I went the local guy route. He gave me some foam to confirm I was gaining the height I wanted. He thought it was to much +2 inches over original. My knee angle is so perfect I can ride 300 plus miles with zero hot spot issues. I choose classic pleats, not as cool looking but, guaranteed to never go out of style.
Harley doesn’t have a choice. They only sale 25% of what Honda sells in the US. Honda sells motorcycles to make money, Harley sells parts and shirts to stay afloat and out of necessity. It’s a shell of its former self.
Funny, our Harleys are super reliable as are our Hondas. My KTM also is very reliable, but more maintenance intensive. Harleys have been pretty reliable since AMF sold it. The biggest issues with Harleys are its owners, they dump a shitload of money to wring all they can get out of it. If done right still shortens the engine lifespan. If done wrong, well, it will grenade itself. Sadly some guys drop $30K on a Harley then drop in another $10K+ into it and a stock Ducati Diavel will crush it. If you want your Harley to last, just go with intake, exhaust and light tune, the bike will last. Anything more then that, you want to compare Dyno sheets and have a dick measuring contest. I say that as a Harley rider that loves Harleys, I just know what I got.
@@michaelconran5252 Or just go with what the factory gave you. The bikes are fine just the way they are and your correct !! just some after market exhaust and stage one is all you need. If you want a rocket buy something else.
@@njt4253 exactly! If you like multiple types of riding, buy multiple bikes. If that isn't in the budget by the bike that fits the type of riding you will mostly do. You can buy a DR650, that can do everything, reliable and Is inexpensive.
@@LifeOfBurch in all honesty, I test rode the rebel 1100 and I test rode a Sportster. The rebel 1100 performed so much better. But the feel of the Sportster and the fact I can make it whatever I wanted made the decision for me.
That’s why I picked up a used sportster a few weeks ago! And burch was the main moto yter I watched so I was leaning towards a Honda scl500 or Yamaha scr950 then once I heard a few HD and sat on a 48 and saw the craftsmanship and all the parts it made complete sense
Yapping up until 2:20. TLDR: the rebel 1100 works too well out of the box in stock form, and doesn't need FARCLE parts (fancy accessories, really cool likely expensive) for it to be usable and reliable. Just saying, if you HAVE to add a part or an accessory for basic use, it's just bad design.
To add on as well: Moore Mafia does ECU flashes for these, and saddle man really only makes Indian and Harley seats. They also get reached out to by those manufacturers to make those. There's a lot more than that one mid-AF seat company out there 👏
Misfiring potato cannon sounds amazing. My sportster has been reliable for 65k miles with just maintenance, no random or sudden problems. My cb500x, I was stuck at work because the fuel pump wire broke loose. Common problem. Still enjoy that bike but annoying. Every bike has it's pros and cons
I drive a semi and I’m always watching for motorcycles going down the highway and it seems like I see every bike besides the Rebel. I’ve never seen someone riding a Rebel in person only on UA-cam. Maybe the after market would develop more stuff for the Rebel if there were more on the road.
From working at a Honda dealership as a mechanic, who also owns an 1100, you hit the nail on the head. I ride with a bunch of HD bois, and everytime I'm envious of their mods. Not just cosmetic, but performance mods. Cams, pistons, intakes, exhausts, and so on. Don't get me wrong, I love my bike. I just wish I could get a big bore kit lmao
Why don't more companies understand this? Heck look at the grom, that's what made it so popular. Most people that buy a bike WANT to do stuff to it to make it their own.
Honda could easily do this with aftermarket support but unfortunately, we all know Honda wants to much for their accessories at incredibly high markup so nobody wants to buy them same with other major brands as well.
You also have to remember the horrible track record of Japanese companies discontinuing specific cruiser models after a couple years, where as Harley just keeps making the same bikes. Imagine saddleman spends all this money making seats for the rebel 1100 just for Honda to axe the bike next year (hypothetically) the sportster seat mount remained the same for almost 30 years
You Killed that one in one deadly strike! We can rebuild our base bike endlessly and totally every year if we want to for 25 years using just aftermarket parts. I have a Dyna Wide Glide I bought new in 2001 (Sept 11… …that’s a nugget for sure, I was buying it when that happened) and it has been 10 totally different bikes since then and still runs and rides like it did when it was new. Harleys just answer a lot of questions that the others don’t even have good questions for.
That’s a huge reason why I moved to a Road Glide. I actually saw my old 1100 at the Woodlands TX Harley Davidson along side my gf’s old Rebel 500. Traded them both in for a Street Glide.
between the youtube channel and fb group im sure we can get 2000 people for new seats lets try and do it !!! BE THE MEN WE NEED YOU TO BE , THE HERO WE NEEDED, BUT NOT THE ONE WE DESERVE!!
tbf its a dumb ask though. All they would have to do is look at the sales numbers for the bike and see everyone hates the seats and go "Oh....we could make a killing" and they just won't.
I work at a dealer/shop and ever since the 1100's came out we can't keep them. They go p much as soon as we roll them out on the floor. So it's crazy the aftermarket hasn't caught up with them. The only thing I can think of is since they aren't +18k for a base model. The companies think they won't make any money off it. But even if they were made to order stuff that took like 12 weeks to get. It would still be better than nothing. I ride a 2015 FZ1 so i'm used to that type of stuff. Still waiting on a bunch of carbon parts, I ordered months ago. It's insane that they don't even make parts for the 1100.
I've had both Japanese bikes and Harleys. While customizing bikes can be fun if you just want a solid reliable bike that you're going to ride every day that's not going to turn into a money pit I've learned that stock or nearly stock is the way to go. Aftermarket touring seats are definitely worth it though.
I just installed 4” Rox risers on my 1100, very nice. Most Honda cruisers don’t look that great in comparison to American cruisers and most owners aren’t interested in spending loads of money to customize their looks. I do wish there was more aftermarket support though especially considering that the ergonomics of the 1100 are very odd, the hip bend being the main problem. I recently got a Corbin seat that is a little taller than stock but not enough to make much of a difference. I may end up having to spend a ton of money on a custom 4-5” taller than stock Russell Day Long seat if I can’t lower the foot pegs enough to reduce the hip bend.
I actually have short legs for a 6 footer. This bike has a low seat height and somewhat high foot pegs. I have hand and wrist issues and love the DCT but only a few bikes are available with it. One way or another I’ll eventually get the rider triangle sorted out.
I honestly don’t believe that Honda made this bike with the “wow factor” or the potential for it in mind. It’s an awesome “budget bike” that is what it is. Yes, it can go up against and even outperform a couple of American bikes in it’s class especially on paper, so for that reason I believe Honda feels like that’s all that they were aiming for, a great bike at a great price! Some would say that it looks ugly AF, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder as we know. I did some modifications to my bike with the limited choices that are available, but when I think about it, how much could I possibly do to a bike like that without making it look silly!!!! There are some parts for the bike being sold in the European market, but even that’s limited. Besides, I one of those guys that don’t care about showing off, give me function and reliability and a little form, and I’m cool with that. It’s not the bike, it’s who’s on it in my opinion! It’s all subjective.
That’s where I’m at with bikes now too. This was a logical step up for me from a CTX700- way more power, cruise control, better suspension, and traction control.
Ive honestly debated on this exact thing Burch. Got my Rebel 1100 in the summer of 21' and just have been realizing that customizing is very limited even after being out for 3 years. Been looking at selling my manual 1100 for in Indian Chief Bobber Dark Horse/FTR or completely changing it up with an Adventure style bike. Living in MI Ive come to the conclusion that id like a bike that can do more than just cruise down the pavement. I want to be able to take my bike off the beaten path through the woods maybe even motorcycle camping. No matter the decision it will be a good. Keep up the great content. I can't wait to see what you decide to do moving forward. Who knows maybe we'll be getting the same bike again...
I think a bigger stock tank, would help get the market going. 3.5 gallons with a gallon reserve means distance between stops is much shorter. If it had stock a 4.5 to 5 gallon tank to start, or an easy inexpensive upgrade, sales of the model would go up. Thus increasing the after market part demand. To me that is the bike’s only real stock short coming. Mechanical parts are reasonably universal for Hondas, especially that motor and transmission. That’s been one of Honda’s bread and butters for about 10 years now, and it’s basically bulletproof.
@@Denali_Rebel my understanding is that the Rebel 1100 gets about 50mpg, if that’s the case, its nearest “competitor” would be an HD soft tail. They only get about 40 mpg, but have an extra 2 gallons to start. HD makes their “bigger” bikes, i.e. socials and going up specifically for minimum 200+ miles between stops. The Rebel is set at 150. If Honda put a 4.5 or 5 gallon tank on the Rebel and get it to that 200+ to 250+ range, they become a market player. Iv almost pulled the trigger on this bike several times, but I can get around fact my T100 has a bigger tank.
