New Honda Rebel 300 & 500

[Ken]

1 hour ago, eisfeld said:

 

1 down, 5 up. It has 6 gears like pretty much all bigger bikes nowerdays.

Whoops.  My error.  Yes, 1 down, 5 up.

[Ken]

 

Had a Universal LED digital gear indicator display installed on my Rebel.  Works very well so far.  Heading to Udon today (from Korat) so will be giving it a good test.  Bought from Lazada for about 520 Baht.  Had my Honda Tech install it for me.  

 

 

[eisfeld]

I always wondered if those aftermarket gear indicators are annoying or too prominent at night. They seem brighter than the main display and somehow always come in red/green/blue/yellow etc.

[mikebike]

3 hours ago, eisfeld said:

I always wondered if those aftermarket gear indicators are annoying or too prominent at night. They seem brighter than the main display and somehow always come in red/green/blue/yellow etc.

Is it a bad thing that they are offered in colours appropriate to all OEM display colours?

 

If the aftermarket gear indicator is too bright for you a simple solution would be a wee bit of discarded window tint from your friendly neighbourhood shop... free and you can choose you level of brightness!!

[eisfeld]

53 minutes ago, mikebike said:

Is it a bad thing that they are offered in colours appropriate to all OEM display colours?

 

If the aftermarket gear indicator is too bright for you a simple solution would be a wee bit of discarded window tint from your friendly neighbourhood shop... free and you can choose you level of brightness!!

 

Maybe I'm more color sensitive but I don't see the vast majority of these gear indicator colors matching any OEM display colors.

 

https://www.google.co.th/search?client=firefox-b-ab&dcr=0&biw=1280&bih=651&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=WMV2WrWSAYvevATAzgE&q=aftermarket+gear+indicator&oq=aftermarket+gear+indicator&gs_l=psy-ab.3...158971.160233.0.160374.12.12.0.0.0.0.184.926.3j5.8.0....0...1c.1.64.psy-ab..9.0.0....0.1bkE_kuVVPY

 

vs

 

https://www.google.co.th/search?client=firefox-b-ab&dcr=0&biw=1280&bih=651&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=aMd2WoCWLsrUvASk84fgDQ&q=motorcycle+lcd&oq=motorcycle+lcd&gs_l=psy-ab.3..0j0i10i30k1j0i8i30k1j0i24k1l2.5682.5844.0.6036.2.2.0.0.0.0.145.256.0j2.2.0....0...1c.1.64.psy-ab..0.2.255....0.blQcT5iVgI4

 

Most OEM displays are black on gray-ish or white on black with blue tint. And if they have color, then usually the background is colored and not the characters. The gear indicators though flip this around and colored characters on black background. I can see only the white version kinda matching.

 

Your idea regarding the film to dim the brightnes is good though.

[mikebike]

7 minutes ago, eisfeld said:

 

Maybe I'm more color sensitive but I don't see the vast majority of these gear indicator colors matching any OEM display colors.

 

https://www.google.co.th/search?client=firefox-b-ab&dcr=0&biw=1280&bih=651&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=WMV2WrWSAYvevATAzgE&q=aftermarket+gear+indicator&oq=aftermarket+gear+indicator&gs_l=psy-ab.3...158971.160233.0.160374.12.12.0.0.0.0.184.926.3j5.8.0....0...1c.1.64.psy-ab..9.0.0....0.1bkE_kuVVPY

 

vs

 

https://www.google.co.th/search?client=firefox-b-ab&dcr=0&biw=1280&bih=651&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=aMd2WoCWLsrUvASk84fgDQ&q=motorcycle+lcd&oq=motorcycle+lcd&gs_l=psy-ab.3..0j0i10i30k1j0i8i30k1j0i24k1l2.5682.5844.0.6036.2.2.0.0.0.0.145.256.0j2.2.0....0...1c.1.64.psy-ab..0.2.255....0.blQcT5iVgI4

 

Most OEM displays are black on gray-ish or white on black with blue tint. And if they have color, then usually the background is colored and not the characters. The gear indicators though flip this around and colored characters on black background. I can see only the white version kinda matching.

 

Your idea regarding the film to dim the brightnes is good though.

You are never gonna get an exact match for an aftermarket gear indicator. The fact that you can get various colours does help if you are an aesthetics nazi!! LOL!! If someone is that fussy the only solution is to buy a bike with an OEM gear indicator...

[Fat Prophet]

On ‎2‎/‎4‎/‎2018 at 8:30 AM, Ken said:

 

Had a Universal LED digital gear indicator display installed on my Rebel.  Works very well so far.  Heading to Udon today (from Korat) so will be giving it a good test.  Bought from Lazada for about 520 Baht.  Had my Honda Tech install it for me.  

 

 

 

Good idea. Do you think it will work on my Honda Forza? 

[eisfeld]

3 hours ago, Fat Prophet said:

Good idea. Do you think it will work on my Honda Forza? 

Only if you fit a quickshifter at the same time. Don't forget to re-map the waterpump though!

