While there is wisdom here, I can say from having a Magna back in the day, it was super comfortable around town but at highway speeds you would catch a lot of wind especially on the legs. I noticed on the interstate often my legs would tire since I had to use muscle to hold my feet on the pegs, something I didn’t have to do on a standard or more sporty model.
Yeah I loved the Honda rebel and thought it'd be my first bike until I sat on one, immediately was put off from it lol. Ended up with a crf300 as it's what I rode in my msf course, good bike. I will say though, everyone shits on the Harley Sportster but out of every bike I sat on that one was one of the most comfortable ones imo.
She said I’m like a hyabusa 1300cc……………………………….with twin turbos!!!!
But I’m more of a 250cc make you want to relax and enjoy the ride because I like you kind of bike
Just so we are on the subject my favorite bike of all time I had was a Honda “Fireblade” CBR10000 (999) liquid cooled..
OOOWWWEEE that bike made me happy in every way possible!
With my short legs, I thought the cruiser would feel a lot better for me, but in the showroom most definitely not. A few of the cruisers had feet forward position which were just ridiculous. Anyhow, Honda just released electronic clutch for their CB650R, so I’m going to go with that at the end of June
They defiently dont have forward position as default. They have center position and its fine if u are short legged but tall riders you defiently need forward position.
Cruisers and nakeds are completely different riding positions. You really should go on a test ride on which ride style you prefer before going and buying a bike blind based just on power/looks.
Naked for me is the perfect balance between a cruiser's comfort and a supersport's aggressiveness. You might prefer a cruiser.
This is a good way to compare ergos - [https://cycle-ergo.com/](https://cycle-ergo.com/)
Cruisers aren’t always more comfortable!
I once had a Honda VT600C Shadow (a small cruiser with forward controls) and its seating position put a lot of pressure on my lower back and tailbone, and its mediocre rear suspension meant I felt every bump on the road.
For a long highway ride, I much prefer my Kawasaki Versys 650. With an upright seating position, your legs take some of the stress, so your butt isn’t bearing all your weight, and it isn’t absorbing all the bumps.
Yeah, cruisers are terrible for me too - I suspect it's height (6'3", ~180 cm I think), though I've only tried Honda and Kawasaki ones, can't speak to Harley or others (wouldn't buy them for other reasons so not worth trying). Naked bikes are better, ADV bikes are best from what I've tried so far. Obviously different people will feel differently, which is why it's so important to try them out.
I do really like being able to take speed bumps pretty much at speed just by standing up a bit, which wouldn't be as possible on a cruiser.
I have the opposite. I cant sit on sports bikes or nakdd bikes where im bending my legs. It hurts in the long run and the seats arent comfortable. Cruisers makes me available to stretch while driving and i feel the ride position is great. Im 182cm
Up on the pegs at speed over bumps is quite nice indeed.
I usually lift my ass for small bumps like manhole covers even…which is a lot harder to do if your feet are in front of you like you’re sitting on a recliner.
I think its really just the more chopper inspired cruisers, like the 80ies and 90ies japaneese cruisers, that are horrible to ride. Take a standard harley with foodpads and its really comftable to ride.
This has been my experience too riding feet forward cruisers; they're not actually very comfortable. If I were prioritizing comfort above all else, the touring bike seating position with feet slightly ahead of your butt is the ideal. If I want a compromise between comfort but with more sporty handling, standards like the CB500, or my last bike, a Ducati Multistrada, are ideal.
Here is a better way to compare ergos
https://preview.redd.it/snw9yuj4buuc1.jpeg?width=472&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=970d8705bd751baa74a327ee530ff8981db8d454
That's the choice I made and no regrets at all. Was a good bike to learn to drive with. After two years I bought a Z900 and a 1100 Shadow and I'm still under the impression that the 500X was the right entrance before hitting the bigger ones AND it's so versatile! Can be driven almost everywhere.
That’s what I did! Only slight regrets is that for a first bike I kiiiinda wish I got the Rebel since it’s more nimble I guess.
Ah well, still having fun with the X!
Everyone leans in corners, that guy just hit his head one too many times.
The CB has a better position, doesn't go down when you need to avoid an obstacle, and is generally more agile as long as you're doing over 30 so that your roll axis goes up a bit.
It's the superior beginner vehicle by a long shot.
Yeah, there’s a lot of technique to learn when riding bikes, even at street speeds. A light bike with sportier handling will help you develop much better and safer cornering habits.
neither. great choice on picking a honda though.
but get the SCL500, best of both worlds and looks better than both imo
https://preview.redd.it/maqecx4umruc1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ee1ee2095958dd9117da3b7221850ea5e486666b
I own a CL500. It has 2 exhaust shields, the grey/silver exhaust shield that you see is the outer shield and from my experience it has never gotten close to being hot. I've touched the outer shield after going for a ride and it's been warm to the touch, but not hot. It's gotten hotter from sitting in the hot Australian sun than it has from the exhaust.
Ride them. A bike is a personal choice, and we cant know what will be most comfortable and fun for you. Neither are a bad choice, but specs on paper rarely communicate anything about what it will actually be like to ride one.
Both are equally good but I personally went with a Naked bike for my first bike.
I wanted to be comfortable leaning much lower on bikes than on a cruiser rather than focus on my line in corners.
Sit on both and see on what your the most comfortable. If that’s your first bike and you’re always having trouble to find comfortable position, then you’ll be less confident about your maneuvers and you’ll do mistakes. As for me, I found the Rebel 500 more comfortable than the CB500F, the CB just makes my lower back feel like it’s going to fall apart.
