The Cruiser That Quietly Becomes The Only Bike You’ll Want To Ride
Few things are worse than having a cruiser in your garage and not wanting to ride it. Sometimes, you might need a break from the hobby and focus on other things in life. But what if you are craving a ride, not just on your bike? To make sure this does not happen to you, you need to pick a cruiser that you’ll never get tired of, whether you’re in the mood for a relaxed midnight cruise or a spirited run up a canyon. And this cruiser is just that.
Most Cruisers Are Easy To Get Tired Of
As good as old-school cruisers were, you can’t deny that we might just be living in the golden era of cruisers. They come in such a variety that there’s something for everyone. For fans of vintage models, there are the Harley-Davidson Heritage Classic and Indian Chief Vintage, and fans of sporty power cruisers can choose between the Ducati Diavel and the Triumph Rocket 3. Meanwhile, the sub-$10,000 bracket has some incredible easy-to-live-with options, including the Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650, Kawasaki Vulcan S, or the Honda Shadow Phantom.
Not all of these cruisers are something you can live with forever, though. Cruiser motorcycles, by design, typically focus on straight-line stability, comfort, and low- to mid-range torque. And it’s easy to get tired of this formula. What if you want some high-revving fun or to tip the bike into corners on a weekend? That’s where a niche type of cruiser comes into the picture: one that balances low-slung stability with sporty handling. Essentially, a cruiser that’s fun to ride and easy to live with.
There are a few such cruisers out there, including the Harley-Davidson Low Rider ST and Nightster S, or the Indian Scout 101 or Sport Chief RT. At the lower end of the spectrum are models like the Kawasaki Eliminator and the Honda Rebel 500. However, each of these bikes makes a compromise in one way or the other. American big twins are heavy and expensive, while Japanese small-displacement models lack the grunt for proper fun. But there’s one cruiser that walks the thin line, offering a package that’s equal parts fun and sensible. It’s the kind of bike you’ll go back to every single time.
The Honda Rebel 1100 Is The Only Bike You’ll Want To Ride
That bike is the Honda Rebel 1100, a versatile liter-class cruiser that can truly do it all, making it one of the smartest picks in the middleweight cruiser segment. It’s powered by a tried-and-tested parallel-twin engine that offers nearly 90 horsepower and bulletproof reliability, and it’s tuned for real-world performance. There’s also an available DCT for those who appreciate a stress-free twist-and-go riding experience.
The engine is paired with a lightweight frame that maintains the low-slung cruiser appearance while offering nimble handling and an engaged riding experience. Honda says the ergonomics are relaxed, too, and instead of sticking to the analog formula, the Rebel 1100 offers some modern tech, including a TFT display with smartphone connectivity and wheelie control.
Put everything together, and you have a cruiser that is both fun to ride and easy to live with. Unlike an American big twin cruiser, the Rebel 1100 isn’t held back by its heft or size. And unlike power cruisers, it delivers fun on public roads while remaining easy to manage. Sure, it may not have the road presence of a big twin cruiser or the horsepower to win spec sheet battles, but the Rebel 1100 brings a balance between fun and easy ownership that few rival cruisers can.
The Honda Rebel 1100 Starts At $9,699
The Honda Rebel 1100 starts at $9,699 for the base variant, and the DCT variant starts at $10,399. Honda also offers the DCT SE version, which adds a short front fender, bar-end mirrors, fork boots, a headlight cowl, and an exclusive Deep Pearl Gray paint job. For those looking for light touring comfort, there’s also the Rebel 1100T (with available DCT), which adds a front fairing and side cases at the back. That said, we’re only focusing on the standard Rebel 1100 models here.
Africa-Twin-Derived Parallel-Twin With Versatile, Real-World Performance
The Honda Rebel 1100 features the familiar 1,084cc Unican parallel-twin engine taken from the Africa Twin ADV. To match the Rebel’s cruiser duties, the engine has been tuned for usable real-world performance and strong mid-range. As a result, the engine loses 13 horsepower and 10 pound-feet of torque, making 87 horsepower and 72 pound-feet of torque here. Honda says much of the torque is available from just over 2,000 RPM, and the engine delivers a strong mid-range while still having plenty left at the top end for some fun.
The engine also features a biaxial counter-balancer, which is said to make the engine feel smoother. It also allows the engine to be mounted rigidly to the frame, adding to its rigidity and improving handling. At the same time, the Unicam’s compact cylinder heads keep the weight closer to the ground. Finally, the engine uses a 270-degree firing order, which should give it a V-twin-like character and soundtrack despite its cylinders being inline.
Available DCT Makes Things Even Easier
The Rebel 1100 is also a rare cruiser to offer an automatic transmission. The dual-clutch automatic (DCT) offers a simple twist-and-go experience, making it ideal for riders who don’t want to deal with the gears. It should also make the bike easier to ride in traffic and out on the highway. And if you still want to regain some control, the DCT has a manual mode that lets you shift via paddle shifters on the handlebars.
Equally Versatile Underpinnings And Ergonomics
Honda says it has paid equal attention to both cornering and straight-line stability, and that’s thanks to its low-slung, trellis-design frame that holds the Unicam engine and sits closer to the ground. This keeps the bike’s weight low and close to the ground, which should give it excellent low-speed maneuverability, highway stability, and cornering confidence. The same features should also make the bike more approachable for riders who don’t have much experience with middleweight cruisers.
The chassis sits on beefy 43mm forks up front and nitrogen-filled remote-reservoir Showa shocks at the rear. Honda says this suspension setup offers precise steering and a plush ride, balancing sporty handling with comfort. Honda says the wide tires also improve the bike’s handling and maintain high grip levels. Finally, braking comes from a single radial-mount brake caliper gripping a 330mm rotor up front and a single-piston caliper gripping a 256mm rotor at the back.
Upright Ergonomics With A Neutral Riding Triangle
According to Honda, the Rebel 1100 offers a roomy riding triangle, with mid-set footpegs and handlebars that should be easy to reach for most riders. This is said to be suitable for both relaxed cruising comfort and cornering. A highlight here is the low seat height of just 27.9 inches, which should make the bike easier to manage at low speeds and more approachable for shorter riders. What the Rebel 1100 misses out on are the passenger seat and pegs, which should come standard, not as options.
A Good Set Of Features For The Price
We won’t pretend that the Rebel 1100 is feature-rich, but it gets the essentials right. It features a 5-inch TFT display with Honda RoadSync connectivity, four riding modes, and cruise control. Helping you keep the rubber side down are ABS, Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC), and wheelie control. This entire package is wrapped in a blacked-out, sleek design that looks modern and ready for customization. With over 30 Honda accessories on offer, you can prepare the Rebel 1100 to be a cruiser that you’ll never get tired of.
Source: Honda
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