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CMX 250 Rebel Review
By Ren Withnell
Review Date August 2014
This was the first motorcycle I purchased after a rather uncomfortable accident. I could not bend my left knee very much, I was still a little weak and I was also a little nervous about getting back on two wheels after 7 months. I'd been looking around the bike shops and the CMX 250 caught my eye.
There were many good reasons to purchase this diminutive cruiser. The cruiser riding position did not require me to bend my dodgy knee too much. It was comparatively light and low to the ground. It wasn't too powerful to scare me. The price and the bike were right. To cap it all off I'd had intimate and positive experiences with the motor in a previous incarnation, the Honda Benly 200.
The engine in the CMX comes from the CD 250 U, which came from the CD 200 Benly of which I've owned 2. The CMX has a parallel twin unit of 233ccs making the "250" tag something of an exaggeration. The unit is basic, simple, in a low state of tune and remarkably reliable. The 2 pistons rise and fall together (360 degree crank) which allows a single carburettor to be fitted. This is my favourite feature, the single carb. There is a tiny manifold from the small carb that feeds both pistons which means there's no carb balancing and better fuel economy. Oh I know it's not as fast or as trick but speed and posing are not everything.
Along with the sweet motor the rest of the machine is typical Honda. The build quality is up to standard, the one I purchased had 7k on the clock and looked as good as new. Wire wheels, odd tyre sizes and a broad squidgy seat are mated to soft suspension to complete the cruiser effect. The footpegs are placed forwards but not too ridiculously and the bars are high but again within sensible parameters. Honda didn't push the envelope here, they just moved the rider enough to make them feel like they're on a Harley. The engine does rather lack that Harley tone though, it's more like a little sewing machine.
So there I was, new lid, new bike gear and a stomach filled with both fear and excitement. I set off and thankfully the bike is as easy to ride as a push iron. Snick snick click up and down the gears, the throttle is forgiving and my ass being low to the ground is reassuring. After 2 miles it all fell back into place and I remembered why I love to ride.
For the next 9 months the CMX remained my faithful friend. It transported myself and the gf to a couple of rallies complete with tent, luggage, sleeping bags and ground rolls. It took me to work and back. I took me on ride-outs and off for day trips. It took my son back home. It never missed a beat and ran perfectly. It became like a watch, it just worked and worked so well I stopped noticing it.
It could make me laugh and impress me though, it wasn't boring. The low down looks meant the footpegs could be ground out with sparks aplenty on any roundabout. That big old seat was long distance heaven. As long as though onlookers didn't hear the motor I'd get some "respect dude" kind of looks. And the best part? 90 mpg. 200 miles on the tank was easy peasy and parts were as cheap as chips.
I read someplace that the 250 Rebel is no good for distance work. Nonsense, it's a question of adjusting your expectations. If you want to ride the motorways at a steady 70 mph with the motor put-putting away beneath you then the CMX ain't your bike. If however you're happy to ride at 55 - 60 mph and take in the surroundings the Rebel will give you this with pleasure. And while the Harleys and 750cc plus bikes are fuelling up you'll just keep on riding. You'll save enough to buy a round later that night while you're mates are taking the piss (but quietly admiring your tenacity).
I loved my CMX 250. I purchased it for £1,400 and got £1,400 against it when I traded it in 9 months later and with 14,000 miles on the clock. I still see them around and my heart yearns for another, I want one and to ride one again. I just ain't got the space in the shed.
Reader's Comments
said :-
16/02/2017 13:32:01 UTC
Brian said :-
About to get a cmx500 in a few weeks, the test ride was superb. Same engine as my cb500f.
06/06/2017 06:23:43 UTC
pocketpete said :-
Ah, Both Bikes look good. I had the cb250 2003 model which was basically a Benly/superdream cross. It ran for ever and was totally reliable. I even had custom handlebars.
I cant remember what happended to it, I suspect I sold it and got my RD250LC all I remember was it was not cool but great fun and so so fuel efficient.
I must say Honda are really milking the CB500 egine for all possible variants, we have a clean sweep of Sports, Adventure, Road and now custom. All we need now is a Trike. I would rather have a 650 version keeping the engine as small and narrow and as close to the 500cc version. Bit of an upgrade on the suspension and I think they would clean up the 650 market.
The CMX 250 looks so 80s its just ace.
06/06/2017 21:44:40 UTC
Ren - The Ed said :-
Honda are "maximising" on their investment in both the 500 and 250 engines, and who can blame them. To be frank this has been going on for donkeys years, I'm sure Mr Soady can furnish us with some historical examples.
650? Meh, I think you could be right Pete regarding it being a good 650 but for myself the 500 has been more than enough around Scotland this week. But then I'm the exception rather than the rule.