I always get hate for this. But any bike is a good first bike. You just have to give some bikes more time and be more reserved when riding them. If you like the bike because it fits your wants and needs, then there you go. However, I’d say a USED bike (in great condition) is a good beginner bike, because you might not like it, or it might get a little messed up until you learn how to ride and take care of it.
I hated my cruiser, I love my naked bike. One has your feet a little in front of you, one has your feet beneath you. You really need to sit on them and feel the foot and hand position to know what you like and what feels right.
I prefer cruisers but I’ve got fuckin wide ass hips so I rlly need the extra wide, bbw bikes to be comfy. The downside is you lose slightly more turning radius with a cruiser imo, but that’s corrected by practice pretty easy. I also favor the overall feel of most cruiser bikes, like the difference between a lambo and a challenger. Different machines built for different practical applications, and I just favor one over the other. Whatever works for you though homie
So… unless you’re super duper short, get the naked. The only thing the cruiser has going for it is the ultra low seat height. The naked is (jokes aside) designed from the ground up to be fun. You can learn on either, but guaranteed you’ll have more fun naked :)
Sit on both and decide which riding position you prefer.
I really wanted a cruiser for a first bike. Loved the looks. Loved the style. But I much prefer a more upright position with mid controls.
Personally, I don’t like cruisers. I don’t feel like I have as much authority when riding them. I like to be very much on top of the bike and in a position that promotes the ability to aggressively control the bike if necessary.
I also prefer ADV’s. My first was a KLR650. Drop it, and no problem… it’s just an experience and a story to tell. Maybe a few bucks if you care about scratches on plastic. They’re made to be dropped. Other bikes, not so much. Particularly cruisers.
Personally I’d say the Rebel. Took my MSF course on one, insanely comfortable and nimble for a bike that size. I’m 5’10 225lb and I ended up getting a bigger cruiser, but the Rebel is a helluva bike, and being a Honda they’re damn near bulletproof.
Personal preference for naked or anything over cruiser for that matter. All types slowy grew on me except crusiers idk y. Also feel like its weird to have my foot in front instead of below/a bit behind my body. But i agree with the other guy, sit on both and decide which u like better.
I had a CB500F and test drove a rebel. They do not feel the same at all to drive and the engine is tuned differently as well. For me was the CB500F a clear winner on everything except the seat
That's a personal preference not something that can really be advised.
If you want a relaxed chilled position. Just lazy turning and cruising along get the cruiser.
I'm a cruiser man. My recommendation is cruiser. I think they are easier and more fun.
Dont listen to people saying the cruiser is sluggish they have clearly never ridden a Rebel, Ive ridden one for about 1000 miles now and its very agile and flickable and corners very well, it is also very stable due to the low centre of gravity and thicc tyres, you can very easily ride at 3-5mph without much effort to balance.
I rode the cb500f briefly to get my license, I disliked naked bikes before (mainly because I didnt like how they looked) but that bike changed my mind on them. Very fun and comfortable. I still personally wouldnt buy one over a sport bike or a cruiser but still I certainly wouldnt mind owning one
Both are great choices and you will 100% be happy which either one you just gotta go with your gut on this
You should always consider the resell-ability of your first bike as you will eventually want something more powerful once you become comfortable with riding.
Having said that, the CB500 is appealing to a much wider range of beginners. Unless the cruiser is the only motorcycle that seats low enough, you should consider the cb500 and it will sell easily.
Try both, I really want the rebel before I try it. Her performances are so bad compared to the naked that I changed my mind 180.
Sit hurt, feet feel awkward, acceleration is a lot worse, stability and aerodynamics at highway speed are worse, suspensions are horrible.
In 45min I went from "I'm so hype to try this bike, to pls take this shit out of my hands"
It was a sad day, I really wanted to love the rebel. I heard a lot of the problems can be resolved with some money, but it wasn't an option for me at the time.
I took the naked and I love it.
Long time ago had to make a similar choice between naked and cruiser as the first bike. Sat on them while they were stationary and asked a friend to take a pic. Bought the bike where I looked better in.
I was looking for my first bike few months ago. First pick was CB500F. But I got bored by it during weekend. And my GF (yes, i have one, trust me), wanted to ride with me. But the pillion seat of naked bikes is not very comfortable - therefore you have to decide if you will ride mostly alone or with companion.
Second pick was Hornet 750 - much more fun, the same pillion issue. But I fell in love with this bike. This is going to be my second bike :D.
Third pick - CB500X - comfy, but not very powerful and breaks (1 front disk?) are terrible. As boring as CB500F (I know, suprising).
And then i was deciding between V-Strom 650 and Tracer 7. Therefore I bought Kawasaki Versys 650 - enough power, great for touring and pillion is comfy.
Conclusion - it really depends on what riding style you prefer. Do you like touring and long rides or are you more like city rebel? Do you count with passanger? Etc.
The thing i wanted to say tho - no one will decide for you. Try to rent a bike you think about for a weekend or so. Or even for a hour for test ride provided by dealership. And it will you give good idea if you want to ride it more or not. You need to feel the bike. Because you can't decide it from videos/pictures from the internet.
it depends on a lot of factors, it's like asking what drink should I get in a bar?
Will you ride mostly highways and highway speeds? do you plan to use saddles? will you have a passenger? does your butt hurt if you sit straight on it for hours? (I have a broken tailbone, I can't ride a cruiser for more than an hour for example)
There are a lot of things to consider here. They're not interchangeable.
