Something you might find interesting is "Itchy Boots". This lady from the Netherlands is touring the globe on a Honda 300 by herself. She puts on about 31km a year, South America, North America, Africa, etc. Her footage is awesome. Watch one episode and you will be hooked.
What a great video! I go back and forth on what is my favorite mode. I live in the twisties so I like to paddle shift it in Sport mode. One day I will try a custom user mode.
Custom is easy to set. Start with the factory setting that's closest to your riding preference, i.e. rain, standard or sport. Then adjust the setting that will make it better. I started with standard settings, which is how user comes from the factory.
Hi, would using this bike in Rain Mode make for a good first bike or is the 500 a wiser decision please? I love the idea of the DCT but fear the power of 1100cc as a newbie. If DCT was available on the Rebel 500 I'd go for that in a heart beat. Great video
I don't hesitate to recommend the 1100 to a beginner. You'll get better features with it than with a 500. Use Rain Mode if that satisfies your comfort level. I find the bike to be well behaved even in Sport Mode. The throttle is not too touchy and has built in traction control in all modes and antilock brakes. Those are confidence builders. The weight of the bike at 500 pounds and its low center of gravity both favor new riders. Also, the factory put a limiter on the bike to max it's top speed at 100 mph. I estimate that with it's existing power and gearing it could probably hit 130 mph without the limiter. The cap is a bummer for some people, but I suspect the 1100 was not really engineered for safe speeds faster than 100 mph. I'm OK with it. I've taken mine up to 90 mph for very short distances. At that velocity you really aren't cruising anymore. Keep in mind that the motorcycle can go from 0 to 60 in 4-5 seconds if you crank the throttle fully open. I don't recommend a first-timer be that aggressive with the throttle. You'll get enough thrills leaning through the twisties or cruising on the highway at 65 mph. Treat the 1100 with respect and you won't get into trouble with it.
The only time I use automatic mode is when I forget to turn it off when I first start my bike... I hate it always switched to automatic by default. I really do not like it in automatic mode, but I love the DCT in manual. I love the control of always shifting when and only when I want to. I can do aggressive, or super relaxed, and no needing to mess with modes or anything. I always run in user mode, with P on high, T on low, EB on low, and D doesn't exist since I am in manual mode always. I do switch to rain mode in wet or slippery conditions though.
Thanks for sharing your preferences. I've been using manual mode more frequently, myself. I teach a class three days a week and ride my Rebel 1100 to and from. After class, going from Oakland to my home in Pleasant Hill, I go over the coastal mountain range to avoid the heavy rush-hour traffic. Manual mode was made for the twisties going up the mountain and back down. The ride over the mountain is a great way to decompress after talking stats and research methods for an hour.
Does anyone else notice the fuel gauge lies like a cheap Blackpool watch? I started my day with a 73 mile range and 3 bars I did 30 miles and when I returned had 78 miles range and still 3 bars don't figure, I tend to watch my travelled range and fill between 120 and 150 miles. The DCT does not have lean sensors like the Africa Twin ( that has a six axis EMU ) and does change gear mid corner sometimes, this can be pre-empted by manually changing down before a bend to stop the DCT doing it.
Since I have been to Blackpool and I know what you mean about the watch I happen to agree. I do not trust the fuel gauge at all. It will show 75 miles range and then ten minutes later flashing bar. I fill up as soon as convenient.
My experience is that the fuel gauge could be more accurate. I especially notice its unpredictability at fill up. Sometimes I can get to 175 mile range after fueling, other times a fill up takes me to a range of 138. I can't explain why. I always fill the tank until I can see the fuel level just below the gas portal. One explanation could be that motorcycles lean and cars don't. So filling up with the bike on the side stand might affect how much fuel you can put in the tank. I suspect the gauge becomes more accurate as the tank drops toward empty, so I don't worry about it. When reserve is flashing, I'm always convinced I need fuel. Is a wonky fuel gauge a problem with other Honda models? With other brand motorcycles that have gas gauges? I have no experience here. Frankly, I'm just please the bike has a fuel gauge at all. With my old fuel-gauge-absent Suzuki, I always set the trip odometer when I filled up to give me a sense of when fuel was low. Remembering to do that was sometimes an issue. At least with the Rebel 1100 I don't need to rely on my memory. I can remember owning cars with gas gauges that seemed to stay on "full" for a hundred miles, then drop like MoviePass stock after the gauge hits half a tank.
Late reply, but I’m having the same issue as you? Have you found a solution for your problem? My fuel range always reads at approximately 90 miles even when the tank is full. But then when I ride I get approximately 140 miles on a full tank.