I'm sure some readers will disagree but I think the new CMX 250 and 500 look fan blooming tastic!
07/06/2017 19:23:03 UTC
CrazyFrog said :-
Historical examples?
The entire MZ two stroke range.
The entire Jawa/CZ two stroke range.
Triumph twins from the 60's and 70's
BMW boxer twins in the 70's and 80's
etc. etc. etc.
I takes a lot of money to develop and test a new engine, so it's understandable that manufacturers want to maximise the return on their investment!
08/06/2017 11:34:20 UTC
Ren - The Ed said :-
Thank you CrazyFrog. It's not just engines either. The CB500X I own is all but the same as the CB500F and CBR500. The differences are dressing and with the 500X just a tweak in the suspension.
This means the whole range is a compromise. The "X" will never be as "off road" as it could be, the "R" never as sporty as it could be. Of course this means those dedicated to each sector will see them as compromised whereas others will see them as versatile. The joy of individual opinion.
10/06/2017 07:38:48 UTC
Pocketpete said :-
Hi ren
Hope Scotland's going well. I mentioned 650 as I feel a small twin 650 as light and nimble as the 500x would be great. My 500 has proved itself reliable fun and I hate to say it is one of the best bikes I have had. Despite not having much power.
I did look at the nc750 but it was not much faster and didn't ride as well. Plus I hated the tank.
So a bigger bore cb500 with better suspension would really hit the spot. As long as they get it to handle like the 500x.
Bit like the old superdream. 250 to 400 with slightly better brakes and suspension. Would be cool.
11/06/2017 18:18:57 UTC
Ren - The Ed said :-
We're back from Scotland now Pete, sadly.
I do understand what you're getting at, there's a good argument that Honda should compete directly with the Versys 650 and Vstrom 650, both of which are great bikes. In doing so though I would hope they don't drop the 500 which offers better fuel economy. I know it's down on power, considerably so numerically, but at 47bhp the 500 will always exceed the speed limits. For myself I'm just not feeling the need for any more.
I wonder if Honda are deliberately not targeting the 650s? The 500 is A2 legal, relatively cheap and more than adequate. The NC750X is barely more powerful, heavier but that low revving under-stressed motor is a relaxing and character filled delight. Then there's a massive gap to the VFR800X, Africa Twin and VFR1200X.
If you yearn for more power, better brakes and more everything then look at the VFR800. But it won't be cheap!
12/06/2017 10:28:11 UTC
MICK THE REBEL said :-
HI REN , I WAS JUST SEARCHING OWNERS AND RIDERS OPINIONS OF HONDA CMX 250 REBEL. I HAVE JUST BOUGHT AN IMMACULATE CMX 250 FROM A PRIVATE SELLER ( AGE 80 AND RETIRING FROM RIDING ) ITS A 1985 MODEL IN BLACK WITH 12000 MILES. I DON,T KNOW IF MILEAGE IS GENUINE BUT DVLA SHOWS ONLY 500 MILES IN LAST 12 MOT,S ( 12 YEARS ) I HAVE ONLY HAD 1 RIDE UP TO NOW BUT WHAT A SUPER LITTLE BIKE -- NICE RIDING POSITION, USUAL HONDA PRECISION OF ENGINEERING , SOUNDS WONDERFUL ( NOS FULL EXHAUST ) AND GETS LOTS OF INQUISITIVE GLANCES. ENGINE / CLUTCH / GEARBOX ARE ALL SUPER RESPONSIVE. I LOVE IT ALREADY. KEEP UP THE GOOD REVIEWS. KIND REGARDS. MICK AUSTIN ( NOW MICK THE REBEL ) HAHA
30/10/2019 20:22:26 UTC
said :-
Cheers Mick. Enjoy the 250 and keep safe.
31/10/2019 12:13:59 UTC
Gerald Scott said :-
I totally understand the attraction of the Rebel 250. I got my first one back in 1985, brand new. 1985 was it's first year in the U.S. I didn't need it, I already had a Yamaha XS650 Special. But it was cheap, and I just loved the way it looked. It was also a blast to ride. But I also had a space problem, and wound up selling it after a couple of years.
Several years I bought a really nice used 1999 model, just because I found it at great price. And again I would up selling it. Then I bought a used 2004 model and did the same thing. I thought my infatuation with the little Rebels was over. Then in 2016, I saw a picture of what Honda was calling the Rebel for 2017, the 300 and 500. I was literally sickened by what Honda had done. The Rebel 250 was a small bike, but it was beautiful. Bright shiny paint, lots of unpainted aluminum, and LOTS of chrome. And it had beautiful lines. I always wished for a 750cc version that looked exactly like the 250. The new 300 and 500 were absolutely the ugliest bikes I've ever seen. Just flat black blobs. The shape was ugly too, though that was hard to see because of all the flat black. I like bright shiny bikes. I also like carbureted bikes with no computers. I've owned around 35 bikes in my life since I was 16 in 1975, and they have all been carbureted.