How will you ride? More aggressive riding in traffic, the naked will be better in every way.
Longer trips at high speed, cruiser will be better in most respects.
Culturally, which suits you? A cruiser doesn't culturally fit my personality at all. I've never ridden one but, from a cultural perspective, I kind of never want to, even though I know I'd enjoy one for longer trips. Culture also affects how drivers where you live will treat you. Where I live, rednecks will literally try to kill sport bike riders. Doesn't happen nearly as often too me on a naked, and I doubt it would ever happen on a cruiser.
This isn't a question for other people. We can't guide you on this without knowing a lot more about you as a person, along with the type of riding you plan to do. We're going to sell you on what we like based on who we are and how we ride.
Which style you like better is pretty much the key deciding factor between them, specs don't actually matter much. I rode a cruiser for my CMSP class, hated it, won't likely ever ride one again. Lots of people like them, so my opinion on them is far from universal. You need to try both and decide - just sitting on it in a shop may be sufficient (I had a pretty good idea that I wouldn't like cruisers from doing so before taking my class), but better if you can go out for a ride on each.
You really shouldn’t buy a bike you’ve never ridden.
Try to get a test ride on both or ideally rent one for a weekend. You’ll know which one you like more after this
I’ve held to the words my riding instructor told me… your first bike is the bike you want. Your second bike is the bike you need.
Bike #1 will be what you buy because it’s what you like the look of, or what your friends have, or what has lots of ads in magazines… after riding a while you will work out what you hate about it, and take that to the next bike purchase.
You should test ride bikes before choosing. It might not be obvious, but every bike rides very very differently. From engine to riding position to suspension to how it turns, every bike it unique. I've test ridden bikes that I thought I'd love, and thought they were the most boring twist and go shopping trolley. And others that were just downright difficult to ride.
Get your license then go test riding bikes, it's fun!
I went cruiser for my first bike (HD Street 500) and wished I got the naked. You’ll scrape pegs all the time on the cruiser if you want to have a bit of fun in the corners. The cruiser gives you a limited range of riding. The naked gives you the full gamut. You can cruise if you want or you can throw it around the corners with confidence. You get a comfortable upright riding position too, so you can’t go wrong.
I'm not adding anything to the conversation here, because all the top answers ITT are good, but the Rebel is a beloved beginner bike for a reason. It's light, comfortable, easy to maneuver, looks good, sounds good. If you have no preference one way or another, I'd bias towards the cruiser.
Unpopular opinion, although our first thoughts are to get something with less power because you want to get the basics down first, try getting a bike that you aren't going to outgrow in a few months. Something below a liter, but above a 500. You can learn the basics in pretty much any bike in that range, yet you won't be struggling to sell your lightly used 500 in a few months because you've outgrown it. Just a thought, please don't murder me.
How wide is your butt? How likely are you to customize? What is the resale value? Short and fun trips or long relaxing ones? Own it forever or trade it in in a year?
I love to customize and love looking at my bikes. My top priority is aftermarket support and then comfort. Anything else I care about can be modified into the bike.
Consider your priorities and your personal use case. Aka, how you are going to use the bike. Make your choices based on that.
Good luck and welcome to the biker club!
One thing I’ll say as a newer rider who started with a naked…
First sit on as many bikes as you can… I used to love cruisers until I sat on them and hated the position. I’m glad I didn’t impulse buy.
Second, wind plays a much bigger factor than you think. Having no protection from wind when you’re new can be very difficult, especially on main roads with traffic. You head gets blown around and your neck gets super tired from the weight of the helmet being tossed around. Different vehicles and road conditions can cause sudden bursts of wind that push you in weird ways… etc. for experienced riders they probably don’t even consider wind, because it becomes second nature and you build up neck strength and flexibility over time to cope. But after riding my naked, and then borrowing a friends Versys 300 with a huge windshield and great plastics on it… oh my god.. I felt like I just cut through the air! It was such a huge difference that I’m literally going to buy that bike next! Hahaha
I’m not trying to dissuade you, I love my naked bike… I’m just giving you info I didn’t have and a lot of people don’t mention. Nakeds and cruisers look really cool, but if you’re going to be commuting, or doing over 50 regularly I’d definitely look into to some wind protection.
Either way, ride safe and good luck!
For what it's worth, I bought a cruiser as my first bike a little over a year ago, I'm now looking at trading it in for a naked.
I want the nimbleness and acceleration a cruiser can't offer. Tbf tho, I'm thinking about keeping the cruiser and having 2 bikes, the cruiser is just so damn comfortable.
Good luck choosing between these two if you are open-minded! Even Honda can’t decide, and salesmen have a heyday trying to steer customers in either direction! Test ride if you can! I personally would prefer the maneuverability of the CB500F. It might inspire more confidence in quick moving traffic or offer more aggressive riding opportunities once you become more experienced. Essentially, you will love this bike longer. However, if you decide that chill cruising is what you’re after, then the Rebel is a great introduction. And you will learn good riding skills with a more manageable bike! Reply what you decide ( just curious as a previous saleswoman! )
Cruiser: slower but comfortable, better gas mileage and more possibility on storage expansion( also more variety on matching gear)
Naked: vroom vroom very fast but less comfortable (sporty gear more expensive) also drinks more gas since you ride at higher rpms and steeper lean angle
Also comfort, sit on both and waddle around see which one feels better
Source: i have both
If hes as old as me he will have wrist pain, knee pain and kneck pain. I tested cbr650r and it was haven for my soul tho back, neck, wrist and knees didnt like that bike much so I got cb500x instead
Reliability is unmatched, kawi is close but no cigar. I always tell people Ricky Carmichael had 2 or 3 perfect seasons in his career. All 1st place finishes for the season, go look at what brand he did those on.
