Honda CMX 250 Rebel – budget small cruiser from the 90s

Cruiser motorcycles often attract beginners. Not young riders, but those whose childhood and youth were in the 90s. Things somehow didn’t work out with bikes back then – there was no time for that. Yes and then too. But now I wanted to make my dream come true.


But the children and youth of the 90s have long since become adults, burdened with everyday worries. In the hustle and bustle, not everyone has the means to purchase a two-wheeled dream. Exactly the one - large and sparkling with chrome.

This is some kind of abstract “Harley” in a vacuum, no matter what brand. The main thing is that it pleases the eye, sparkles and is, if not from the USA, then at least from Japan. Chinese cruiser-class vehicles are rarely considered a dream.


If you search the used motor market, which is very diverse in Russia, you may come across budget vehicles. And these will be real Japanese cruisers, similar to those epic Harleys from the 90s.

For 150-200 thousand you can find a Honda CMX 250 Rebel of the first two generations. They were produced from 1985 to 1997 with a break between generations of 9 years. By the way, the bike is still being produced, but these are more “fresh” models that do not fit into a modest budget. Today we will tell you about old Hondas.

Appearance

It sounds strange, but the Honda CMX 250 Rebel is the perfect motorcycle for beginners. It invariably attracts the gaze of passers-by and the owner, especially from afar. This is almost a classic American school, except that the engine here is small-volume and in-line, and not V-twin.

What makes the bike attractive in appearance:

✅ Abundance of sparkling chrome
✅ Classic seat with a step of two cushions
✅ High steering wheel
✅ Low rise

But there is one nuance that is visible when you get closer. Honda CMX 250 Rebel is a fairly compact motorcycle. Firstly, it is small in size, and secondly, it is simply miniature.


But it pleases the eye and you can immediately close the gestalt of childhood and youth. You will already have a cruiser, and then decide for yourself what to do with the motorcycle. Maybe he will “register” in the garage for the next 10, or even 20 years, leaving a couple of times a year. Perhaps it will become a starting point into the world of bikes. After it there will be other models, more powerful and specific.

Fit and ergonomics

The Honda Rebel 250 is a very comfortable motorcycle, but on one condition. The rider's height should not exceed 170 centimeters. It turns out that it is convenient primarily for teenagers and girls, and even then, not very tall.


The first thing that can be done painlessly for the design and appearance is to install spacers under the rear shock absorbers. This will increase the ground clearance by 40 millimeters. Spacers are not sold anywhere - you will have to “collective farm”. It’s better to find a highly qualified turner - he will do everything himself.


If the steering wheel hits your knees when turning, it means you need to lift it higher. Typically this solves the problem.

The motorcycle's seating position is low, as is its center of gravity. It is difficult to drop a Honda Rebel 250, unless on purpose. If suddenly there is an emergency situation, the motorcycle is held with one hand.

The saddle is comfortable, but only for the rider. The creators provided a separate pillow for the passenger. Outwardly, it looks stylish and harmonious, but driving there is inconvenient, especially if the road is long. The first 20 kilometers are still bearable, but then the suffering begins.

The instrument panel of the motorcycle is simple, as befits a classic American-style cruiser. No electronic bells and whistles - just a speedometer and tachometer. There are a couple of light bulbs on the bottom - nothing else.

Engine

The engine of the Honda CMX 250 Rebel is unexpectedly two-cylinder. This is unusual even against the background of modern Chinese motorcycles in this cubic capacity. And here it is not 250, but in fact only 233 cm3. Power – 17,5 l. With.


The in-line two should, in theory, accelerate the small cruiser to 140 km/h, according to the markings on the speedometer. No matter how it is - the bike accelerates to only 125, and this is with one rider, from a hill, and if the wind is tailwind.

In general, the manufacturer clearly expected that the Honda CMX 250 Rebel would be driven at a speed of no more than 85 km/h. If the speedometer needle exceeds this threshold, the red SPEED light on the instrument panel lights up. Judging by the color, a certain Japanese designer is indignant that his wonderful creation is being forced to go too fast.


Although the engine is not single-cylinder, it is subject to sensitive vibrations. Not constantly, but only at speeds in the range from 60 to 70 km/h. So you need to come to terms with this, or ride with the appropriate adjustment.


In general, the engine of the Honda CMX 250 Rebel is almost completely identical to the legendary CB250 road bike, which will help you look for spare parts and consumables in the future. Although, this is a Honda - such motorcycles do not break down at all, if you believe the “popular” rumor.

Other technical features

The bike has a five-speed gearbox. As befits a unit from Honda, it works flawlessly:

✅ Shifts are clear
✅ Neutral can be caught without problems
✅ Lever strokes are long

The Honda CMX 250 Rebel has short-travel suspensions. So for rural areas this is far from an ideal option. However, no one expected anything else from the cruiser.

The front fork is soft. If this is very annoying, you can try pouring thicker oil into it. The rear springs are preload adjustable.

The brake system of the motorcycle is typical for small-capacity motorcycles from the 80-90s. Now the Chinese put this on their new models. The little cruiser has a single disc at the front and a drum at the rear.


There are enough brakes for the speeds the bike can reach. If you drive alone, you can get by with only the front disc. But the two of you will have to use the rear drum.

When driving in the rain, the front disc becomes “wobbly”. On the other hand, maybe this was intended so that the wheel would not be blocked again.

Features of operation

The engine of the Honda CMX 250 Rebel is air cooled. In theory, this means that it can overheat in hot summer traffic jams. In fact, this does not happen unless you keep the engine constantly in the high speed zone. During quiet driving, the power unit can handle even +30 degrees Celsius without problems.


The motorcycle has one interesting feature - a hose with a plug protruding from the bottom. Oil gets there and is squeezed out by crankcase gases. If you don’t know this nuance, sooner or later the left crankshaft oil seal will squeeze out. If oil is flowing from the engine somewhere to the left and below, this is clearly it.

The Honda Rebel 250 is not picky about maintenance. But original spare parts are expensive and most of them have to be ordered from Japan. However, this is a standard scheme for bikes from the Land of the Rising Sun.


In principle, there is nothing complicated about the motorcycle - it is structurally from the 80s. If you have at least an understanding and a minimum set of tools, everything can be repaired with your own hands.

To summarize, it is worth noting that the Rebel 250 is a real Honda in the “folk” sense. The motorcycle is reliable and simple. Despite the years, it will last for many more decades.

Recommended for purchase by short riders. Although, some even with a height of 2 meters travel on such bikes for one or several seasons.