Here's your easy answer: Japanese Cruiser market or even better foreign cruiser market. No one assumed the Rebel was gonna be popular, but it was so much so that Harley tried to ape that section of the market with the nightster and failed miserably. I still have Harley riders who thought the bike was crap from what they seen online see the bike in person and change their mind. Still not a "man's bike" but it is what it is. The stigma against foreign cruisers is nuts. Honestly you have to shop around the Japanese or European sites for most decent things and in reality, even with the issues their seats have, Corbin saw the market for it and made seats for the 1100. SWMotech and Puig make parts for this bike. Most stateside cruiser companies have a comfort zone and its Harleys and Indians. Patience is key though because you have to remember this bike is like 4 years old.
True that. Definitely some more options in overseas markets, but lots of the parts don’t fit the vibes of what most people over here do. WeBike is a killer Japanese site though! I’ve got a few things from there, and it’s actually where I found the extended clutch cable when I did these risers 🤘🏻
Yeah it takes several years for the aftermarket to build up. Harleys bikes have been around forever relatively unchanged so there's decades of aftermarket and oem stuff.
Another solid company I'd add to your list that makes parts for Rebels is Hepco & Becker. If you haven't checked them out, they make quality parts for all sorts of bikes
When you sell more bikes than anyone else, not to mention that larger market share is made up of deeper pockets.. the aftermarket has no choice but to keep up. Major parts manufacturers are already pushing out new parts for the 2024 HD’s. Seats, Tuners, exhaust… it’s a demand issue. The market for a big bore kit or significant modification’s on a Rebel just isn’t there, or it would be.
Can’t go wrong with a Rebel 500! The aftermarket support is there more, plus I’m always shocked seeing 60+mpg filling up my SCL500 🙌🏻 Thanks for the love dude! 🙏🏻🤘🏻
I agree. The only downside I had to my Yamaha raider 1900 was near zero aftermarket support. You want a seat choice of like 5. Bars, 10. And of those some aren't made anymore. Got a low rider st now and there's almost too many options of each part. Can do hours and hours of internet searching and still not find them all. Not to mention all the international companies. Thailand has an absolutely monsterous harley culture and local to them aftermarket support. Most of the most amazing awesome looking fxlrs/st builds i see pics of on instagram end up being in thailand, go figure.
I rode the FTR and it was horrible. After ten minutes it absolutely burned me up and it wasn't that hot out. Would never even think about buying one. Worst heat of any bike I've ever ridden. Only good thing I can say is that it has cruise control.
This bike needs and ecu flash for sure!!! I've been looking up every tuning website and the closest I found was a tune for the fury. I don't understand why that isn't a thing. We need to come together to get that done!!
The 2000 preorder thing... It's because they already decided there's no market. When they've decided there's likely to be a market for a new bike, they're willing to take a risk to have the seats out fast. When they've done their research or whatever and determined that there isn't likely to be a market, they're leaving it up to you to prove them wrong; to hand them the profit. Because they don't believe it's there. And I have to say, if you have 100k people looking up your video for seats, I wouldn't be surprised if that only adds up to a couple hundred actual, money on the barrel sales.
Great video Burch, this is why a lot of us “younger guys” get into Harley’s. I could give a damn less about the company or the leather clad biker bros, but the bikes are customizable, easy to do so, and you will always find parts for them. I would love to support Japanese cruisers, but I also don’t like the idea of having to fabricate parts just to change things about the bike. It’s the same reason guys buy glocks,it’s not the greatest pistol ever, but there are thousands of companies supporting the aftermarket. Best of luck and ride safe
Rode Kawasakis since I started riding 10 years ago. Just recently sold my vaquero and got a heritage softail and a sporty 48. Love them both and have put a number of aftermarket parts on them. The vaquero. Almost none because there wasn’t any. And if the ones you can find are absolutely insane on the prices. Cheapest passenger backrest that was actually useful was $300. The heritage paid $180 and it’s the same quality and it has a luggage rack with it. And another mention the Japanese market doesn’t care about their cruisers at all hardly. All their updates each year is just the paint color.
@@twowheelimmortal8466same issue I had. I bought a Yamaha XV750 and I absolutely loved that bike, but finding seats, luggage options, even foot controls was almost impossible unless you wanted to do some fabrication, which I don’t want to do. I like the plug and play aspect of Harley’s parts, but I do also hate the price of the bikes
@@yankeecantrell Harley’s can be expensive for sure. Used is the way to go since a lot of them are bought and only ridden on weekends on a good warm day and cleaned every week. People say they are unreliable this and that but over the years having family and friends owning them they have just as many miles on theirs than I did and had no issues at all. Just don’t get the AMF era bikes. Those are terrible. Evo and up will last with typical maintenance. But at least they are addressing the price issues a little bit and have brought the touring and new sportsters down. Softails are still the same.
Well when you pay less than half the price of a proper harley for the highest end cruiser Honda has to offer at this point, you can't expect much of that money to have gone to R&D of aftermarket OEM parts. Top of the line Harley on the other hand costs almost 50 grands. If I'm paying 50G for a bike, it better comes with a "Make me a samich and s#ç£ my D" button.
My 1100 blew up a few months into riding it. so im picking up a scout 101 next week. I will rebuild the rebel, when i do i want a better light, better pegs (i want dirtbike pegs) longer front fender as one piece not just an attachment, id like to have a drop in compartment between the bars and the fairing.
If you are looking for a tune for your 1100 check with 2 wheel dyno works in Kirkland, WA. You may have to call but they may have a viable solution for you.
I think you just put voice and clarity to my biggest frustration with my Rebel 1100T. Also, having the Touring model limits available parts even more in some areas. I’ve done a lot to my bike and have it where I want it but it was sometimes a struggle! Great video as always, Burch!
Just to give you an example, I have the Burly Brand MX pegs same as you but the BB MX passenger pegs and backrest don’t fit the T. Luckily I emailed BB to check before I bought!
I did love my rebel but sold it for a Harley Davidson RG this year. I'm taller at 6'"2 and feel I did as much as I could to make the rebel comfortable which I did achieve. As you said though Harley just offers so much more to customize and dial your bike In for comfort.
Definitely man! The new RG ST's are nuts. Even just my standard is on another level. You were my inspiration for getting the rebel. I put 8k miles on it over a couple years. The Deprotto Moto forward controls definitely made the difference and I did do the Corbin "step-up" style seat. It still doesn't compare to the Harley though but for half the price it shouldn't lol. Keep doing what you're doing man and I see you Harley in your future 👊🏻.
I feel that with your viewers, maybe this may be an opportunity for you to do the pre-order yourself, work with and company, and make money doing it. LifeofBurch stitching and all.
The biggest thing I noticed when having a p-twin cruiser ,which is why I sold mu Vulcan S, was the lack of good aftermarket parts. It seems like they're all being treated as a gateway drug till you're able to afford an American cruiser.
Personally I would live to see some cool fairing options compatible with 2020-2024, risers 2-4-6” options, seating options Corbin or saddle man work (currently have a Corbin I love but some friends would also like to see a saddle man seat as well), tuning options to get more out of the 1100 cc motor, crash/ highway bars, and basic accessories like mirrors, foot pegs, ect…
Got a Rebel 500 a while back and upgraded to an 1100 this year. Lack of support for aftermarket for both is very frustrating. Even the limited assortment of Honda direct parts are hard to navigate for consumers and kind of a hassle even from the dealer side from what my dealer told me. It's honestly an area where Honda falls way short.
If you had a web site that would link to parts that would be cool. If you straight up made and sold seats saddlemen would have their own product out within the month to put you out of business If they noticed :P Harley/Indian is a lifestyle thing but a Honda cruiser is seen as an appliance by accessory makers.
The problem is that most of the people who buy them don't care about customizing them to the max. Comfort mods are the main thing typical Honda owners care about. Most aren't hard core riders and don't ride their bike enough to justify spending a bunch on a seat.
@@Denali_Rebelas a Harley rider, I agree many Harley owners have garage candy. Others are going through a midlife crisis, buy a $35,000, 800 lbs bagger for their first bike. They ride it once and shit themselves or the wife tells them to take it back. Go into any Harley dealer, you will find bikes 5-10 years old with extremely low miles.
I’ve had my 95magna VF750 for 26 years now. I’ve always had to modify to make things fit. My new 2024 Harley RG already has so many mods on it and available. Kinda sucks but I would never get rid of my Magna.
… this is the struggle I have with the upgrade… the 1100 is such an amazing bike, yet without aftermarket support. it is truly sad the lack of attention the Hondas get. Saddleman would be an awesome option… yet how many people would actually spend that money. Shame to say but unlike the HD and Indian markets… you don’t have these crazy builds as the money it would take to build such bikes wouldn’t sit well with the typical Honda owner. Shame as at first glance it looks like the community support seems to be there… nobody is paying crazy money to build a rebel. Hopefully that changes in time… Amazing video brother! Hope you have success in those hard parts.