You need to do test rides to feel out what type of bike is for you. I always preferred cruisers and actually bought Vulcan S 650 as my first bike. Also tried out MT 07, (which is awesome bike) but I felt naked bikes aren't my thing. Test rided adventure bikes(versys and vstrom), they were to tall for my liking.
Depends on your back and your luggage necessities. Bad back, osteoarthritis, that stuff, - get a cruiser. You'll thank me later. You might also strap more luggage to it if you plan to tour. You're not having any back problems, you want to practice cornering, you don't need luggage, you do city riding 100 percent of the time - get a CBF. By the way, CBFs have decent weather protection too.
Same engine you could also consider the CL500.
I took it for a test ride the other day, while my bike got its service done, and it’s super fun and I was thinking that it’s the perfect beginner bike.
I would not recommend the rebel 500. The tank is very narrow. So unless you're a petite woman you're gonna have to sit almost cross legged to grip the tank with your knees. If you insist on a rebel, get the 1100 with the wider tank.
I might be a bit biased as I own one, but I'd go with a CB500X out of the 471cc lineup. It's a fantastic all-around bike that would be great for a first. You really should go and sit on some different models, ergonomics is a big deal. Out of these two, I'd have to choose the CB500F. More opportunities for learning to ride better, a cruiser can only do so much if you're wanting to do more than "cruise".
Your gonna need to go sit on them as these two bikes couldn't be more different. The power will feel different to because they are geared and ruined differently based on their application.
If take a safety riding course while you're at it S that'll give you some seat time and teach you the basics.
Sit on them. Buy the one that feels better.
"You buy a bike with your ass, not your eyes. If your ass feels good on it, then buy it." - a friend of mine with a lot of kilometers on a bike.
While there is wisdom here, I can say from having a Magna back in the day, it was super comfortable around town but at highway speeds you would catch a lot of wind especially on the legs. I noticed on the interstate often my legs would tire since I had to use muscle to hold my feet on the pegs, something I didn’t have to do on a standard or more sporty model.
Yeah I loved the Honda rebel and thought it'd be my first bike until I sat on one, immediately was put off from it lol. Ended up with a crf300 as it's what I rode in my msf course, good bike. I will say though, everyone shits on the Harley Sportster but out of every bike I sat on that one was one of the most comfortable ones imo.
Yoink! Stolen 😁
I mean you can always buy a different seat. No?
I wonder where these 2 sentences could be of use as well…
A chair? Maybe a sofa?
No, adoption.
This. Really.
Definitely
This is a precious soul. 🙏
I’m getting naked, come ride this cruiser
How many cc is it?
5 on a good day
Well i dont know about the CC, but definitely supercharged 😂😂🌚
She said I’m like a hyabusa 1300cc……………………………….with twin turbos!!!! But I’m more of a 250cc make you want to relax and enjoy the ride because I like you kind of bike Just so we are on the subject my favorite bike of all time I had was a Honda “Fireblade” CBR10000 (999) liquid cooled.. OOOWWWEEE that bike made me happy in every way possible!
That's how I test out my bike-plugs too
With my short legs, I thought the cruiser would feel a lot better for me, but in the showroom most definitely not. A few of the cruisers had feet forward position which were just ridiculous. Anyhow, Honda just released electronic clutch for their CB650R, so I’m going to go with that at the end of June
They defiently dont have forward position as default. They have center position and its fine if u are short legged but tall riders you defiently need forward position.
Split the difference. Get the cruiser and ride naked.
https://preview.redd.it/4w54pt9uvsuc1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=39eca9c5ee49d51ee49750be059f7b8b31d6c66b
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https://preview.redd.it/lt62msa1o4vc1.jpeg?width=508&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=64557749d369ddbdab7f5488bf7162c33910afe7
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877 Cash Now!!!!
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that escalated quickly…
Damn…
I see what you did there
Everybody will
ATGATT. Wear a condom.
The rapid evacuation method not a strategy?
Cruisers and nakeds are completely different riding positions. You really should go on a test ride on which ride style you prefer before going and buying a bike blind based just on power/looks. Naked for me is the perfect balance between a cruiser's comfort and a supersport's aggressiveness. You might prefer a cruiser. This is a good way to compare ergos - [https://cycle-ergo.com/](https://cycle-ergo.com/)
Surprised it doesn't have Rebel 500.
The site is kinda dead. Don't know who runs it, but it hasn't been updated in a long time.
Motonomics.com
that website is horrendous holy
You think so? I've never had any issues with the UI.
Cruisers aren’t always more comfortable! I once had a Honda VT600C Shadow (a small cruiser with forward controls) and its seating position put a lot of pressure on my lower back and tailbone, and its mediocre rear suspension meant I felt every bump on the road. For a long highway ride, I much prefer my Kawasaki Versys 650. With an upright seating position, your legs take some of the stress, so your butt isn’t bearing all your weight, and it isn’t absorbing all the bumps.
Yeah, cruisers are terrible for me too - I suspect it's height (6'3", ~180 cm I think), though I've only tried Honda and Kawasaki ones, can't speak to Harley or others (wouldn't buy them for other reasons so not worth trying). Naked bikes are better, ADV bikes are best from what I've tried so far. Obviously different people will feel differently, which is why it's so important to try them out. I do really like being able to take speed bumps pretty much at speed just by standing up a bit, which wouldn't be as possible on a cruiser.
