Harley-Davidsons are brilliant. The chrome, the V-twin torque, the attention, the brotherhood… they’re all part of the experience. There are also very few seats more comfortable than a seat on a Harley-Davidson cruiser on a great road. All this usually requires a big wad of cash to get one, though.
Thankfully, other manufacturers have noticed this affordability problem, coming up with their own products that solve these problems in different ways. But it isn’t easy to convince someone to let go of their desire for a Harley cruiser. You need something convincing, with great quality, and that same something that makes you feel like a king of the road. Here is one of them.
The Honda Rebel 1100 Is The Cruiser That Delivers Harley Comfort Without Harley Pricing
Honda isn’t new to the cruiser game. There was a time in the late 90s/early 2000s when you could have a Honda cruiser powered by either a V-twin, an inline four, a V4, or a flat six, all at the same time. So Honda knows a thing or two about making a cruiser, although it hasn’t given the segment much thought of late. It has shifted some paying attention, though, which is where the Rebel 1100 comes in.
Honda Rebel 1100 Price: $9,699
The Rebel 1100 is one of the great component-sharing examples in the industry today. It has the driveline of the Africa Twin and the styling of the rest of the Rebel range. There are some distinctive features, like the four projector units in the round headlamp housing, and in SE form, it has eye-catching colors. At the same time, you get a comfy riding position, low weight, and refinement. All this is well under $10,000 for the base model.
Honda Rebel 1100 Engine
The Rebel 1100’s engine is shared with the Africa Twin and NT1100. It is unusual for a full-size cruiser to have a parallel-twin engine, but the 270-degree firing order helps it feel like a V-twin. There’s a Unicam SOHC head that helps reduce its overall height as well, bringing benefits in other areas besides mass centralization. There is a by-wire throttle now, so you get ride modes. Traction control with integrated wheelie control further adds a safety net.
Transmission And Final Drive
There is nothing special as such about the Rebel 1100’s manual gearbox. Like the engine, it is derived from the Africa Twin one, and is a six-speed unit. What distinguishes it from pretty much every other cruiser available is the optional dual-clutch automatic gearbox. This is a six-speed unit as well, and shifts gears automatically depending on the mode you put it in. It has been around the block more than a few times, so it is reliable.
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Honda Rebel 1100 Chassis
The Rebel 1100 has a steel diamond frame, which is a modern style of chassis favored by naked bikes. It is similar to the choice Harley has made with the current Sportster series models, using the engine as a stressed member. Conventional 43 mm forks up front and twin rear shocks have preload adjustment all around.
The Rebel uses an 18/16 inch wheel rim combination, and the alloy wheels run tubeless tires. Braking consists of discs at both ends, and non-switchable ABS is standard. The front brake caliper is a four-pot fixed caliper, while the rear has a single piston.
Honda Rebel 1100 Dimensions
The Rebel 1100 has a small-ish fuel tank, considering its fuel efficiency, especially with the automatic gearbox. Also, it doesn’t have a truly low seat height for the setup. It is still low enough to keep things manageable in a parking lot, and it does have a storage space underneath it, which is nice.
|
Fuel Tank Capacity |
3.6 gallons |
|
Length/Width/Height |
88.2/33.5/44.3 inches |
|
Wheelbase |
33.5 inches |
|
Seat Height |
27.9 inches |
|
Ground Clearance |
4.7 inches |
|
Curb Weight |
487 LBs (wet) |
Honda Rebel 1100 Features
The Rebel 1100 has a 5-inch TFT display, equipped with Bluetooth and navigation. The automatic gearbox costs an extra $700 over the base model, and the SE model is available only with the DCT for an extra $1,500 over the base model. Then, the SE is offered in a light gray color and has other cosmetic enhancements like fork gaiters, a headlamp cowl, and dull gold wheels.
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Honda Rebel 1100 Competition
The Rebel 1000 competes with a varied set of cruisers at the price. Among the old guard, the Suzuki Boulevard C50 ($9,299) and Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Classic ($9,599) are available. These are great alternatives to a Harley but offer no modern conveniences at all – so no digital screen, and no ABS.
Among the modern competition, the Indian Scout Sixty Bobber ($9,999) is an option. However, it doesn’t offer the level of performance or features as the equivalent Harley. All in all, to get to the level of features that the Honda offers, you’re going to have to upgrade to the Nightster Special, which retails for a couple of thousand dollars more.
Honda Rebel 1100 Vs Harley-Davidson Nightster Special
|
Model |
Honda Rebel 1100 |
Harley-Davidson Nightster |
|
Price |
$9,699 |
$12,499 |
|
Engine |
270°parallel twin |
60° V-twin |
|
Displacement |
1,083 cc |
975 cc |
|
Final Drive |
Chain |
Belt |
|
Power |
87.1 HP @ 7,250 RPM |
91 HP @ 7,500 RPM |
|
Torque |
72.2 LB-FT @ 4,750 RPM |
72 LB-FT @ 5,750 RPM |
|
Curb Weight (Wet) |
498 pounds |
481 pounds |
Sources: Honda Powersports