| Japanese vehicle manufacturer Honda Motor Co. Ltd., affiliated to the Honda Techno-Research Industrial Corporation, is an engineering company developing and manufacturing automobiles, trucks, motorcycles, scooters, ATVs, water craft, electrical generators, marine engines, lawn and garden equipment, and aeronautical components. Honda is the world’s largest engine manufacturer with over 14 million internal combustion engines produced every year. Honda’s maximum success, though debatable, has come from the motorcycle sector. The company has based its headquarters in Tokyo.
The Honda 250 Rebel is a standard cruiser bike, with the original series launched around 1985. The first model was based on a 234cc parallel-twin engine, laterally placed in the bike’s frame. The engine generated 19 HP at 8250 rpm delivered to a 5-speed gearbox. With a dry weight of 310 lbs, the bike is pretty light and powerful in its class. The bike featured custom Bridgestone tires, a Honda first for low-end bikes. The successor to the first edition, Honda CMX 250 Rebel was launched in 1995 with similar features except for a slightly modified chassis and coloring scheme apart from moderate engine tweaking. Similar model with braking enhancements was launched in 1998, with a scaled down engine churning out 17.40 HP.
In 2004, Honda launched a highly modified version of the 250cc Rebel, with an engine displacement of 250cc and compression ratio of 9.2:1, higher than the previous models. The bike had dual shock absorbers with five-position spring pre-loading adjustability. The fuel tank capacity had been increased, subsequent to the design overhaul. The bike replaced the DOHC valve system with an SOHC system for better fuel economy. The 2005 model of Honda CMX 250 Rebel uses a modified version of the carburetor with the engine displacement reverted back to the 234cc model following the emission standards and a different body color scheme. |