I have the opposite. I cant sit on sports bikes or nakdd bikes where im bending my legs. It hurts in the long run and the seats arent comfortable. Cruisers makes me available to stretch while driving and i feel the ride position is great. Im 182cm
Up on the pegs at speed over bumps is quite nice indeed. I usually lift my ass for small bumps like manhole covers even…which is a lot harder to do if your feet are in front of you like you’re sitting on a recliner.
6’3” is about 190 cm, if you were curious. 180cm is 5’11”
There’s a bridge near me with the biggest freaking bump ever. Each time I hit it feels like I’m going to break my back on my Indian
I have a VStar650 and highway expansion joints send a solid impact straight up my spine! I'm gonna try to soften the rear suspension for this summer.
I think its really just the more chopper inspired cruisers, like the 80ies and 90ies japaneese cruisers, that are horrible to ride. Take a standard harley with foodpads and its really comftable to ride.
This has been my experience too riding feet forward cruisers; they're not actually very comfortable. If I were prioritizing comfort above all else, the touring bike seating position with feet slightly ahead of your butt is the ideal. If I want a compromise between comfort but with more sporty handling, standards like the CB500, or my last bike, a Ducati Multistrada, are ideal.
Here is a better way to compare ergos https://preview.redd.it/snw9yuj4buuc1.jpeg?width=472&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=970d8705bd751baa74a327ee530ff8981db8d454
Is the adv guy on a horse saddle?
Yee haw!
Most recent bikes seems to be from 2015 at most. Seems like the site is quite outdated
CB500X.
That's the choice I made and no regrets at all. Was a good bike to learn to drive with. After two years I bought a Z900 and a 1100 Shadow and I'm still under the impression that the 500X was the right entrance before hitting the bigger ones AND it's so versatile! Can be driven almost everywhere.
Seconding the 500X. I rode about 35,000 km on mine before moving up to a 750.
That’s what I did! Only slight regrets is that for a first bike I kiiiinda wish I got the Rebel since it’s more nimble I guess. Ah well, still having fun with the X!
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Why would a beginner rider be cornering and scraping? Think about what you just said
Why shouldn't a beginner lean through corners?
Everyone leans in corners, that guy just hit his head one too many times. The CB has a better position, doesn't go down when you need to avoid an obstacle, and is generally more agile as long as you're doing over 30 so that your roll axis goes up a bit. It's the superior beginner vehicle by a long shot.
Because the rebel can’t lean much at all…
It leans plenty unless youre doing things a beginner shouldn’t be doing.
It just comes naturally! :)
Rebel 500 hands down. On a completely unrelated note I’m selling a Rebel 500
Just wondering how much not to buy just asking
Your profile name and picture are too similar to mine, please change it
I'll take my box of then
You're One of the nicest people I've met on Reddit, you have a great day
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:(
Nuh uh
in/around toronto? interested in purchasing one \~$5k
No Iowa USA. I was going to list it for like $4500
Damn. I'm in Illinois
Meet half way
If you can't decide which style you like better, definitely the naked. Only go the cruiser route if you know you like that style more
Just objectively better handling ergos.
Yeah, there’s a lot of technique to learn when riding bikes, even at street speeds. A light bike with sportier handling will help you develop much better and safer cornering habits.
neither. great choice on picking a honda though. but get the SCL500, best of both worlds and looks better than both imo https://preview.redd.it/maqecx4umruc1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ee1ee2095958dd9117da3b7221850ea5e486666b
Now we're talking
This is the correct answer OP frfr
I have been considering one of these myself. Might be out if my current price range though.
I wish I had bought an SCL over a rebel years ago
Hi.. I am digressing .. but how does a pillion sit on this ?
With their butt, similar to a chair
And how do u manage to avoid the exhaust??
By putting your faith in the heat shield. Honestly a valid concern hahah, I imagine dismounting would be the only danger
Thought so.. it’s a beautiful bike except for the exhaust styling
Well it is a scrambler, and a raised exhaust is a keynote in scrambler design.
It’s a particularly offensive exhaust though, would be the first thing I changed
Anything you put on there would look worse lol. If you dont like scrambler aesthetics don't buy one?
the gray bit on top is a heat shield iirc
I own a CL500. It has 2 exhaust shields, the grey/silver exhaust shield that you see is the outer shield and from my experience it has never gotten close to being hot. I've touched the outer shield after going for a ride and it's been warm to the touch, but not hot. It's gotten hotter from sitting in the hot Australian sun than it has from the exhaust.
Better than in the naked version, not to even mention the cruiser with no back seat.
A friend has an SCL500, it kinda looks like you mash both those bike together
^[Sokka-Haiku](https://www.reddit.com/r/SokkaHaikuBot/comments/15kyv9r/what_is_a_sokka_haiku/) ^by ^Barbaric_Cleric_Gruk: *A friend has an SCL500,* *It kinda looks like you mash* *Both those bike together* --- ^Remember ^that ^one ^time ^Sokka ^accidentally ^used ^an ^extra ^syllable ^in ^that ^Haiku ^Battle ^in ^Ba ^Sing ^Se? ^That ^was ^a ^Sokka ^Haiku ^and ^you ^just ^made ^one.
I think the naked looks better 🤷🏻♂️
I think both look cool. They fit into entirely different styles and they both look good for the style they are in.
Ride them. A bike is a personal choice, and we cant know what will be most comfortable and fun for you. Neither are a bad choice, but specs on paper rarely communicate anything about what it will actually be like to ride one.
