A Honda Rebel Bigger Than 1000cc?!

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Most of us seem to like the Honda Rebel range since it provides some competent little 'cruiser' offerings. But let's be honest, even the bigger Rebel 500 is no match for the full-fat cruisers from Harley-Davidson or Indian Motorcycles. Honda seems to be aware of this, and could be all set to scale up the Rebel range by a huge margin. We're not talking 750cc or even 1,000cc. We think there could be a Honda Rebel 1100 on the way!

Now that displacement figure might seem familiar to Honda aficionados, and that's because it's the exact number seen on the new Africa Twin: the CRF1100L. And that's no coincidence. Honda could use the very same 1,084cc parallel-twin motor as the basis for the Rebel 1100. It certainly fits the bill: just upwards of 100PS and a healthy kick of 105Nm delivered at a not-so-high 6250rpm. It's also quite likely that Honda could tune this engine to better suit a cruiser by delivering even more torque at even lower rpm at the cost of peak power and top-end performance.

What's more, if the motor's peak power output is at or below the 95PS mark, Honda could even sell an A2-compliant version! This would still make it more than twice as powerful as the 47PS Rebel 500. And since this motor works in conjunction with an optional DCT on the 'Twin, the same could be offered here. The convenience of an automatic option would certainly be well appreciated on a cruiser like the Rebel. To know more about Honda's automatic DCT gearbox, head here. Another advantage of using the Africa Twin's powertrain is being able to carry over the comprehensive electronics package that the ADV is adorned with, although recalibrated for road use only.

When it comes to design and underpinnings, we suspect Honda will want the 1100 to fit in with the rest of the Rebel family. This means a laid-back cruiser stance and silhouette but filled in by a fresh and relatively modern design. Of course, an all-new frame will have to be developed to harness all the extra firepower, and the suspension and braking components will need to be uprated as well. If everything was well, we could've probably seen a prototype or concept version at EICMA in November this year. However, with COVID-19 wreaking havoc, we could have to wait till 2021 before laying eyes on this baby.

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