rebel CMX250 *SOLD*
2004 Honda Shadow VLX 600

Shogun25

so today i was riding and it was running fine. until maybe 15 minutes in, it started to accelerate really slow. i just got home from work right now. and i could only top out 40. at least i think it topped at 40. i tried going faster but it just revved extremely loud. so i didnt wanna try to go any faster.

anyone have an idea of why this is happening?

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Fridgitator

If you would share your year and model, it would make it easier to address your problem.

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'09 Rebel 250

Loud ties save lives.

Shogun25

ah yes. sorry about that. its a 1985 CMX250C

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