Nice video. I use Standard Mode on city roads and freeways but switch to Sport mode in the twisties. Standard mode seems too mellow in the twisties whereas Sport mode is too twitchy on city streets. My only concern though is Sport mode has least traction which is what I need in the twisties where there is gravel on the road at times, so planning to use a User mode with same settings as Sport but with increased traction control.
I like your plan. I stay in user mode all the time, but I have it set to full power, with reduced aggression on shifting. A flick of the shifting paddles up or down serves to correct when I need a different gear.
I sometimes get a click in the low gears, but never in the higher gears. The transmission rev matching is very good. The occasional click doesn't annoy me.
No. The bike is smooth as silk up to 90 mph. I haven't push it any faster than that. I would have your dealer look at it. You might have a wheel out of balance. Also, have the dealer check wheel alignment. If you have anything non-stock mounted on the handlebars that can sometimes create steering wobble from unbalanced air resistance. Let me know what you find out. What you are describing is not normal.
@@papastevesgarage Will do thanks for the reply. Only added parts were dealer installed all Honda . Faring passenger backrest and seat . I thought it might be from being low rpm in 6th gear . Will give an update once checked out.
I do get a bit of engine lugging sensation in the higher gears at 2500 rpms or lower. That could be what you're feeling. The parallel twin is very torquey and will pull okay from 2000 rpms up in the higher gears, but you could get some engine vibration until the motor powers into it's maximum torque range 4000-5000 rpms. That's nothing to worry about.
I have no shimmy feel or unusual vibrations at all anywhere from 0 to 100, even when it hits the limiter and won't let me go faster 😇. I'd suspect a tire balance issue.
![Seungmin "그렇게, 천천히, 우리(As we are)" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/kAzmhLHePqU/mqdefault.jpg)
![1100 on my 1100 [previously released on "Cruisin' with Papa Steve"]](/img/1.gif)
Very good helps me to understand my rebel better
Glad I could be helpful.
Something you might find interesting is "Itchy Boots". This lady from the Netherlands is touring the globe on a Honda 300 by herself. She puts on about 31km a year, South America, North America, Africa, etc. Her footage is awesome. Watch one episode and you will be hooked.
No support group.
Thanks for the tip. I'll take a look.
Thanks for a great video. I appreciate you explaining it all.
Glad it was helpful!
What a great video!
I go back and forth on what is my favorite mode. I live in the twisties so I like to paddle shift it in Sport mode. One day I will try a custom user mode.
Custom is easy to set. Start with the factory setting that's closest to your riding preference, i.e. rain, standard or sport. Then adjust the setting that will make it better. I started with standard settings, which is how user comes from the factory.
I have had a Rebel 1100 DCT for about 18 months and I can tell you are 100% correct.
I love it when I'm right.
This is fantastic! Love it. ❤️
I'm delighted to share my OCMD (Obsessive-Compulsive-Motorcycle-Disorder) with you.
Hi, would using this bike in Rain Mode make for a good first bike or is the 500 a wiser decision please? I love the idea of the DCT but fear the power of 1100cc as a newbie. If DCT was available on the Rebel 500 I'd go for that in a heart beat. Great video
I don't hesitate to recommend the 1100 to a beginner. You'll get better features with it than with a 500.
Use Rain Mode if that satisfies your comfort level. I find the bike to be well behaved even in Sport Mode. The throttle is not too touchy and has built in traction control in all modes and antilock brakes. Those are confidence builders. The weight of the bike at 500 pounds and its low center of gravity both favor new riders. Also, the factory put a limiter on the bike to max it's top speed at 100 mph. I estimate that with it's existing power and gearing it could probably hit 130 mph without the limiter. The cap is a bummer for some people, but I suspect the 1100 was not really engineered for safe speeds faster than 100 mph. I'm OK with it. I've taken mine up to 90 mph for very short distances. At that velocity you really aren't cruising anymore.
Keep in mind that the motorcycle can go from 0 to 60 in 4-5 seconds if you crank the throttle fully open. I don't recommend a first-timer be that aggressive with the throttle. You'll get enough thrills leaning through the twisties or cruising on the highway at 65 mph.
Treat the 1100 with respect and you won't get into trouble with it.
The only time I use automatic mode is when I forget to turn it off when I first start my bike... I hate it always switched to automatic by default. I really do not like it in automatic mode, but I love the DCT in manual. I love the control of always shifting when and only when I want to. I can do aggressive, or super relaxed, and no needing to mess with modes or anything. I always run in user mode, with P on high, T on low, EB on low, and D doesn't exist since I am in manual mode always. I do switch to rain mode in wet or slippery conditions though.