Same thing with any metric cruiser with a few exceptions. Like the Vulcan S has been in the US market since 2015 and only 2 years ago Mustang finally made a mold for a seat. Want some handlebars? You'll have to reach out to a company in the Philippines for that. Saddle bags? Pay an absurd amount to Kawasaki or diy some Viking bags. Exhaust? Ship em in from Brazil. Belt drive conversion? There was a company in Brazil a few years ago that offered something but it cost more to ship it stateside than the actual kit. You either buy an American cruiser or get a popular sport bike.
Speaking of aftermarket parts, have you heard why Vance & Hines seems to have pulled their pipe for the 1100T? I'm interested in that, though certainly don't consider it a 'must-have'. And for me that's a general assessment on 1100T mods. There's some things I'm considering but nothing I've got to have. New seat? I'd like to get a couple more thousand miles on the current one before I decide. Risers sound appealing. And if a paint-matched 5.0 tank was available I'd likely buy one. The only changes I've done so far are the passenger setup and a GPS (yes it's spendy but I've always preferred that over my phone).
It really depends on what bike you get. I have a 2022 Indian Scout Rogue Sixty. There are very few aftermarket parts. There were more for my Rebel 300.
10 years ago I went on my VTX 1800. Sturgis is not the place for metric bikes they had no dealer boths or support, even back then. Needed a new back tire and only found 1 bike shop that would help. Turns out the vtx and v rod share the same tire but even the tire vendors didn't know
There is zero question in my mind that Honda built the Rebel line with that weldable tube frame specifically for modification to build that aftermarket. There's also a ton more options for the Rebel line in Japan that don't show up on Amazon or Chinese sites. Some US companies have picked up on it, like T-Rex, Burley, or Combustion Industries, but the difference between a 120+ year old company making essentially the same bikes for many decades versus a less than a decade old platform (only a few years for the 1100) is simply going to make a substantial difference in that aftermarket. But not having forward controls and a great seat as a factory/dealer option is dumb.
Not wrong! I first bought my HR 1100 Manual and watched many of you videos! went to bike week and now own a Harley Street Glide and want to build out a Police bike with a 114! Although I do still love my HR 1100 and my girlfriend is learning to ride it and loves it too, but prefers to be on the back of the Harley with me lol.
Agreed, if you look at the Honda option for upgrades it is very lack luster. I love the bike, but I do wish for options. I have the OEM tanks pads and the taller windscreen, but I went to Coffman for the exhaust and quad lock for a phone mount. It would be nice if they would add like a bigger tank option or a hard mount box for the back of the bike on the passenger area.
I have a 2024 rebel 300 and have put a windshield and grips on and that’s all I’m doing. Hopefully selling the bike year year for a Harley that I’ve always wanted and w the amount of aftermarket is insane.
I've been looking for stuff for my Rebel for a while now. I feel like one of the issues for the Rebel was when it was released. It came out during the pandemic. I feel like it no one was looking a bike at that time. Which led to it falling off people's radar, and to how little aftermarket there is available possibly.
Would like to see a Road Glide style fixed fairing that wraps out to the grips and remounts the gauge and headlight with an integrated windscreen and cup holder
Yeah, I had a hard time finding bags for my Rebel 1100 DCT... I did have a top case mounted on it (Givi). Couldn't find Saddle Bags that would work well with the Givi top case and bracket. Very hard to find parts for the Rebel 1100 DCT. 3 weeks ago, I traded in my Rebel 1100 DCT. I went a totally different direction, I went and bought a new Can-am Spyder RTL. I am loving the storage on it and can't wait to do some touring. Heading to the Claw of the Dragon in June. Can Am's can be adjusted like crazy too. Not sure why Honda is lacking in that area.
Agreed 100%!! Ohlin's reps said the same thing about shocks for the rebel1100 when I messaged their customer support: "Sorry but you’re correct, we don’t make anything for the 2023 Rebel 1100. It’s made a wish list in Sweden but not moved forward to R&D yet. They will do a business case to see if it would have enough demand to develop products for it." I saw what @ontherebel11 did to custom fit his, but that's a lot of work, and I really don't want to go through all that hassle. I would like to just buy the part and have my local shop put it on for me.
I like my 1100 as is. only thing " IF " i had to mod it would be the mirrors. I did replace the stock pipe with "TBR" other than that its perfect. Wish I could find a brown leather seat "NON HONDA" version.
Every aftermarket seat I have ever tried-- Saddlemen, Corbin, and everything else I have encountered-- has dropped me lower to the ground and pushed me closer to the tank. With a 34" inseam, I have always found this to be extremely unpleasant; it folds me up tighter and denies some of the relief dropping my feet at a stop might provide, because I don't have to straighten as much to get to pavement. I have found it easier to tell my butt to get used to whatever came on the bike. If you really want something, though, get another set pan and carry it to your most-local upholstery shop. Most of them have experience in making stacked-density foam seats and can work with you to get what you want. Still, the most reliable thing is consistently working on toughening up your butt instead.
I got the new 24 1100dct and been scouring various sites to pick out mods I think would be nice for it but yea I'm surprised there aren't many aftermarket parts. Coming from usually owning Honda cars/trucks and the aftermarket community for those are huge I was sure it would follow to their bikes. Not so for the 1100
The lack of aftermarket is what make me get a harley bagger for cruising and touring instead of a rebel 1100, I put an extended reach mustang seat with backrest, 12" apes, and higways pegs on the harley and can ride an entire day in comfort, i have yet to find another bike that i was able to easily find those parts
OMG. Your intro is on the road I grew up on. Won’t give it up to protect your privacy! But so cool! Before that wall was there you could get on the highway right there!
There is a huge gap in aftermarket parts for the Rebel, full stop. I have a 500 and I would love to put some apes on it but the support for it is severely lacking and I just can't rn.
It's super sad to see the market not support the 1100 as much as it really should. it's such a universally good and approachable bike that it should be 5x bigger than it currently is.
This is something I've been noticing with all metric bikes, no aftermarket parts! Especially the older the bike the harder it is to find used or aftermarket parts for it. I think the pandemic might've had something to do with this idk but it's got me looking at Harley instead of Honda.
I am seriously looking into the Rebel 1100 t DCT. I think Id ditch the big faring to get the one you have. Shorty pipe and rear seat sissy bar for extra baggage. Other than that, not much.
Good night. I've been following you for a couple of years and I really like your videos. Forgive my lack of knowledge of your language, I am Spanish and it is difficult for me to understand it. That's why I'm using Google Translate. I would like to ask you a couple of questions: 1- The handguards you use, is it necessary to remove the mirrors from their original position to install them? If you tell me make and model that would be great 2- I have seen that in the video you are equipped with some SV Motech suitcases that I am almost determined to buy. Would it be a good purchase for a single person to travel for a week? Thank you so much.
They believe that a majority of the Honda Rebel 1100 purchasers are very happy with what they receive and have no desire to change it up. I take exception to this as there needs to be some sort of comfort options available at a minimum.
I ride a Harley, but that’s a good looking bike. I rode Honda till they destroyed the VTX line and made the ugly as sin. Keep pushing and hopefully the aftermarket comes around.
I agree with everything you said here and I’m not a Honda Rebel dude. It is absolutely not a bike I would buy for myself as it’s not my cup of tea. However I will say this, if we’re being honest. While they do sell very well, they’re not at the level of Indian and Harley in America and the big aftermarket companies are there to make money so they’re going to target the products that will make them the most money, and right now that’s American cruisers. My personal opinion is, for cruisers, if you want general performance and you don’t care about a ton of customization options or name brands, go Honda, Kawasaki, or Yamaha. If you want to buy a bike and then turn it into your own personalized machine and you’re not someone who fabricates parts, go Harley or Indian, because I don’t see Honda or any other Japanese company expanding their factory customization options like Harley or Indian and I don’t see aftermarket companies doing it either because those companies are more invested in super sports and naked bikes. The aftermarket for sport bikes shows that as well.
That's a valid point for sure. Found your channel because I was interested in a Rebel a few years back, didn't end up buying one but I've been a regular watcher just because you're a great motovlogger. I spent waaaaay too much money and traded in my old bike for a Low Rider ST last year. Expensive for sure, but a great bike and just like you said I have no issue at all finding all sorts of parts to change on it. That's crazy to me that Saddleman said they'd want at least 2k PRE PAID before they'd make one. Lunacy lmao! It's not like the Rebel lineup is unpopular, tons of people love them
I found his channel while looking for motorcycle content because I was interested in getting started in riding.. though my choice of bike was way different than a Rebel (which I can't find anywhere anyways, lol). Not regretting my choice of a Kawasaki Vulcan though it's such a nice ride.
That's interesting because even the Benelli TRK 502, which is an ADV bike has a huge aftermarket selection for customization. I think it's a Honda thing. outside of the small displacement bikes in South East Asia there really isn't a customization scene for Honda motorcycles.
Obviously, you can’t say too much yet or you would make it more public… however, I’m the more typical Honda owner that isn’t going to buy the same part again , and I’m about to pull the trigger on some risers. I wouldn’t mind waiting a bit longer to see what you have cooking if I had some kind of rough timeframe. Completely understand if you can’t or simply don’t want to say anything yet. Lol. I want to support the 1100 aftermarket scene if I can.