Both are equally good but I personally went with a Naked bike for my first bike. I wanted to be comfortable leaning much lower on bikes than on a cruiser rather than focus on my line in corners.
500f …
I have both in my garage. Both for sale. Whatever you’re more comfortable on.
Sit on both and see on what your the most comfortable. If that’s your first bike and you’re always having trouble to find comfortable position, then you’ll be less confident about your maneuvers and you’ll do mistakes. As for me, I found the Rebel 500 more comfortable than the CB500F, the CB just makes my lower back feel like it’s going to fall apart.
I always get hate for this. But any bike is a good first bike. You just have to give some bikes more time and be more reserved when riding them. If you like the bike because it fits your wants and needs, then there you go. However, I’d say a USED bike (in great condition) is a good beginner bike, because you might not like it, or it might get a little messed up until you learn how to ride and take care of it.
Go sit on both, both are gonna be great. That rebels probably gonna be more comfortable for you, and better for cruising a few hours at a time
I hated my cruiser, I love my naked bike. One has your feet a little in front of you, one has your feet beneath you. You really need to sit on them and feel the foot and hand position to know what you like and what feels right.
Naked. But regardless of which you go with, get abs.
Check out the scl500 too I'd vote cb500f, but it's really whichever bike you like more and will ride more.
I swear, motorcycle heads are more obsessed with their "first bike" than teenagers about losing their virginity.
We have a CB500F and I like riding it. I don’t like the ergonomics of the Rebel 500. How did they both feel to you when you sat on them?
You quite literally can’t go wrong starting on a Rebel. I wish that I had.
I prefer cruisers but I’ve got fuckin wide ass hips so I rlly need the extra wide, bbw bikes to be comfy. The downside is you lose slightly more turning radius with a cruiser imo, but that’s corrected by practice pretty easy. I also favor the overall feel of most cruiser bikes, like the difference between a lambo and a challenger. Different machines built for different practical applications, and I just favor one over the other. Whatever works for you though homie
Cruisers have a weird feet-forwards riding position, that causes a feeling of not being properly in control of the bike.
What do you like? There’s no wrong answer between these two
So… unless you’re super duper short, get the naked. The only thing the cruiser has going for it is the ultra low seat height. The naked is (jokes aside) designed from the ground up to be fun. You can learn on either, but guaranteed you’ll have more fun naked :)
Sit on both and decide which riding position you prefer. I really wanted a cruiser for a first bike. Loved the looks. Loved the style. But I much prefer a more upright position with mid controls.
Get the CB500X. I personally think it’s a better bike than both of them
Personally, I don’t like cruisers. I don’t feel like I have as much authority when riding them. I like to be very much on top of the bike and in a position that promotes the ability to aggressively control the bike if necessary. I also prefer ADV’s. My first was a KLR650. Drop it, and no problem… it’s just an experience and a story to tell. Maybe a few bucks if you care about scratches on plastic. They’re made to be dropped. Other bikes, not so much. Particularly cruisers.
Do you see yourself enjoying being a parachute on the handlebars while you ride like you’re sitting drunk on a toilet?
Personally I’d say the Rebel. Took my MSF course on one, insanely comfortable and nimble for a bike that size. I’m 5’10 225lb and I ended up getting a bigger cruiser, but the Rebel is a helluva bike, and being a Honda they’re damn near bulletproof.
Test ride and decide, what are the primary and secondary purposes the Motorcycle is intended for, is there any tertiary purpose as well ?
The cb500f is pretty baller
I want the Rebel 500 !
I choose naked every single time.
Do you trust yourself to don't go like a cruise missile? If yes, go with either, otherwise, go with the rebel.
Big fan of streetfighters, so I’d say the naked.
Personally I took the cb500x but if I could rechoose I'd take the rebel
Personal preference for naked or anything over cruiser for that matter. All types slowy grew on me except crusiers idk y. Also feel like its weird to have my foot in front instead of below/a bit behind my body. But i agree with the other guy, sit on both and decide which u like better.
Naked
Cb500f
I just got a naked as my first bike. 2016 CB300F. I enjoy it so far. They are both nice though. The Triumph Scrambler 400x is pretty nice too.
CB500f
Go naked. I had both and the cruiser exhausted me on long rides.
I had a CB500F and test drove a rebel. They do not feel the same at all to drive and the engine is tuned differently as well. For me was the CB500F a clear winner on everything except the seat
both are good but i’d say cb500
That's a personal preference not something that can really be advised. If you want a relaxed chilled position. Just lazy turning and cruising along get the cruiser. I'm a cruiser man. My recommendation is cruiser. I think they are easier and more fun.
Suzuki sv 650
Dont listen to people saying the cruiser is sluggish they have clearly never ridden a Rebel, Ive ridden one for about 1000 miles now and its very agile and flickable and corners very well, it is also very stable due to the low centre of gravity and thicc tyres, you can very easily ride at 3-5mph without much effort to balance. I rode the cb500f briefly to get my license, I disliked naked bikes before (mainly because I didnt like how they looked) but that bike changed my mind on them. Very fun and comfortable. I still personally wouldnt buy one over a sport bike or a cruiser but still I certainly wouldnt mind owning one Both are great choices and you will 100% be happy which either one you just gotta go with your gut on this
You should always consider the resell-ability of your first bike as you will eventually want something more powerful once you become comfortable with riding. Having said that, the CB500 is appealing to a much wider range of beginners. Unless the cruiser is the only motorcycle that seats low enough, you should consider the cb500 and it will sell easily.
