2021 Honda Rebel 1100 | First Look Review

2021 Honda Rebel 1100

Honda has announced the latest addition to its Rebel family, the 2021 Honda Rebel 1100. Available in manual transmission and DCT versions, the Rebel 1100 now takes the title as the biggest Rebel in Honda’s longstanding cruiser lineup. In fact, it’s the largest displacement Rebel that’s ever been produced. The Rebel 1100’s aggressive price-point is even more exciting — $9,299 for the manual transmission version and $9,999 for the DCT variant.

2021 Honda Rebel 1100

Powering the Rebel 1100 is a retuned version of the 1,084cc liquid-cooled parallel-twin engine found in Honda’s recently updated Africa Twin platform. Complete with a 270-degree crankshaft design, the 1084cc engine is expected to provide ample low-end torque and tractable power delivery, suitable for this cruiser application.

2021 Honda Rebel 1100

Honda’s Dual Clutch Transmission, which is available as an option on other models such as the Gold Wing and Africa Twin, enables computer-controlled automatic shifting. However, riders can still retain control of shifting by using the “manual” transmission mode and perform gearshifts via handlebar-mounted switches. The conventional transmission Rebel 1100 is equipped with a slip and assist clutch.

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2021 Honda Rebel 1100

A full suite of electronic aids is standard on the 2021 Honda Rebel 1100, including four selectable riding modes: Standard, Sport, Rain and a customizable mode. Each mode alters the throttle map and power delivery. Four-level Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC) is also featured, which incorporates traction control, wheelie control, engine braking and DCT settings. Cruise control is standard.

2021 Honda Rebel 1100

The Rebel 1100 uses fairly typical cruiser chassis geometry with a lengthy 59.8-inch wheelbase, 28-degree rake and 4.3 inches of trail. Notably, the seat height is a low 27.5 inches, carrying on the Rebel line’s tradition of accessibility for riders of varying sizes. The maximum lean angle is cited as 35 degrees. The claimed wet weight is 487 pounds for the non-DCT version and 509 pounds when equipped.

2021 Honda Rebel 1100

Handling suspension duties is a conventional 43mm fork equipped with cartridge damping and 4.8 inches of travel, along with twin Showa shocks featuring piggyback reservoirs and 3.7 inches of travel. The fork also uses a titanium oxide finish for a blacked-out appearance.

2021 Honda Rebel 1100

A single radially mounted monobloc 4-piston caliper and 330mm disc take care of braking in the front. In the rear, a single-piston and 256mm disc rounds out the braking components. ABS is standard.

2021 Honda Rebel 1100

Honda is also offering a plethora of accessories, ranging from simple cosmetic customization options to more focused touring components.

2021 Honda Rebel 1100

Stylistically, the Rebel 1100 takes essential cues from the cruiser world with steel front and rear fenders, as well as a seamless 3.6-gallon fuel tank. Modern touches come in the form of LED lighting all-around and an LCD instrument panel, which displays a speedometer, tachometer, gear-position indicator, fuel gauge, riding modes and more. Two color choices are available, Metallic Black and Bordeaux Red Metallic.

2021 Honda Rebel 1100

The 2021 Honda Rebel 1100 is scheduled to be available in dealers in January 2021. MSRP is set at $9,999 for the DCT model and $9,299 for the manual-transmission option.

2021 Honda Rebel 1100 Photo Gallery:

33 COMMENTS

  1. Looks very nice. Wish it had better colors. Fuel tank could have been a little bigger. Price is great. Surprised by the chain but thats cool. Overall like it.

      • it’s not a V-Twin and it is the EXACT SAME STYLING as the smaller bikes…

        Other than that, VT1100 is, uhh, perfect…I guess…..

      • If the tank were 4 – 4.5 gallons, people would still object. At the price point stated, the weight is to be expected. Lightness costs money. Still, it weighs 50 pounds less than a Sportster, while being liquid- cooled.

      • It’s 100 pounds lighter than an 883 and has almost double the power.

        You want light then get a naked sport bike. This is a cruiser.