I feel your pain, I have 4 bikes with varying degrees of Factory or aftermarket goodies. An 08' Buell that I can only get parts from Italy or Japan. A 2018 Bonneville that I can get parts from EVERYWHERE! A 2023 Triumph Trident with hardly anything available at all and a 2024 Honda Super Cub- the highest selling bike ever and the only parts available come from a knockoff in Thailand...
There is lots of custom options for the Rebel 1100. Check what they have in Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, Germany, France, Netherlands and so on. The main reason why you see so many aftermarket parts for HD or Indian is simple. They know owners of these bikes will spend. The reality is HD and Indian bikes are over priced. I find it very difficult to sell any bike that I bought new and usually end up keeping them. Like my first one I go when I started riding at 13 a Honda Monkey. In 2019 never having owned a Harley bike I decided to get a Softtail. And in all honestly it was the first bike I ever owned that I got rid of in less than 18 months. It's just like when the "classic" bikes started to enter the market from Royal Enfield and Jawa, which I saw as marketing to hipsters. Cruiser bikes never really did it for me. With mods, while I find it interesting. The novelty wears off very quick for me. Just like when I hear people going on about the sound. Been, there done that. The bike i currently own are: 1969 Honda Monkey I got when i was 13 in 1984. 1963 Honda Super Cub BMW R75/5 and 69 2011 Ducati Monster Simson SR-42 (Made in the GDR. I only take it out once a year for motorcycle shows. Kawasaki Ninja 650 2020 Honda CB1000R Black (my daily bike) A few years ago I went to Sturgis. My feeling was it was nothing more than advertising. I had the same feeling when I went Daytona. I feel that Harley Davidson only have one thing going for them. If you take away the clothing and marketing of lifestyle. There isn't much left. As I said before I'm just not impressed. I have more in common with the people at the Hamamatsu engineering and design department of Honda.
I don't own a rebel 1100, but it is a shame that the aftermarket doesn't really support it. It's a badass bike that can kick a lot of other bikes ass. For the price, there is no reason they shouldn't fly off the show room floors.
I had to mod mine with a $45 gell pads and walla, people thwt ride my bike are blown on how confi my Rebell atock seat is, when i fact i opened it up and added the Jell and then staple it back, it looks stock but soft.
also remember, Honda is still having issues just supplying the dang bikes in the first place. I stopped looking for a while because I could never get my butt on a rebel 1100 locally. I think they're rightfully focused on just getting more bikes out instead of OEM customization
I’m not sure about sales figures in the U.S., but in Asia, the market is miniscule. There’s just not a demand for them, and most feel that the new look is unappealing. In fact, there’s a greater demand for the old 250 Rebels than the 300+ Rebels. I was recently given a quote of $5000 for a 2009 Rebel 250 in good shape with roughly 5K on the odometer. They retain their value, whereas the 300+ Rebels depreciate rapidly. The same dealer that quoted me on the used 250 also had a used 2019 Rebel 300 in stock, which was also in good shape. It had about 4K on the odometer and was listed for just $3500. Anyway, back to the original point; if the sales aren’t there, then the sale of aftermarket parts won’t be there, either. And I wouldn’t tie the demand for seats to views. Some motorcycle enthusiasts, including myself, watch a lot of content pertaining to motorcycles and upgrades just for the heck of it.
I hear ya I'm a kawi guy I have a vulcan custom and vaquero I managed to get mustang seats for both and did the same I messaged saddlemen. It's just not in the cards. I wish the vaquero had a aftermarket scene but again just not available. Cheers I strongly consider going domestic just so I can mod but I love my kawis to much
I too have been disappointed in the after market support. Having to rig everything up just to make it work is annoying especially for noobs like me. I have thought about going to a HD but I really really like the DCT and honestly don't know if I'll get another bike that is not DCT... plus I cant afford a new HD. BUT with all that said, it makes my pickle stiff thinking about some custom Burch parts. Be the guy, take us to the future of the 1100!!! (just don't forget about us DCT guys lol)
Question. Our exhaust where it meets the engine is not as black as the rest of it. Yours seems to have the original color. Is there anything you’ve done to it?
I have been in the market for a new bike and was stuck between the Rebel 1100 (due to Burch's content!) and the Scout Rogue. I went with the Scout because I got a DEAL on one, but the aftermarket support definitely helped.
Im telling you, the aftermarket support is what MAKES OR BREAKS a bike. That is honestly why i got RID of my Rebel and went with a Harley Sportster instead, the aftermarket support for the Rebel is just NOT THERE and what is SUCKS. The aftermarket manufacturers say there isn't a market for Rebel parts, BUT bike owners say there is no aftermarket support for the rebel so they dont buy them. If the manufacturers would start making parts for the bike, then people would start buying the bikes AND buying the parts. But without parts, not as many people are going to buy the bikes.
Okay, so I'm not crazy in thinking that there just aren't many customization options for our bike, like there are for so many other brands. The saddle is by-far the biggest problem that needs to be addressed on the 1100. I resorted to locating a local upholsterer to make a saddle for mine because I didn't like the two aftermarket options. There needs to be a host of handlebar options because that's the other major issue so many of us have. I'd love to see some floorboards that aren't cheapy chintzy chinese and slicker than oil when they come to you. I want to make my 1100 customized *to me*, not customized like exactly every other well-loved 1100 is.
Honda has notoriously had this problem. I'm a part of a few Honda Shadow Groups its insane how little bars / headlights / footpegs that are ready to go when they've been made for over 30 years. Saddlemen are absolute scumbags for that I. The advancement of 3D printing and scanning it wouldn't cost that company that much to make a few seats even if they dont include all the patterns and colors. I used a CC Rider seat thats very similar to Saddlemen and made it work. I'd definitely reach out to them and see if they have any interest.
I ride a low rider ST, and I’m still surprised that they don’t have a seat for the rebel, there def is a demand for it, a lot of people who don’t like Harley’s or Indians choose the Honda rebel instead
Another great vid as usual brother. I want the 1100 so bad, but I can NOT get over the lack of support out there. It's to the point of making me second guess getting one.
I feel your pain...back before I could afford a Harley I had a Suzuki Intruder 1400 I could not find much after market stuff ...maybe a seat and exhaust and 1company that made forward controls...but they were out of my price range
If you want a custom seat take your stock seat and take it to a upholstery shop. You can always make your own custom parts to you specific needs.
That’s what people used to do before these big companies popped up.
I went the local guy route. He gave me some foam to confirm I was gaining the height I wanted. He thought it was to much +2 inches over original. My knee angle is so perfect I can ride 300 plus miles with zero hot spot issues. I choose classic pleats, not as cool looking but, guaranteed to never go out of style.
Some people buy their bikes just to ride them, others buy them just to work on them.
Harley doesn’t have a choice. They only sale 25% of what Honda sells in the US. Honda sells motorcycles to make money, Harley sells parts and shirts to stay afloat and out of necessity. It’s a shell of its former self.
It's not just one or the other, obviously. I bought mine for both reasons.
Funny, our Harleys are super reliable as are our Hondas. My KTM also is very reliable, but more maintenance intensive. Harleys have been pretty reliable since AMF sold it. The biggest issues with Harleys are its owners, they dump a shitload of money to wring all they can get out of it. If done right still shortens the engine lifespan. If done wrong, well, it will grenade itself. Sadly some guys drop $30K on a Harley then drop in another $10K+ into it and a stock Ducati Diavel will crush it. If you want your Harley to last, just go with intake, exhaust and light tune, the bike will last. Anything more then that, you want to compare Dyno sheets and have a dick measuring contest. I say that as a Harley rider that loves Harleys, I just know what I got.
@@michaelconran5252 Or just go with what the factory gave you. The bikes are fine just the way they are and your correct !! just some after market exhaust and stage one is all you need. If you want a rocket buy something else.
@@njt4253 exactly! If you like multiple types of riding, buy multiple bikes. If that isn't in the budget by the bike that fits the type of riding you will mostly do. You can buy a DR650, that can do everything, reliable and Is inexpensive.
That's why I love the Sportster. You can build an entire Sportster from the ground up using nothing but aftermarket parts.
You can buy an Evo engine then build a sportster from the ground up out of aftermarket catalogs 😂
You’re not lying dude! The amount of different things you can do to a sporty is wiiild!
@@LifeOfBurch in all honesty, I test rode the rebel 1100 and I test rode a Sportster. The rebel 1100 performed so much better. But the feel of the Sportster and the fact I can make it whatever I wanted made the decision for me.
@@theorthobiker yeah I even chopped my frame and made it a hard tail. And the sportster evo is one of the most reliable engines from Harley
That’s why I picked up a used sportster a few weeks ago! And burch was the main moto yter I watched so I was leaning towards a Honda scl500 or Yamaha scr950 then once I heard a few HD and sat on a 48 and saw the craftsmanship and all the parts it made complete sense
Yapping up until 2:20.