So as it turned out, the local mom and pop Honda only dealer was seriously overstocked with 2016 Rebel 250s, and were selling them for under MSRP, OTD, including tax, title, and license. I couldn't resist. I went in and laid down cash for a new red 2016 Rebel 250. 9 years later, and I still have it. It is in my living room. I have put just over 1200 miles on it. But I have taken care of it, and it is still in like new condition.
I am now 65, and have had medical issues for some time. I have arthritis, neuropathy, bad knees, bad hips, and soft tissue damage in my legs. I have lost a lot of strength in my legs, plus I can no longer get my leg over a normal motorcycle seat. I have a 1989 Harley FXRS Low Rider, a 2002 Sportster 1200C, and a Kawasaki Vulcan 750. I can still ride them, but they are getting too heavy for me, and the seats are just a little too high on everything but the Sportster. But it feels top heavy. So I'm really glad I still have the Rebel 250. It will likely become my last bike. Out of all four of the Rebel 250s I've had, the only problems I've had were flat tires. I have not had good luck with tube type tires. I've had a lot of flat motorcycle tires in my life, almost all of them with tube type tires. And even with the little Rebel, a flat tire means a tow truck. So I will be staying fairly close to home. But it will give me the ability to spend more time on two wheels.
25/05/2025 01:49:40 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
Nice looking Rebel Gerald.
Try and dodge those pesky punctures.
Whereabouts are you in the good'ol US of A?
Upt.
25/05/2025 09:30:53 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
Yup that's the main pain in the rear with tube tyres - flats. Otherwise that rebel of yours look lovely Gerald Scott and I hope it gives you that wind in the face sensation for a good while longer.
I - as a slightly younger chap (53) have to disagree about the newer Rebels although I do take your points. Yes they have computers and the style is less chrome more dark and black but I'm used to the computers nowadays and I like the looks of the CMX500 Rebel we have here in the UK. We didn't seem to get the 300 here? We do have the 1100 Rebel here but that's not economical enough for my miserly ways.
I've recently been diagnosed with arthritis in the left hip resulting from the accident that caused me to purchase my Rebel 250 some 22 years ago. I'm not struggling but I am becoming aware the riding position of my current CB500X (same engine as the Rebel 500) might not suit my needs in the future. Perhaps the future could see me back on a Rebel... but 500 this time?
Who knows, let's just enjoy today eh.
26/05/2025 18:30:38 UTC
Glyn said :-
70 years +vat here and suffering most of your ailments as wellGerald. I’ve been looking for a light bike with those looks and that Rebel you have is a beauty. I’ve hardly ridden my BMW k1100 this year and think it’s time to move it on. I sat on a new 500 Rebel at the bike show last year and liked it. Handsome as it is, that shiney ride you have there trumps it in the looks department. I enjoyed my Yam Dragstar 650 as it had the low seat but was still a heavyweight around the garage.
27/05/2025 15:42:04 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
The 250 Rebels are getting hard to come by now Glyn but if you can find a good one they're a cracker. It's the same engine as the CB Two-Fifty (same era), the same as the one someone (was it you?) found in a ditch recently. I *think* is the same as the CD250U as well. According to the link below they're 150kg wet. With being low it's a doddle to move around.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_CMX250C...
27/05/2025 15:59:14 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
I'm in front of the three of you at 76 but I can see you in my mirrors.....
Hence gradually downsizing over the last few years. I'm so far happy with the B'Zuki which I think I've sorted the gearchange arrangement and the Norton Electra although it is being a bit reluctant to start at the moment. We'll see about the little BSA when I get it sorted out but there's a way to go yet. That Rebel looks quite interesting but I find that 250s are just a little underpowered for my liking hence my passing the Yam on recently.
I do agree about tubes but sadly my bikes don't have tubeless options. Many years ago I modified the Tiger 955i's spoked wheels to take tubeless tyres and it was a complete success despite all & sundry telling me I'd come to a sticky end. I did 20,000 miles or so with the mod and had no problems whatsoever.
27/05/2025 16:13:24 UTC
Glyn said :-
Well Ren, that CBX is still in the ditch/hedge, I walked by it this morning. However, it’s a 125 not a 250 and the tank plus seat etc are the larger missing parts that I can see.
27/05/2025 20:18:18 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
OH yeah it's the 125 version. Gosh darn it.
28/05/2025 07:35:37 UTC
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