Honda Rebel 450

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Aquaduct · #1 Unread post by **Aquaduct** » Sun Apr 24, 2005 3:36 am

Maybe you folks can help me. My wife is interested in a starter biker. We've looked extensively at a number of possibilitys including the AlphaSport (nice bike) and several larger bikes.

My mom has a late 80's 450 Rebel in her garage. Someone has convinced her that it's a collector's item, so she wants way too much money for it, but that's beside the point. Does anyone know if that bike differs significantly from your standard 250 Rebel available even today? Are there any chassis differences that might make it a little less cramped? Are there any significant technical issues with those bikes (outside of the fact that it's 20+ years old and in perfect condition with low miles, which brings it's own aging fuel line concerns)?

We'd be interested in paying her a fair market price for it (maybe $2K) and I might be able to talk her into it, but she's in Detroit and I'm in Virginia and getting a test drive arranged is dicey.

Thanks for any help.

ron b. · #2 Unread post by **ron b.** » Mon Apr 25, 2005 1:37 pm

the 450 is slightly larger than the 250. as for the collecter item jus check ebay they are on there all the time.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayI ... 31368&rd=1
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayI ... 36313&rd=1
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayI ... 57302&rd=1
and so on and so on.......
they get the rare tag because of the harley lawsuit that stop the production of them. but i will say you are going to pay 1200 to 2500 for a nice looking one.

Aquaduct · #3 Unread post by **Aquaduct** » Mon Apr 25, 2005 4:21 pm

Thanks, that's what I was looking for. Just curious though, what was the Harley lawsuit about?

Scott58 · #4 Unread post by **Scott58** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 4:14 am

Try checking this place out.

http://www.surfmaine.com/rebelforum/

sillySKAmillie · Fri Apr 25, 2008 8:09 am

I am very interested in buying a 450 Rebel... I don't have two grand for it though... haha... but if you end up not buying it, can you please put me in contact with your mother, because I live in MI and haven't been able to find any in my area. 517 896 5751

oxbow1 · #6 Unread post by **oxbow1** » Fri Apr 25, 2008 9:00 am

I checked out the HD lawsuit link, now I'm starting to understand the rub between HD people and Honda,Suzuki... people.
I look at a HD and I think about how much cleaning is involved and then they start them and I really get turned off.
to each his own I guess, but I can start and warm up my nighthawk at 6:00 am and ride away and my family and niebhors are still asleep ,not the same when my HD niebhors start up.
they say loud pipes save lives,and that may be true.....but if you can't hear the deer rifle go off while your warming up your bike, well....

jonnythan · #7 Unread post by **jonnythan** » Fri Apr 25, 2008 9:03 am

oxbow1 wrote:I checked out the HD lawsuit link, now I'm starting to understand the rub between HD people and Honda,Suzuki... people.
I look at a HD and I think about how much cleaning is involved and then they start them and I really get turned off.
to each his own I guess, but I can start and warm up my nighthawk at 6:00 am and ride away and my family and niebhors are still asleep ,not the same when my HD niebhors start up.
they say loud pipes save lives,and that may be true.....but if you can't hear the deer rifle go off while your warming up your bike, well....

"Harley" does not mean "Loud Pipes."

A lot of Harley owners put on aftermarket loud pipes, but stock Harleys are not that loud. They have to conform to the same EPA noise requirements as every other bike.

oxbow1 · #8 Unread post by **oxbow1** » Fri Apr 25, 2008 9:08 am

I know that but I wish someone would tell my neibhors, I have 6 HD guys on my street and they rattle my windows and wake up my kids all the time.
meanwhile I have to hear it because my bike sounds like a sewing machine and "we don't ride with Honda's man"
it's going to long summer.
what ever floats your boat, but don't sink mine

#9 Unread post by **Wrider** » Fri Apr 25, 2008 10:11 am

Hate to tell ya Oxbow... Your neighbors are idiots! Anyone that "doesn't ride with" another brand deserves to be shot IMO. I'll ride with someone on a Lifan if I want to, I wouldn't ride the Lifan, but I'd ride with the person!
As for the guys with the obscenely loud pipes, I still don't get it... I have so many guys at school that can win the sonic drags, yet their bikes run like crap because of the lack of backpressure. And personally I'm not sure loud pipes save lives. Personally when ever I hear a machine gun approaching I tend to look around for it yeah, but by then it's usually right by me and I'm not paying attention to my lane... Might just be me but that doesn't seem safe to me...
Wrider

flynrider · Fri Apr 25, 2008 1:00 pm

sillySKAmillie wrote:I am very interested in buying a 450 Rebel... I don't have two grand for it though... haha... but if you end up not buying it, can you please put me in contact with your mother, because I live in MI and haven't been able to find any in my area. 517 896 5751

Don't hold your breath on this one, Silly. The post you replied to is from 2005.