TLDR: the rebel 1100 works too well out of the box in stock form, and doesn't need FARCLE parts (fancy accessories, really cool likely expensive) for it to be usable and reliable.
Just saying, if you HAVE to add a part or an accessory for basic use, it's just bad design.
To add on as well:
Moore Mafia does ECU flashes for these, and saddle man really only makes Indian and Harley seats. They also get reached out to by those manufacturers to make those. There's a lot more than that one mid-AF seat company out there 👏
The issue being that it doesn't sound like a misfiring potato cannon? 😂
😂😂😂
At least give it a 270° firing order. The Honda and Kawasaki 180° twins sounds bleh
@@joekavalauskas8767 the Rebel 1100 is 270. The 500’s are 180.
Misfiring potato cannon sounds amazing. My sportster has been reliable for 65k miles with just maintenance, no random or sudden problems. My cb500x, I was stuck at work because the fuel pump wire broke loose. Common problem. Still enjoy that bike but annoying. Every bike has it's pros and cons
Even new Harleys doesn't sounds like that anymore.
I drive a semi and I’m always watching for motorcycles going down the highway and it seems like I see every bike besides the Rebel. I’ve never seen someone riding a Rebel in person only on UA-cam. Maybe the after market would develop more stuff for the Rebel if there were more on the road.
Like replacing the repurposed bed ban fuel tank.
I don't think they are nearly as popular as some think. Personally, I find the look of them very unappealing.
From working at a Honda dealership as a mechanic, who also owns an 1100, you hit the nail on the head. I ride with a bunch of HD bois, and everytime I'm envious of their mods. Not just cosmetic, but performance mods. Cams, pistons, intakes, exhausts, and so on. Don't get me wrong, I love my bike. I just wish I could get a big bore kit lmao
Why don't more companies understand this? Heck look at the grom, that's what made it so popular. Most people that buy a bike WANT to do stuff to it to make it their own.
Honda could easily do this with aftermarket support but unfortunately, we all know Honda wants to much for their accessories at incredibly high markup so nobody wants to buy them same with other major brands as well.
Dude start a parts company. A stand alone ecu would be sick to fix jerky throttle and fueling in general. Adjusting timing would be awesome.
I'm supposed burley brand doesn't make seats for it they do have some of the best stuff for the 1100
You also have to remember the horrible track record of Japanese companies discontinuing specific cruiser models after a couple years, where as Harley just keeps making the same bikes. Imagine saddleman spends all this money making seats for the rebel 1100 just for Honda to axe the bike next year (hypothetically) the sportster seat mount remained the same for almost 30 years
Harley dicontinued bunch of their models as well.
Facts. They ruined the VTX.
@@oknevals yes, but most of the bones are still there.
You Killed that one in one deadly strike! We can rebuild our base bike endlessly and totally every year if we want to for 25 years using just aftermarket parts. I have a Dyna Wide Glide I bought new in 2001 (Sept 11… …that’s a nugget for sure, I was buying it when that happened) and it has been 10 totally different bikes since then and still runs and rides like it did when it was new. Harleys just answer a lot of questions that the others don’t even have good questions for.
@@MrDoyle07 How many miles do you have on it and how much money did you spend on it in that time?
That’s a huge reason why I moved to a Road Glide. I actually saw my old 1100 at the Woodlands TX Harley Davidson along side my gf’s old Rebel 500. Traded them both in for a Street Glide.
between the youtube channel and fb group im sure we can get 2000 people for new seats lets try and do it !!! BE THE MEN WE NEED YOU TO BE , THE HERO WE NEEDED, BUT NOT THE ONE WE DESERVE!!
tbf its a dumb ask though. All they would have to do is look at the sales numbers for the bike and see everyone hates the seats and go "Oh....we could make a killing" and they just won't.
I work at a dealer/shop and ever since the 1100's came out we can't keep them. They go p much as soon as we roll them out on the floor. So it's crazy the aftermarket hasn't caught up with them. The only thing I can think of is since they aren't +18k for a base model. The companies think they won't make any money off it. But even if they were made to order stuff that took like 12 weeks to get. It would still be better than nothing. I ride a 2015 FZ1 so i'm used to that type of stuff. Still waiting on a bunch of carbon parts, I ordered months ago. It's insane that they don't even make parts for the 1100.
My honda dealer has had the same 1100 DCT rebel here for years.
They're not selling them, it may be your salesman trying to sell you one.
@@MrMikeDao He works there?
I've had both Japanese bikes and Harleys.
While customizing bikes can be fun if you just want a solid reliable bike that you're going to ride every day that's not going to turn into a money pit I've learned that stock or nearly stock is the way to go.
Aftermarket touring seats are definitely worth it though.
Be the Rebel 1100 brand ambassador...it's your calling
Mustang seat on my 1100 is perfect.
For me, I was expecting better with the Mustang. It is better than the stock seat, but not as comfortable as I was hoping.
I just installed 4” Rox risers on my 1100, very nice.
Most Honda cruisers don’t look that great in comparison to American cruisers and most owners aren’t interested in spending loads of money to customize their looks. I do wish there was more aftermarket support though especially considering that the ergonomics of the 1100 are very odd, the hip bend being the main problem. I recently got a Corbin seat that is a little taller than stock but not enough to make much of a difference. I may end up having to spend a ton of money on a custom 4-5” taller than stock Russell Day Long seat if I can’t lower the foot pegs enough to reduce the hip bend.
I'm taking it you're tall? Maybe you are just too tall for a Rebel.
I actually have short legs for a 6 footer. This bike has a low seat height and somewhat high foot pegs. I have hand and wrist issues and love the DCT but only a few bikes are available with it. One way or another I’ll eventually get the rider triangle sorted out.
I honestly don’t believe that Honda made this bike with the “wow factor” or the potential for it in mind. It’s an awesome “budget bike” that is what it is. Yes, it can go up against and even outperform a couple of American bikes in it’s class especially on paper, so for that reason I believe Honda feels like that’s all that they were aiming for, a great bike at a great price! Some would say that it looks ugly AF, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder as we know. I did some modifications to my bike with the limited choices that are available, but when I think about it, how much could I possibly do to a bike like that without making it look silly!!!! There are some parts for the bike being sold in the European market, but even that’s limited. Besides, I one of those guys that don’t care about showing off, give me function and reliability and a little form, and I’m cool with that. It’s not the bike, it’s who’s on it in my opinion! It’s all subjective.
That’s where I’m at with bikes now too. This was a logical step up for me from a CTX700- way more power, cruise control, better suspension, and traction control.
Ive honestly debated on this exact thing Burch. Got my Rebel 1100 in the summer of 21' and just have been realizing that customizing is very limited even after being out for 3 years. Been looking at selling my manual 1100 for in Indian Chief Bobber Dark Horse/FTR or completely changing it up with an Adventure style bike. Living in MI Ive come to the conclusion that id like a bike that can do more than just cruise down the pavement. I want to be able to take my bike off the beaten path through the woods maybe even motorcycle camping. No matter the decision it will be a good. Keep up the great content. I can't wait to see what you decide to do moving forward. Who knows maybe we'll be getting the same bike again...
Hmmm we could be FTR twinsies next?! You go rally, I go race 👀😬
I think a bigger stock tank, would help get the market going. 3.5 gallons with a gallon reserve means distance between stops is much shorter. If it had stock a 4.5 to 5 gallon tank to start, or an easy inexpensive upgrade, sales of the model would go up. Thus increasing the after market part demand. To me that is the bike’s only real stock short coming. Mechanical parts are reasonably universal for Hondas, especially that motor and transmission. That’s been one of Honda’s bread and butters for about 10 years now, and it’s basically bulletproof.
The small tank with arguably terrible mpg is a bad combination.
@@Denali_Rebel my understanding is that the Rebel 1100 gets about 50mpg, if that’s the case, its nearest “competitor” would be an HD soft tail. They only get about 40 mpg, but have an extra 2 gallons to start. HD makes their “bigger” bikes, i.e. socials and going up specifically for minimum 200+ miles between stops. The Rebel is set at 150. If Honda put a 4.5 or 5 gallon tank on the Rebel and get it to that 200+ to 250+ range, they become a market player. Iv almost pulled the trigger on this bike several times, but I can get around fact my T100 has a bigger tank.
@@shanerogers7198 yeah it gets 50 mpg if you’re keep it under 50 mph. I’m talking about actual road speeds. 55-75 it’s 40 if you ride gently.
Here's your easy answer: Japanese Cruiser market or even better foreign cruiser market. No one assumed the Rebel was gonna be popular, but it was so much so that Harley tried to ape that section of the market with the nightster and failed miserably. I still have Harley riders who thought the bike was crap from what they seen online see the bike in person and change their mind. Still not a "man's bike" but it is what it is. The stigma against foreign cruisers is nuts. Honestly you have to shop around the Japanese or European sites for most decent things and in reality, even with the issues their seats have, Corbin saw the market for it and made seats for the 1100. SWMotech and Puig make parts for this bike. Most stateside cruiser companies have a comfort zone and its Harleys and Indians. Patience is key though because you have to remember this bike is like 4 years old.