[Ken]

I have 38,000 km on the Rebel 300 now.  It is darn close to needing a new rear tire, 150/80-16.  Been checking around and so far only seem to be able to find for that size, the original Dunlop at 4200 Baht. A bit pricey, but I guess you gotta pay for the "big fat tire".

[eisfeld]

A quick google search shows tires for the Rebel 500 being available from a range of manufacturers: https://www.bikebandit.com/2017-honda-rebel-cmx300-motorcycle-tires/t11/m160267

 

I'm pretty sure you can source them in Thailand. I'd go for the Pirellis, never had a bad experience with that brand but they are a bit more expensive. Easy to obtain here. Dunlops or Shinko will also be fine for this bike.

 

Expect the new tire to have slightly less lifetime than your stock tire. Dunlop is known for offering tires with less grip but more longevity to OEMs as they are made out of cheaper compounds. Even if you buy the same tire model, OEM and aftermarket can be very different.

[Ken]

Update on the Rebel Rear tire.  The Honda shop in Korat where I bought the motorcycle has given me a "sale" price of 3000 Baht including mounting.  The 4200 Baht was a quote from a motorcycle parts shop in Chaiyaphum and I would have to take it somewhere to get it mounted.  I will be going with the Korat shop.

[AllanB]

On 20/02/2018 at 8:23 AM, Ken said:

I have 38,000 km on the Rebel 300 now.  It is darn close to needing a new rear tire, 150/80-16.  Been checking around and so far only seem to be able to find for that size, the original Dunlop at 4200 Baht. A bit pricey, but I guess you gotta pay for the "big fat tire".

Cripes! You don't hang about Ken, been commuting between here and the UK, or spilt superglue on the seat?

[johng]

Cripes! You don't hang about Ken, been commuting between here and the UK, or spilt superglue on the seat?

Must be a "win" motorcycle taxi !

[Ken]

10 hours ago, AllanB said:

Cripes! You don't hang about Ken, been commuting between here and the UK, or spilt superglue on the seat?

Naw.  Just quite a few trips from Korat to Nong Khai, my favorite "stomping" ground. A few trips from Korat to Pattaya.  1 trip from Korat to Chang Rai.  Fair amount of "local travel".

[speedtripler]

17 hours ago, Ken said:

Naw.  Just quite a few trips from Korat to Nong Khai, my favorite "stomping" ground. A few trips from Korat to Pattaya.  1 trip from Korat to Chang Rai.  Fair amount of "local travel".

How old is the bike? 

I thought I was bad clocking up 100km a day just whizzing around town lol

[Ken]

7 hours ago, speedtripler said:

How old is the bike? 

I thought I was bad clocking up 100km a day just whizzing around town lol

I bought in February last year, 2017.

[canthai55]

If you want to ride one of these bikes, check out this shop in Korat.

Also do RE,  GPX, Triumph. Works looks good - as a custom shop they could build most any style I would think.

 

[AllanB]

On 22/02/2018 at 5:06 AM, Ken said:

Naw.  Just quite a few trips from Korat to Nong Khai, my favorite "stomping" ground. A few trips from Korat to Pattaya.  1 trip from Korat to Chang Rai.  Fair amount of "local travel".

Superglue on the seat then....or have you had the op?

 

The one where they graft leather onto your arse cheeks? .....Good for slow cooking steak...I am told... by an old gaucho.

 

Gaucho Ken then.

[thaiguzzi]

17 hours ago, canthai55 said:

If you want to ride one of these bikes, check out this shop in Korat.

Also do RE,  GPX, Triumph. Works looks good - as a custom shop they could build most any style I would think.

 

Paint is nice.

Certainly better looking than the stock bike.

Like the look of the bikini headlight fairing and the short back end tail piece and LED light.

BUT...

 what's with the suspension???

Front gaitors are meant to be up against the seals and lower fork legs. Or is this a new fashion statement same as the horrific and oh so popular '40's Americana tyres?

 Rear tyre to tailight/tailpiece clearance - is there any? Or are the shocks welded up, or modified for one and a half inches of movement?

 Still, at least the builder hasn't put the old exhaust wrap  "custom look" on...

 

 

[finnishmen]

i has test drive 1600km honda rebel 300 and 500. both have problem tall men, too low seat and foot places, wery too soft front and rear springs, 300 not have power, too less have no good at motorway. 500 excellent better power. bad have small frame big men and no comfortable at footh. and true 300 have too low power ,not can drive comfortable and good. seat have small and too low.gauge has good read but need gear indicator display addon parts. exhaus have too big little bike. if 500 have cheapen i buy 500 rebel but today too high prize. factory wheels not have best option slippery little. but funny city bike and 500 can travelling too far, 300 have too little maybe only backyard toy and little shopping trip in city only.

[papa al]

ya sure !

[PattayaDavid]

On 2/23/2018 at 6:07 AM, Ken said:

I bought in February last year, 2017.

Ken,

I sent you a PM, hope you get it.