If recently-unearthed Honda patents are an accurate prediction of the future, we’ll see a Rebel-based scrambler soon.
The patent drawings (we saw ’em on BikeSocial) show a retro-tastic street scrambler bike based on the existing Honda Rebel chassis, with a low, straight seat and high-mounted exhaust. It’s running the same parallel twin (actually 471 cc) as the Rebel 500, although it’s possible we’d also see a 300 (actually 286 cc) single-cylinder version as well. That’s not likely, though.
The frame is pretty much the same, with just a few tweaks to accommodate different control mounts, and different seat position.
Given the value-priced nature of the entire 500 line, the Rebel-based scrambler would no doubt come to market with a significantly lower MSRP than almost any other retro bike, including the Ducati Scrambler series and Yamaha’s XSR model. It would bridge the gap between micro-retros (Suzuki VanVan 200, Sym Wolf 150) and the larger retros, which start around the 700 cc mark. Cheaper insurance would be a side benefit.
Mind you, this patent is no confirmation of production—but it sure does give hope to hipsters and other lovers of the scrambler aesthetic.
Looks something like the Honda Bulldog that never materialized
I thought the same thing at first, but the bulldog concept was on the cb500f frame with the mono shock at the rear.
From the drawing it would appear to be more of a naked standard than a scrambler ?
I mean, I’m not sure what else you’d call a scrambler in the first place!
It’d be a good way to go if they wanted to go cb350/cl350 route. I hope honda actually puts it into production, would definitely put the money down. Hoping its got a nice tank and a flat seat. Cheers!