True that. Definitely some more options in overseas markets, but lots of the parts don’t fit the vibes of what most people over here do. WeBike is a killer Japanese site though! I’ve got a few things from there, and it’s actually where I found the extended clutch cable when I did these risers 🤘🏻
Yeah it takes several years for the aftermarket to build up. Harleys bikes have been around forever relatively unchanged so there's decades of aftermarket and oem stuff.
Another solid company I'd add to your list that makes parts for Rebels is Hepco & Becker. If you haven't checked them out, they make quality parts for all sorts of bikes
When you sell more bikes than anyone else, not to mention that larger market share is made up of deeper pockets.. the aftermarket has no choice but to keep up. Major parts manufacturers are already pushing out new parts for the 2024 HD’s. Seats, Tuners, exhaust… it’s a demand issue. The market for a big bore kit or significant modification’s on a Rebel just isn’t there, or it would be.
That's a big reason I went with the Rebel 500 instead of the 1100. I adore mods and there's just so much out there for the 500. Love from New Mexico ❤
Hence why I kept with mine tbh.
So much more to do with them… not as fast… yet imo I find it works well enough for daily use.
Can’t go wrong with a Rebel 500! The aftermarket support is there more, plus I’m always shocked seeing 60+mpg filling up my SCL500 🙌🏻 Thanks for the love dude! 🙏🏻🤘🏻
Thats true!
1100 just come out like 3yrs thats why they dont have the much parts ! The 500 has yrs being out!!
I adore bikes that don't need modding , to each his own , but seriously if you want to mode a seat get a seamstress or upholstery guy .
@leeinwis that's what I did
Seat and floorboards for 1100t DCT are my biggest needs. Almost lost my left foot in a wreck last year and the pegs on it suck.
I agree. The only downside I had to my Yamaha raider 1900 was near zero aftermarket support. You want a seat choice of like 5. Bars, 10. And of those some aren't made anymore. Got a low rider st now and there's almost too many options of each part. Can do hours and hours of internet searching and still not find them all. Not to mention all the international companies. Thailand has an absolutely monsterous harley culture and local to them aftermarket support. Most of the most amazing awesome looking fxlrs/st builds i see pics of on instagram end up being in thailand, go figure.
We never stop wanting stuff, i have a street bob 107, i think learning to love what we have is importan! That honda is sweet brother!!
The Rebel is not a model that anyone takes seriously. That's not going to change.
They’re lovely little bikes, amazing for new riders, but yeah, you’re right.
I rode the FTR and it was horrible. After ten minutes it absolutely burned me up and it wasn't that hot out. Would never even think about buying one. Worst heat of any bike I've ever ridden. Only good thing I can say is that it has cruise control.
This bike needs and ecu flash for sure!!! I've been looking up every tuning website and the closest I found was a tune for the fury. I don't understand why that isn't a thing. We need to come together to get that done!!
The 2000 preorder thing... It's because they already decided there's no market. When they've decided there's likely to be a market for a new bike, they're willing to take a risk to have the seats out fast. When they've done their research or whatever and determined that there isn't likely to be a market, they're leaving it up to you to prove them wrong; to hand them the profit. Because they don't believe it's there. And I have to say, if you have 100k people looking up your video for seats, I wouldn't be surprised if that only adds up to a couple hundred actual, money on the barrel sales.
Great video Burch, this is why a lot of us “younger guys” get into Harley’s. I could give a damn less about the company or the leather clad biker bros, but the bikes are customizable, easy to do so, and you will always find parts for them. I would love to support Japanese cruisers, but I also don’t like the idea of having to fabricate parts just to change things about the bike. It’s the same reason guys buy glocks,it’s not the greatest pistol ever, but there are thousands of companies supporting the aftermarket. Best of luck and ride safe
Rode Kawasakis since I started riding 10 years ago. Just recently sold my vaquero and got a heritage softail and a sporty 48. Love them both and have put a number of aftermarket parts on them. The vaquero. Almost none because there wasn’t any. And if the ones you can find are absolutely insane on the prices. Cheapest passenger backrest that was actually useful was $300. The heritage paid $180 and it’s the same quality and it has a luggage rack with it. And another mention the Japanese market doesn’t care about their cruisers at all hardly. All their updates each year is just the paint color.
@@twowheelimmortal8466same issue I had. I bought a Yamaha XV750 and I absolutely loved that bike, but finding seats, luggage options, even foot controls was almost impossible unless you wanted to do some fabrication, which I don’t want to do. I like the plug and play aspect of Harley’s parts, but I do also hate the price of the bikes
@@yankeecantrell Harley’s can be expensive for sure. Used is the way to go since a lot of them are bought and only ridden on weekends on a good warm day and cleaned every week. People say they are unreliable this and that but over the years having family and friends owning them they have just as many miles on theirs than I did and had no issues at all. Just don’t get the AMF era bikes. Those are terrible. Evo and up will last with typical maintenance. But at least they are addressing the price issues a little bit and have brought the touring and new sportsters down. Softails are still the same.
Well when you pay less than half the price of a proper harley for the highest end cruiser Honda has to offer at this point, you can't expect much of that money to have gone to R&D of aftermarket OEM parts.
Top of the line Harley on the other hand costs almost 50 grands. If I'm paying 50G for a bike, it better comes with a "Make me a samich and s#ç£ my D" button.
My 1100 blew up a few months into riding it. so im picking up a scout 101 next week. I will rebuild the rebel, when i do i want a better light, better pegs (i want dirtbike pegs) longer front fender as one piece not just an attachment, id like to have a drop in compartment between the bars and the fairing.
If you are looking for a tune for your 1100 check with 2 wheel dyno works in Kirkland, WA. You may have to call but they may have a viable solution for you.
I think you just put voice and clarity to my biggest frustration with my Rebel 1100T. Also, having the Touring model limits available parts even more in some areas. I’ve done a lot to my bike and have it where I want it but it was sometimes a struggle! Great video as always, Burch!
Thanks Paula! And yea I can definitely see how the 1100T would exaggerate this issue even more. I hadn’t even considered that 🤔
Just to give you an example, I have the Burly Brand MX pegs same as you but the BB MX passenger pegs and backrest don’t fit the T. Luckily I emailed BB to check before I bought!
I did love my rebel but sold it for a Harley Davidson RG this year. I'm taller at 6'"2 and feel I did as much as I could to make the rebel comfortable which I did achieve. As you said though Harley just offers so much more to customize and dial your bike In for comfort.
Yea at your height a Road Glide is definitely the better option! I still have dreams about when I test rode a Road Glide ST 😍
Definitely man! The new RG ST's are nuts. Even just my standard is on another level. You were my inspiration for getting the rebel. I put 8k miles on it over a couple years. The Deprotto Moto forward controls definitely made the difference and I did do the Corbin "step-up" style seat. It still doesn't compare to the Harley though but for half the price it shouldn't lol. Keep doing what you're doing man and I see you Harley in your future 👊🏻.
I feel that with your viewers, maybe this may be an opportunity for you to do the pre-order yourself, work with and company, and make money doing it. LifeofBurch stitching and all.
Ok, I may have typed this before finishing the video lol
I’d want SCL500 parts myself 😄
The biggest thing I noticed when having a p-twin cruiser ,which is why I sold mu Vulcan S, was the lack of good aftermarket parts. It seems like they're all being treated as a gateway drug till you're able to afford an American cruiser.
Personally I would live to see some cool fairing options compatible with 2020-2024, risers 2-4-6” options, seating options Corbin or saddle man work (currently have a Corbin I love but some friends would also like to see a saddle man seat as well), tuning options to get more out of the 1100 cc motor, crash/ highway bars, and basic accessories like mirrors, foot pegs, ect…
Got a Rebel 500 a while back and upgraded to an 1100 this year. Lack of support for aftermarket for both is very frustrating. Even the limited assortment of Honda direct parts are hard to navigate for consumers and kind of a hassle even from the dealer side from what my dealer told me. It's honestly an area where Honda falls way short.
You know you want that sweet low rider. DO IT!!
Duuude if only I had the money!! 😩😩😩
If you had a web site that would link to parts that would be cool. If you straight up made and sold seats saddlemen would have their own product out within the month to put you out of business If they noticed :P
Harley/Indian is a lifestyle thing but a Honda cruiser is seen as an appliance by accessory makers.
Something needs to be done with the tank... Wider, bigger... It doesn't look right sitting above the frame like that...
The problem is that most of the people who buy them don't care about customizing them to the max. Comfort mods are the main thing typical Honda owners care about. Most aren't hard core riders and don't ride their bike enough to justify spending a bunch on a seat.
Interesting. Almost every Honda rider I know rides daily but I can’t say that about any other brand. Granted my experience
Comfort mods?