  2. I notice the plastic piece on the back of the gauges is flipped between the red and black bike in the last pic, with the two riders riding side by side. Cool little option for free customization.

  3. A bit lighter than a 750 shadow, prob better weight distribution, and nearly double the horsepower, with a drag racing transmission. How about calling it the Super shadow!

  4. Honda is using the Indian Scout as a match mark. The Honda has a better ride I bet, and the power is about the same I bet. I am thinking about the Scout Sixty that is. It being a Honda, it will be like a rock and no problems, much that is. It is not as pretty as a Indian Scout or Scout Sixty or Bobber. Than again, it was made to ride and not have any problems. I may want one since some of them will be sitting in the showrooms longer than Honda would want. You watch !!!

    • Well this ended up being wrong! They are flying off the show room floors faster than anything else. I got LUCKY and found one 30 miles from my house. They received it 2 days before I bought it. Normally if you want one you have to get on a waiting list.

  5. I believe Honda uses a small gas tank to 1. keep weight down, and 2. ensure this bike doesn’t compete with Honda’s own touring bikes. The small tank is a deal killer for me.

    • Jimmy are you aware the labor cost to replace a Harley drive belt exceeds $600? If a pebble gets in either sprocket the belt can break leaving you stopped dead. The Belts alone run as much as a complete chain and sprocket set. On Harleys it requires complete removal of the primary cover and clutch assembly and also the rear shock. New expensive gaskets and complete readjust of your clutch. Belts also require regular maintenance to check tension and adjust. I prefer a shaft any day but the chain and sprocket set up is hard to beat.

  6. Belt or shaft drive would be far better. Larger fuel capacity would have made it perfect. Easy to run 300 plus Klms in Australia and not have fuel available. Bigger tank Honda!

  7. I don’t understand why they would put a chain on this bike and not have a center stand for routine chain maintenance. Honda has the mistaken idea that to call it a cruiser, you have to strip essential items like center stands. My ‘01 Valkyrie doesn’t have self-cancelling turn signals, center stand or cruise control which makes no sense. Honda (and others like Indian) has basically buried Harley so why don’t they stop trying to make a cruiser without useful items like a center stand – it doesn’t look like it’s even available as an accessory. I won’t even consider a chain driven bike without a center stand.

  8. Call the people at SW-Motech; demand that they source/build/sell a centerstand for this bike. They do for a lot of others. I think everything in that category is German made. [(503) 744-MOTO]

  9. Put a couple of Viking saddlebags, a Memphis Shades screen, a passenger backrest and luggage rack, some T-rex parts (as they are bound to adapt the rebel 500 parts to fit the bigger rebel) on it. it will then look like a bigger version of my Rebel 500. I don’t mind the look of it. I already have a pre-order on the black DCT version in Sydney Australia, I will have thee 1100 and my daughter will progress to the 500

  10. I think it is a great start. Honda has to be able to do something wsith this bike next year and the year to followie: center stand, larger tank and bright colors, choice of seats and luggage rack ect. What about the Honda 750 scooter that the3 rest of the world gets. What about the 3 wheel scooters like the Piaggio MP3? I will continue to look to the future.

  11. I’m in agreement with so many others here. Give us a shaft or belt drive, or offer a center stand. You have one for both the 300 and 500, but not for the 1100. Makes no sense.

  12. Being a Rider subscriber I read the article on the Rebel 1100 in print and was somewhat interested in the bike. I realize it’s not a perfect world, but I wish this bike had a bigger gas tank (5 gallons) so it can go more than 120 miles before you start worrying about finding a gas station within the next 20 miles or so. A bigger tank would not add a whole lot of additional weight (little more metal & weight of a gallon or so of gas). I could not find a center stand among the Honda accessories for the bike nor is one apparently available after-market. That’s pretty lame IMHO. Belt drive would make that a moot point. But I guess the motor would require too much reengineering as it’s based on the chain-driven Africa Twin. Maybe someone at Honda Motorsports actually reads comments from potential buyers like me? I hope so because this innovative bike has the potential to be so much more with just a few tweaks that would broaden its appeal and increase marketability.

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