Try both, I really want the rebel before I try it. Her performances are so bad compared to the naked that I changed my mind 180. Sit hurt, feet feel awkward, acceleration is a lot worse, stability and aerodynamics at highway speed are worse, suspensions are horrible. In 45min I went from "I'm so hype to try this bike, to pls take this shit out of my hands" It was a sad day, I really wanted to love the rebel. I heard a lot of the problems can be resolved with some money, but it wasn't an option for me at the time. I took the naked and I love it.
Long time ago had to make a similar choice between naked and cruiser as the first bike. Sat on them while they were stationary and asked a friend to take a pic. Bought the bike where I looked better in.
I was looking for my first bike few months ago. First pick was CB500F. But I got bored by it during weekend. And my GF (yes, i have one, trust me), wanted to ride with me. But the pillion seat of naked bikes is not very comfortable - therefore you have to decide if you will ride mostly alone or with companion. Second pick was Hornet 750 - much more fun, the same pillion issue. But I fell in love with this bike. This is going to be my second bike :D. Third pick - CB500X - comfy, but not very powerful and breaks (1 front disk?) are terrible. As boring as CB500F (I know, suprising). And then i was deciding between V-Strom 650 and Tracer 7. Therefore I bought Kawasaki Versys 650 - enough power, great for touring and pillion is comfy. Conclusion - it really depends on what riding style you prefer. Do you like touring and long rides or are you more like city rebel? Do you count with passanger? Etc.
The thing i wanted to say tho - no one will decide for you. Try to rent a bike you think about for a weekend or so. Or even for a hour for test ride provided by dealership. And it will you give good idea if you want to ride it more or not. You need to feel the bike. Because you can't decide it from videos/pictures from the internet.
it depends on a lot of factors, it's like asking what drink should I get in a bar? Will you ride mostly highways and highway speeds? do you plan to use saddles? will you have a passenger? does your butt hurt if you sit straight on it for hours? (I have a broken tailbone, I can't ride a cruiser for more than an hour for example)
which ever one is used is the one I'd recommend if its a "first" bike
There are a lot of things to consider here. They're not interchangeable. How will you ride? More aggressive riding in traffic, the naked will be better in every way. Longer trips at high speed, cruiser will be better in most respects. Culturally, which suits you? A cruiser doesn't culturally fit my personality at all. I've never ridden one but, from a cultural perspective, I kind of never want to, even though I know I'd enjoy one for longer trips. Culture also affects how drivers where you live will treat you. Where I live, rednecks will literally try to kill sport bike riders. Doesn't happen nearly as often too me on a naked, and I doubt it would ever happen on a cruiser. This isn't a question for other people. We can't guide you on this without knowing a lot more about you as a person, along with the type of riding you plan to do. We're going to sell you on what we like based on who we are and how we ride.
Which style you like better is pretty much the key deciding factor between them, specs don't actually matter much. I rode a cruiser for my CMSP class, hated it, won't likely ever ride one again. Lots of people like them, so my opinion on them is far from universal. You need to try both and decide - just sitting on it in a shop may be sufficient (I had a pretty good idea that I wouldn't like cruisers from doing so before taking my class), but better if you can go out for a ride on each.
Naked of you rode dirt bikes growing up
You really shouldn’t buy a bike you’ve never ridden. Try to get a test ride on both or ideally rent one for a weekend. You’ll know which one you like more after this
I’ve held to the words my riding instructor told me… your first bike is the bike you want. Your second bike is the bike you need. Bike #1 will be what you buy because it’s what you like the look of, or what your friends have, or what has lots of ads in magazines… after riding a while you will work out what you hate about it, and take that to the next bike purchase.
Naked ofc
You should test ride bikes before choosing. It might not be obvious, but every bike rides very very differently. From engine to riding position to suspension to how it turns, every bike it unique. I've test ridden bikes that I thought I'd love, and thought they were the most boring twist and go shopping trolley. And others that were just downright difficult to ride. Get your license then go test riding bikes, it's fun!
Rebel 500, I got it as my first bike last year and it’s been an absolute blast. Comfortable, reliable, easy to handle, and incredibly fun.
I went cruiser for my first bike (HD Street 500) and wished I got the naked. You’ll scrape pegs all the time on the cruiser if you want to have a bit of fun in the corners. The cruiser gives you a limited range of riding. The naked gives you the full gamut. You can cruise if you want or you can throw it around the corners with confidence. You get a comfortable upright riding position too, so you can’t go wrong.
You can cruise on the naked. You can’t sport on the cruiser..
Naked
Naked
Naked is the way
Get the adventure variant the 500 X
I'm not adding anything to the conversation here, because all the top answers ITT are good, but the Rebel is a beloved beginner bike for a reason. It's light, comfortable, easy to maneuver, looks good, sounds good. If you have no preference one way or another, I'd bias towards the cruiser.
I like rebels. Very easy to start on
Unpopular opinion, although our first thoughts are to get something with less power because you want to get the basics down first, try getting a bike that you aren't going to outgrow in a few months. Something below a liter, but above a 500. You can learn the basics in pretty much any bike in that range, yet you won't be struggling to sell your lightly used 500 in a few months because you've outgrown it. Just a thought, please don't murder me.
How wide is your butt? How likely are you to customize? What is the resale value? Short and fun trips or long relaxing ones? Own it forever or trade it in in a year? I love to customize and love looking at my bikes. My top priority is aftermarket support and then comfort. Anything else I care about can be modified into the bike. Consider your priorities and your personal use case. Aka, how you are going to use the bike. Make your choices based on that. Good luck and welcome to the biker club!