Rebels can’t even get affordable forward controls or good quality seats, and if grips weren’t universal they wouldn’t have those either
@@Denali_Rebelas a Harley rider, I agree many Harley owners have garage candy. Others are going through a midlife crisis, buy a $35,000, 800 lbs bagger for their first bike. They ride it once and shit themselves or the wife tells them to take it back. Go into any Harley dealer, you will find bikes 5-10 years old with extremely low miles.
I’ve had my 95magna VF750 for 26 years now. I’ve always had to modify to make things fit. My new 2024 Harley RG already has so many mods on it and available. Kinda sucks but I would never get rid of my Magna.
… this is the struggle I have with the upgrade… the 1100 is such an amazing bike, yet without aftermarket support. it is truly sad the lack of attention the Hondas get. Saddleman would be an awesome option… yet how many people would actually spend that money. Shame to say but unlike the HD and Indian markets… you don’t have these crazy builds as the money it would take to build such bikes wouldn’t sit well with the typical Honda owner.
Shame as at first glance it looks like the community support seems to be there… nobody is paying crazy money to build a rebel. Hopefully that changes in time…
Amazing video brother! Hope you have success in those hard parts.
Thanks dude! And well said. I gotta push for more aftermarket support so you have incentive to join the 1100 club! 👀😬🤘🏻
Same thing with any metric cruiser with a few exceptions.
Like the Vulcan S has been in the US market since 2015 and only 2 years ago Mustang finally made a mold for a seat. Want some handlebars? You'll have to reach out to a company in the Philippines for that. Saddle bags? Pay an absurd amount to Kawasaki or diy some Viking bags. Exhaust? Ship em in from Brazil. Belt drive conversion? There was a company in Brazil a few years ago that offered something but it cost more to ship it stateside than the actual kit.
You either buy an American cruiser or get a popular sport bike.
Speaking of aftermarket parts, have you heard why Vance & Hines seems to have pulled their pipe for the 1100T? I'm interested in that, though certainly don't consider it a 'must-have'. And for me that's a general assessment on 1100T mods. There's some things I'm considering but nothing I've got to have. New seat? I'd like to get a couple more thousand miles on the current one before I decide. Risers sound appealing. And if a paint-matched 5.0 tank was available I'd likely buy one. The only changes I've done so far are the passenger setup and a GPS (yes it's spendy but I've always preferred that over my phone).
It really depends on what bike you get. I have a 2022 Indian Scout Rogue Sixty. There are very few aftermarket parts. There were more for my Rebel 300.
Larger aftermarket tank and ECU Flash would be my top 2 wants. Keep up the good work!
10 years ago I went on my VTX 1800. Sturgis is not the place for metric bikes they had no dealer boths or support, even back then. Needed a new back tire and only found 1 bike shop that would help. Turns out the vtx and v rod share the same tire but even the tire vendors didn't know
There is zero question in my mind that Honda built the Rebel line with that weldable tube frame specifically for modification to build that aftermarket. There's also a ton more options for the Rebel line in Japan that don't show up on Amazon or Chinese sites. Some US companies have picked up on it, like T-Rex, Burley, or Combustion Industries, but the difference between a 120+ year old company making essentially the same bikes for many decades versus a less than a decade old platform (only a few years for the 1100) is simply going to make a substantial difference in that aftermarket.
But not having forward controls and a great seat as a factory/dealer option is dumb.
Not wrong!
I first bought my HR 1100 Manual and watched many of you videos! went to bike week and now own a Harley Street Glide and want to build out a Police bike with a 114! Although I do still love my HR 1100 and my girlfriend is learning to ride it and loves it too, but prefers to be on the back of the Harley with me lol.
Congrats on the Street Glide! I can definitely understand why she’d be more comfortable on that 😂🤘🏻
Agreed, if you look at the Honda option for upgrades it is very lack luster. I love the bike, but I do wish for options. I have the OEM tanks pads and the taller windscreen, but I went to Coffman for the exhaust and quad lock for a phone mount. It would be nice if they would add like a bigger tank option or a hard mount box for the back of the bike on the passenger area.
Agreed. Not enough choices for Hondas in general. Glad you spoke your mind to the company.
I have a 2024 rebel 300 and have put a windshield and grips on and that’s all I’m doing. Hopefully selling the bike year year for a Harley that I’ve always wanted and w the amount of aftermarket is insane.
I've been looking for stuff for my Rebel for a while now. I feel like one of the issues for the Rebel was when it was released. It came out during the pandemic. I feel like it no one was looking a bike at that time. Which led to it falling off people's radar, and to how little aftermarket there is available possibly.
Would like to see a Road Glide style fixed fairing that wraps out to the grips and remounts the gauge and headlight with an integrated windscreen and cup holder
Yeah, I had a hard time finding bags for my Rebel 1100 DCT... I did have a top case mounted on it (Givi). Couldn't find Saddle Bags that would work well with the Givi top case and bracket. Very hard to find parts for the Rebel 1100 DCT. 3 weeks ago, I traded in my Rebel 1100 DCT. I went a totally different direction, I went and bought a new Can-am Spyder RTL. I am loving the storage on it and can't wait to do some touring. Heading to the Claw of the Dragon in June. Can Am's can be adjusted like crazy too. Not sure why Honda is lacking in that area.
Agreed 100%!!
Ohlin's reps said the same thing about shocks for the rebel1100 when I messaged their customer support:
"Sorry but you’re correct, we don’t make anything for the 2023 Rebel 1100. It’s made a wish list in Sweden but not moved forward to R&D yet. They will do a business case to see if it would have enough demand to develop products for it."
I saw what @ontherebel11 did to custom fit his, but that's a lot of work, and I really don't want to go through all that hassle. I would like to just buy the part and have my local shop put it on for me.
Great points and brainstorming!! Be the ambassador!!
I like my 1100 as is. only thing " IF " i had to mod it would be the mirrors. I did replace the stock pipe with "TBR" other than that its perfect. Wish I could find a brown leather seat "NON HONDA" version.
Every aftermarket seat I have ever tried-- Saddlemen, Corbin, and everything else I have encountered-- has dropped me lower to the ground and pushed me closer to the tank. With a 34" inseam, I have always found this to be extremely unpleasant; it folds me up tighter and denies some of the relief dropping my feet at a stop might provide, because I don't have to straighten as much to get to pavement. I have found it easier to tell my butt to get used to whatever came on the bike. If you really want something, though, get another set pan and carry it to your most-local upholstery shop. Most of them have experience in making stacked-density foam seats and can work with you to get what you want. Still, the most reliable thing is consistently working on toughening up your butt instead.
Do I go to gay saunas or what
I got the new 24 1100dct and been scouring various sites to pick out mods I think would be nice for it but yea I'm surprised there aren't many aftermarket parts. Coming from usually owning Honda cars/trucks and the aftermarket community for those are huge I was sure it would follow to their bikes. Not so for the 1100
The lack of aftermarket is what make me get a harley bagger for cruising and touring instead of a rebel 1100, I put an extended reach mustang seat with backrest, 12" apes, and higways pegs on the harley and can ride an entire day in comfort, i have yet to find another bike that i was able to easily find those parts
OMG. Your intro is on the road I grew up on. Won’t give it up to protect your privacy! But so cool! Before that wall was there you could get on the highway right there!
There is a huge gap in aftermarket parts for the Rebel, full stop. I have a 500 and I would love to put some apes on it but the support for it is severely lacking and I just can't rn.
It's super sad to see the market not support the 1100 as much as it really should. it's such a universally good and approachable bike that it should be 5x bigger than it currently is.
This is something I've been noticing with all metric bikes, no aftermarket parts! Especially the older the bike the harder it is to find used or aftermarket parts for it. I think the pandemic might've had something to do with this idk but it's got me looking at Harley instead of Honda.
I am seriously looking into the Rebel 1100 t DCT. I think Id ditch the big faring to get the one you have. Shorty pipe and rear seat sissy bar for extra baggage. Other than that, not much.
Good night. I've been following you for a couple of years and I really like your videos. Forgive my lack of knowledge of your language, I am Spanish and it is difficult for me to understand it. That's why I'm using Google Translate. I would like to ask you a couple of questions: 1- The handguards you use, is it necessary to remove the mirrors from their original position to install them? If you tell me make and model that would be great 2- I have seen that in the video you are equipped with some SV Motech suitcases that I am almost determined to buy. Would it be a good purchase for a single person to travel for a week? Thank you so much.
They believe that a majority of the Honda Rebel 1100 purchasers are very happy with what they receive and have no desire to change it up. I take exception to this as there needs to be some sort of comfort options available at a minimum.
I ride a Harley, but that’s a good looking bike. I rode Honda till they destroyed the VTX line and made the ugly as sin. Keep pushing and hopefully the aftermarket comes around.