Thanks for sharing your preferences. I've been using manual mode more frequently, myself. I teach a class three days a week and ride my Rebel 1100 to and from. After class, going from Oakland to my home in Pleasant Hill, I go over the coastal mountain range to avoid the heavy rush-hour traffic. Manual mode was made for the twisties going up the mountain and back down. The ride over the mountain is a great way to decompress after talking stats and research methods for an hour.
@@papastevesgarage Sounds fantastic. I'm usually always riding out in areas like that, not near traffic.
Does anyone else notice the fuel gauge lies like a cheap Blackpool watch? I started my day with a 73 mile range and 3 bars I did 30 miles and when I returned had 78 miles range and still 3 bars don't figure, I tend to watch my travelled range and fill between 120 and 150 miles. The DCT does not have lean sensors like the Africa Twin ( that has a six axis EMU ) and does change gear mid corner sometimes, this can be pre-empted by manually changing down before a bend to stop the DCT doing it.
Since I have been to Blackpool and I know what you mean about the watch I happen to agree. I do not trust the fuel gauge at all. It will show 75 miles range and then ten minutes later flashing bar. I fill up as soon as convenient.
My experience is that the fuel gauge could be more accurate. I especially notice its unpredictability at fill up. Sometimes I can get to 175 mile range after fueling, other times a fill up takes me to a range of 138. I can't explain why. I always fill the tank until I can see the fuel level just below the gas portal. One explanation could be that motorcycles lean and cars don't. So filling up with the bike on the side stand might affect how much fuel you can put in the tank.
I suspect the gauge becomes more accurate as the tank drops toward empty, so I don't worry about it. When reserve is flashing, I'm always convinced I need fuel.
Is a wonky fuel gauge a problem with other Honda models? With other brand motorcycles that have gas gauges? I have no experience here.
Frankly, I'm just please the bike has a fuel gauge at all. With my old fuel-gauge-absent Suzuki, I always set the trip odometer when I filled up to give me a sense of when fuel was low. Remembering to do that was sometimes an issue. At least with the Rebel 1100 I don't need to rely on my memory.
I can remember owning cars with gas gauges that seemed to stay on "full" for a hundred miles, then drop like MoviePass stock after the gauge hits half a tank.
Late reply, but I’m having the same issue as you? Have you found a solution for your problem?
My fuel range always reads at approximately 90 miles even when the tank is full. But then when I ride I get approximately 140 miles on a full tank.
Nice video. I use Standard Mode on city roads and freeways but switch to Sport mode in the twisties. Standard mode seems too mellow in the twisties whereas Sport mode is too twitchy on city streets. My only concern though is Sport mode has least traction which is what I need in the twisties where there is gravel on the road at times, so planning to use a User mode with same settings as Sport but with increased traction control.
I like your plan. I stay in user mode all the time, but I have it set to full power, with reduced aggression on shifting. A flick of the shifting paddles up or down serves to correct when I need a different gear.
Question on your bike do you feels the click when the transmission change speed ….
I sometimes get a click in the low gears, but never in the higher gears. The transmission rev matching is very good. The occasional click doesn't annoy me.
Do you have any shimmy feel or vibration on your Rebel starting around 38 to 42 MPH ?
No. The bike is smooth as silk up to 90 mph. I haven't push it any faster than that. I would have your dealer look at it. You might have a wheel out of balance. Also, have the dealer check wheel alignment.
If you have anything non-stock mounted on the handlebars that can sometimes create steering wobble from unbalanced air resistance.
Let me know what you find out. What you are describing is not normal.
@@papastevesgarage
Will do thanks for the reply.
Only added parts were dealer installed all Honda . Faring passenger backrest and seat .
I thought it might be from being low rpm in 6th gear .
Will give an update once checked out.
I do get a bit of engine lugging sensation in the higher gears at 2500 rpms or lower. That could be what you're feeling. The parallel twin is very torquey and will pull okay from 2000 rpms up in the higher gears, but you could get some engine vibration until the motor powers into it's maximum torque range 4000-5000 rpms. That's nothing to worry about.
@@papastevesgarage
I'll get it checked out just to make sure that's it's not a tire balance or alignment issue or anything.
I have no shimmy feel or unusual vibrations at all anywhere from 0 to 100, even when it hits the limiter and won't let me go faster 😇. I'd suspect a tire balance issue.