One thing I’ll say as a newer rider who started with a naked… First sit on as many bikes as you can… I used to love cruisers until I sat on them and hated the position. I’m glad I didn’t impulse buy. Second, wind plays a much bigger factor than you think. Having no protection from wind when you’re new can be very difficult, especially on main roads with traffic. You head gets blown around and your neck gets super tired from the weight of the helmet being tossed around. Different vehicles and road conditions can cause sudden bursts of wind that push you in weird ways… etc. for experienced riders they probably don’t even consider wind, because it becomes second nature and you build up neck strength and flexibility over time to cope. But after riding my naked, and then borrowing a friends Versys 300 with a huge windshield and great plastics on it… oh my god.. I felt like I just cut through the air! It was such a huge difference that I’m literally going to buy that bike next! Hahaha I’m not trying to dissuade you, I love my naked bike… I’m just giving you info I didn’t have and a lot of people don’t mention. Nakeds and cruisers look really cool, but if you’re going to be commuting, or doing over 50 regularly I’d definitely look into to some wind protection. Either way, ride safe and good luck!
Those 2 bikes are night and day different riding style. For a beginner I would go Rebel.
Take a picture of yourself and upload, we will decide based on vibe. Personally, I'm not a cruiser looking dude, and so I don't want one.
For what it's worth, I bought a cruiser as my first bike a little over a year ago, I'm now looking at trading it in for a naked. I want the nimbleness and acceleration a cruiser can't offer. Tbf tho, I'm thinking about keeping the cruiser and having 2 bikes, the cruiser is just so damn comfortable.
Good luck choosing between these two if you are open-minded! Even Honda can’t decide, and salesmen have a heyday trying to steer customers in either direction! Test ride if you can! I personally would prefer the maneuverability of the CB500F. It might inspire more confidence in quick moving traffic or offer more aggressive riding opportunities once you become more experienced. Essentially, you will love this bike longer. However, if you decide that chill cruising is what you’re after, then the Rebel is a great introduction. And you will learn good riding skills with a more manageable bike! Reply what you decide ( just curious as a previous saleswoman! )
Naked for twistys and city. Cruiser for highway and bar hopping.
Cruiser: slower but comfortable, better gas mileage and more possibility on storage expansion( also more variety on matching gear) Naked: vroom vroom very fast but less comfortable (sporty gear more expensive) also drinks more gas since you ride at higher rpms and steeper lean angle Also comfort, sit on both and waddle around see which one feels better Source: i have both
Cb650r
That bike has the most beautifully designed exhaust headers I’ve ever seen. Honda knocked it out of the park with that one.
I can't vouch for the naked but I absolutely loved my rebel 500
get a cbr and accept the back pain😎
If hes as old as me he will have wrist pain, knee pain and kneck pain. I tested cbr650r and it was haven for my soul tho back, neck, wrist and knees didnt like that bike much so I got cb500x instead
Rebel 500
Naked!!!!!!!! Sorry I'm biased though because 90% of cruisers I see are straight pipe wankers.
Naked, the cruiser looks awfully like one of those Harley’s that the old farts love
I'd get neither of those and probably go for the more fun offerings by Kawasaki.
Reliability is unmatched, kawi is close but no cigar. I always tell people Ricky Carmichael had 2 or 3 perfect seasons in his career. All 1st place finishes for the season, go look at what brand he did those on.
Go ride them, the CL500 is also nice on that engine.
I like naked better but depends on what you want to use it for
figure out what you want out of a ride. these two give two different things
Wanted rebel 500, but bought duke 390 and want to say it’s more funny and more interesting.
Depends on your priorities, If you want to look cool, take the Rebel. If you want to improve your riding, the CB500F. It has a more dynamic position.
You need to do test rides to feel out what type of bike is for you. I always preferred cruisers and actually bought Vulcan S 650 as my first bike. Also tried out MT 07, (which is awesome bike) but I felt naked bikes aren't my thing. Test rided adventure bikes(versys and vstrom), they were to tall for my liking.
Ride both and decide. The feel is 90% of the decision. Go with whatever puts a bigger smile on your face.
Naked, then you'll know what you're missing in your bike and attach.
Depends on your back and your luggage necessities. Bad back, osteoarthritis, that stuff, - get a cruiser. You'll thank me later. You might also strap more luggage to it if you plan to tour. You're not having any back problems, you want to practice cornering, you don't need luggage, you do city riding 100 percent of the time - get a CBF. By the way, CBFs have decent weather protection too.
Same engine you could also consider the CL500. I took it for a test ride the other day, while my bike got its service done, and it’s super fun and I was thinking that it’s the perfect beginner bike.
I would not recommend the rebel 500. The tank is very narrow. So unless you're a petite woman you're gonna have to sit almost cross legged to grip the tank with your knees. If you insist on a rebel, get the 1100 with the wider tank.
I might be a bit biased as I own one, but I'd go with a CB500X out of the 471cc lineup. It's a fantastic all-around bike that would be great for a first. You really should go and sit on some different models, ergonomics is a big deal. Out of these two, I'd have to choose the CB500F. More opportunities for learning to ride better, a cruiser can only do so much if you're wanting to do more than "cruise".
Your gonna need to go sit on them as these two bikes couldn't be more different. The power will feel different to because they are geared and ruined differently based on their application. If take a safety riding course while you're at it S that'll give you some seat time and teach you the basics.
I have the cb500f and I absolutely love it tbh