Looking at my CMX250 service manual, there is a special tool (Honda part number 07746-0050400) shown for wheel bearing removal. Haven't done this myself, so don't know if there is a way to remove them without the tool or if this applies to the Rebel 125.

 

You might have to compare prices of a blind bearing puller and the Honda tool. I haven't had my front bearings go yet, but after I looked into the service manual I think I see what your going into.

A shot of penetrating fluid will help to get the bearing out easier once it starts moving. Galvanic corrosion with aluminum can be the worst! Even with penetrating fluid I ended up scrapping the part because it wouldn't budge!

 

Cheers guys, yeah the Honda tool recommended in the common service manual is the driver set I've been using. It's a decent set as well, but what Guna said about the galvanic corrosion i think is the case. The bike was never maintained and it seems that the bearings are properly stuck and I may have to try and source a new front hub. I'm not giving up just yet I've got a friend who will let me use their oven to heat it up. As I've just been using a torch and it's freezing in my garage. So by the time I'm getting the tool in and hitting its cooled too much to get it to budge possibly.

 

I'd replaced mine before on my '85, but I don't remember having any issues removing the old ones. They came out easily, & mine are used in the 'rust belt'.

 

Bully for you!! seriously Emil it's really taken it out of me, I have removed bearings before, all be it usually with a collet and slide hammer, or collet and the bracing frame, you know the ones I mean.

In this case I cant put it against the hub it will carve a groove into it both sides as the metal is so soft, so i braced it against some really strong wood instead. No dice. I bought the specific tool Honda recommends, hasnt budged AT ALL. I have heated it well past what i should do as well to the point the paint started to bubble and catch fire and I kept it constantly moving and at a safe distance.

I don't want to admit defeat but it's not just the front hub the back hub is the same, they should have come out with half the effort I've put in. Gonna have to approach a machine shop 🙄

Very close to giving up on the bike at the moment and selling it on for parts, as I still can't source an exhaust either, and I've phoned 3 companies about a custom exhaust and noone ever get's back to me, despite my polite msgs chasing them up. Apparently don't want my money.

Found a half decent second hand one, and then the guy goes dark. Said he was home the next day and i could come collect it. That was nearly 2 weeks ago and he's blanked all my messages?!

It's just taking all the fun out of it ya know??

#RantOver 😅

 

UPDATE: i had to cut one of them out as it was totally fused rusted to the hub but i succeeded apart from damaging the spacer/distance collar so will have to get a new one. Hub is all intact though didn't damage that at all. But i also realised the tool i bought was faulty so they are sending me a new one! Feeling more hopeful now lol.