I agree with everything you said here and I’m not a Honda Rebel dude. It is absolutely not a bike I would buy for myself as it’s not my cup of tea. However I will say this, if we’re being honest. While they do sell very well, they’re not at the level of Indian and Harley in America and the big aftermarket companies are there to make money so they’re going to target the products that will make them the most money, and right now that’s American cruisers.
My personal opinion is, for cruisers, if you want general performance and you don’t care about a ton of customization options or name brands, go Honda, Kawasaki, or Yamaha. If you want to buy a bike and then turn it into your own personalized machine and you’re not someone who fabricates parts, go Harley or Indian, because I don’t see Honda or any other Japanese company expanding their factory customization options like Harley or Indian and I don’t see aftermarket companies doing it either because those companies are more invested in super sports and naked bikes. The aftermarket for sport bikes shows that as well.
That's a valid point for sure. Found your channel because I was interested in a Rebel a few years back, didn't end up buying one but I've been a regular watcher just because you're a great motovlogger. I spent waaaaay too much money and traded in my old bike for a Low Rider ST last year. Expensive for sure, but a great bike and just like you said I have no issue at all finding all sorts of parts to change on it.
That's crazy to me that Saddleman said they'd want at least 2k PRE PAID before they'd make one. Lunacy lmao! It's not like the Rebel lineup is unpopular, tons of people love them
I found his channel while looking for motorcycle content because I was interested in getting started in riding.. though my choice of bike was way different than a Rebel (which I can't find anywhere anyways, lol). Not regretting my choice of a Kawasaki Vulcan though it's such a nice ride.
That's interesting because even the Benelli TRK 502, which is an ADV bike has a huge aftermarket selection for customization. I think it's a Honda thing. outside of the small displacement bikes in South East Asia there really isn't a customization scene for Honda motorcycles.
Obviously, you can’t say too much yet or you would make it more public… however, I’m the more typical Honda owner that isn’t going to buy the same part again , and I’m about to pull the trigger on some risers. I wouldn’t mind waiting a bit longer to see what you have cooking if I had some kind of rough timeframe. Completely understand if you can’t or simply don’t want to say anything yet. Lol. I want to support the 1100 aftermarket scene if I can.
Where did you record this video? Looks like a cool area
I feel your pain, I have 4 bikes with varying degrees of Factory or aftermarket goodies. An 08' Buell that I can only get parts from Italy or Japan. A 2018 Bonneville that I can get parts from EVERYWHERE! A 2023 Triumph Trident with hardly anything available at all and a 2024 Honda Super Cub- the highest selling bike ever and the only parts available come from a knockoff in Thailand...
There is lots of custom options for the Rebel 1100. Check what they have in Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, Germany, France, Netherlands and so on.
The main reason why you see so many aftermarket parts for HD or Indian is simple. They know owners of these bikes will spend. The reality is HD and Indian bikes are over priced.
I find it very difficult to sell any bike that I bought new and usually end up keeping them. Like my first one I go when I started riding at 13 a Honda Monkey. In 2019 never having owned a Harley bike I decided to get a Softtail. And in all honestly it was the first bike I ever owned that I got rid of in less than 18 months. It's just like when the "classic" bikes started to enter the market from Royal Enfield and Jawa, which I saw as marketing to hipsters.
Cruiser bikes never really did it for me. With mods, while I find it interesting. The novelty wears off very quick for me. Just like when I hear people going on about the sound. Been, there done that.
The bike i currently own are:
1969 Honda Monkey I got when i was 13 in 1984.
1963 Honda Super Cub
BMW R75/5 and 69
2011 Ducati Monster
Simson SR-42 (Made in the GDR. I only take it out once a year for motorcycle shows.
Kawasaki Ninja 650
2020 Honda CB1000R Black (my daily bike)
A few years ago I went to Sturgis. My feeling was it was nothing more than advertising. I had the same feeling when I went Daytona.
I feel that Harley Davidson only have one thing going for them. If you take away the clothing and marketing of lifestyle. There isn't much left. As I said before I'm just not impressed. I have more in common with the people at the Hamamatsu engineering and design department of Honda.
More Aftermarket Quality Parts for Honda is a must. Been slowly changing my SCL500.
I don't own a rebel 1100, but it is a shame that the aftermarket doesn't really support it. It's a badass bike that can kick a lot of other bikes ass. For the price, there is no reason they shouldn't fly off the show room floors.
I had to mod mine with a $45 gell pads and walla, people thwt ride my bike are blown on how confi my Rebell atock seat is, when i fact i opened it up and added the Jell and then staple it back, it looks stock but soft.
also remember, Honda is still having issues just supplying the dang bikes in the first place. I stopped looking for a while because I could never get my butt on a rebel 1100 locally. I think they're rightfully focused on just getting more bikes out instead of OEM customization
I’m not sure about sales figures in the U.S., but in Asia, the market is miniscule. There’s just not a demand for them, and most feel that the new look is unappealing. In fact, there’s a greater demand for the old 250 Rebels than the 300+ Rebels. I was recently given a quote of $5000 for a 2009 Rebel 250 in good shape with roughly 5K on the odometer. They retain their value, whereas the 300+ Rebels depreciate rapidly. The same dealer that quoted me on the used 250 also had a used 2019 Rebel 300 in stock, which was also in good shape. It had about 4K on the odometer and was listed for just $3500. Anyway, back to the original point; if the sales aren’t there, then the sale of aftermarket parts won’t be there, either. And I wouldn’t tie the demand for seats to views. Some motorcycle enthusiasts, including myself, watch a lot of content pertaining to motorcycles and upgrades just for the heck of it.
I hear ya I'm a kawi guy I have a vulcan custom and vaquero I managed to get mustang seats for both and did the same I messaged saddlemen. It's just not in the cards. I wish the vaquero had a aftermarket scene but again just not available. Cheers I strongly consider going domestic just so I can mod but I love my kawis to much
I too have been disappointed in the after market support. Having to rig everything up just to make it work is annoying especially for noobs like me. I have thought about going to a HD but I really really like the DCT and honestly don't know if I'll get another bike that is not DCT... plus I cant afford a new HD. BUT with all that said, it makes my pickle stiff thinking about some custom Burch parts. Be the guy, take us to the future of the 1100!!! (just don't forget about us DCT guys lol)
Question. Our exhaust where it meets the engine is not as black as the rest of it. Yours seems to have the original color. Is there anything you’ve done to it?
What hand guards do you have?
There is an ECU Flash for the Manual Rebel 1100 .. can find it on UA-cam. You just send them your ECU, they flash it..
Burch, awesome video. You should try to get your paws on the new Scout 101. I know you loved the FTR, I wonder if you would like that bike.
I have been in the market for a new bike and was stuck between the Rebel 1100 (due to Burch's content!) and the Scout Rogue. I went with the Scout because I got a DEAL on one, but the aftermarket support definitely helped.
Love my low rider. Started on a rebel 500. Never looking back lol
Im telling you, the aftermarket support is what MAKES OR BREAKS a bike. That is honestly why i got RID of my Rebel and went with a Harley Sportster instead, the aftermarket support for the Rebel is just NOT THERE and what is SUCKS. The aftermarket manufacturers say there isn't a market for Rebel parts, BUT bike owners say there is no aftermarket support for the rebel so they dont buy them. If the manufacturers would start making parts for the bike, then people would start buying the bikes AND buying the parts. But without parts, not as many people are going to buy the bikes.
Okay, so I'm not crazy in thinking that there just aren't many customization options for our bike, like there are for so many other brands.
The saddle is by-far the biggest problem that needs to be addressed on the 1100. I resorted to locating a local upholsterer to make a saddle for mine because I didn't like the two aftermarket options.
There needs to be a host of handlebar options because that's the other major issue so many of us have.
I'd love to see some floorboards that aren't cheapy chintzy chinese and slicker than oil when they come to you.
I want to make my 1100 customized *to me*, not customized like exactly every other well-loved 1100 is.
Honda has notoriously had this problem. I'm a part of a few Honda Shadow Groups its insane how little bars / headlights / footpegs that are ready to go when they've been made for over 30 years. Saddlemen are absolute scumbags for that I. The advancement of 3D printing and scanning it wouldn't cost that company that much to make a few seats even if they dont include all the patterns and colors.
I used a CC Rider seat thats very similar to Saddlemen and made it work. I'd definitely reach out to them and see if they have any interest.
I ride a low rider ST, and I’m still surprised that they don’t have a seat for the rebel, there def is a demand for it, a lot of people who don’t like Harley’s or Indians choose the Honda rebel instead
Hi can I replace my 2021 rebel 1100 dct front fork with rebel 500 fork thanks
What part of the USA is that? Looks like a nice area, different to what we normally see
Another great vid as usual brother. I want the 1100 so bad, but I can NOT get over the lack of support out there. It's to the point of making me second guess getting one.
I feel your pain...back before I could afford a Harley I had a Suzuki Intruder 1400 I could not find much after market stuff ...maybe a seat and exhaust and 1company that made forward controls...but they were out of my price range
Hey man I am sure you already answered it but which handguards are those?