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To Rebel Or Not To Rebel
Blog Date - 28 August 2025
The regulars here know I once had a little accident and I have three screws in my left hip. They'll also know some 23 years after my little accident I am developing arthritis in said hip. I'm definitely not at the can't barely walk any more stage, I'm at the if I sit too long or do too much ladder work or sleep funny I get a bit of an ache stage. A friend of mine describes it as "a mild toothache in the hip".
Bit of double sided sticky tape and a self tapper, be right as rain that.
This ache also appears when I'm on a longish ride. Because I like to do longish rides this is a bit of a problem.
I presently own a CB500X 2018 model. Before that I owned a CB500X 2016 model. Between these 2 bikes I've done 98,000 miles so you'd be right in thinking I do like the Honda CB500X. Alas and alack I got to thinking though - is it the seating position on the CB500X that is leading to my aching hip? Do I have to get a different bike?
The current workhorse in it's preferred guise of camping tour motorcycle.
You see the human condition is a foolish one. We are constantly, endlessly seeking to improve our lot. From the six year old faced with a choice of crisps or chocolate, to the billionaire struggling to decide between the latest Bugatti or Ferrari - our lives are filled with angst. Mostly self induced angst if you're not starving or living in the middle of a war or have a terrible disease.
Yeah, it's the bike innit. Yeah having my footpegs (and therefore my feet) practically below my backside, yeah, it's messing up all my ergonomics innit. Yeah I need a more relaxed seating position don't I. Yeah, yeah I do. Oooh and I've always liked Honda's Rebel haven't I and that has a more relaxed seating position doesn't it. Yeah. Hmmm Yeah I need a Rebel 500 don't I. Yeah.
I must be getting old. Having convinced myself I need a CMX 500 Rebel I'm starting to ask some quite reasonable questions. Firstly - will the seating position of the Rebel ACTUALLY improve anything? There really is only one way to find out - that's to ride the darn thing. Of course most test rides are like "half an hour mate" and half an hour is not enough to decide if the bike is going to hurt or not.
I also consider if the CMX will be as suitable for touring as my X has proved. Can I get luggage for it? Yes, plenty of options. Can I get a screen for it? Yes, plenty of options. Will it actually go around corners? I'll have to ride it but most reports say they handle fine. Engine bars? Check. Hand guards? I'll fit my own ridiculous horrors anyhow. Having sat on one in a shop I realise there's a lot less real estate around the bike without any fairings. Less wind protection?
Looks similar to my load - job's a guddun.
Still, despite my sensible thoughts I'm still convincing myself. BUT!! I'm not spending 4-6 grand (used-new) on a bike that won't actually fix my hip issue. I need to ride one. I REALLY need to RIDE one! Hire one? I looked myself and asked on here, there's a place daaan saaaaf that'll hire me one for £188 a day. It's a thought... And then I dropped into Blackpool Honda this bank holiday Monday.
I give Simon the salesman a shortened version of this tale. They don't have a 500 demo at the moment but they do have an 1100 Rebel demo? Nope, definitely not, way too powerful and not economical. They do have 3 used ones in - one of them has a screen and a luggage rack... and AND AND I can take it out! AND AND AND Simon says take it out for an hour, 2 if you want. "Look we close at 1700 just be back before then with enough time to put it away." I am dumbfounded.
"Just don't bend it please..."
I will do a proper review of my thoughts on the Rebel 500 elsewhere. Briefly though that 500 engine is still awesome in the cruiser. It does corner perfectly well although the OE tyres aren't great (this applies to many new bikes). Everything works and does what it ought to (it's a Honda). I like it. BUT...
After an hour on the bike it's there, my aching hip. Dagnammit!
There's another thing too - the slightly feet forwards (mid position) pegs and the bar position kind of "fixes" you in your seating position more than the CB500X does. There's less seat to move forwards or back on. It is possible to stand on the pegs while riding the Rebel but it's a lot harder than on the X. Being able to stand up, shuffle around, sit in different places and stretch out all help ease my discomfort. There are simply fewer options for shuffling on the CMX500.
I have a hoot on my test ride. A little motorway work, a few roundabouts, some single track, some twisties, and some traffic too. But it's there, my little aching hip. I return to Blackpool Honda a tad dejected and inform Simon that regrettably the Rebel is not my panacea. He's a salesman, of course he wanted the sale, but he takes it well with a smile.
So what next? The Africa Twin and Transalp will both have "more room" to stretch about - but neither will return 80mpg all day. They're both too tall and powerful for my style anyhow. Same with other models such as the splendid NT1100. I am MORE than happy with Honda's 471cc 180 degree parallel twin engine, I particularly like it's mixture of performance and economy. I shall be sticking with the CB500X for now, I'll just keep shuffling and stopping regularly in the hope of keeping the hip in as good condition as I can.
