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THE NEXT CHAPTER
2026 Honda Rebel 300 E-Clutch Review
The Honda Rebel 250 was introduced in 1985, and in the decades since, it became the go-to recommendation for beginner motorcyclists, and for good reason. It was a simple, small, no-frills cruiser that stuck around for years with minimal changes, sporting its’ 80s-era styling into the 2010s.
Then in 2017, Honda gave the Rebel a serious facelift, moving from an air-cooled 234cc parallel-Twin to a liquid-cooled 286cc Single, replacing the’ 80s look with modern blacked-out bobber styling, and adding a second model that would serve as a step up: the Rebel 500. In 2021, the Rebel 1100 was added to the lineup. Now there are eight Rebels to choose from, including standard versions, SE versions, T( touring) trim options, and Dual Clutch Transmission options, in various combinations.
I started my own moto journey on a 2014 Honda Rebel 250, which I bought on my 20th birthday from a Navy guy who was soon to be deployed and willing to give a college student a good deal. It wasn’ t an impressive bike that turned heads while I bopped around town, but I was proud of it and proud that it was mine. I kept it well past the time many riders would have moved on to a more powerful motorcycle, partly to save money and partly because I liked it too much to see it in someone else’ s hands. And I’ m far from the only rider whose motorcycling story began with a Rebel. The Rebel 250 was often used in the MSF Basic RiderCourse, giving many riders their first experience on a motorcycle.
But time moves on, and so has the Rebel. In January, we were invited to Los Angeles to test the new 2026 Honda Rebel 300 E-Clutch. From the photos in this review, you might think it looks exactly the same as last year’ s model, and you’ d be mostly correct. The only update for 2026 is the addition of the E-Clutch, and Honda won’ t offer a model without it for 2026.
12 / MARCH 2026 / RIDERMAGAZINE. COM