Thanks to Simon at Blackpool Honda for the opportunity to ride the Rebel for more than "half an hour mate", much appreciated.
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Reader's Comments
Paul said :-
I've not looked into the detail, but would engine bar mounted footpegs help?
29/08/2025 09:43:13 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
Those footrests look to be in a similar position to the ones on my B'Zuki. But that benefits from having a flattish dual seat - about 31" high -that allows changes of position, and is also higher than the Honda so the hip angle would be less. As I've mentioned before I was initially quite suspicious of the forward rests and planned to move them in the fullness of time but have decided that I'll leave them as thay are despite occasionally waving my feet about trying to find them.
I'm sure you could change the seat on the Honda to make it more ergonomically suitable. Speaking of ergonomics, you know abou this site don't you? Unfortunately it doesn't seem to have that model Rebel but does have others.
https://cycle-ergo.com/...
29/08/2025 10:04:32 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
ps tried to add photo but got an error - see link. Here's the photo.
29/08/2025 10:10:42 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
I occasionally get that error too Ian - and as yet I've not sussed it. I've removed the link you put up as I don't need people poking around in my code :)
The cyclo-ergo site has the Rebel 1100 but not the Rebel 500. I've used this site quite a few times, it's a clever piece of kit.
29/08/2025 10:29:10 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
There's been talk of "highway pegs" for the CB500X I already have Paul. It's still being considered.
29/08/2025 11:16:45 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
Re the error - it seems to happen if I edit a post to add a picture. May be other times as well but I think always when editing. Right first time? Not round here mate.
Re highway pegs - as I mentioned, they're fine till you need to change gear / brake. OK for hundreds of miles of freeway - less so for nadgery B roads.
29/08/2025 12:04:01 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
IMHO, get the seat sorted, if it's still standard then it will have been borderline useless from new and is now full of tired foam. Buy some decent adjustable footpegs, it's not hard.
For £500.00 the bike will be transformed and when you swap it for another X you can swap the bits over.
Just my opinion but the Rebel looks pants and a cruiser seating position is not the answer, it's physics innit.
So for £500 ish you will have more comfortable (?) riding for the next ten years or more.
29/08/2025 13:12:43 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
Or. Even less with the cheap options.
https://sw-motech.com/en/products/ergonomics/cushions/4052572045824.htm...
29/08/2025 13:36:53 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
https://www.saddlecraft.co.uk/airrider/...
29/08/2025 13:34:10 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
https://sw-motech.com/en/products/ergonomics/footrests/...
29/08/2025 13:36:18 UTC
Bogger said :-
You're coming at this 'problem' from the wrong angle.
It's not the bike that need changing, it's your hip pal.
Bogger...........always there with the answer
29/08/2025 14:17:15 UTC
nab301 said :-
Ren it's a difficult one to call , modifying seats and pegs doesn't always help as I found out on my BMW, I bought a cheap s/hand seat and got it modified but it was worse .. The tank is broad on the BMw possibly splaying my hips , not uncomfortable when riding but unable to walk after dismounting! The 650 Transalp that didn't agree with my hips was traded for an older 600 bandit , all day comfort for a few years until ankle issues meant the gear change would have required modification and also it was a naked version and I never got an aftermarket screen to work effectively.
I know it's no use for luggage but see if you can road test the Rebels incestuous relation , the CL500 , it looks different in the seating dept (narrower too) compared to the 500X. As with the Rebel , I reckon the twin shocks might be a comfort issue , we'll see when you post the road test .
Nigel
29/08/2025 16:04:37 UTC
Glyn said :-
I second that BMW issue Nigel. I hadn’t thought it might be the width of the tank but now you mention it.. I sat on the Honda CMX500 at the NEC bike show a few years back and was greatly impressed by it. The price was not unreasonable either but other than sit there for a few moments I have no idea of what it would be like to live with for hours on end. My issues (many years ahead of you Ed) are starting to worry me about balance, especially very low speed left to right over-exaggerated wobble. This is much worse on a cruiser because of the steering rake almost allowing the bike to fall into the turn when implemented. I seem to have the same issues now as when I was learning to ride a bike when I was 5 or 6 years old. I seem to have much more control on the lightweight TZR, the reason for which I am unsure. I’m thinking the Goldwing trike might be the answer to my final years of non 4 wheeled travelling, then it’ll be time to utilise the bus pass ( if there were any buses around her that is).
29/08/2025 19:28:50 UTC
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